BSN | Exam 1 (Advanced Pharmacology) Questions With
Answers and detailed Rationales
Question 1.
Which phase of pharmacokinetics is most significantly affected by the first- pass effect?
A. Metabolism
B. Distribution
C. Absorption
D. Excretion
Correct Answer: A. Metabolism
Explanation: The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is metabolized by the liver before it
reaches systemic circulation, primarily affecting drugs taken orally.
Question 2.
Which term describes the movement of a drug from the blood to the various tissues of the
body?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Excretion
D. Metabolism
Correct Answer: B. Distribution
Explanation: Distribution refers to the transport of a drug by the bloodstream to its site of
action and other tissues.
Question 3.
A patient has low serum albumin levels. How does this affect drugs that are highly
protein-bound?
A. There is an increased risk of toxicity
B. The drug becomes inactive
C. The drug is excreted more slowly
D. The therapeutic effect is decreased
Correct Answer: A. There is an increased risk of toxicity
Explanation: Low albumin means fewer binding sites, resulting in more ‘free’ active drug
in the plasma, which increases the risk of toxicity.
, Question 4.
The Cytochrome P450 system is primarily responsible for which process?
A. Renal filtration
B. Hepatic metabolism
C. Biliary excretion
D. Intestinal absorption
Correct Answer: B. Hepatic metabolism
Explanation: The CYP450 enzyme system in the liver is the major pathway for drug
metabolism.
Question 5.
If a drug has a half-life of 4 hours and a dose of 100 mg is given, how much drug remains
in the body after 12 hours?
A. 12.5 mg
B. 25 mg
C. 50 mg
D. 6.25 mg
Correct Answer: A. 12.5 mg
Explanation: After 4 hours (1 half-life): 50 mg. After 8 hours (2 half-lives): 25 mg. After 12
hours (3 half-lives): 12.5 mg.
Question 6.
What is the primary reason for administering a loading dose?
A. To reach steady state concentration faster
B. To minimize side effects
C. To prevent drug-drug interactions
D. To bypass the liver
Correct Answer: A. To reach steady state concentration faster
Explanation: A loading dose is a large initial dose used to rapidly achieve the therapeutic
concentration (steady state) in the blood.
Question 7.
Which drug schedule contains substances with a high potential for abuse but have an
accepted medical use?
A. Schedule I
B. Schedule III
C. Schedule II
D. Schedule IV
Correct Answer: C. Schedule II
Answers and detailed Rationales
Question 1.
Which phase of pharmacokinetics is most significantly affected by the first- pass effect?
A. Metabolism
B. Distribution
C. Absorption
D. Excretion
Correct Answer: A. Metabolism
Explanation: The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is metabolized by the liver before it
reaches systemic circulation, primarily affecting drugs taken orally.
Question 2.
Which term describes the movement of a drug from the blood to the various tissues of the
body?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Excretion
D. Metabolism
Correct Answer: B. Distribution
Explanation: Distribution refers to the transport of a drug by the bloodstream to its site of
action and other tissues.
Question 3.
A patient has low serum albumin levels. How does this affect drugs that are highly
protein-bound?
A. There is an increased risk of toxicity
B. The drug becomes inactive
C. The drug is excreted more slowly
D. The therapeutic effect is decreased
Correct Answer: A. There is an increased risk of toxicity
Explanation: Low albumin means fewer binding sites, resulting in more ‘free’ active drug
in the plasma, which increases the risk of toxicity.
, Question 4.
The Cytochrome P450 system is primarily responsible for which process?
A. Renal filtration
B. Hepatic metabolism
C. Biliary excretion
D. Intestinal absorption
Correct Answer: B. Hepatic metabolism
Explanation: The CYP450 enzyme system in the liver is the major pathway for drug
metabolism.
Question 5.
If a drug has a half-life of 4 hours and a dose of 100 mg is given, how much drug remains
in the body after 12 hours?
A. 12.5 mg
B. 25 mg
C. 50 mg
D. 6.25 mg
Correct Answer: A. 12.5 mg
Explanation: After 4 hours (1 half-life): 50 mg. After 8 hours (2 half-lives): 25 mg. After 12
hours (3 half-lives): 12.5 mg.
Question 6.
What is the primary reason for administering a loading dose?
A. To reach steady state concentration faster
B. To minimize side effects
C. To prevent drug-drug interactions
D. To bypass the liver
Correct Answer: A. To reach steady state concentration faster
Explanation: A loading dose is a large initial dose used to rapidly achieve the therapeutic
concentration (steady state) in the blood.
Question 7.
Which drug schedule contains substances with a high potential for abuse but have an
accepted medical use?
A. Schedule I
B. Schedule III
C. Schedule II
D. Schedule IV
Correct Answer: C. Schedule II
