NURS 5663 PHARMACOLOGY WEEK 1
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. A drug has a half-life of 4 hours. If a patient takes a single 400 mg dose, how much of the
drug will remain in the body after 12 hours?
A. 100 mg
B. 12.5 mg
C. 25 mg
D. 50 mg
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: After 4 hours (1 half-life), 200 mg remains. After 8 hours (2 half-
lives), 100 mg remains. After 12 hours (3 half-lives), 50 mg remains.
2. Which process of pharmacokinetics is most significantly affected by a patient with severe
liver cirrhosis?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
,D. Excretion
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The liver is the primary site for drug metabolism via the
Cytochrome P450 enzyme system. Cirrhosis impairs this enzymatic function.
3. When a drug is highly protein-bound, what happens to the free drug concentration if the
patient has hypoalbuminemia?
A. The drug becomes completely inactive
B. Free drug concentration decreases
C. Free drug concentration remains unchanged
D. Free drug concentration increases
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Albumin is the primary binding protein. With lower albumin
levels, there are fewer binding sites, leading to an increase in the pharmacologically active
free drug.
4. Which of the following describes a ‘Prodrug’?
A. A drug that reaches its target tissue without metabolism
B. A drug administered via the parenteral route to avoid the first-pass effect
C. A drug that inhibits its own metabolism
D. An inactive compound that is converted to an active drug through metabolism
, Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Prodrugs are pharmacologically inactive when administered and
require metabolic conversion (usually in the liver) to become active.
5. The term ‘Bioavailability’ refers to:
A. The total amount of drug excreted in the urine
B. The percentage of the administered dose that reaches the systemic circulation in an
active form
C. The rate at which a drug is metabolized by the liver
D. The time it takes for a drug to reach its peak concentration
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Bioavailability is the fraction of an administered dose of
unchanged drug that reaches the systemic circulation.
6. Which Schedule of Controlled Substances has the highest potential for abuse but also has
currently accepted medical uses in the US?
A. Schedule I
B. Schedule IV
C. Schedule III
D. Schedule II
Answer: D
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. A drug has a half-life of 4 hours. If a patient takes a single 400 mg dose, how much of the
drug will remain in the body after 12 hours?
A. 100 mg
B. 12.5 mg
C. 25 mg
D. 50 mg
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: After 4 hours (1 half-life), 200 mg remains. After 8 hours (2 half-
lives), 100 mg remains. After 12 hours (3 half-lives), 50 mg remains.
2. Which process of pharmacokinetics is most significantly affected by a patient with severe
liver cirrhosis?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
,D. Excretion
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The liver is the primary site for drug metabolism via the
Cytochrome P450 enzyme system. Cirrhosis impairs this enzymatic function.
3. When a drug is highly protein-bound, what happens to the free drug concentration if the
patient has hypoalbuminemia?
A. The drug becomes completely inactive
B. Free drug concentration decreases
C. Free drug concentration remains unchanged
D. Free drug concentration increases
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Albumin is the primary binding protein. With lower albumin
levels, there are fewer binding sites, leading to an increase in the pharmacologically active
free drug.
4. Which of the following describes a ‘Prodrug’?
A. A drug that reaches its target tissue without metabolism
B. A drug administered via the parenteral route to avoid the first-pass effect
C. A drug that inhibits its own metabolism
D. An inactive compound that is converted to an active drug through metabolism
, Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Prodrugs are pharmacologically inactive when administered and
require metabolic conversion (usually in the liver) to become active.
5. The term ‘Bioavailability’ refers to:
A. The total amount of drug excreted in the urine
B. The percentage of the administered dose that reaches the systemic circulation in an
active form
C. The rate at which a drug is metabolized by the liver
D. The time it takes for a drug to reach its peak concentration
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Bioavailability is the fraction of an administered dose of
unchanged drug that reaches the systemic circulation.
6. Which Schedule of Controlled Substances has the highest potential for abuse but also has
currently accepted medical uses in the US?
A. Schedule I
B. Schedule IV
C. Schedule III
D. Schedule II
Answer: D
