NUR 117 Exam 1 Questions with Correct Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: Define the word pharmacology
Answer: Pharmacology is the study of the biological effects of chemicals.
Question 2: Differentiate between generic and brand-name drugs and OTC and prescription drugs
Answer: Generic drugs are the original designation that the drug was given when the drug company applied
for the approval process. OTC drugs are products that are available without prescription for self-treatment
of a variety of complaints (very safe when used as directed and useful). Name-Brand drugs are drugs given
a brand name by the pharmaceutical company that developed it.
Question 3: List at least 6 factors that can influence the actual effectiveness of drugs in the body
Answer: Weight, age, gender, physiological factors, pathological factors, genetic factors, immunological
factors, psychological factors, environmental factors, drug tolerance, cumulative effect
Question 4: Explain the meaning of half-life of a drug
Answer: The half-life of a drug is the time it takes the amount of a drug in the body to decrease to one half
of the peak level it previously achieved
Question 5: List 4 types of allergic responses to drug therapy
Answer: Anaphylactic reaction (causes membrane swelling and constricting that leads to respiratory
distress/arrest), cytotoxic reaction (involves antibodies that circulate in the blood and cause cell death),
serum sickness reaction (Involves antibodies that circulate in the blood and cause damage to various tissues
by depositing in blood vessels), delayed allergic reaction (involves antibodies that are bound to specific
while blood cells)
Question 6: Define the term adverse drug reaction and explain the clinical significance of this reaction
Answer: Any unexpected or dangerous reaction to a drug. An unwanted effect caused by the administration
of a drug. Clinically significant because it may be caused by side effects of the drug, the patients sensitivity
to the drug, the drugs actions on the body causing other responses, and the patient taking too little or too
much of the drug
Question 7: Pharmacotherapeutics
Answer: is pharmacology; chemicals that are used in medicine for the treatment, prevention, and diagnosis
of disease in humans. (Clinical Pharmacology)
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, Question 8: Pharmacodynamics
Answer: Is the science of dealing with interactions between living organisms and foreign chemicals. (Drug
action)
Question 9: Pharmacokinetics
Answer: How the body acts on the drugs
Question 10: Dynamic Equilibrium
Answer: The actual amount of drug that reaches the body results for a dynamic equilibrium.
Question 11: Preclinical trials
Answer: Chemicals tested on laboratory animals
Question 12: Phase I studies
Answer: Chemicals tested on human volunteers
Question 13: Phase II studies
Answer: Drug tried on informed patients
Question 14: Phase III studies
Answer: Drug used in vast clinical market
Question 15: Phase IV studies
Answer: Continual evaluation of the drug
Question 16: The Controlled Substance act of 1970
Answer: Control over the coding of drugs and enforcement of these codes to the FDA and DEA.
Prescription, distribution, storage and use of drugs are closely monitored
Question 17: Primary Actions
Answer: Simple overdose. Suffers from effects that are merely an extension of the desired effect
Question 18: Secondary Actions
Answer: Wide variety, the side effects of the drug. Patients need to be informed about these effects
Page 2
Question 1: Define the word pharmacology
Answer: Pharmacology is the study of the biological effects of chemicals.
Question 2: Differentiate between generic and brand-name drugs and OTC and prescription drugs
Answer: Generic drugs are the original designation that the drug was given when the drug company applied
for the approval process. OTC drugs are products that are available without prescription for self-treatment
of a variety of complaints (very safe when used as directed and useful). Name-Brand drugs are drugs given
a brand name by the pharmaceutical company that developed it.
Question 3: List at least 6 factors that can influence the actual effectiveness of drugs in the body
Answer: Weight, age, gender, physiological factors, pathological factors, genetic factors, immunological
factors, psychological factors, environmental factors, drug tolerance, cumulative effect
Question 4: Explain the meaning of half-life of a drug
Answer: The half-life of a drug is the time it takes the amount of a drug in the body to decrease to one half
of the peak level it previously achieved
Question 5: List 4 types of allergic responses to drug therapy
Answer: Anaphylactic reaction (causes membrane swelling and constricting that leads to respiratory
distress/arrest), cytotoxic reaction (involves antibodies that circulate in the blood and cause cell death),
serum sickness reaction (Involves antibodies that circulate in the blood and cause damage to various tissues
by depositing in blood vessels), delayed allergic reaction (involves antibodies that are bound to specific
while blood cells)
Question 6: Define the term adverse drug reaction and explain the clinical significance of this reaction
Answer: Any unexpected or dangerous reaction to a drug. An unwanted effect caused by the administration
of a drug. Clinically significant because it may be caused by side effects of the drug, the patients sensitivity
to the drug, the drugs actions on the body causing other responses, and the patient taking too little or too
much of the drug
Question 7: Pharmacotherapeutics
Answer: is pharmacology; chemicals that are used in medicine for the treatment, prevention, and diagnosis
of disease in humans. (Clinical Pharmacology)
Page 1
, Question 8: Pharmacodynamics
Answer: Is the science of dealing with interactions between living organisms and foreign chemicals. (Drug
action)
Question 9: Pharmacokinetics
Answer: How the body acts on the drugs
Question 10: Dynamic Equilibrium
Answer: The actual amount of drug that reaches the body results for a dynamic equilibrium.
Question 11: Preclinical trials
Answer: Chemicals tested on laboratory animals
Question 12: Phase I studies
Answer: Chemicals tested on human volunteers
Question 13: Phase II studies
Answer: Drug tried on informed patients
Question 14: Phase III studies
Answer: Drug used in vast clinical market
Question 15: Phase IV studies
Answer: Continual evaluation of the drug
Question 16: The Controlled Substance act of 1970
Answer: Control over the coding of drugs and enforcement of these codes to the FDA and DEA.
Prescription, distribution, storage and use of drugs are closely monitored
Question 17: Primary Actions
Answer: Simple overdose. Suffers from effects that are merely an extension of the desired effect
Question 18: Secondary Actions
Answer: Wide variety, the side effects of the drug. Patients need to be informed about these effects
Page 2
