Understanding Pharmacology Chapter 1 Questions With Correct Answer
Absorption Movement of a drug from the outside of the body into the bloodstream.
Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) Same as adverse effect. A drug effect that is more severe than expected and has
the potential to damage tissue or cause serious health problems. It may also be
called a toxic effect or toxicity and usually requires intervention by the prescriber.
Adverse effect A drug effect that is more severe than expected and has the potential to damage
tissue or cause serious health problems. It may also be called a toxic effect or
toxicity and usually requires intervention by the prescriber.
Agonist An extrinsic drug that activates the receptor site of a cell and mimics the actions of
naturally occurring body substances (intrinsic drugs).
Allergic response Type of adverse effect in which the presence of the drug stimulates the release of
histamine and other body chemicals that cause inflammatory reactions. The
response may be as mild as a rash or as severe and life threatening as
anaphylaxis.
Antagonist An extrinsic drug that blocks the receptor site of a cell, preventing the naturally
occurring body substance from binding to the receptor.
Bioavailability The percentage of a drug dose that actually reaches the blood.
Black box warning A notice that a drug may produce serious or even life-threatening effects in some
people in addition to its beneficial effects.
Brand name A manufacturer-owned name of a generic drug; also called "trade name" or
"proprietary name."
Contraindication A personal or health-related reason for not administering a specific drug to a patient
or group of patients.
Cytotoxic Drug action that is intended to kill a cell or an organism.
Distribution (drug distribution) The extent that a drug absorbed into the bloodstream spreads
into the three body water compartments.
Drug Any small molecule that changes any body function by working at the chemical and
cell levels.
Drug therapy The planned use of a drug to prevent or improve a health problem.
Duration of action The length of time a drug is present in the blood at or above the level needed to
produce an effect or response.
Stuvia | Academic Year (2026-2027)
, Understanding Pharmacology Chapter 1 Questions With Correct Answer
Elimination The removal of drugs from the body accomplished by certain body systems.
Enteral route Movement of drugs from the outside of the body to the inside using the
gastrointestinal tract.
First-pass loss Rapid inactivation or elimination of oral drugs as a result of liver metabolism.
Generic name National and international public drug name created by the United States Adopted
Names (USAN) Council to indicate the usual use or chemical composition of a drug.
Half-life Time span needed for one half of a drug dose to be eliminated.
High-alert drug A drug that has an increased risk for causing patient harm if it is used in error.
Intended action Desired effect (main effect) of a drug on specific body cells or tissues; same as
therapeutic response.
Loading dose The first dose of a drug that is larger than all subsequent doses of the same drug;
used when it takes more drug to reach steady state than it does to maintain it.
Mechanism of action Exactly how, at the cellular level, a drug changes the activity of a cell.
Medication Any small molecule that changes any body function by working at the chemical and
cell levels (same as a drug).
Metabolism (drug metabolism) Chemical reaction in the body that changes the chemical shape
and content of a drug, preparing the drug for inactivation and elimination.
Minimum Effective Concentration (MEC) The smallest amount of drug necessary in the blood or target tissue to result in a
measurable intended action.
Over-the-counter (OTC) Drugs that are approved for purchase without a prescription.
Parenteral route Movement of a drug from the outside of the body to the inside of the body by
injection (intra-arterial, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal,
intracavitary, intraosseous, intrathecal).
Peak Maximum blood drug level.
Stuvia | Academic Year (2026-2027)
Absorption Movement of a drug from the outside of the body into the bloodstream.
Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) Same as adverse effect. A drug effect that is more severe than expected and has
the potential to damage tissue or cause serious health problems. It may also be
called a toxic effect or toxicity and usually requires intervention by the prescriber.
Adverse effect A drug effect that is more severe than expected and has the potential to damage
tissue or cause serious health problems. It may also be called a toxic effect or
toxicity and usually requires intervention by the prescriber.
Agonist An extrinsic drug that activates the receptor site of a cell and mimics the actions of
naturally occurring body substances (intrinsic drugs).
Allergic response Type of adverse effect in which the presence of the drug stimulates the release of
histamine and other body chemicals that cause inflammatory reactions. The
response may be as mild as a rash or as severe and life threatening as
anaphylaxis.
Antagonist An extrinsic drug that blocks the receptor site of a cell, preventing the naturally
occurring body substance from binding to the receptor.
Bioavailability The percentage of a drug dose that actually reaches the blood.
Black box warning A notice that a drug may produce serious or even life-threatening effects in some
people in addition to its beneficial effects.
Brand name A manufacturer-owned name of a generic drug; also called "trade name" or
"proprietary name."
Contraindication A personal or health-related reason for not administering a specific drug to a patient
or group of patients.
Cytotoxic Drug action that is intended to kill a cell or an organism.
Distribution (drug distribution) The extent that a drug absorbed into the bloodstream spreads
into the three body water compartments.
Drug Any small molecule that changes any body function by working at the chemical and
cell levels.
Drug therapy The planned use of a drug to prevent or improve a health problem.
Duration of action The length of time a drug is present in the blood at or above the level needed to
produce an effect or response.
Stuvia | Academic Year (2026-2027)
, Understanding Pharmacology Chapter 1 Questions With Correct Answer
Elimination The removal of drugs from the body accomplished by certain body systems.
Enteral route Movement of drugs from the outside of the body to the inside using the
gastrointestinal tract.
First-pass loss Rapid inactivation or elimination of oral drugs as a result of liver metabolism.
Generic name National and international public drug name created by the United States Adopted
Names (USAN) Council to indicate the usual use or chemical composition of a drug.
Half-life Time span needed for one half of a drug dose to be eliminated.
High-alert drug A drug that has an increased risk for causing patient harm if it is used in error.
Intended action Desired effect (main effect) of a drug on specific body cells or tissues; same as
therapeutic response.
Loading dose The first dose of a drug that is larger than all subsequent doses of the same drug;
used when it takes more drug to reach steady state than it does to maintain it.
Mechanism of action Exactly how, at the cellular level, a drug changes the activity of a cell.
Medication Any small molecule that changes any body function by working at the chemical and
cell levels (same as a drug).
Metabolism (drug metabolism) Chemical reaction in the body that changes the chemical shape
and content of a drug, preparing the drug for inactivation and elimination.
Minimum Effective Concentration (MEC) The smallest amount of drug necessary in the blood or target tissue to result in a
measurable intended action.
Over-the-counter (OTC) Drugs that are approved for purchase without a prescription.
Parenteral route Movement of a drug from the outside of the body to the inside of the body by
injection (intra-arterial, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal,
intracavitary, intraosseous, intrathecal).
Peak Maximum blood drug level.
Stuvia | Academic Year (2026-2027)
