Full Set of Questions with rationale
Lehne Pharmacotherapeutics – Section 1: General Principles (50 Questions)
Q1. Which pharmacokinetic parameter is most affected by hepatic impairment?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Elimination
✅ Answer: C
📘 Rationale: Hepatic impairment primarily affects drug metabolism, which occurs in the liver.
Q2. Which factor has the greatest impact on drug bioavailability?
A. Half-life
B. Protein binding
C. First-pass metabolism
D. Volume of distribution
✅ Answer: C
📘 Rationale: First-pass metabolism reduces the amount of active drug reaching systemic
circulation, impacting bioavailability.
Q3. A drug with a narrow therapeutic index requires:
A. Less frequent dosing
B. No lab monitoring
C. Close serum level monitoring
D. Rapid IV administration
✅ Answer: C
📘 Rationale: Drugs with a narrow therapeutic index can easily reach toxic levels and require
careful monitoring.
Q4. What is the main route of excretion for most drugs?
A. Bile
B. Kidneys
C. Sweat
D. Lungs
✅ Answer: B
📘 Rationale: The kidneys are the primary organ responsible for drug excretion.
Q5. A patient is prescribed a prodrug. What is necessary for the drug to be effective?
A. High protein binding
B. Enzymatic activation
C. Direct receptor binding
D. High renal clearance
,✅ Answer: B
📘 Rationale: Prodrugs are inactive until metabolized by enzymes, often in the liver, into active
forms.
🧠 Lehne Pharmacotherapeutics – Section 2: Drug Classes and Mechanisms of
Action (50 Questions)
Q6. Which of the following drug classes primarily treats bacterial infections?
A. Antihistamines
B. Antivirals
C. Antibiotics
D. Antifungals
✅ Answer: C
📘 Rationale: Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections by targeting specific bacterial
structures or functions.
Q7. A drug that inhibits the synthesis of bacterial cell walls would be classified as:
A. Beta-lactam
B. Aminoglycoside
C. Macrolide
D. Tetracycline
✅ Answer: A
📘 Rationale: Beta-lactams, such as penicillin, inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis, leading to
cell death.
Q8. Which of the following is a side effect commonly associated with ACE inhibitors?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Dry cough
C. Bradycardia
D. Increased appetite
✅ Answer: B
📘 Rationale: A dry cough is a well-known side effect of ACE inhibitors due to the
accumulation of bradykinin.
Q9. Which class of drugs is most commonly prescribed to manage asthma and other
inflammatory airway conditions?
A. Diuretics
B. Corticosteroids
C. Benzodiazepines
D. Statins
✅ Answer: B
,📘 Rationale: Corticosteroids are potent anti-inflammatory drugs commonly used to manage
asthma.
Q10. Which of the following is an example of a direct thrombin inhibitor?
A. Warfarin
B. Heparin
C. Dabigatran
D. Aspirin
✅ Answer: C
📘 Rationale: Dabigatran is a direct thrombin inhibitor used to prevent and treat
thromboembolic disorders.
Q11. What is the mechanism of action for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)?
A. Inhibit dopamine reuptake
B. Inhibit serotonin reuptake
C. Inhibit GABA activity
D. Block norepinephrine receptors
✅ Answer: B
📘 Rationale: SSRIs inhibit the reuptake of serotonin, increasing its availability in the synaptic
cleft.
Q12. Which drug is most commonly used as a first-line treatment for hypertension?
A. Metoprolol
B. Losartan
C. Hydrochlorothiazide
D. Diltiazem
✅ Answer: C
📘 Rationale: Hydrochlorothiazide, a thiazide diuretic, is commonly used as a first-line
treatment for hypertension.
Q13. What is the primary effect of calcium channel blockers?
A. Decrease heart rate
B. Increase cardiac output
C. Decrease blood pressure
D. Increase oxygen demand
✅ Answer: C
📘 Rationale: Calcium channel blockers primarily decrease blood pressure by relaxing vascular
smooth muscle.
Q14. Which of the following drugs is used to reverse opioid overdose?
A. Naloxone
B. Naltrexone
C. Methadone
D. Fentanyl
✅ Answer: A
, 📘 Rationale: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that rapidly reverses the effects of opioid
overdose.
Q15. What is the primary mechanism of action of beta-blockers?
A. Increase blood pressure
B. Decrease heart rate
C. Increase the release of renin
D. Dilate blood vessels
✅ Answer: B
📘 Rationale: Beta-blockers block beta-adrenergic receptors, decreasing heart rate and blood
pressure.
Q16. Which medication is classified as a proton pump inhibitor?
A. Famotidine
B. Omeprazole
C. Ranitidine
D. Lansoprazole
✅ Answer: B
📘 Rationale: Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor that reduces stomach acid production.
Q17. Which of the following drugs is most likely to cause a prolonged QT interval?
A. Azithromycin
B. Penicillin
C. Ibuprofen
D. Metformin
✅ Answer: A
📘 Rationale: Azithromycin, a macrolide antibiotic, can prolong the QT interval, increasing the
risk of arrhythmias.
Q18. A nurse is teaching a patient about the use of warfarin. What is an important consideration?
A. Monitor liver function tests
B. Maintain a consistent intake of vitamin K
C. Limit exercise
D. Take it on an empty stomach
✅ Answer: B
📘 Rationale: Warfarin affects vitamin K-dependent clotting factors, so consistent intake of
vitamin K is important to prevent fluctuations in INR.
Q19. Which of the following drugs can cause nephrotoxicity, particularly in high doses or with
prolonged use?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Ibuprofen
C. Amoxicillin
D. Doxycycline
✅ Answer: B