Principles in Pharmacology Exam 2 Questions and
Answers Latest 2025 Top Rated A+
What does the route of administration influence?
liberation, absorption, distribution, time of effect
What is the most popular method of drug delivery?
oral drug administration (PO)
Oral Drug administration abreviation
PO
Problem with PO drugs
-drug must dissolve in the stomach and pass to the intestine to reach the body
- stomach acid is strong so drug must be in form to resist strong acid and enzymes
Where are a majority of PO drugs absorbed
proximal small intestine (1st ft)
What influences absorption and bioavailability of PO drugs?
food load, stomach acidity, first pass
What conditions/foods increase the amount of drug time in the stomach and
how?
-large amounts of food/fatty foods
- more stomach digestion so slow movement into the intestines (delayed action)
What is the acidity of the stomach?
pH 1.5- 2
What types of formulas protect drugs inactivated at low pH?
enteric-coated formulations
What types of formulas prevent the drug's increase in stomach acidity?
buffered fomulations
Where do PO drugs go after entering the bloodstream from the SI?
liver
What is done to drugs in the liver?
some of the drug is metabolized reducing the drug available
Results of the first pass effect?
concentration of PO drug rises slowly in blood and is irregular/unpredictable
Why is the first pass effect important?
it is a protective mechanism from ingested toxins and poisons
Intravenous drug administration (IV)
direct injection of drugs into veins
What is the benefit of IV method
-rapid and accurate delivery avoiding the stomach (no first pass metabolism
- quick effect
Why is IV dangerous?
-little room for correction
- illicit drugs can have toxic or insoluble fillers
- lack of sterilization can lead to disease (HIV, hepatitis, endocarditis)
Intramuscular drug administration (IM)
direct injection into muscle
, What is the benefit of IM method
- rapid and accurate administration
Main types of IM drugs
water soluble or liquid soluble drugs
Water soluble drugs
- dissolved in aqueous solution like saline
Lipid soluble drugs
dissolved in non-aqueous solution (vegetable oil)
which type of IM drug is fast acting (released into blood fast)?
water soluble drugs
example of water soluble drugs
epinephrine (Epi-pen)
which type of IM drug is slow-acting (released into the blood slowly)?
lipid soluble drugs
example of lipid soluble drugs
progesterone (used for women with luteal phase defect)
Subcutaneous drug administration (SC)
direct injection into subcutaneous tissue (under skin)
What is SC drug absorption dependent on?
blood supply to the site of injection and drug form
How fast do SC drugs diffuse?
slow and steady
examples of SC drug in aqueous solution
insulin
examples of SC drug in oil solution
steroid hormones (sustained release)
Gaseous drug administration
Rapid drug absorption into the blood stream across pulmonary capillaries
What is the benefit of gaseous inhalation?
-large pulmonary capillary network
- rapid absorption
- great for respiratory illness
What is the cons of gaseous inhalation?
quick onset so little room for corrective measures (especially in illicit drug use)
Topical drug administration
applied locally to the skin or membranous linings of the nasal, vagina, ocular and
rectum tissue
benefits of topical drug administration
rapid absorption into applied tissue
cons of topical drug administration
only effective locally (on surface of skin/tissue)
examples of topical drugs
creams, gels, ointment,
Transdermal Drug administration
direct application to skin surface
rate of absorption for transdermal drugs
Answers Latest 2025 Top Rated A+
What does the route of administration influence?
liberation, absorption, distribution, time of effect
What is the most popular method of drug delivery?
oral drug administration (PO)
Oral Drug administration abreviation
PO
Problem with PO drugs
-drug must dissolve in the stomach and pass to the intestine to reach the body
- stomach acid is strong so drug must be in form to resist strong acid and enzymes
Where are a majority of PO drugs absorbed
proximal small intestine (1st ft)
What influences absorption and bioavailability of PO drugs?
food load, stomach acidity, first pass
What conditions/foods increase the amount of drug time in the stomach and
how?
-large amounts of food/fatty foods
- more stomach digestion so slow movement into the intestines (delayed action)
What is the acidity of the stomach?
pH 1.5- 2
What types of formulas protect drugs inactivated at low pH?
enteric-coated formulations
What types of formulas prevent the drug's increase in stomach acidity?
buffered fomulations
Where do PO drugs go after entering the bloodstream from the SI?
liver
What is done to drugs in the liver?
some of the drug is metabolized reducing the drug available
Results of the first pass effect?
concentration of PO drug rises slowly in blood and is irregular/unpredictable
Why is the first pass effect important?
it is a protective mechanism from ingested toxins and poisons
Intravenous drug administration (IV)
direct injection of drugs into veins
What is the benefit of IV method
-rapid and accurate delivery avoiding the stomach (no first pass metabolism
- quick effect
Why is IV dangerous?
-little room for correction
- illicit drugs can have toxic or insoluble fillers
- lack of sterilization can lead to disease (HIV, hepatitis, endocarditis)
Intramuscular drug administration (IM)
direct injection into muscle
, What is the benefit of IM method
- rapid and accurate administration
Main types of IM drugs
water soluble or liquid soluble drugs
Water soluble drugs
- dissolved in aqueous solution like saline
Lipid soluble drugs
dissolved in non-aqueous solution (vegetable oil)
which type of IM drug is fast acting (released into blood fast)?
water soluble drugs
example of water soluble drugs
epinephrine (Epi-pen)
which type of IM drug is slow-acting (released into the blood slowly)?
lipid soluble drugs
example of lipid soluble drugs
progesterone (used for women with luteal phase defect)
Subcutaneous drug administration (SC)
direct injection into subcutaneous tissue (under skin)
What is SC drug absorption dependent on?
blood supply to the site of injection and drug form
How fast do SC drugs diffuse?
slow and steady
examples of SC drug in aqueous solution
insulin
examples of SC drug in oil solution
steroid hormones (sustained release)
Gaseous drug administration
Rapid drug absorption into the blood stream across pulmonary capillaries
What is the benefit of gaseous inhalation?
-large pulmonary capillary network
- rapid absorption
- great for respiratory illness
What is the cons of gaseous inhalation?
quick onset so little room for corrective measures (especially in illicit drug use)
Topical drug administration
applied locally to the skin or membranous linings of the nasal, vagina, ocular and
rectum tissue
benefits of topical drug administration
rapid absorption into applied tissue
cons of topical drug administration
only effective locally (on surface of skin/tissue)
examples of topical drugs
creams, gels, ointment,
Transdermal Drug administration
direct application to skin surface
rate of absorption for transdermal drugs
