NURS 8024:
Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics Exam
Pharmacokinetics - Correct Answers -absorption, distribution, elimination of drugs;
"what the body does to the drug"
Pharmacodynamics - Correct Answers -actions of the chemical on the organism; "what
the drug does to the body"
Toxicology - Correct Answers -branch of pharmacology that deals with undesirable
effects of chemicals on living systems; all substances have potential for toxicity
Pharmacogenomics - Correct Answers -genetic variations that cause differences in drug
response among individuals or populations
Pharmacologic agonist - Correct Answers -agent binds to and ACTIVATES the receptor,
which directly or indirectly causes an effect; can be full or partial agonist
Pharmacologic antagonist - Correct Answers -agent binds to a receptor, competing with
other molecules and preventing binding by other molecules; INHIBITOR
Pro-drug - Correct Answers -inactive precursor chemical; must be absorbed and
distributed and converted to the active form of the drug by biologic processes
Therapeutic window - Correct Answers -desired drug response without toxicity; between
mean effective concentration for desired response & mean effective concentration for
adverse response
MEC - Correct Answers -Mean effective concentration; drug response < MEC: response
will be subtherapeutic; drug level > MEC: toxicity
ADME - Correct Answers -Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Elimination
(fundamental pathways of drugs)
Absorption - Correct Answers -entry of pharmacologic agent into plasma
Distribution - Correct Answers -agent leaves bloodstream and distributes into interstitial
and intracellular fluids (where ever the target is)
Metabolism - Correct Answers -agent must be metabolized via liver, kidney, or other
tissue
, Elimination - Correct Answers -agent metabolites must be eliminated from body (urine,
feces, bile); urine is most common route of excretion
Enteral drug administration - Correct Answers -Easily self-administered & cheap
Drug absorption pathways complicated by first-pass metabolism (drug --> stomach -->
liver --> systemic circulation)
Influenced by food and other drugs
Parenteral drug administration - Correct Answers -IV, IM, SQ
More control over actual dose of drug
Goes directly into systemic circulation (bypasses first-pass effect & harsh GI
environment)
Some drugs are poorly absorbed through GI
Rapid onset of action
"Can't take it back", infection risk
Inhalation drug administration - Correct Answers -Rapid delivery, large surface area
(good for gases, aerosols, respiratory drugs)
Rectal - Correct Answers -50% of drug goes to liver for first-pass; 50% bypasses and
goes directly to systemic circulation d/t circulatory drainage from rectum
Passive diffusion - Correct Answers -Type of drug transport
Higher concentration --> lower concentration
Active transport - Correct Answers -Type of drug transport
Energy dependent
Able to move drug from lower to higher concentration
Endocytosis - Correct Answers -Type of drug transport
Transport of large sized molecules
Engulfment of drug molecule by cell membrane and transport into the cell
pH of drugs - Correct Answers -Drugs are usually weak acids or weak bases; drug
passes readily through cell membrane when uncharged; acidic drugs release a H+ ion
causing a charged anion to form
Size of drugs - Correct Answers -Varies, but smaller size is easier to cross cell
membranes
pKa of drug - Correct Answers -pH of tissue or fluid when 50% ionization occurs
(equalization of ions and non-ionized molecules)
Lipophillic - Correct Answers -AKA hydrophobic
Preferred for drug to be mostly lipophillic to cross cell membranes (made of lipids)
Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics Exam
Pharmacokinetics - Correct Answers -absorption, distribution, elimination of drugs;
"what the body does to the drug"
Pharmacodynamics - Correct Answers -actions of the chemical on the organism; "what
the drug does to the body"
Toxicology - Correct Answers -branch of pharmacology that deals with undesirable
effects of chemicals on living systems; all substances have potential for toxicity
Pharmacogenomics - Correct Answers -genetic variations that cause differences in drug
response among individuals or populations
Pharmacologic agonist - Correct Answers -agent binds to and ACTIVATES the receptor,
which directly or indirectly causes an effect; can be full or partial agonist
Pharmacologic antagonist - Correct Answers -agent binds to a receptor, competing with
other molecules and preventing binding by other molecules; INHIBITOR
Pro-drug - Correct Answers -inactive precursor chemical; must be absorbed and
distributed and converted to the active form of the drug by biologic processes
Therapeutic window - Correct Answers -desired drug response without toxicity; between
mean effective concentration for desired response & mean effective concentration for
adverse response
MEC - Correct Answers -Mean effective concentration; drug response < MEC: response
will be subtherapeutic; drug level > MEC: toxicity
ADME - Correct Answers -Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Elimination
(fundamental pathways of drugs)
Absorption - Correct Answers -entry of pharmacologic agent into plasma
Distribution - Correct Answers -agent leaves bloodstream and distributes into interstitial
and intracellular fluids (where ever the target is)
Metabolism - Correct Answers -agent must be metabolized via liver, kidney, or other
tissue
, Elimination - Correct Answers -agent metabolites must be eliminated from body (urine,
feces, bile); urine is most common route of excretion
Enteral drug administration - Correct Answers -Easily self-administered & cheap
Drug absorption pathways complicated by first-pass metabolism (drug --> stomach -->
liver --> systemic circulation)
Influenced by food and other drugs
Parenteral drug administration - Correct Answers -IV, IM, SQ
More control over actual dose of drug
Goes directly into systemic circulation (bypasses first-pass effect & harsh GI
environment)
Some drugs are poorly absorbed through GI
Rapid onset of action
"Can't take it back", infection risk
Inhalation drug administration - Correct Answers -Rapid delivery, large surface area
(good for gases, aerosols, respiratory drugs)
Rectal - Correct Answers -50% of drug goes to liver for first-pass; 50% bypasses and
goes directly to systemic circulation d/t circulatory drainage from rectum
Passive diffusion - Correct Answers -Type of drug transport
Higher concentration --> lower concentration
Active transport - Correct Answers -Type of drug transport
Energy dependent
Able to move drug from lower to higher concentration
Endocytosis - Correct Answers -Type of drug transport
Transport of large sized molecules
Engulfment of drug molecule by cell membrane and transport into the cell
pH of drugs - Correct Answers -Drugs are usually weak acids or weak bases; drug
passes readily through cell membrane when uncharged; acidic drugs release a H+ ion
causing a charged anion to form
Size of drugs - Correct Answers -Varies, but smaller size is easier to cross cell
membranes
pKa of drug - Correct Answers -pH of tissue or fluid when 50% ionization occurs
(equalization of ions and non-ionized molecules)
Lipophillic - Correct Answers -AKA hydrophobic
Preferred for drug to be mostly lipophillic to cross cell membranes (made of lipids)
