BASIC PHARMACOLOGY FOR NURSES
EIGHTEENTH EDITION EXAM PREP 2026
QUESTION BANK AND ANSWER KEY
MASTER DRUG KNOWLEDGE SET
◉ Factors That Affect Drug Therapy: Dependence
Answer: - Drug dependence, which is also known as addiction or
habituation, occurs when a person is unable to control his or her
desire for ingestion of drugs.
- The dependence may be physiologic, in which the person develops
withdrawal symptoms if the drug is withdrawn for a certain period,
or psychological, in which the patient is emotionally attached to the
drug.
- Drug dependence occurs most commonly with the use of the
scheduled or controlled medications (e.g., opiates, benzodiazepines).
- Less than 1% of patients using opioids for acute pain relief become
addicted
◉ Factors That Affect Drug Therapy: Cumulative Effect
Answer: - A drug may accumulate in the body if the next dose is
administered before the previously administered dose has been
metabolized or excreted.
- Excessive drug accumulation may result in drug toxicity.
, ◉ Carcinogenicity
Answer: The ability of a drug to induce living cells to mutate and
become cancerous
◉ Factors That Influence Absorption: Age
Answer: - Medicines given intramuscularly are usually erratically
absorbed in neonates and older adults.
- Differences in muscle mass, blood flow to muscles, and muscle
inactivity in patients who are bedridden make absorption
unpredictable.
◉ Factors That Influence Absorption: Age (Topical Administration
Infants)
Answer: - Absorption is usually effective for infants because their
outer layer of skin (the stratum corneum) is not fully developed.
- Because the skin is more fully hydrated at this age, water-soluble
drugs are absorbed more readily.
- Infants who wear plastic-coated diapers are also more susceptible
to skin absorption because the plastic acts as an occlusive dressing
that increases the hydration of the skin.
- Inflammation (e.g., diaper rash) also increases the amount of drug
that is absorbed.
EIGHTEENTH EDITION EXAM PREP 2026
QUESTION BANK AND ANSWER KEY
MASTER DRUG KNOWLEDGE SET
◉ Factors That Affect Drug Therapy: Dependence
Answer: - Drug dependence, which is also known as addiction or
habituation, occurs when a person is unable to control his or her
desire for ingestion of drugs.
- The dependence may be physiologic, in which the person develops
withdrawal symptoms if the drug is withdrawn for a certain period,
or psychological, in which the patient is emotionally attached to the
drug.
- Drug dependence occurs most commonly with the use of the
scheduled or controlled medications (e.g., opiates, benzodiazepines).
- Less than 1% of patients using opioids for acute pain relief become
addicted
◉ Factors That Affect Drug Therapy: Cumulative Effect
Answer: - A drug may accumulate in the body if the next dose is
administered before the previously administered dose has been
metabolized or excreted.
- Excessive drug accumulation may result in drug toxicity.
, ◉ Carcinogenicity
Answer: The ability of a drug to induce living cells to mutate and
become cancerous
◉ Factors That Influence Absorption: Age
Answer: - Medicines given intramuscularly are usually erratically
absorbed in neonates and older adults.
- Differences in muscle mass, blood flow to muscles, and muscle
inactivity in patients who are bedridden make absorption
unpredictable.
◉ Factors That Influence Absorption: Age (Topical Administration
Infants)
Answer: - Absorption is usually effective for infants because their
outer layer of skin (the stratum corneum) is not fully developed.
- Because the skin is more fully hydrated at this age, water-soluble
drugs are absorbed more readily.
- Infants who wear plastic-coated diapers are also more susceptible
to skin absorption because the plastic acts as an occlusive dressing
that increases the hydration of the skin.
- Inflammation (e.g., diaper rash) also increases the amount of drug
that is absorbed.
