LEHNE-PHARM-008 – DRUG THERAPY DURING
PREGNANCY & LACTATION EXAM QUESTION AND
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALE ULTIMATE PASSING A+
GRADED.
1. The placenta primarily allows drug transfer based on which property?
A. High molecular weight compounds
B. Lipid solubility and low molecular weight
C. Protein binding only
D. Ionized drugs only
Answer: B
Rationale: Lipid-soluble, low molecular weight drugs cross the placenta more
easily by passive diffusion.
2. Drugs with molecular weight greater than 1000 Da generally:
A. Cross placenta easily
B. Cross placenta slowly
C. Do not cross in significant amounts
D. Cross only in third trimester
Answer: C
Rationale: Large molecules like heparin and insulin do not cross the placenta
significantly.
3. The most critical period for teratogenic structural malformations is:
,A. First 2 weeks post-conception
B. Organogenesis (18–60 days post-conception)
C. Third trimester
D. Postpartum period
Answer: B
Rationale: Organogenesis is when organs form and are most vulnerable to
teratogens.
4. Exposure to teratogens in the first 2 weeks after conception usually results
in:
A. Structural defects
B. “All or nothing” effect
C. Neurodevelopmental delay only
D. Placental insufficiency
Answer: B
Rationale: Early exposure either causes embryonic death or no effect.
5. Which drug is known for causing fetal neural tube defects risk reduction
when given preconception?
A. Vitamin K
B. Folic acid
C. Iron
D. Calcium
Answer: B
Rationale: Folic acid supplementation reduces neural tube defects.
6. Recommended folic acid dose for general pregnancy prevention is:
,A. 0.1 mg daily
B. 0.4 mg daily
C. 2 mg daily
D. 5 mg daily
Answer: B
Rationale: Standard preconception dose is 0.4 mg daily.
7. High-risk women for neural tube defects should take:
A. 0.4 mg
B. 1 mg
C. 4 mg
D. 10 mg
Answer: C
Rationale: 4 mg daily is recommended for high-risk patients.
8. Which physiological change increases during pregnancy?
A. Plasma volume decreases
B. GFR decreases
C. Cardiac output increases
D. Liver blood flow decreases
Answer: C
Rationale: Cardiac output increases by 30–50% during pregnancy.
9. Which renal change occurs in pregnancy?
A. Decreased GFR
B. Increased GFR
, C. No change in renal function
D. Kidney atrophy
Answer: B
Rationale: GFR increases by up to 50–80%.
10.Plasma albumin levels during pregnancy:
A. Increase
B. Decrease
C. Remain unchanged
D. Become highly variable
Answer: B
Rationale: Dilutional decrease in albumin increases free drug fraction.
11.Drug transfer into breast milk is most influenced by:
A. Drug color
B. Lipid solubility and pH
C. Drug taste
D. Injection route only
Answer: B
Rationale: Lipid-soluble and non-ionized drugs pass into milk more easily.
12.The safest general approach to drug therapy in pregnancy is:
A. Use highest effective dose
B. Avoid all medications
C. Use oldest drugs with known safety records
D. Use only herbal medicine
PREGNANCY & LACTATION EXAM QUESTION AND
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALE ULTIMATE PASSING A+
GRADED.
1. The placenta primarily allows drug transfer based on which property?
A. High molecular weight compounds
B. Lipid solubility and low molecular weight
C. Protein binding only
D. Ionized drugs only
Answer: B
Rationale: Lipid-soluble, low molecular weight drugs cross the placenta more
easily by passive diffusion.
2. Drugs with molecular weight greater than 1000 Da generally:
A. Cross placenta easily
B. Cross placenta slowly
C. Do not cross in significant amounts
D. Cross only in third trimester
Answer: C
Rationale: Large molecules like heparin and insulin do not cross the placenta
significantly.
3. The most critical period for teratogenic structural malformations is:
,A. First 2 weeks post-conception
B. Organogenesis (18–60 days post-conception)
C. Third trimester
D. Postpartum period
Answer: B
Rationale: Organogenesis is when organs form and are most vulnerable to
teratogens.
4. Exposure to teratogens in the first 2 weeks after conception usually results
in:
A. Structural defects
B. “All or nothing” effect
C. Neurodevelopmental delay only
D. Placental insufficiency
Answer: B
Rationale: Early exposure either causes embryonic death or no effect.
5. Which drug is known for causing fetal neural tube defects risk reduction
when given preconception?
A. Vitamin K
B. Folic acid
C. Iron
D. Calcium
Answer: B
Rationale: Folic acid supplementation reduces neural tube defects.
6. Recommended folic acid dose for general pregnancy prevention is:
,A. 0.1 mg daily
B. 0.4 mg daily
C. 2 mg daily
D. 5 mg daily
Answer: B
Rationale: Standard preconception dose is 0.4 mg daily.
7. High-risk women for neural tube defects should take:
A. 0.4 mg
B. 1 mg
C. 4 mg
D. 10 mg
Answer: C
Rationale: 4 mg daily is recommended for high-risk patients.
8. Which physiological change increases during pregnancy?
A. Plasma volume decreases
B. GFR decreases
C. Cardiac output increases
D. Liver blood flow decreases
Answer: C
Rationale: Cardiac output increases by 30–50% during pregnancy.
9. Which renal change occurs in pregnancy?
A. Decreased GFR
B. Increased GFR
, C. No change in renal function
D. Kidney atrophy
Answer: B
Rationale: GFR increases by up to 50–80%.
10.Plasma albumin levels during pregnancy:
A. Increase
B. Decrease
C. Remain unchanged
D. Become highly variable
Answer: B
Rationale: Dilutional decrease in albumin increases free drug fraction.
11.Drug transfer into breast milk is most influenced by:
A. Drug color
B. Lipid solubility and pH
C. Drug taste
D. Injection route only
Answer: B
Rationale: Lipid-soluble and non-ionized drugs pass into milk more easily.
12.The safest general approach to drug therapy in pregnancy is:
A. Use highest effective dose
B. Avoid all medications
C. Use oldest drugs with known safety records
D. Use only herbal medicine
