CGSC C400B Final Exam | Questions and
Answers – 2026 Update | 100% Correct.
D
PHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM REVIEW Question 1
O
What is the study of how drugs enter the body, reach their site of action, are
metabolized, and exit the body called?
N
A) Pharmacodynamics
B) Pharmacokinetics
O
C) Pharmacotherapeutics D) Pharmacognosy
T
Answer: B) Pharmacokinetics
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics describes the movement of drugs through the body,
C
including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).
Pharmacodynamics (A) is the study of what drugs do to the body and their
O
mechanisms of action.
PY
Question 2
A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a maximal biological response
is known as a: A) Partial agonist
B) Antagonist
C) Agonist
D) Competitive antagonist
Answer: C) Agonist
Rationale: An agonist binds to a receptor and activates it, producing a response. A
full agonist produces the maximum possible response. An antagonist (B) blocks
the receptor and prevents a response.
,Question 3
Which phase of pharmacokinetics involves the movement of a drug from the site
of administration into the bloodstream?
A) Distribution
B) Metabolism
C) Excretion
D) Absorption
Answer: D) Absorption
Rationale: Absorption is the first phase of ADME. It refers to the drug's entry into
the plasma. Distribution (A) is the movement from the plasma to the tissues.
D
Question 4
O
A nurse administers warfarin (Coumadin) to a patient. The drug binds to plasma
proteins. What is the primary protein that binds drugs in the bloodstream?
N
A) Hemoglobin
O
B) Albumin
C) Globulin
T
D) Fibrinogen
Answer: B) Albumin
C
Rationale: Albumin is the primary protein in the blood responsible for binding
O
acidic and neutral drugs. Only unbound (free) drug is pharmacologically active.
PY
Question 5
Which route of drug administration is most likely to result in the "first-pass
effect"?
A) Intravenous (IV)
B) Sublingual
C) Oral
D) Transdermal
Answer: C) Oral
, Rationale: The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is absorbed via the
gastrointestinal tract and transported via the portal vein to the liver, where it is
partially metabolized before reaching systemic circulation.
Question 6
The half-life of a drug is 4 hours. How many hours will it take for the drug to reach
steady state if administered continuously?
A) 4 hours
B) 8 hours
C) 16 hours
D
D) 24 hours
Answer: C) 16 hours
O
Rationale: Steady state is typically achieved after approximately 4 to 5 half-lives. 4
half-lives x 4 hours = 16 hours.
N
Question 7
O
What is the term for the study of how genetic variation affects an
individual's response to drugs? A) Pharmacognosy
T
B) Pharmacoeconomics
C
C) Pharmacogenomics
D) Toxicology
O
Answer: C) Pharmacogenomics
Rationale: Pharmacogenomics (or pharmacogenetics) examines how a person's
PY
genetic makeup influences drug metabolism and response, helping to predict
efficacy or adverse effects.
Question 8
A patient receiving an IV push of phenytoin (Dilantin) complains of burning and
pain at the IV site. What is the priority nursing action?
A) Slow the infusion rate
B) Dilute the medication further
C) Stop the infusion immediately
D) Apply a warm compress
Answers – 2026 Update | 100% Correct.
D
PHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM REVIEW Question 1
O
What is the study of how drugs enter the body, reach their site of action, are
metabolized, and exit the body called?
N
A) Pharmacodynamics
B) Pharmacokinetics
O
C) Pharmacotherapeutics D) Pharmacognosy
T
Answer: B) Pharmacokinetics
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics describes the movement of drugs through the body,
C
including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).
Pharmacodynamics (A) is the study of what drugs do to the body and their
O
mechanisms of action.
PY
Question 2
A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a maximal biological response
is known as a: A) Partial agonist
B) Antagonist
C) Agonist
D) Competitive antagonist
Answer: C) Agonist
Rationale: An agonist binds to a receptor and activates it, producing a response. A
full agonist produces the maximum possible response. An antagonist (B) blocks
the receptor and prevents a response.
,Question 3
Which phase of pharmacokinetics involves the movement of a drug from the site
of administration into the bloodstream?
A) Distribution
B) Metabolism
C) Excretion
D) Absorption
Answer: D) Absorption
Rationale: Absorption is the first phase of ADME. It refers to the drug's entry into
the plasma. Distribution (A) is the movement from the plasma to the tissues.
D
Question 4
O
A nurse administers warfarin (Coumadin) to a patient. The drug binds to plasma
proteins. What is the primary protein that binds drugs in the bloodstream?
N
A) Hemoglobin
O
B) Albumin
C) Globulin
T
D) Fibrinogen
Answer: B) Albumin
C
Rationale: Albumin is the primary protein in the blood responsible for binding
O
acidic and neutral drugs. Only unbound (free) drug is pharmacologically active.
PY
Question 5
Which route of drug administration is most likely to result in the "first-pass
effect"?
A) Intravenous (IV)
B) Sublingual
C) Oral
D) Transdermal
Answer: C) Oral
, Rationale: The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is absorbed via the
gastrointestinal tract and transported via the portal vein to the liver, where it is
partially metabolized before reaching systemic circulation.
Question 6
The half-life of a drug is 4 hours. How many hours will it take for the drug to reach
steady state if administered continuously?
A) 4 hours
B) 8 hours
C) 16 hours
D
D) 24 hours
Answer: C) 16 hours
O
Rationale: Steady state is typically achieved after approximately 4 to 5 half-lives. 4
half-lives x 4 hours = 16 hours.
N
Question 7
O
What is the term for the study of how genetic variation affects an
individual's response to drugs? A) Pharmacognosy
T
B) Pharmacoeconomics
C
C) Pharmacogenomics
D) Toxicology
O
Answer: C) Pharmacogenomics
Rationale: Pharmacogenomics (or pharmacogenetics) examines how a person's
PY
genetic makeup influences drug metabolism and response, helping to predict
efficacy or adverse effects.
Question 8
A patient receiving an IV push of phenytoin (Dilantin) complains of burning and
pain at the IV site. What is the priority nursing action?
A) Slow the infusion rate
B) Dilute the medication further
C) Stop the infusion immediately
D) Apply a warm compress
