& Correct Answers | Graded A+.
1. The route of administration with the highest bioavailability is:
A) Oral
B) Intravenous
C) Subcutaneous
D) Intramuscular
Answer B: Intravenous
Rationale: IV administration places the entire dose directly into the bloodstream,
bypassing absorption and achieving 100% bioavailability .
2. The intravenous route of administration avoids:
A) Renal excretion
B) Distribution
C) First-pass metabolism in the liver
D) Protein binding
Answer C: First-pass metabolism in the liver
Rationale: IV drugs enter systemic circulation directly, bypassing the hepatic
portal system and first-pass metabolism .
3. Steady state of a drug is usually reached within:
,A) 1-2 half-lives
B) 4-5 half-lives
C) 6-8 half-lives
D) 10-12 half-lives
Answer B: 4-5 half-lives
Rationale: Steady state is typically achieved after 4-5 half-lives of the drug,
regardless of the dosing interval .
4. The half-life of a drug determines:
A) How long the drug stays in the bottle
B) How frequently the drug must be administered and how long toxic effects may
last
C) The drug's potency
D) The drug's receptor affinity
Answer B: How frequently the drug must be administered and how long toxic
effects may last
Rationale: Half-life predicts dosing frequency and duration of toxic effects; it is
the time for drug concentration to decrease by 50% .
5. First-order (linear) pharmacokinetics means:
A) The drug is metabolized at a constant rate regardless of concentration
B) The metabolism is directly proportional to the free concentration of the drug
C) The drug has no metabolism
,D) The drug is eliminated only by the kidneys
Answer B: The metabolism is directly proportional to the free concentration
of the drug
Rationale: In first-order kinetics, a constant fraction of the drug is metabolized
per unit time .
6. Zero-order (nonlinear) pharmacokinetics means:
A) The drug is metabolized in proportion to its concentration
B) A drug is metabolized at a constant rate per unit time
C) The drug has no half-life
D) The drug is excreted unchanged
Answer B: A drug is metabolized at a constant rate per unit time
Rationale: In zero-order kinetics, a constant amount of drug is metabolized per
unit time, regardless of concentration .
7. CYP3A4 substrate drugs may have decreased activity if:
A) CYP3A4 inhibitor drugs are used
B) Any CYP3A4 inducer drugs are used along with it
C) The drug is given orally
D) The drug is given intravenously
Answer B: Any CYP3A4 inducer drugs are used along with it
Rationale: CYP3A4 inducers increase metabolism of substrate drugs, reducing
their effectiveness .
, 8. Which of the following is NOT a medication safety organization?
A) Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP)
B) Institute of Medicine (IOM)
C) Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
D) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – wait, FDA is a safety organization.
Actually, the question may ask for the one that is NOT. Let me check: FDA, ISMP,
IOM, JCAHO are all medication safety organizations.
Answer A: ll of the above are medication safety organizations
Rationale: The FDA, ISMP, IOM, and JCAHO all play roles in medication safety and
error prevention .
9. Rectal administration has:
A) Complete absorption
B) Variable and erratic absorption
C) 100% bioavailability
D) No first-pass effect
Answer B: Variable and erratic absorption
Rationale: Rectal absorption is inconsistent due to variable vascularity and
presence of stool .