NURS 5663 ADVANCED
PHARMACOLOGY: WEEKS 1-6
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
1. A patient is taking a drug that is a known CYP450 enzyme inducer. If a second drug
metabolized by the same pathway is added, what clinical effect should the nurse practitioner
anticipate for the second drug?
A. Immediate toxic reaction to the second drug
B. Increased serum levels of the second drug
C. Reduced rate of drug excretion
D. Decreased therapeutic effect of the second drug
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Enzyme inducers increase the metabolic rate of drugs processed
by that system, leading to lower plasma concentrations and potentially decreased
therapeutic effects.
,2. Which pharmacological parameter best describes the maximum effect that a drug can
produce, regardless of the dose?
A. Potency
B. Efficacy
C. Affinity
D. Selectivity
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Efficacy refers to the maximum response a drug can elicit.
Potency relates to how much drug is needed to reach a certain effect, but efficacy is the
limit of the response.
3. A drug has a half-life of 6 hours. If a patient receives a single dose, how long will it take for
approximately 94% of the drug to be eliminated from the body?
A. 12 hours
B. 24 hours
C. 18 hours
D. 30 hours
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: It takes 4 half-lives to reach 93.75% (approx 94%) elimination.
6 hours x 4 = 24 hours.
, 4. Which route of administration is most significantly affected by the ‘first-pass effect’?
A. Sublingual
B. Intravenous
C. Oral
D. Transdermal
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Oral medications are absorbed in the GI tract and transported to
the liver via the portal vein, where they may be extensively metabolized before reaching
systemic circulation.
5. What is the primary role of P-glycoprotein in the cell membrane?
A. It facilitates the passive diffusion of lipophilic drugs into the CNS
B. It pumps drugs out of cells, limiting their absorption or access to certain tissues
C. It acts as a primary receptor for G-protein coupled ligands
D. It metabolizes prodrugs into their active metabolites
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: P-glycoprotein is an efflux transporter that moves drugs out of
cells in the gut, brain, and kidneys, often reducing drug accumulation.
PHARMACOLOGY: WEEKS 1-6
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
1. A patient is taking a drug that is a known CYP450 enzyme inducer. If a second drug
metabolized by the same pathway is added, what clinical effect should the nurse practitioner
anticipate for the second drug?
A. Immediate toxic reaction to the second drug
B. Increased serum levels of the second drug
C. Reduced rate of drug excretion
D. Decreased therapeutic effect of the second drug
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Enzyme inducers increase the metabolic rate of drugs processed
by that system, leading to lower plasma concentrations and potentially decreased
therapeutic effects.
,2. Which pharmacological parameter best describes the maximum effect that a drug can
produce, regardless of the dose?
A. Potency
B. Efficacy
C. Affinity
D. Selectivity
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Efficacy refers to the maximum response a drug can elicit.
Potency relates to how much drug is needed to reach a certain effect, but efficacy is the
limit of the response.
3. A drug has a half-life of 6 hours. If a patient receives a single dose, how long will it take for
approximately 94% of the drug to be eliminated from the body?
A. 12 hours
B. 24 hours
C. 18 hours
D. 30 hours
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: It takes 4 half-lives to reach 93.75% (approx 94%) elimination.
6 hours x 4 = 24 hours.
, 4. Which route of administration is most significantly affected by the ‘first-pass effect’?
A. Sublingual
B. Intravenous
C. Oral
D. Transdermal
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Oral medications are absorbed in the GI tract and transported to
the liver via the portal vein, where they may be extensively metabolized before reaching
systemic circulation.
5. What is the primary role of P-glycoprotein in the cell membrane?
A. It facilitates the passive diffusion of lipophilic drugs into the CNS
B. It pumps drugs out of cells, limiting their absorption or access to certain tissues
C. It acts as a primary receptor for G-protein coupled ligands
D. It metabolizes prodrugs into their active metabolites
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: P-glycoprotein is an efflux transporter that moves drugs out of
cells in the gut, brain, and kidneys, often reducing drug accumulation.
