NU553 UNIT 4 THYROID & PARATHYROID PHYSIOLOGY
EXAM 2 2026/2027 | ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY &
PHARMACOTHERAPEUTICS | HORMONES, REGULATION &
DISORDERS | HIGH-YIELD PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
CORRECT ANSWERS
1. A 35-year-old male is diagnosed with primary hypothyroidism and started on
levothyroxine. During his follow-up appointment 2 weeks later, he reports
symptomatic improvement, denies any adverse side effects with
pharmacological therapy, and his physical exam is otherwise benign. When
should you recheck his serum TSH?
today
6 weeks from starting therapy
10 weeks from onset of therapy
4 weeks from initiating therapy
2. What is the half-life of the hormone triiodothyronine (T3)?
Approximately 3 days
Approximately 1 day
Approximately 2 days
Approximately 1 hour
3. What is the primary purpose of levothyroxine in the treatment of
hypothyroidism?
To suppress thyroid hormone production
To increase calcium levels in the blood
To replace deficient thyroid hormone levels
To treat hyperthyroidism
,4. Mrs. Johnson is 35-year-old female who came into the clinic with complaints
of significant decrease in energy and weight gain. She also reports a family
history of Hashimoto thyroiditis. Which of the following skin findings are
associated with hypothyroidism?
Dry skin; course and brittle hair; skin cool to touch; thin and brittle
nails
Pallor, uremic frost, pruritus, "half and half" nails
Striae, telangiectasias, moon facies, buffalo hump
Warm, moist, and soft skin; thin and fine hair
5. The most common cause of primary hypothyroidism in iodine- sufficient area:
autoimmunity
post-thyroidectomy
subacute thyroiditis
thyroid irradiation
6. What is the preferred antithyroid drug after the first trimester of pregnancy?
Propylthiouracil
Levothyroxine
Methimazole
Carbimazole
7. What is the typical maintenance dose of levothyroxine for adults?
0.5 mcg/kg/day
1.0 mcg/kg/day
, 2.0 mcg/kg/day
1.6 mcg/kg/day
8. Describe the significance of the half-life of triiodothyronine in thyroid
hormone regulation.
The half-life of triiodothyronine is significant because it affects how
quickly the hormone levels fluctuate in the bloodstream,
influencing metabolic processes.
The half-life of triiodothyronine determines its production rate in the
thyroid gland.
The half-life of triiodothyronine is the same as that of thyroxine (T4).
The half-life of triiodothyronine is irrelevant to thyroid function.
9. What is the initial dose of levothyroxine typically recommended for patients
with ischemic heart disease?
The initial dose should be lower than the standard starting dose,
often around 12.5 to 25 mcg per day.
The initial dose is usually 50 mcg per day.
The initial dose is typically 100 mcg per day.
The initial dose is 75 mcg per day.
10. If a patient is diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism due to a
parathyroid adenoma, what treatment option is most likely to be
recommended?
Administration of vitamin D supplements
Increased fluid intake
Use of antithyroid medications
, Surgical removal of the adenoma
11. Describe how subclinical hypothyroidism differs from overt hypothyroidism.
Subclinical hypothyroidism is characterized by elevated TSH levels
and normal T4 levels, while overt hypothyroidism has elevated TSH
and low T4 levels.
Subclinical hypothyroidism is when T4 levels are high and TSH levels
are low.
Both conditions have elevated TSH and T4 levels, but subclinical is
asymptomatic.
Subclinical hypothyroidism has low TSH and normal T4 levels, while
overt hypothyroidism has normal TSH and low T4 levels.
12. What is the primary reason liothyronine is not commonly used for treating
hypothyroidism?
It is less effective than levothyroxine.
It is more expensive than levothyroxine.
It has a shorter half-life than levothyroxine.
It causes more side effects than levothyroxine.
13. Describe the significance of levothyroxine in the management of myxedema
coma.
Levothyroxine is primarily a pain reliever.
Levothyroxine is not effective in any thyroid disorders.
Levothyroxine is crucial in restoring thyroid hormone levels in
patients with myxedema coma.
Levothyroxine is used to treat hyperthyroidism.
EXAM 2 2026/2027 | ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY &
PHARMACOTHERAPEUTICS | HORMONES, REGULATION &
DISORDERS | HIGH-YIELD PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
CORRECT ANSWERS
1. A 35-year-old male is diagnosed with primary hypothyroidism and started on
levothyroxine. During his follow-up appointment 2 weeks later, he reports
symptomatic improvement, denies any adverse side effects with
pharmacological therapy, and his physical exam is otherwise benign. When
should you recheck his serum TSH?
today
6 weeks from starting therapy
10 weeks from onset of therapy
4 weeks from initiating therapy
2. What is the half-life of the hormone triiodothyronine (T3)?
Approximately 3 days
Approximately 1 day
Approximately 2 days
Approximately 1 hour
3. What is the primary purpose of levothyroxine in the treatment of
hypothyroidism?
To suppress thyroid hormone production
To increase calcium levels in the blood
To replace deficient thyroid hormone levels
To treat hyperthyroidism
,4. Mrs. Johnson is 35-year-old female who came into the clinic with complaints
of significant decrease in energy and weight gain. She also reports a family
history of Hashimoto thyroiditis. Which of the following skin findings are
associated with hypothyroidism?
Dry skin; course and brittle hair; skin cool to touch; thin and brittle
nails
Pallor, uremic frost, pruritus, "half and half" nails
Striae, telangiectasias, moon facies, buffalo hump
Warm, moist, and soft skin; thin and fine hair
5. The most common cause of primary hypothyroidism in iodine- sufficient area:
autoimmunity
post-thyroidectomy
subacute thyroiditis
thyroid irradiation
6. What is the preferred antithyroid drug after the first trimester of pregnancy?
Propylthiouracil
Levothyroxine
Methimazole
Carbimazole
7. What is the typical maintenance dose of levothyroxine for adults?
0.5 mcg/kg/day
1.0 mcg/kg/day
, 2.0 mcg/kg/day
1.6 mcg/kg/day
8. Describe the significance of the half-life of triiodothyronine in thyroid
hormone regulation.
The half-life of triiodothyronine is significant because it affects how
quickly the hormone levels fluctuate in the bloodstream,
influencing metabolic processes.
The half-life of triiodothyronine determines its production rate in the
thyroid gland.
The half-life of triiodothyronine is the same as that of thyroxine (T4).
The half-life of triiodothyronine is irrelevant to thyroid function.
9. What is the initial dose of levothyroxine typically recommended for patients
with ischemic heart disease?
The initial dose should be lower than the standard starting dose,
often around 12.5 to 25 mcg per day.
The initial dose is usually 50 mcg per day.
The initial dose is typically 100 mcg per day.
The initial dose is 75 mcg per day.
10. If a patient is diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism due to a
parathyroid adenoma, what treatment option is most likely to be
recommended?
Administration of vitamin D supplements
Increased fluid intake
Use of antithyroid medications
, Surgical removal of the adenoma
11. Describe how subclinical hypothyroidism differs from overt hypothyroidism.
Subclinical hypothyroidism is characterized by elevated TSH levels
and normal T4 levels, while overt hypothyroidism has elevated TSH
and low T4 levels.
Subclinical hypothyroidism is when T4 levels are high and TSH levels
are low.
Both conditions have elevated TSH and T4 levels, but subclinical is
asymptomatic.
Subclinical hypothyroidism has low TSH and normal T4 levels, while
overt hypothyroidism has normal TSH and low T4 levels.
12. What is the primary reason liothyronine is not commonly used for treating
hypothyroidism?
It is less effective than levothyroxine.
It is more expensive than levothyroxine.
It has a shorter half-life than levothyroxine.
It causes more side effects than levothyroxine.
13. Describe the significance of levothyroxine in the management of myxedema
coma.
Levothyroxine is primarily a pain reliever.
Levothyroxine is not effective in any thyroid disorders.
Levothyroxine is crucial in restoring thyroid hormone levels in
patients with myxedema coma.
Levothyroxine is used to treat hyperthyroidism.
