Understanding Pharmacology Chapter 1 - Drug Regulation, Actions & Responses Questions & Verified Answers
Adbsorption Movement of a drug from the outside of the body into the bloodstream
Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) Same as Adverse Effect
Adverse Effect A drug effect that is more severe than expected and has the potential to damage
tissue or cause serious health problems.
It may also be called a toxic effect or toxicity and usually requires intervention by the
prescriber
Agonist An extrinsic drug that activates the receptor site of a cell and mimics the actions of
naturally occurring body substances (intrinsic drugs)
Allergic Response Type of adverse effect in which the presence of the drug stimulates the release of
histamine and other body chemicals that cause inflammatory reactions.
The response may be as mild as a rash or as severe and life threatening as
anaphylaxis
Antagonist An extrinsic drug that blocks the receptor site of a cell, preventing the naturally
occuring body substance from binding to the receptor
Bioavailability The percentage of a drug dose that actually reaches the blood
Black Box Warning A notice that a drug may produce serious or even life-threatening effect in some
people in addition to its beneficial effects
Brand Name A manufacturer-owned name of generic drug;
Also called "trade name" or "proprietary name"
Contraindication A personal or health-related reason for not administering a specific drug to a patient
or a group of patients
Cytotoxic Drug action that is intended to kill a cell or an organism
Distribution (Drug Distribution)
The extent that a drug absorbed into the bloodstream spreads into the three body
water compartments
Drug Any small molecule that changes any body function by working at the chemical and
cell levels
Drug Therapy The planned use of a drug to prevent or improve a health problem
Duration of Action The length of time a drug is present in the blood at or above the level needed to
prodice an effect or response
Stuvia | Academic Year (2026-2027)
,Understanding Pharmacology Chapter 1 - Drug Regulation, Actions & Responses Questions & Verified Answers
Elimination The removal of drugs from the body accomplished by certain body systems
Enteral Route Movememnt of drugs from the outside of the body to the inside using the
gastrointestinal tract
First-Pass Loss Rapid inactivation or elimination of oral drugs as a result of liver metabolism
Generic Name National and international public drug name created by the United States Adopted
Names (USAN) Council to indicate the usual use or chemical composition of a drug
USAN United States Adopted Names
Half-Life Time span needed for one half of a drug dose to be eliminated
High-Alert Drug A drug that has an increased risk for causing patient harm if it us used in error
Intended Action Desired Effect (main effect) of a drug on a specific body cells or tissues;
Same as Therapeutic Response
Loading Dose The first dose of a drug that is larger than all subsequent doses of the same drug;
Used when it takes more drug to reach steady state than it does to maintain it
Mechanism of Action Exactly how, at the cellular level, a drug to reach steady state than it does to
maintain it
Medication Any small molecule that changes any body function by working at the chemical and
cell levels (same as a drug)
Metabolism (Drug Metabolism)
Chemical reaction in the body that changes the chemical shape and content of a
drug, preparing the drug for inactivation and elimination
Minimum Effective Concentration (MEC) The smallest amount of drug necessary in the blood or target tissue to result in a
measurable intended action
Over-The-Counter (OTC) Drugs that are approved for purchase without a prescription
MEC Minimum Effective Concentration
Stuvia | Academic Year (2026-2027)
, Understanding Pharmacology Chapter 1 - Drug Regulation, Actions & Responses Questions & Verified Answers
OTC Over-The-Counter
Parenteral Route Movement of a drug from the outside of the body to the inside of the body by
injection (intra-arterial, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal,
intracavitary, intraosseous, intrathecal)
Peak Maximum blood drug level
Percutaneous Route Movement of a drug from the outside of the body to the inside through the skin or
mucous membranes
Pharmacodynamics Ways in which drugs work to change body function
Pharmacokinetics How the body changes drugs;
Drug Metabolism
Pharmacology The science and study of drugs and their actions on living animals
Physiologic Effect The change in body function as an outcome of the mechanism of action of a drug
Potency The strength of the intended action produced at a give drug dose
Prescription An order written or dictated by a state-approved prescriber for a specific drug
therapy for a specific patient
Prescription Drugs The legal status of any drug that is considered unsafe for self-medication or has a
potential for addiction and is only available by a prescription written by a state-
approved health care professional
Receptors Physical place on or in a cell where a drug can bind and interact
Side Effect Any minor effect of a drug on body cells or tissues that is not the intended action of
a drug
Steady State Point at which drug elimination is balanced with drug entry, resulting in a constant
effective blood level of a drug
Target Tissue The actual cells or tissues affected by the mechanism of action or intended actions
of a specific drug
Stuvia | Academic Year (2026-2027)
Adbsorption Movement of a drug from the outside of the body into the bloodstream
Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) Same as Adverse Effect
Adverse Effect A drug effect that is more severe than expected and has the potential to damage
tissue or cause serious health problems.
It may also be called a toxic effect or toxicity and usually requires intervention by the
prescriber
Agonist An extrinsic drug that activates the receptor site of a cell and mimics the actions of
naturally occurring body substances (intrinsic drugs)
Allergic Response Type of adverse effect in which the presence of the drug stimulates the release of
histamine and other body chemicals that cause inflammatory reactions.
The response may be as mild as a rash or as severe and life threatening as
anaphylaxis
Antagonist An extrinsic drug that blocks the receptor site of a cell, preventing the naturally
occuring body substance from binding to the receptor
Bioavailability The percentage of a drug dose that actually reaches the blood
Black Box Warning A notice that a drug may produce serious or even life-threatening effect in some
people in addition to its beneficial effects
Brand Name A manufacturer-owned name of generic drug;
Also called "trade name" or "proprietary name"
Contraindication A personal or health-related reason for not administering a specific drug to a patient
or a group of patients
Cytotoxic Drug action that is intended to kill a cell or an organism
Distribution (Drug Distribution)
The extent that a drug absorbed into the bloodstream spreads into the three body
water compartments
Drug Any small molecule that changes any body function by working at the chemical and
cell levels
Drug Therapy The planned use of a drug to prevent or improve a health problem
Duration of Action The length of time a drug is present in the blood at or above the level needed to
prodice an effect or response
Stuvia | Academic Year (2026-2027)
,Understanding Pharmacology Chapter 1 - Drug Regulation, Actions & Responses Questions & Verified Answers
Elimination The removal of drugs from the body accomplished by certain body systems
Enteral Route Movememnt of drugs from the outside of the body to the inside using the
gastrointestinal tract
First-Pass Loss Rapid inactivation or elimination of oral drugs as a result of liver metabolism
Generic Name National and international public drug name created by the United States Adopted
Names (USAN) Council to indicate the usual use or chemical composition of a drug
USAN United States Adopted Names
Half-Life Time span needed for one half of a drug dose to be eliminated
High-Alert Drug A drug that has an increased risk for causing patient harm if it us used in error
Intended Action Desired Effect (main effect) of a drug on a specific body cells or tissues;
Same as Therapeutic Response
Loading Dose The first dose of a drug that is larger than all subsequent doses of the same drug;
Used when it takes more drug to reach steady state than it does to maintain it
Mechanism of Action Exactly how, at the cellular level, a drug to reach steady state than it does to
maintain it
Medication Any small molecule that changes any body function by working at the chemical and
cell levels (same as a drug)
Metabolism (Drug Metabolism)
Chemical reaction in the body that changes the chemical shape and content of a
drug, preparing the drug for inactivation and elimination
Minimum Effective Concentration (MEC) The smallest amount of drug necessary in the blood or target tissue to result in a
measurable intended action
Over-The-Counter (OTC) Drugs that are approved for purchase without a prescription
MEC Minimum Effective Concentration
Stuvia | Academic Year (2026-2027)
, Understanding Pharmacology Chapter 1 - Drug Regulation, Actions & Responses Questions & Verified Answers
OTC Over-The-Counter
Parenteral Route Movement of a drug from the outside of the body to the inside of the body by
injection (intra-arterial, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal,
intracavitary, intraosseous, intrathecal)
Peak Maximum blood drug level
Percutaneous Route Movement of a drug from the outside of the body to the inside through the skin or
mucous membranes
Pharmacodynamics Ways in which drugs work to change body function
Pharmacokinetics How the body changes drugs;
Drug Metabolism
Pharmacology The science and study of drugs and their actions on living animals
Physiologic Effect The change in body function as an outcome of the mechanism of action of a drug
Potency The strength of the intended action produced at a give drug dose
Prescription An order written or dictated by a state-approved prescriber for a specific drug
therapy for a specific patient
Prescription Drugs The legal status of any drug that is considered unsafe for self-medication or has a
potential for addiction and is only available by a prescription written by a state-
approved health care professional
Receptors Physical place on or in a cell where a drug can bind and interact
Side Effect Any minor effect of a drug on body cells or tissues that is not the intended action of
a drug
Steady State Point at which drug elimination is balanced with drug entry, resulting in a constant
effective blood level of a drug
Target Tissue The actual cells or tissues affected by the mechanism of action or intended actions
of a specific drug
Stuvia | Academic Year (2026-2027)
