HOSA Pharmacology
Practice Questions &
Answers
Comprehensive Explanations
& Rationales
Key Concepts • Review
Questions • Exam Preparation
,Absorption Process by which a drug enters the circulatory system (blood).
Intravenous (IV) & Intra-Arterial Administration/Dosage routs that do not require absorption.
Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, & Elimination... The ADME
Pharmacokinetic Process
Addiction Dependence characterized by a perceived need to take a drug to attain the
psychological & physical effects of mood altering substances.
Affinity Natural attraction - the strength by which a particular chemical messenger binds to
its receptor site on a cell
Agonist Drug that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter when it binds to a particular
receptor site - i.e. & triggers the cell's response in a manner similar to the action of
the body's own chemical messenger.
Allergen Substance of a usually harmless nature that produces an abnormal hypersensitive
reaction.
Allergic Response A hypersensitive reaction to any usually harmless substance that does not normally
cause a reaction.
Anaphylactic Reaction Severe allergic response resulting in immediate life-threatening respiratory distress,
usually followed by vascular collapse & shock accompanied w/ hives.
Angioedema Abnormal accumulation of fluid in tissue.
Antagonist Drug that neutralizes or counteracts the effects of a neurotransmitter or another
drug when it binds to a particular receptor site.
Antigen Foreign substance that is recognized by the immune system & induces the immune
system to produce antibodies to defend against the foreign substance.
Bioavailability Degree to which a drug or other substance becomes available to the target tissue
after administration.
Blood-Brain Barrier Fortified area that prevents many substances from entering the cerebro-spinal fluid
from the blood. This area is formed by glial cells that envelope capillaries in the
fcentral nervous system. This creates a shield that blocks many water-soluble
compounds, but is permeable to lipid-soluble substances.
Ceiling Effect Point @ which no clinical response occurs w/ increased dosage of a drug.
,Clearance Rate @ which a drug is eliminated from a specific volume of blood per unit of time.
Contraindication Any disease, condition, or symptom for which a drug will not be beneficial & may be
harmful.
Dependence State in which a person's body has adapted physiologically & psychologically to a
drug & cannot function w/o it.
Distribution Process by which a drug moves from the blood into other body fluids & tissues &
ultimately to its site(s) of action.
Dose Quantity of a drug administered at one time.
Drug Abuse Use of a drug for purposes other than those prescribed &/or in amounts that were
not directed. This is often linked to addiction.
Drug Interaction When a drug is affected in some way by another drug, foods, or other substances,
such as when enzymes that metabolize the drug are induced or inhibited.
Drug Interaction Relationship: Addition The combined effect of 2 drugs is equal to the sum of the effects of each drug taken
alone.
Drug Interaction Relationship: Antagonism The action of 1 drug negates the action of a 2nd drug.
Drug Interaction Relationship: Potentiation 1 drug increases or prolongs the action of another drug, & the total effect is greater
than the sum of the effects of each drug used alone - drug potency is increased.
Drug Interaction Relationship: Synergism The combined effect of 2 drugs is more intense or longer in duration than the sum of
their individual effects. Drugs that work in combination like this are usually
prescribed together.
Enzymes, Nucleic Acids, Receptors, & Transport Proteins Types of specific body molecules that drugs can combine w/.
Duration Of Action Length of time a drug gives the desired response/remains at the therapeutic level.
Elimination Removal of a drug or the drugs metabolites from the body by excretion.
First-Order Drugs for which the rate of elimination is concentration dependent (as opposed to
____ _ _____).
, First-Pass Effect Extent to which a drug is metabolized by the liver before reaching full body
circulation. This can substantially decrease bioavailability of certain drugs when
administered orally, in which case administration by injection is required.
Half-Life Time necessary for the body to eliminate half of the drug in the body @ any 1 time
(written as T 1/2).
Homeostasis Maintenance of stability in the internal environment of the body.
Induction Process by which a drug increases the concentration of certain enzymes that affect
the pharmacologic response to other drugs.
Inhibition Process by which a drug blocks enzyme activity & impairs the metabolism of
another drug.
Interaction Change in the action of a drug caused by another drug, food, or another substance,
such as alcohol or nicotine.
Lipid Fatty molecule - An important constituent of cell membranes; they generally repel
water.
Local Effect Action of a drug that is confined to a specific part of the body.
Loading Dose Amt of a drug that will bring the blood concentration rapidly to a therapeutic level.
Maintenance Dose Amt of a drug administered at regular intervals to keep the blood concentration @ a
therapeutic level. An important factor in determining this, is a drug's clearance rate.
Metabolic Pathway Sequence of chemical steps that convert a drug tinto a metabolite.
Metabolism Process by which drugs are chemically converted to other compounds.
Metabolite Substance into which a drug is chemically converted in the body.
Peak Top or upper limit of a drug's concentration in the blood.
Pharmacokinetic Modeling Method of describing the process of absorption, distribution, metabolism, &
elimination (ADME) of drug w/i the body mathematically.
Practice Questions &
Answers
Comprehensive Explanations
& Rationales
Key Concepts • Review
Questions • Exam Preparation
,Absorption Process by which a drug enters the circulatory system (blood).
Intravenous (IV) & Intra-Arterial Administration/Dosage routs that do not require absorption.
Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, & Elimination... The ADME
Pharmacokinetic Process
Addiction Dependence characterized by a perceived need to take a drug to attain the
psychological & physical effects of mood altering substances.
Affinity Natural attraction - the strength by which a particular chemical messenger binds to
its receptor site on a cell
Agonist Drug that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter when it binds to a particular
receptor site - i.e. & triggers the cell's response in a manner similar to the action of
the body's own chemical messenger.
Allergen Substance of a usually harmless nature that produces an abnormal hypersensitive
reaction.
Allergic Response A hypersensitive reaction to any usually harmless substance that does not normally
cause a reaction.
Anaphylactic Reaction Severe allergic response resulting in immediate life-threatening respiratory distress,
usually followed by vascular collapse & shock accompanied w/ hives.
Angioedema Abnormal accumulation of fluid in tissue.
Antagonist Drug that neutralizes or counteracts the effects of a neurotransmitter or another
drug when it binds to a particular receptor site.
Antigen Foreign substance that is recognized by the immune system & induces the immune
system to produce antibodies to defend against the foreign substance.
Bioavailability Degree to which a drug or other substance becomes available to the target tissue
after administration.
Blood-Brain Barrier Fortified area that prevents many substances from entering the cerebro-spinal fluid
from the blood. This area is formed by glial cells that envelope capillaries in the
fcentral nervous system. This creates a shield that blocks many water-soluble
compounds, but is permeable to lipid-soluble substances.
Ceiling Effect Point @ which no clinical response occurs w/ increased dosage of a drug.
,Clearance Rate @ which a drug is eliminated from a specific volume of blood per unit of time.
Contraindication Any disease, condition, or symptom for which a drug will not be beneficial & may be
harmful.
Dependence State in which a person's body has adapted physiologically & psychologically to a
drug & cannot function w/o it.
Distribution Process by which a drug moves from the blood into other body fluids & tissues &
ultimately to its site(s) of action.
Dose Quantity of a drug administered at one time.
Drug Abuse Use of a drug for purposes other than those prescribed &/or in amounts that were
not directed. This is often linked to addiction.
Drug Interaction When a drug is affected in some way by another drug, foods, or other substances,
such as when enzymes that metabolize the drug are induced or inhibited.
Drug Interaction Relationship: Addition The combined effect of 2 drugs is equal to the sum of the effects of each drug taken
alone.
Drug Interaction Relationship: Antagonism The action of 1 drug negates the action of a 2nd drug.
Drug Interaction Relationship: Potentiation 1 drug increases or prolongs the action of another drug, & the total effect is greater
than the sum of the effects of each drug used alone - drug potency is increased.
Drug Interaction Relationship: Synergism The combined effect of 2 drugs is more intense or longer in duration than the sum of
their individual effects. Drugs that work in combination like this are usually
prescribed together.
Enzymes, Nucleic Acids, Receptors, & Transport Proteins Types of specific body molecules that drugs can combine w/.
Duration Of Action Length of time a drug gives the desired response/remains at the therapeutic level.
Elimination Removal of a drug or the drugs metabolites from the body by excretion.
First-Order Drugs for which the rate of elimination is concentration dependent (as opposed to
____ _ _____).
, First-Pass Effect Extent to which a drug is metabolized by the liver before reaching full body
circulation. This can substantially decrease bioavailability of certain drugs when
administered orally, in which case administration by injection is required.
Half-Life Time necessary for the body to eliminate half of the drug in the body @ any 1 time
(written as T 1/2).
Homeostasis Maintenance of stability in the internal environment of the body.
Induction Process by which a drug increases the concentration of certain enzymes that affect
the pharmacologic response to other drugs.
Inhibition Process by which a drug blocks enzyme activity & impairs the metabolism of
another drug.
Interaction Change in the action of a drug caused by another drug, food, or another substance,
such as alcohol or nicotine.
Lipid Fatty molecule - An important constituent of cell membranes; they generally repel
water.
Local Effect Action of a drug that is confined to a specific part of the body.
Loading Dose Amt of a drug that will bring the blood concentration rapidly to a therapeutic level.
Maintenance Dose Amt of a drug administered at regular intervals to keep the blood concentration @ a
therapeutic level. An important factor in determining this, is a drug's clearance rate.
Metabolic Pathway Sequence of chemical steps that convert a drug tinto a metabolite.
Metabolism Process by which drugs are chemically converted to other compounds.
Metabolite Substance into which a drug is chemically converted in the body.
Peak Top or upper limit of a drug's concentration in the blood.
Pharmacokinetic Modeling Method of describing the process of absorption, distribution, metabolism, &
elimination (ADME) of drug w/i the body mathematically.
