PNLE Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy – Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination – 2026 – Practice Questions with Answers and Rationales

PNLE EXAM – PHARMACOLOGY AND
CLINICAL PHARMACY – SET 5
(QUESTIONS 1–100) – 2026 LATEST
UPDATE – VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES – A+ GRADE
Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination
(PNLE)
Subject: Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy

Direction: Choose the letter of the BEST answer. Each
question is worth 1 point.




1. A 33-year-old woman who is obese complains of
post-prandial, burning chest pain. Her physician
prescribes pantoprazole. Pantoprazole may impair
absorption of which of the following nutrients?
A. Vitamin E
B. Vitamin A
C. Vitamin D
D. Vitamin B12
Correct Answer: D. Vitamin B12.
Rationale: Proton pump inhibitors like pantoprazole reduce
gastric acid, which is necessary for the absorption of vitamin
B12 from food. Long-term use can lead to vitamin B12
deficiency. Vitamins A, D, and E are fat-soluble vitamins
absorbed with dietary fats and are not significantly affected
by PPIs.




2. A 26-year-old woman at 33 weeks gestation
presents to the emergency department with pain and
swelling in her right calf. A duplex of the right calf
confirms the presence of a deep vein thrombosis
(DVT). What is the most appropriate treatment for the
rest of her pregnancy?
A. Abciximab
B. Aspirin
C. Heparin
D. Warfarin


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,Correct Answer: C. Heparin.
Rationale: Heparin (specifically low-molecular-weight
heparin) is the anticoagulant of choice during pregnancy
because it does not cross the placenta and is safe for the
fetus. Warfarin is teratogenic and contraindicated in
pregnancy. Aspirin and abciximab are antiplatelets, not
anticoagulants for DVT.




3. Which of the following drugs would decrease the
amount of asthma attacks by preventing an
arachidonic acid derivative from binding to its
receptor?
A. Aspirin
B. Celecoxib
C. Ipratropium
D. Montelukast
Correct Answer: D. Montelukast.
Rationale: Montelukast is a leukotriene receptor antagonist
that blocks the binding of leukotrienes (arachidonic acid
derivatives) to their receptors, reducing bronchoconstriction
and inflammation in asthma. Aspirin and celecoxib are
NSAIDs; ipratropium is an anticholinergic bronchodilator.




4. A 15-year-old female presents to her primary care
physician complaining of runny nose and itchy eyes.
She said that she first had these symptoms during the
spring a few years ago, but each year, they have been
bothering her more. Which of the following drugs
would prevent the release of the main chemical
mediator in her case?
A. Cromolyn sodium
B. Diphenhydramine
C. Ranitidine
D. Theophylline
Correct Answer: A. Cromolyn sodium.
Rationale: Cromolyn sodium is a mast cell stabilizer that
prevents the release of histamine and other mediators from
mast cells, making it effective for allergic rhinitis and
conjunctivitis. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine (blocks




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,receptors, doesn't prevent release); ranitidine is an H2
blocker; theophylline is a bronchodilator.




5. A 63-year-old man with a history of asthma comes
into the emergency department after getting stung by
a bee. The treating physician wants to give
epinephrine subcutaneously. Which of the following
contraindications to this medication is noted?
A. Diabetes mellitus
B. Narrow-angle glaucoma
C. Pulmonary failure
D. Thyroid disease
Correct Answer: B. Narrow-angle glaucoma.
Rationale: Epinephrine can cause mydriasis (pupil dilation)
and increase intraocular pressure, which can precipitate
acute angle-closure glaucoma. It is not contraindicated in
diabetes, pulmonary failure, or thyroid disease, though
caution is advised in these conditions.




6. JG is a patient with an immediate allergic reaction
to ticarcillin/clavulanate. Select the antimicrobial that
JG may take without risk of allergic reaction.
A. Piperacillin/tazobactam
B. Amoxicillin/clavulanate
C. Ceftriaxone
D. Aztreonam
Correct Answer: D. Aztreonam.
Rationale: Aztreonam is a monobactam antibiotic with no
cross-reactivity with penicillins, making it safe for patients
with penicillin allergy. Piperacillin, amoxicillin, and
ceftriaxone are beta-lactams with potential cross-reactivity.




7. Which of the following carbapenem antibiotics does
not have coverage against P. aeruginosa?
A. Ertapenem
B. Doripenem
C. Imipenem-cilastatin
D. Meropenem


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, Correct Answer: A. Ertapenem.
Rationale: Ertapenem does not cover Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, unlike doripenem, imipenem-cilastatin, and
meropenem. This is an important distinction when selecting
carbapenems for empirical therapy.




8. Which agent is recommended for a 25-year-old man
with suspected Community acquired pneumonia (CAP)
who completed a 5-day course of Clarithromycin for
suspected CAP 6 weeks ago?
A. Clarithromycin 1,000 mg/day po
B. Levofloxacin 750 mg/day po
C. Piperacillin-tazobactam 4.5 g IV q6h
D. Doxycycline 100 mg po bid
Correct Answer: B. Levofloxacin 750 mg/day po.
Rationale: For CAP treated within the last 3 months with a
macrolide, a respiratory fluoroquinolone like levofloxacin is
recommended because of the risk of macrolide-resistant
Streptococcus pneumoniae. Clarithromycin and doxycycline
are less appropriate in this scenario.




9. Which of the following agents is not recommended
for respiratory tract infections with possible MRSA
infections?
A. Ceftaroline
B. Daptomycin
C. Linezolid
D. Vancomycin
Correct Answer: B. Daptomycin.
Rationale: Daptomycin is inactivated by pulmonary
surfactant and should not be used for respiratory tract
infections. Ceftaroline, linezolid, and vancomycin are all
active against MRSA and can be used for respiratory
infections.




10. A drug is administered in the form of an inactive
pro-drug. The pro-drug increases the expression of a
cytochrome P-450 that converts the pro-drug to its


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