NURS 8024:
Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodyna
mics Exam Questions and
Answers 100% Correct
Pharmacokinetics - ANSWER - absorption, distribution, elimination of drugs; "what
the body does to the drug"
Pharmacodynamics - ANSWER - actions of the chemical on the organism; "what the
drug does to the body"
Toxicology - ANSWER - branch of pharmacology that deals with undesirable effects
of chemicals on living systems; all substances have potential for toxicity
Pharmacogenomics - ANSWER - genetic variations that cause differences in drug
response among individuals or populations
Pharmacologic agonist - ANSWER - agent binds to and ACTIVATES the receptor,
which directly or indirectly causes an effect; can be full or partial agonist
Pharmacologic antagonist - ANSWER - agent binds to a receptor, competing with
other molecules and preventing binding by other molecules; INHIBITOR
Pro-drug - ANSWER - inactive precursor chemical; must be absorbed and distributed
and converted to the active form of the drug by biologic processes
Therapeutic window - ANSWER - desired drug response without toxicity; between
mean effective concentration for desired response & mean effective concentration
for adverse response
, pH of drugs - ANSWER - Drugs are usually weak acids or weak bases; drug passes
readily through cell membrane when uncharged; acidic drugs release a H+ ion
causing a charged anion to form
Size of drugs - ANSWER - Varies, but smaller size is easier to cross cell membranes
pKa of drug - ANSWER - pH of tissue or fluid when 50% ionization occurs
(equalization of ions and non-ionized molecules)
MEC - ANSWER - Mean effective concentration; drug response < MEC: response will
be subtherapeutic; drug level > MEC: toxicity
ADME - ANSWER - Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Elimination (fundamental
pathways of drugs)
Absorption - ANSWER - entry of pharmacologic agent into plasma
Distribution - ANSWER - agent leaves bloodstream and distributes into interstitial
and intracellular fluids (where ever the target is)
Metabolism - ANSWER - agent must be metabolized via liver, kidney, or other tissue
Elimination - ANSWER - agent metabolites must be eliminated from body (urine,
feces, bile); urine is most common route of excretion
Enteral drug administration - ANSWER - Easily self-administered & cheap
Drug absorption pathways complicated by first-pass metabolism (drug --> stomach
--> liver --> systemic circulation)
Influenced by food and other drugs
Parenteral drug administration - ANSWER - IV, IM, SQ
More control over actual dose of drug
Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodyna
mics Exam Questions and
Answers 100% Correct
Pharmacokinetics - ANSWER - absorption, distribution, elimination of drugs; "what
the body does to the drug"
Pharmacodynamics - ANSWER - actions of the chemical on the organism; "what the
drug does to the body"
Toxicology - ANSWER - branch of pharmacology that deals with undesirable effects
of chemicals on living systems; all substances have potential for toxicity
Pharmacogenomics - ANSWER - genetic variations that cause differences in drug
response among individuals or populations
Pharmacologic agonist - ANSWER - agent binds to and ACTIVATES the receptor,
which directly or indirectly causes an effect; can be full or partial agonist
Pharmacologic antagonist - ANSWER - agent binds to a receptor, competing with
other molecules and preventing binding by other molecules; INHIBITOR
Pro-drug - ANSWER - inactive precursor chemical; must be absorbed and distributed
and converted to the active form of the drug by biologic processes
Therapeutic window - ANSWER - desired drug response without toxicity; between
mean effective concentration for desired response & mean effective concentration
for adverse response
, pH of drugs - ANSWER - Drugs are usually weak acids or weak bases; drug passes
readily through cell membrane when uncharged; acidic drugs release a H+ ion
causing a charged anion to form
Size of drugs - ANSWER - Varies, but smaller size is easier to cross cell membranes
pKa of drug - ANSWER - pH of tissue or fluid when 50% ionization occurs
(equalization of ions and non-ionized molecules)
MEC - ANSWER - Mean effective concentration; drug response < MEC: response will
be subtherapeutic; drug level > MEC: toxicity
ADME - ANSWER - Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Elimination (fundamental
pathways of drugs)
Absorption - ANSWER - entry of pharmacologic agent into plasma
Distribution - ANSWER - agent leaves bloodstream and distributes into interstitial
and intracellular fluids (where ever the target is)
Metabolism - ANSWER - agent must be metabolized via liver, kidney, or other tissue
Elimination - ANSWER - agent metabolites must be eliminated from body (urine,
feces, bile); urine is most common route of excretion
Enteral drug administration - ANSWER - Easily self-administered & cheap
Drug absorption pathways complicated by first-pass metabolism (drug --> stomach
--> liver --> systemic circulation)
Influenced by food and other drugs
Parenteral drug administration - ANSWER - IV, IM, SQ
More control over actual dose of drug
