HOSA PHARMACOLOGY REAL EXAM 2023/2024 REAL EXAM ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS| BRAND NEW VERSION | 135 PAGES| FULL BANK.
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 Pharmacokinetic Process -
ADME
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.
Pharmacokinetics - Activity of a drug w/i the body over a period of time; includes
absorption, distribution, metabolism, & elimination (ADME).
Prophylaxis - Effect of a drug in preventing infection or disease.
Pruritus - Itching Sensation.
Receptor - Protein molecule on the surface of or w/i a cell that recognizes & binds w/
specific molecules, thereby producing some effect w/i the cell.
Side Effect - Secondary response to a drug other than the primary therapeutic effect for
which the drug was inteneded.
Solubility - Ability of a drug to dissolve in body fluids.
Specificity - Property of a cell receptor that enables it to bind only w/ a specific chemical
messenger complementary to the structure of the receptor.
Systemic Effect - Action of a drug that has generalized - the all-inclusive effect of the
drug on the body.
Therapeutic Effect - Desired action of a drug in the treatment of a particular disease ,
state, or symptom.
Therapeutic Level - Amount of a drug in the blood @ which beneficial effects occur.
The amt. of time required to achieve this can be shortened by administering a loading
dose.
Therapeutic Range - Optimum Dosage, providing the best chance for achieving the
most effective & desired action... Dosing below this range has little effect, while dosing
above this level (overdosing) can lead to toxicity & death.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS| BRAND NEW VERSION | 135 PAGES| FULL BANK.
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 Pharmacokinetic Process -
ADME
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.
Pharmacokinetics - Activity of a drug w/i the body over a period of time; includes
absorption, distribution, metabolism, & elimination (ADME).
Prophylaxis - Effect of a drug in preventing infection or disease.
Pruritus - Itching Sensation.
Receptor - Protein molecule on the surface of or w/i a cell that recognizes & binds w/
specific molecules, thereby producing some effect w/i the cell.
Side Effect - Secondary response to a drug other than the primary therapeutic effect for
which the drug was inteneded.
Solubility - Ability of a drug to dissolve in body fluids.
Specificity - Property of a cell receptor that enables it to bind only w/ a specific chemical
messenger complementary to the structure of the receptor.
Systemic Effect - Action of a drug that has generalized - the all-inclusive effect of the
drug on the body.
Therapeutic Effect - Desired action of a drug in the treatment of a particular disease ,
state, or symptom.
Therapeutic Level - Amount of a drug in the blood @ which beneficial effects occur.
The amt. of time required to achieve this can be shortened by administering a loading
dose.
Therapeutic Range - Optimum Dosage, providing the best chance for achieving the
most effective & desired action... Dosing below this range has little effect, while dosing
above this level (overdosing) can lead to toxicity & death.
