Penn Foster Pharmacology
Exam With Answers Focus
On Your Success
define agonist
It's a drug with a high affinity and efficacy that binds to a receptor and causes a specific action.
define contraindication
a reason not to use a drug in a particular situation causes undesirable side effects
define efficacy
the degree to which a drug produces its desired response.
define over-the-counter drug
a drug that may be purchased without a prescription from a vet
define prescription drug
a drug that must be prescribed by a vet and taken while under the supervision of a vet
define receptor
a molecule located on a cell that binds with drugs or neurotransmitters to cause an effect
define therapeutic index
the relationship between a drug's ability to achieve the desired effect compared to its tendency to produce
toxic effects. Expressed as a ratio between the LD and the ED. LD/ED 50% of the time.
define withdrawal time
the amount of time that must elapse between the end of drug therapy and the elimination of that drug from
the patient's tissue or products.
,define veterinarian-client-patient relationship
the relationship that must exist between the veterinarian, his or her patient, and the patient's owner before
prescription drugs may be dispensed
List four sources of drugs used in veterinary medicine
animal products, plant products, minerals, and synthetic products
what are the four components of a drug regimen?
includes the dose, the route of administration, the frequency of administration, and the duration of
administration
Discuss the conditions that must be met before a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship can be
shown to exist.
1. the vet must assume responsibility for making clinical judgments about the animal's health. 2. the vet
must have recently seen the animal and be acquainted with its care and 3. The vet must be available for
follow-up care of the animal.
Discuss the responsibilities of a veterinary technician in the administration of drug orders.
Carry out orders correctly, read the drug label 3x to ensure that the proper drug is being administered, and
be keen to administer the correct dose by the correct route. Be aware of possible side effects and
responsibly monitor the patient.
Describe the sequence of events that a drug undergoes from administration to excretion.
A drug is first absorbed or directly placed into the bloodstream. In the blood, the drug may bind with a
plasma protein or exist in the free state. The circulating blood distributes the drug to the capillary level,
where the drug leaves the circulation and enters the interstitial fluid. The interstitial fluid bathes the cell or
binds with surface receptors. The drug then exits the cell or its surface, moves back to interstitial fluid,
reenters circulation, and is then metabolized in the liver and sent to the kidneys for excretion.
List 11 possible routes for administering a drug and discuss the advantages and/or disadvantages of each.
1. oral route 2. SQ 3. IM 4. IV 5. IP 6. IA, intra-arterial 7. IC, intra-cardiac 8. IM, intramedullary 9.
Inhalation 10. topical 11. intradermal
, List some of the factors that influence drug absorption.
1. method of absorption, 2. the pH of the drug and its ionization status, 3. the absorptive surface area, 4.
the blood supply to the area, 5. the solubility of the drug, 6. the dosage form, 7. the status of the gi tract 8
interactions with other drugs
Most biotransformation of drugs occurs in where?
liver
Drug excretion occurs via?
kidneys
Drugs usually produce their effects by combining with specific cellular
receptors
The drug name that is chosen by the manufacturer and that is the exclusive property of that company is
called
proprietary/trade
What are six items that must be on a drug label?
1. drug names 2. drug concentration 3. name and address of the manufacturer 4. controlled substance
status 5. manufacturer's control or lot number 6. expiration date
What are three government agencies that regulate the development, approval, and use of animal health
products?
FDA, EPA, and USDA
Why do many veterinary clinics dispense rather than prescribe most of the drugs they use?
profit
Describe the marketing of animal health products
veterinary pharmaceuticals may be purchased directly from manufacturers, distributors, or generic mail-
order companies. In some instances, drugs may be sold under one label to graduate veterinarians and
under another as an over-the-counter product.
Exam With Answers Focus
On Your Success
define agonist
It's a drug with a high affinity and efficacy that binds to a receptor and causes a specific action.
define contraindication
a reason not to use a drug in a particular situation causes undesirable side effects
define efficacy
the degree to which a drug produces its desired response.
define over-the-counter drug
a drug that may be purchased without a prescription from a vet
define prescription drug
a drug that must be prescribed by a vet and taken while under the supervision of a vet
define receptor
a molecule located on a cell that binds with drugs or neurotransmitters to cause an effect
define therapeutic index
the relationship between a drug's ability to achieve the desired effect compared to its tendency to produce
toxic effects. Expressed as a ratio between the LD and the ED. LD/ED 50% of the time.
define withdrawal time
the amount of time that must elapse between the end of drug therapy and the elimination of that drug from
the patient's tissue or products.
,define veterinarian-client-patient relationship
the relationship that must exist between the veterinarian, his or her patient, and the patient's owner before
prescription drugs may be dispensed
List four sources of drugs used in veterinary medicine
animal products, plant products, minerals, and synthetic products
what are the four components of a drug regimen?
includes the dose, the route of administration, the frequency of administration, and the duration of
administration
Discuss the conditions that must be met before a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship can be
shown to exist.
1. the vet must assume responsibility for making clinical judgments about the animal's health. 2. the vet
must have recently seen the animal and be acquainted with its care and 3. The vet must be available for
follow-up care of the animal.
Discuss the responsibilities of a veterinary technician in the administration of drug orders.
Carry out orders correctly, read the drug label 3x to ensure that the proper drug is being administered, and
be keen to administer the correct dose by the correct route. Be aware of possible side effects and
responsibly monitor the patient.
Describe the sequence of events that a drug undergoes from administration to excretion.
A drug is first absorbed or directly placed into the bloodstream. In the blood, the drug may bind with a
plasma protein or exist in the free state. The circulating blood distributes the drug to the capillary level,
where the drug leaves the circulation and enters the interstitial fluid. The interstitial fluid bathes the cell or
binds with surface receptors. The drug then exits the cell or its surface, moves back to interstitial fluid,
reenters circulation, and is then metabolized in the liver and sent to the kidneys for excretion.
List 11 possible routes for administering a drug and discuss the advantages and/or disadvantages of each.
1. oral route 2. SQ 3. IM 4. IV 5. IP 6. IA, intra-arterial 7. IC, intra-cardiac 8. IM, intramedullary 9.
Inhalation 10. topical 11. intradermal
, List some of the factors that influence drug absorption.
1. method of absorption, 2. the pH of the drug and its ionization status, 3. the absorptive surface area, 4.
the blood supply to the area, 5. the solubility of the drug, 6. the dosage form, 7. the status of the gi tract 8
interactions with other drugs
Most biotransformation of drugs occurs in where?
liver
Drug excretion occurs via?
kidneys
Drugs usually produce their effects by combining with specific cellular
receptors
The drug name that is chosen by the manufacturer and that is the exclusive property of that company is
called
proprietary/trade
What are six items that must be on a drug label?
1. drug names 2. drug concentration 3. name and address of the manufacturer 4. controlled substance
status 5. manufacturer's control or lot number 6. expiration date
What are three government agencies that regulate the development, approval, and use of animal health
products?
FDA, EPA, and USDA
Why do many veterinary clinics dispense rather than prescribe most of the drugs they use?
profit
Describe the marketing of animal health products
veterinary pharmaceuticals may be purchased directly from manufacturers, distributors, or generic mail-
order companies. In some instances, drugs may be sold under one label to graduate veterinarians and
under another as an over-the-counter product.
