NSG 251 Practice Questions 2025 Latest and Verified
Answers
Define Pharmacology
The study of science of drugs
Chemical name
The name that describes the chemical composition and molecular structure of a drug
Generic Name
The official or non-dietary name that is given by the United States Adopted Names
Council Never Capitalized
Trade name
Proprietary name given by the company that manufactures the medication Always capitalized
What are the four processes involved in pharmacokinetics?
Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion
Absorption:
The movement of a drug from the site of administration to the bloodstream [ Highly dependent
upon the route of administration; No absorption in IV administration b/c it goes directly into
blood]
What affects absorption?
Time of day, PH of stomach, form of drug preparation, presence of food in the stomach
Bioavailability
Extent of the drug absorbed for a given drug and route (0-100%) [Drug passes through liver and
smaller amount passes into circulation]
First-Pass effect:
,Initial metabolism in liver of a drug absorbed from GI tract before drug reaches systemic
circulation through bloodstream
High-first pass effect
High formation of inactive metabolites in the liver - Oral drugs have bioavailability of less than
100%, Intravenous drugs have 100% bioavailability
Distribution:
The transport of a drug by the bloodstream to its site of action
In distribution, what are the areas of rapid distribution?
Heart, liver, kidneys, and brain [Areas with extensive blood supply]
Albumin:
Most common blood protein and carries majority of protein-bound drug molecules
- Decreased albumin: Burns, malnourishment, older adult, liver dysfunction --> Increased
toxicity in some medications
- If a drug is bound to protein then it becomes inactive
- Less albumin = more free drug = toxicity
Metabolism:
[Also referred to a biotransformation] The biochemical alteration of a drug into an inactive
metabolite, a more soluble compound, a more potent active metabolite, or a less active
metabolite
What is the organ more responsible of metabolism of drugs?
Liver
Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme
, Enzymes that control a variety of reactions that aid in the metabolism of drugs, they target
lipid-soluble drugs that are typically hard to eliminate; they are responsible for metabolism of
the majority of medications
Most important Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme?
CYP 34A - Metabolize about 50% of medications
P-Glycoprotein
Plasma membrane protein that transports drugs out of cell
Excretion
Elimination of drugs from the body
Primary organ responsible for excretion?
The kidney
Half-life
The time required for one-half (50%) of a given drug to be removed from the body [For
example, if the peak level of a drug is 100 mg/L and the measured drug level in 8 hours is 50
mg/L, then the estimated half-life of that drug is 8 hours]
How many half-lives until most drugs are considered effectively removed?
5 Half-lives (97% eliminated)
How do drugs work on the body?
Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacodynamics
The study of the mechanisms, biochemical and physiologic interactions of drugs at their sites of
activity, in tissues
Therapeutic effect
Answers
Define Pharmacology
The study of science of drugs
Chemical name
The name that describes the chemical composition and molecular structure of a drug
Generic Name
The official or non-dietary name that is given by the United States Adopted Names
Council Never Capitalized
Trade name
Proprietary name given by the company that manufactures the medication Always capitalized
What are the four processes involved in pharmacokinetics?
Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion
Absorption:
The movement of a drug from the site of administration to the bloodstream [ Highly dependent
upon the route of administration; No absorption in IV administration b/c it goes directly into
blood]
What affects absorption?
Time of day, PH of stomach, form of drug preparation, presence of food in the stomach
Bioavailability
Extent of the drug absorbed for a given drug and route (0-100%) [Drug passes through liver and
smaller amount passes into circulation]
First-Pass effect:
,Initial metabolism in liver of a drug absorbed from GI tract before drug reaches systemic
circulation through bloodstream
High-first pass effect
High formation of inactive metabolites in the liver - Oral drugs have bioavailability of less than
100%, Intravenous drugs have 100% bioavailability
Distribution:
The transport of a drug by the bloodstream to its site of action
In distribution, what are the areas of rapid distribution?
Heart, liver, kidneys, and brain [Areas with extensive blood supply]
Albumin:
Most common blood protein and carries majority of protein-bound drug molecules
- Decreased albumin: Burns, malnourishment, older adult, liver dysfunction --> Increased
toxicity in some medications
- If a drug is bound to protein then it becomes inactive
- Less albumin = more free drug = toxicity
Metabolism:
[Also referred to a biotransformation] The biochemical alteration of a drug into an inactive
metabolite, a more soluble compound, a more potent active metabolite, or a less active
metabolite
What is the organ more responsible of metabolism of drugs?
Liver
Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme
, Enzymes that control a variety of reactions that aid in the metabolism of drugs, they target
lipid-soluble drugs that are typically hard to eliminate; they are responsible for metabolism of
the majority of medications
Most important Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme?
CYP 34A - Metabolize about 50% of medications
P-Glycoprotein
Plasma membrane protein that transports drugs out of cell
Excretion
Elimination of drugs from the body
Primary organ responsible for excretion?
The kidney
Half-life
The time required for one-half (50%) of a given drug to be removed from the body [For
example, if the peak level of a drug is 100 mg/L and the measured drug level in 8 hours is 50
mg/L, then the estimated half-life of that drug is 8 hours]
How many half-lives until most drugs are considered effectively removed?
5 Half-lives (97% eliminated)
How do drugs work on the body?
Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacodynamics
The study of the mechanisms, biochemical and physiologic interactions of drugs at their sites of
activity, in tissues
Therapeutic effect
