Test Bank for Pharmacology: An Introduction
8th Edition by Henry Hitner, Barbara T. Nagle,
Michele B. Kaufman, Hannah Ariel, Yael
Peimani-Lalehzarzadeh
Pharmacology Practice Questions 1–50
1. Which of the following is the primary mechanism of action of beta-blockers?
✅
A. Stimulate beta-adrenergic receptors
B. Inhibit beta-adrenergic receptors
C. Block muscarinic receptors
D. Activate alpha-adrenergic receptors
Answer: B
Rationale: Beta-blockers decrease heart rate and contractility by blocking beta-adrenergic
receptors.
2. A patient taking warfarin should avoid which vitamin due to its effect on coagulation?
A. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin C
✅
C. Vitamin D
D. Vitamin K
Answer: D
Rationale: Vitamin K is essential for clotting factor synthesis; high intake can counteract
warfarin.
3. Which route of administration has the fastest onset of action?
A. Oral
, ✅
B. Subcutaneous
C. Intravenous
D. Intramuscular
Answer: C
Rationale: IV administration delivers drugs directly into circulation, producing an immediate
effect.
4. Which class of drugs is most commonly used for asthma prophylaxis?
✅
A. Beta-2 agonists
B. Corticosteroids
C. Anticholinergics
D. Leukotriene antagonists
Answer: B
Rationale: Inhaled corticosteroids reduce airway inflammation, preventing asthma attacks.
5. What is the antidote for acetaminophen overdose?
✅
A. Atropine
B. N-acetylcysteine
C. Flumazenil
D. Naloxone
Answer: B
Rationale: N-acetylcysteine replenishes glutathione, protecting the liver from toxic metabolites.
6. A patient presents with bradycardia after taking digoxin. What should the nurse assess
first?
✅
A. Blood pressure
B. Potassium levels
C. Respiratory rate
D. Liver function
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia increases digoxin toxicity risk, causing bradycardia.
7. Which of the following is a common adverse effect of ACE inhibitors?
✅
A. Hypokalemia
B. Dry cough
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Tachycardia
,Answer: B
Rationale: ACE inhibitors increase bradykinin levels, leading to a persistent dry cough.
8. A patient taking lithium should avoid:
✅
A. High-sodium diets
B. Low-sodium diets
C. High-potassium diets
D. Low-potassium diets
Answer: B
Rationale: Low sodium increases lithium reabsorption, raising toxicity risk.
✅
9. Which type of insulin has the shortest onset of action?
A. Regular insulin
B. NPH insulin
C. Insulin glargine
D. Insulin detemir
Answer: A
Rationale: Regular insulin acts within 30–60 minutes, faster than intermediate or long-acting
insulin.
10. Which neurotransmitter is primarily affected by selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs)?
A. Dopamine
✅
B. Norepinephrine
C. Serotonin
D. Acetylcholine
Answer: C
Rationale: SSRIs block serotonin reuptake, increasing its concentration in the synaptic cleft.
11. A patient is prescribed amoxicillin. Which allergy history is most concerning?
✅
A. Latex allergy
B. Penicillin allergy
C. Shellfish allergy
D. Sulfa drug allergy
Answer: B
Rationale: Amoxicillin is a penicillin derivative; prior allergy increases risk of anaphylaxis.
, 12. Which drug class decreases gastric acid secretion by blocking H2 receptors?
✅
A. Proton pump inhibitors
B. H2 receptor antagonists
C. Antacids
D. Prokinetics
Answer: B
Rationale: H2 antagonists reduce acid production by inhibiting histamine at H2 receptors on
parietal cells.
13. A patient develops tinnitus after taking high doses of aspirin. This is an example of:
✅
A. Idiosyncratic reaction
B. Side effect
C. Allergic reaction
D. Anaphylaxis
Answer: B
Rationale: Tinnitus is a dose-related, predictable adverse effect of salicylates.
14. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely with loop diuretics?
✅
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hyponatremia
Answer: B
Rationale: Loop diuretics increase potassium excretion, risking hypokalemia.
15. Which class of drugs is first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes?
✅
A. Sulfonylureas
B. Biguanides
C. Thiazolidinediones
D. GLP-1 agonists
Answer: B
Rationale: Metformin (a biguanide) reduces hepatic glucose production and improves insulin
sensitivity.
✅
16. The antidote for heparin overdose is:
A. Protamine sulfate
B. Vitamin K
C. Atropine
8th Edition by Henry Hitner, Barbara T. Nagle,
Michele B. Kaufman, Hannah Ariel, Yael
Peimani-Lalehzarzadeh
Pharmacology Practice Questions 1–50
1. Which of the following is the primary mechanism of action of beta-blockers?
✅
A. Stimulate beta-adrenergic receptors
B. Inhibit beta-adrenergic receptors
C. Block muscarinic receptors
D. Activate alpha-adrenergic receptors
Answer: B
Rationale: Beta-blockers decrease heart rate and contractility by blocking beta-adrenergic
receptors.
2. A patient taking warfarin should avoid which vitamin due to its effect on coagulation?
A. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin C
✅
C. Vitamin D
D. Vitamin K
Answer: D
Rationale: Vitamin K is essential for clotting factor synthesis; high intake can counteract
warfarin.
3. Which route of administration has the fastest onset of action?
A. Oral
, ✅
B. Subcutaneous
C. Intravenous
D. Intramuscular
Answer: C
Rationale: IV administration delivers drugs directly into circulation, producing an immediate
effect.
4. Which class of drugs is most commonly used for asthma prophylaxis?
✅
A. Beta-2 agonists
B. Corticosteroids
C. Anticholinergics
D. Leukotriene antagonists
Answer: B
Rationale: Inhaled corticosteroids reduce airway inflammation, preventing asthma attacks.
5. What is the antidote for acetaminophen overdose?
✅
A. Atropine
B. N-acetylcysteine
C. Flumazenil
D. Naloxone
Answer: B
Rationale: N-acetylcysteine replenishes glutathione, protecting the liver from toxic metabolites.
6. A patient presents with bradycardia after taking digoxin. What should the nurse assess
first?
✅
A. Blood pressure
B. Potassium levels
C. Respiratory rate
D. Liver function
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypokalemia increases digoxin toxicity risk, causing bradycardia.
7. Which of the following is a common adverse effect of ACE inhibitors?
✅
A. Hypokalemia
B. Dry cough
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Tachycardia
,Answer: B
Rationale: ACE inhibitors increase bradykinin levels, leading to a persistent dry cough.
8. A patient taking lithium should avoid:
✅
A. High-sodium diets
B. Low-sodium diets
C. High-potassium diets
D. Low-potassium diets
Answer: B
Rationale: Low sodium increases lithium reabsorption, raising toxicity risk.
✅
9. Which type of insulin has the shortest onset of action?
A. Regular insulin
B. NPH insulin
C. Insulin glargine
D. Insulin detemir
Answer: A
Rationale: Regular insulin acts within 30–60 minutes, faster than intermediate or long-acting
insulin.
10. Which neurotransmitter is primarily affected by selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs)?
A. Dopamine
✅
B. Norepinephrine
C. Serotonin
D. Acetylcholine
Answer: C
Rationale: SSRIs block serotonin reuptake, increasing its concentration in the synaptic cleft.
11. A patient is prescribed amoxicillin. Which allergy history is most concerning?
✅
A. Latex allergy
B. Penicillin allergy
C. Shellfish allergy
D. Sulfa drug allergy
Answer: B
Rationale: Amoxicillin is a penicillin derivative; prior allergy increases risk of anaphylaxis.
, 12. Which drug class decreases gastric acid secretion by blocking H2 receptors?
✅
A. Proton pump inhibitors
B. H2 receptor antagonists
C. Antacids
D. Prokinetics
Answer: B
Rationale: H2 antagonists reduce acid production by inhibiting histamine at H2 receptors on
parietal cells.
13. A patient develops tinnitus after taking high doses of aspirin. This is an example of:
✅
A. Idiosyncratic reaction
B. Side effect
C. Allergic reaction
D. Anaphylaxis
Answer: B
Rationale: Tinnitus is a dose-related, predictable adverse effect of salicylates.
14. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely with loop diuretics?
✅
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hyponatremia
Answer: B
Rationale: Loop diuretics increase potassium excretion, risking hypokalemia.
15. Which class of drugs is first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes?
✅
A. Sulfonylureas
B. Biguanides
C. Thiazolidinediones
D. GLP-1 agonists
Answer: B
Rationale: Metformin (a biguanide) reduces hepatic glucose production and improves insulin
sensitivity.
✅
16. The antidote for heparin overdose is:
A. Protamine sulfate
B. Vitamin K
C. Atropine
