NR 565 / Advanced Pharmacology – Week 3
Quiz Review (2025–2026 Study Topics) Focus:
pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics,
prescribing principles, and clinical application.
NR 565 Week 3 Quiz Review: 100 Q&A
Section 1: Pharmacokinetics (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion)
1. What is the definition of pharmacokinetics?
a) The study of the biochemical and physiologic effects of drugs.
b) The study of how the body affects a drug over time. ✓
c) The study of drug mechanisms of action.
d) The study of genetic variations in drug response.
2. Which of the following is NOT a primary factor affecting drug absorption?
a) Blood flow to the administration site
b) The drug's lipid solubility
c) The patient's age and renal function ✓
d) Surface area available for absorption
3. A drug with a high first-pass effect is best administered by which route?
a) Orally
b) Sublingually ✓
c) Rectally (for some drugs)
d) Both B and C ✓
4. Bioavailability is defined as:
a) The percentage of an unaltered drug that reaches the systemic circulation. ✓
b) The time it takes for a drug to reach its peak concentration.
c) The fraction of a drug that is metabolized by the liver.
d) The protein-binding capacity of a drug.
5. The volume of distribution (Vd) is a theoretical value that relates:
a) The amount of drug in the body to the concentration of drug in the blood. ✓
b) The rate of absorption to the rate of elimination.
, c) The therapeutic effect to the toxic effect.
d) The drug's half-life to its clearance.
6. A drug with a very large volume of distribution (Vd) is likely:
a) Highly bound to plasma proteins.
b) Widely distributed in tissues throughout the body. ✓
c) Primarily confined to the bloodstream.
d) Rapidly eliminated by the kidneys.
7. Which organ is primarily responsible for the metabolism (biotransformation) of most
drugs?
a) Kidneys
b) Lungs
c) Liver ✓
d) Small Intestine
8. The Cytochrome P450 system is primarily involved in:
a) Renal excretion of drugs.
b) Phase II conjugation reactions.
c) Phase I metabolism of drugs. ✓
d) Active transport of drugs across membranes.
9. An enzyme inhibitor will have what effect on a drug metabolized by that enzyme?
a) Decrease the drug's serum levels and effects.
b) Increase the drug's serum levels and potential for toxicity. ✓
c) Have no significant effect.
d) Increase the drug's rate of renal excretion.
10. An enzyme inducer will have what effect on a drug metabolized by that enzyme?
a) Decrease the drug's serum levels and potential efficacy. ✓
b) Increase the drug's serum levels and effects.
c) Have no significant effect.
d) Decrease the drug's rate of renal excretion.
11. The primary route of excretion for most drugs and their metabolites is:
a) The bile and feces.
b) The lungs.
c) The kidneys. ✓
d) Sweat and saliva.
,12. A drug's half-life (t½) is the time required for:
a) The drug to be completely eliminated from the body.
b) The plasma concentration to be reduced by 50%. ✓
c) The drug to be absorbed into the systemic circulation.
d) The drug to achieve its maximum therapeutic effect.
13. How many half-lives does it take for a drug to be considered ~97% eliminated from the
body?
a) 2 half-lives
b) 3 half-lives
c) 5 half-lives ✓
d) 10 half-lives
14. Steady-state concentration is achieved after approximately how many half-lives of
consistent dosing?
a) 1-2 half-lives
b) 3-5 half-lives ✓
c) 7-10 half-lives
d) 10-12 half-lives
15. For a drug with a long half-life, loading doses are used to:
a) Decrease the risk of side effects.
b) Achieve therapeutic levels rapidly. ✓
c) Prolong the drug's duration of action.
d) Reduce the frequency of dosing.
16. Which patient factor would most likely DECREASE the renal excretion of a drug?
a) Hyperthyroidism
b) Renal impairment (e.g., low GFR) ✓
c) Young age (pediatric)
d) High protein intake
17. P-glycoprotein is a transport protein that:
a) Enhances absorption of all drugs in the gut.
b) Pumps drugs out of cells, limiting their absorption or distribution. ✓
c) Is the primary enzyme for Phase I metabolism.
d) Binds drugs in the plasma, making them inactive.
18. The "First-Pass Effect" occurs when a drug is administered:
a) Intravenously
, b) Orally ✓
c) Subcutaneously
d) Intramuscularly
19. Enterohepatic recirculation can:
a) Increase the elimination rate of a drug.
b) Prolong a drug's half-life and duration of action. ✓
c) Cause immediate first-pass metabolism.
d) Inactivate a drug in the stomach.
20. Two drugs that are highly protein-bound may compete for binding sites, leading to:
a) Decreased effects of both drugs.
b) Increased elimination of both drugs.
c) An increase in the free, active fraction of one drug. ✓
d) Enhanced metabolism via the CYP450 system.
Section 2: Pharmacodynamics
21. What is the definition of pharmacodynamics?
a) The study of how the body affects a drug.
b) The study of what the drug does to the body. ✓
c) The study of drug movement through the body.
d) The study of drug dosing regimens.
22. An agonist is a drug that:
a) Binds to a receptor and blocks its activation.
b) Binds to a receptor and produces a functional response. ✓
c) Has no intrinsic activity but occupies the receptor site.
d) Decreases the synthesis of receptors.
23. An antagonist is a drug that:
a) Binds to a receptor and activates it.
b) Binds to a receptor and prevents activation by an agonist. ✓
c) Produces a weak response compared to a full agonist.
d) Increases the number of available receptors.
24. The term "efficacy" refers to:
a) The amount of drug required to produce a desired effect.
b) The maximal therapeutic effect a drug can produce. ✓
Quiz Review (2025–2026 Study Topics) Focus:
pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics,
prescribing principles, and clinical application.
NR 565 Week 3 Quiz Review: 100 Q&A
Section 1: Pharmacokinetics (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion)
1. What is the definition of pharmacokinetics?
a) The study of the biochemical and physiologic effects of drugs.
b) The study of how the body affects a drug over time. ✓
c) The study of drug mechanisms of action.
d) The study of genetic variations in drug response.
2. Which of the following is NOT a primary factor affecting drug absorption?
a) Blood flow to the administration site
b) The drug's lipid solubility
c) The patient's age and renal function ✓
d) Surface area available for absorption
3. A drug with a high first-pass effect is best administered by which route?
a) Orally
b) Sublingually ✓
c) Rectally (for some drugs)
d) Both B and C ✓
4. Bioavailability is defined as:
a) The percentage of an unaltered drug that reaches the systemic circulation. ✓
b) The time it takes for a drug to reach its peak concentration.
c) The fraction of a drug that is metabolized by the liver.
d) The protein-binding capacity of a drug.
5. The volume of distribution (Vd) is a theoretical value that relates:
a) The amount of drug in the body to the concentration of drug in the blood. ✓
b) The rate of absorption to the rate of elimination.
, c) The therapeutic effect to the toxic effect.
d) The drug's half-life to its clearance.
6. A drug with a very large volume of distribution (Vd) is likely:
a) Highly bound to plasma proteins.
b) Widely distributed in tissues throughout the body. ✓
c) Primarily confined to the bloodstream.
d) Rapidly eliminated by the kidneys.
7. Which organ is primarily responsible for the metabolism (biotransformation) of most
drugs?
a) Kidneys
b) Lungs
c) Liver ✓
d) Small Intestine
8. The Cytochrome P450 system is primarily involved in:
a) Renal excretion of drugs.
b) Phase II conjugation reactions.
c) Phase I metabolism of drugs. ✓
d) Active transport of drugs across membranes.
9. An enzyme inhibitor will have what effect on a drug metabolized by that enzyme?
a) Decrease the drug's serum levels and effects.
b) Increase the drug's serum levels and potential for toxicity. ✓
c) Have no significant effect.
d) Increase the drug's rate of renal excretion.
10. An enzyme inducer will have what effect on a drug metabolized by that enzyme?
a) Decrease the drug's serum levels and potential efficacy. ✓
b) Increase the drug's serum levels and effects.
c) Have no significant effect.
d) Decrease the drug's rate of renal excretion.
11. The primary route of excretion for most drugs and their metabolites is:
a) The bile and feces.
b) The lungs.
c) The kidneys. ✓
d) Sweat and saliva.
,12. A drug's half-life (t½) is the time required for:
a) The drug to be completely eliminated from the body.
b) The plasma concentration to be reduced by 50%. ✓
c) The drug to be absorbed into the systemic circulation.
d) The drug to achieve its maximum therapeutic effect.
13. How many half-lives does it take for a drug to be considered ~97% eliminated from the
body?
a) 2 half-lives
b) 3 half-lives
c) 5 half-lives ✓
d) 10 half-lives
14. Steady-state concentration is achieved after approximately how many half-lives of
consistent dosing?
a) 1-2 half-lives
b) 3-5 half-lives ✓
c) 7-10 half-lives
d) 10-12 half-lives
15. For a drug with a long half-life, loading doses are used to:
a) Decrease the risk of side effects.
b) Achieve therapeutic levels rapidly. ✓
c) Prolong the drug's duration of action.
d) Reduce the frequency of dosing.
16. Which patient factor would most likely DECREASE the renal excretion of a drug?
a) Hyperthyroidism
b) Renal impairment (e.g., low GFR) ✓
c) Young age (pediatric)
d) High protein intake
17. P-glycoprotein is a transport protein that:
a) Enhances absorption of all drugs in the gut.
b) Pumps drugs out of cells, limiting their absorption or distribution. ✓
c) Is the primary enzyme for Phase I metabolism.
d) Binds drugs in the plasma, making them inactive.
18. The "First-Pass Effect" occurs when a drug is administered:
a) Intravenously
, b) Orally ✓
c) Subcutaneously
d) Intramuscularly
19. Enterohepatic recirculation can:
a) Increase the elimination rate of a drug.
b) Prolong a drug's half-life and duration of action. ✓
c) Cause immediate first-pass metabolism.
d) Inactivate a drug in the stomach.
20. Two drugs that are highly protein-bound may compete for binding sites, leading to:
a) Decreased effects of both drugs.
b) Increased elimination of both drugs.
c) An increase in the free, active fraction of one drug. ✓
d) Enhanced metabolism via the CYP450 system.
Section 2: Pharmacodynamics
21. What is the definition of pharmacodynamics?
a) The study of how the body affects a drug.
b) The study of what the drug does to the body. ✓
c) The study of drug movement through the body.
d) The study of drug dosing regimens.
22. An agonist is a drug that:
a) Binds to a receptor and blocks its activation.
b) Binds to a receptor and produces a functional response. ✓
c) Has no intrinsic activity but occupies the receptor site.
d) Decreases the synthesis of receptors.
23. An antagonist is a drug that:
a) Binds to a receptor and activates it.
b) Binds to a receptor and prevents activation by an agonist. ✓
c) Produces a weak response compared to a full agonist.
d) Increases the number of available receptors.
24. The term "efficacy" refers to:
a) The amount of drug required to produce a desired effect.
b) The maximal therapeutic effect a drug can produce. ✓
