NURS 6521 / NURS6521 Advanced Pharmacology Midterm Exam |
Question and Answers | Latest 2025/2026 | Scored 99/100
Exam Instructions
• This midterm exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions covering key pharma-
cology topics.
• Each question has four answer choices (A–D). Select the best answer.
• Time allotted: 2 hours.
• No electronic devices or external resources are permitted during the exam.
• Read each question carefully and choose the most appropriate answer.
• Good luck!
Table of Contents
• Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics
• Autonomic Nervous System Drugs
• Cardiovascular & Renal Drugs
• Respiratory & Gastrointestinal Drugs
• Endocrine & Reproductive Pharmacology
• CNS & Psychiatric Medications
• Pain Management & Anesthesia
• Infectious Disease Pharmacology
• Special Populations (Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Pregnancy)
• Case-Based Pharmacology Review
1
, Exam Questions
Question 1: What is the primary site of drug metabolism in the body?
A. Kidneys
B. Liver
C. Lungs
D. Small intestine
B. Liver
Rationale: The liver is the primary organ for drug metabolism, where cytochrome
P450 enzymes facilitate the biotransformation of drugs into active or inactive
metabolites.
Question 2: Which pharmacokinetic parameter describes the time it takes for a drug’s plasma
concentration to reduce by half?
A. Bioavailability
B. Clearance
C. Half-life
D. Volume of distribution
C. Half-life
Rationale: Half-life is the time required for the plasma concentration of a drug to
decrease by 50%, affecting dosing intervals.
Question 3: What does the term “first-pass effect” refer to?
A. Drug excretion in urine
B. Metabolism of a drug before systemic circulation
C. Drug absorption in the stomach
D. Drug binding to plasma proteins
B. Metabolism of a drug before systemic circulation
Rationale: The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is metabolized by the liver
after oral administration, reducing the amount of active drug reaching systemic
circulation.
Question 4: Which factor most influences a drug’s bioavailability?
A. Route of administration
B. Patient’s age
C. Drug half-life
D. Plasma protein binding
A. Route of administration
Rationale: Bioavailability varies significantly with the route of administration (e.g.,
intravenous administration has 100% bioavailability, while oral may be lower due to
first-pass metabolism).
Question 5: What is the primary mechanism of pharmacodynamic drug interactions?
A. Altered drug metabolism
B. Competition at receptor sites
C. Changes in drug absorption
D. Increased renal excretion
B. Competition at receptor sites
Rationale: Pharmacodynamic interactions often involve drugs competing for the
same receptor, leading to enhanced or diminished effects.
2
, Question 6: Which type of receptor is most commonly targeted by drugs to produce a thera-
peutic effect?
A. Ion channel
B. G-protein-coupled receptor
C. Enzyme-linked receptor
D. Nuclear receptor
B. G-protein-coupled receptor
Rationale: G-protein-coupled receptors are the most common drug targets due to
their role in signal transduction and widespread distribution.
Question 7: What is the effect of a partial agonist at a receptor site?
A. Full activation of the receptor
B. No effect on the receptor
C. Partial activation compared to a full agonist
D. Complete receptor inhibition
C. Partial activation compared to a full agonist
Rationale: Partial agonists bind to receptors but produce a submaximal response
compared to full agonists.
Question 8: Which process best describes drug elimination from the body?
A. Metabolism
B. Distribution
C. Excretion
D. Absorption
C. Excretion
Rationale: Excretion, primarily via the kidneys, is the process by which drugs and
their metabolites are eliminated from the body.
Question 9: What is the primary purpose of therapeutic drug monitoring?
A. To assess drug absorption
B. To ensure drug levels remain within a therapeutic range
C. To increase drug bioavailability
D. To reduce drug metabolism
B. To ensure drug levels remain within a therapeutic range
Rationale: Therapeutic drug monitoring ensures that drug concentrations are safe
and effective, avoiding toxicity or subtherapeutic levels.
Question 10: Which factor increases the risk of drug toxicity?
A. High clearance rate
B. Low volume of distribution
C. Impaired renal function
D. Rapid drug absorption
C. Impaired renal function
Rationale: Impaired renal function reduces drug excretion, leading to accumulation
and increased risk of toxicity.
Question 11: Which class of drugs mimics the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system?
A. Beta-blockers
B. Cholinergics
C. Adrenergics
3
Question and Answers | Latest 2025/2026 | Scored 99/100
Exam Instructions
• This midterm exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions covering key pharma-
cology topics.
• Each question has four answer choices (A–D). Select the best answer.
• Time allotted: 2 hours.
• No electronic devices or external resources are permitted during the exam.
• Read each question carefully and choose the most appropriate answer.
• Good luck!
Table of Contents
• Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics
• Autonomic Nervous System Drugs
• Cardiovascular & Renal Drugs
• Respiratory & Gastrointestinal Drugs
• Endocrine & Reproductive Pharmacology
• CNS & Psychiatric Medications
• Pain Management & Anesthesia
• Infectious Disease Pharmacology
• Special Populations (Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Pregnancy)
• Case-Based Pharmacology Review
1
, Exam Questions
Question 1: What is the primary site of drug metabolism in the body?
A. Kidneys
B. Liver
C. Lungs
D. Small intestine
B. Liver
Rationale: The liver is the primary organ for drug metabolism, where cytochrome
P450 enzymes facilitate the biotransformation of drugs into active or inactive
metabolites.
Question 2: Which pharmacokinetic parameter describes the time it takes for a drug’s plasma
concentration to reduce by half?
A. Bioavailability
B. Clearance
C. Half-life
D. Volume of distribution
C. Half-life
Rationale: Half-life is the time required for the plasma concentration of a drug to
decrease by 50%, affecting dosing intervals.
Question 3: What does the term “first-pass effect” refer to?
A. Drug excretion in urine
B. Metabolism of a drug before systemic circulation
C. Drug absorption in the stomach
D. Drug binding to plasma proteins
B. Metabolism of a drug before systemic circulation
Rationale: The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is metabolized by the liver
after oral administration, reducing the amount of active drug reaching systemic
circulation.
Question 4: Which factor most influences a drug’s bioavailability?
A. Route of administration
B. Patient’s age
C. Drug half-life
D. Plasma protein binding
A. Route of administration
Rationale: Bioavailability varies significantly with the route of administration (e.g.,
intravenous administration has 100% bioavailability, while oral may be lower due to
first-pass metabolism).
Question 5: What is the primary mechanism of pharmacodynamic drug interactions?
A. Altered drug metabolism
B. Competition at receptor sites
C. Changes in drug absorption
D. Increased renal excretion
B. Competition at receptor sites
Rationale: Pharmacodynamic interactions often involve drugs competing for the
same receptor, leading to enhanced or diminished effects.
2
, Question 6: Which type of receptor is most commonly targeted by drugs to produce a thera-
peutic effect?
A. Ion channel
B. G-protein-coupled receptor
C. Enzyme-linked receptor
D. Nuclear receptor
B. G-protein-coupled receptor
Rationale: G-protein-coupled receptors are the most common drug targets due to
their role in signal transduction and widespread distribution.
Question 7: What is the effect of a partial agonist at a receptor site?
A. Full activation of the receptor
B. No effect on the receptor
C. Partial activation compared to a full agonist
D. Complete receptor inhibition
C. Partial activation compared to a full agonist
Rationale: Partial agonists bind to receptors but produce a submaximal response
compared to full agonists.
Question 8: Which process best describes drug elimination from the body?
A. Metabolism
B. Distribution
C. Excretion
D. Absorption
C. Excretion
Rationale: Excretion, primarily via the kidneys, is the process by which drugs and
their metabolites are eliminated from the body.
Question 9: What is the primary purpose of therapeutic drug monitoring?
A. To assess drug absorption
B. To ensure drug levels remain within a therapeutic range
C. To increase drug bioavailability
D. To reduce drug metabolism
B. To ensure drug levels remain within a therapeutic range
Rationale: Therapeutic drug monitoring ensures that drug concentrations are safe
and effective, avoiding toxicity or subtherapeutic levels.
Question 10: Which factor increases the risk of drug toxicity?
A. High clearance rate
B. Low volume of distribution
C. Impaired renal function
D. Rapid drug absorption
C. Impaired renal function
Rationale: Impaired renal function reduces drug excretion, leading to accumulation
and increased risk of toxicity.
Question 11: Which class of drugs mimics the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system?
A. Beta-blockers
B. Cholinergics
C. Adrenergics
3
