GALEN NUR 210 PHARMACOLOGY EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS (VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST
UPDATE 2025/2026
Pharmacokinetics - CORRECT ANSWER The process in which medications
move through the body
What are the 4 phases of pharmacokinetics? - CORRECT ANSWER absorption,
distribution, metabolism, excretion
Absorption - CORRECT ANSWER happens with drug movement from the GI
tract into the bloodstream. Most meds are taken by mouth.
Oral absorption - CORRECT ANSWER Takes awhile to get absorbed because it
has to go through the GI system
Usually takes 2-4 hours
•Enteric coated
aspirin - hard on stomach
can not crush pill
•Extended release
absorbed in the small intestine
IM absorption - CORRECT ANSWER Absorbed 1-2 hours
IV absorption - CORRECT ANSWER Absorbed 30-60 minutes
,dissolution - CORRECT ANSWER Dissolution happens when a po medication
breaks down into particles, disintegrates, and dissolves to combine with liquid so
absorption from the GI tract into the bloodstream occurs.
Liquid medications are absorbed faster than solids. Food can interfere with the
absorption of drugs.
Drugs that resist dissolution - CORRECT ANSWER Parenteral medications (SL,
eyedrops, inhalants, transdermal) do not pass through the GI tract.
Enteric coated medications are designed to resist disintegration until the pill
reaches the small intestine. EC and sustained release meds should not be crushed.
Factors that affect absorption - CORRECT ANSWER •Lack of muscle and
increased fat changes medicine absorption
•Food consumption - will change medicine potency (delayed)
•Stress - Exercise, medicine goes to muscle
•pH - Medicine is made for acidic environments
•Antacid changes absorption
•Taken alone so it doesn't change the action
Excipients - CORRECT ANSWER Fillers and other substances that make up
tablets as a pill is not 100% drug.
Sometimes an excipient enhances the absorption of a drug such as with PCN,
which is not well absorbed from the GI tract.
Adding Na to PCN, which makes it penicillin sodium, will increase the absorption
of PCN
first pass effect - CORRECT ANSWER •the oral drugs go to liver via portal vein
where some of the drug becomes inactive
,•Only happens with oral medications
delayed gastric emptying - CORRECT ANSWER Food doesn't move like it
should
Distribution - CORRECT ANSWER refers to the movement of the drug from the
circulation to body tissues
Factors affecting distribution - CORRECT ANSWER -blood flow to tissues
-protein binding
-blood brain barrier
-drug's affinity to the tissue
protein binding - CORRECT ANSWER Drugs bind with proteins in blood
Some drugs are highly protein bound and other are weakly protein bound
free drugs - CORRECT ANSWER drugs not bound to protein
Drug Toxicity - CORRECT ANSWER -Two highly protein bound drugs compete
and one might accumulate and cause a toxicity
-it is important to know if you are administering highly protein bound medications
and monitor albumin levels in patients with liver or kidney disease.
-Some drugs that are highly protein bound include: Warfarin
Furosemide
Diazepam
, Drug distribution and albumin - CORRECT ANSWER -A decrease in albumin
levels decrease the protein-binding sites, which means more of the free drug is
circulated.
-This can be fatal with some meds.
-Free drugs are those not bound to protein, which means they are active in the body
and cause a pharmacologic response.
-Older adults, malnourished individuals, and those with liver or kidney disease
have low albumin levels.
Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) - CORRECT ANSWER -The BBB protects the brain
from most drugs.
-Some meds are able to cross the BBB such as benzodiazepines.
-Drugs can cross the placenta and cause spontaneous abortion or alter fetal growth
and development.
Metabolism - CORRECT ANSWER •Chemically changes drug to a form that can
be excreted
•Liver primary site
half-life - CORRECT ANSWER •the time it takes for the drug in the body to be
reduced by half
Loading dose - CORRECT ANSWER use of a higher dose than what is usually
used for treatment to allow the drug to reach the critical concentration (therapeutic
level) sooner
•Blood thinner
•Antibiotic
ANSWERS (VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST
UPDATE 2025/2026
Pharmacokinetics - CORRECT ANSWER The process in which medications
move through the body
What are the 4 phases of pharmacokinetics? - CORRECT ANSWER absorption,
distribution, metabolism, excretion
Absorption - CORRECT ANSWER happens with drug movement from the GI
tract into the bloodstream. Most meds are taken by mouth.
Oral absorption - CORRECT ANSWER Takes awhile to get absorbed because it
has to go through the GI system
Usually takes 2-4 hours
•Enteric coated
aspirin - hard on stomach
can not crush pill
•Extended release
absorbed in the small intestine
IM absorption - CORRECT ANSWER Absorbed 1-2 hours
IV absorption - CORRECT ANSWER Absorbed 30-60 minutes
,dissolution - CORRECT ANSWER Dissolution happens when a po medication
breaks down into particles, disintegrates, and dissolves to combine with liquid so
absorption from the GI tract into the bloodstream occurs.
Liquid medications are absorbed faster than solids. Food can interfere with the
absorption of drugs.
Drugs that resist dissolution - CORRECT ANSWER Parenteral medications (SL,
eyedrops, inhalants, transdermal) do not pass through the GI tract.
Enteric coated medications are designed to resist disintegration until the pill
reaches the small intestine. EC and sustained release meds should not be crushed.
Factors that affect absorption - CORRECT ANSWER •Lack of muscle and
increased fat changes medicine absorption
•Food consumption - will change medicine potency (delayed)
•Stress - Exercise, medicine goes to muscle
•pH - Medicine is made for acidic environments
•Antacid changes absorption
•Taken alone so it doesn't change the action
Excipients - CORRECT ANSWER Fillers and other substances that make up
tablets as a pill is not 100% drug.
Sometimes an excipient enhances the absorption of a drug such as with PCN,
which is not well absorbed from the GI tract.
Adding Na to PCN, which makes it penicillin sodium, will increase the absorption
of PCN
first pass effect - CORRECT ANSWER •the oral drugs go to liver via portal vein
where some of the drug becomes inactive
,•Only happens with oral medications
delayed gastric emptying - CORRECT ANSWER Food doesn't move like it
should
Distribution - CORRECT ANSWER refers to the movement of the drug from the
circulation to body tissues
Factors affecting distribution - CORRECT ANSWER -blood flow to tissues
-protein binding
-blood brain barrier
-drug's affinity to the tissue
protein binding - CORRECT ANSWER Drugs bind with proteins in blood
Some drugs are highly protein bound and other are weakly protein bound
free drugs - CORRECT ANSWER drugs not bound to protein
Drug Toxicity - CORRECT ANSWER -Two highly protein bound drugs compete
and one might accumulate and cause a toxicity
-it is important to know if you are administering highly protein bound medications
and monitor albumin levels in patients with liver or kidney disease.
-Some drugs that are highly protein bound include: Warfarin
Furosemide
Diazepam
, Drug distribution and albumin - CORRECT ANSWER -A decrease in albumin
levels decrease the protein-binding sites, which means more of the free drug is
circulated.
-This can be fatal with some meds.
-Free drugs are those not bound to protein, which means they are active in the body
and cause a pharmacologic response.
-Older adults, malnourished individuals, and those with liver or kidney disease
have low albumin levels.
Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) - CORRECT ANSWER -The BBB protects the brain
from most drugs.
-Some meds are able to cross the BBB such as benzodiazepines.
-Drugs can cross the placenta and cause spontaneous abortion or alter fetal growth
and development.
Metabolism - CORRECT ANSWER •Chemically changes drug to a form that can
be excreted
•Liver primary site
half-life - CORRECT ANSWER •the time it takes for the drug in the body to be
reduced by half
Loading dose - CORRECT ANSWER use of a higher dose than what is usually
used for treatment to allow the drug to reach the critical concentration (therapeutic
level) sooner
•Blood thinner
•Antibiotic
