FREE Master of Pharmacy: Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics Questions and Answers

Question 1

What percentage of the medication entering the systemic circulation is unchanged?

Accepted Answer

Bioavailability

Answer

Bioavailability refers to the fraction of an administered dose of unchanged drug that reaches the systemic circulation. It quantifies how much of the drug is available to exert its pharmacological effects after administration. Factors like absorption, first-pass metabolism, and route of administration significantly influence a drug's bioavailability.

Question 2

What best defines how the body reacts to the drug?

Accepted Answer

Pharmacokinetics

Answer

Pharmacokinetics describes 'what the body does to the drug.' This includes the processes of Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME). It focuses on how drug concentrations change in the body over time, influencing the drug's onset, intensity, and duration of action.

Question 3

Which of the following is an issue with taking oral medications?

Accepted Answer

A and B

Answer

Oral medications face several challenges, including the first-pass effect and potentially low bioavailability. The first-pass effect occurs when drugs are metabolized in the liver before reaching systemic circulation, reducing the amount of active drug. This, along with incomplete absorption in the GI tract, can lead to low bioavailability, meaning only a fraction of the administered dose reaches its target.

Question 4

For a drug that strongly binds to peripheral tissues, what would be the volume of distribution (Vd)?

Accepted Answer

High

Answer

The volume of distribution (Vd) is a theoretical volume relating the total amount of drug in the body to its plasma concentration. If a drug strongly binds to peripheral tissues, a large proportion of the drug will leave the plasma and accumulate in these tissues. This results in a lower plasma concentration for a given dose, leading to a calculated high volume of distribution.

Question 5

What happens when medicines enter the plasma?

Accepted Answer

Absorption

Answer

Absorption is the process by which a drug moves from its site of administration into the systemic circulation, typically the plasma. Once in the plasma, the drug can then be distributed to various tissues, metabolized, and eventually eliminated. This initial step is crucial for the drug to exert its effects throughout the body.

MPharm Master of Pharmacy Practice Test

MPharm Master of Pharmacy Practice Test

FREE Master of Pharmacy: Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics Questions and Answers