Medical Knowledge Pharmacology 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What term describes the maximum effect a drug can produce regardless of dose?
- Potency
- Efficacy (Correct answer)
- Bioavailability
- Half-life
Correct answer: Efficacy
Efficacy refers to the maximum therapeutic effect achievable with a drug at any dose.
Question 2: Which route of drug administration provides 100% bioavailability?
- Oral
- Sublingual
- Intramuscular
- Intravenous (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Intravenous
Intravenous administration delivers drugs directly into the bloodstream, bypassing first-pass metabolism entirely.
Question 3: Which class of drugs inhibits COX enzymes to reduce inflammation?
- Antibiotics
- NSAIDs (Correct answer)
- ACE inhibitors
- Beta-blockers
Correct answer: NSAIDs
NSAIDs inhibit cyclooxygenase enzymes, reducing prostaglandin synthesis and thereby decreasing inflammation and pain.
Question 4: What is drug tolerance?
- Allergic reaction to a drug
- Decreased response requiring higher doses over time (Correct answer)
- Increased sensitivity to a drug
- A dangerous drug interaction
Correct answer: Decreased response requiring higher doses over time
Tolerance develops when repeated drug exposure causes a diminished pharmacological response, requiring dose escalation for the same effect.
Question 5: Which enzyme family in the liver is primarily responsible for drug metabolism?
- Lipase
- Cytochrome P450 (Correct answer)
- Amylase
- Cholinesterase
Correct answer: Cytochrome P450
The cytochrome P450 enzyme family oxidizes most drugs, converting lipophilic compounds into more water-soluble metabolites for excretion.
Question 6: What is the antidote for opioid overdose?
- Flumazenil
- Naloxone (Correct answer)
- Atropine
- Activated charcoal
Correct answer: Naloxone
Naloxone is an opioid receptor antagonist that rapidly reverses opioid-induced respiratory depression and sedation.
Medical Knowledge Pharmacology 1
What term describes the maximum effect a drug can produce regardless of dose?