Pharmacology Basics Flashcards
7 cards from real PEBC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Pharmacology Basics flashcards as text
Which pharmacokinetic parameter describes the fraction of an administered drug that reaches systemic circulation unchanged?
Answer: Bioavailability
Bioavailability (F) represents the fraction of a drug dose that reaches systemic circulation in an active form after administration.
A drug has a narrow therapeutic index. What does this mean clinically?
Answer: There is a small difference between therapeutic and toxic doses
A narrow therapeutic index means the toxic dose is only slightly higher than the effective dose, requiring careful monitoring.
Which receptor type directly opens an ion channel upon ligand binding?
Answer: Ionotropic receptor
Ionotropic receptors (ligand-gated ion channels) directly gate ion channels when a ligand binds, producing rapid effects.
What is the primary site of drug metabolism in the body?
Answer: Liver
The liver is the primary organ for drug metabolism, containing high concentrations of cytochrome P450 enzymes.
A competitive antagonist shifts the agonist dose-response curve in which direction?
Answer: Right, with no change in Emax
A competitive antagonist shifts the agonist dose-response curve to the right (higher EC50) but Emax remains unchanged because it can be overcome with more agonist.
Which phase II metabolic reaction involves conjugation of a drug with glucuronic acid?
Answer: Glucuronidation
Glucuronidation is a phase II conjugation reaction catalyzed by UDP-glucuronosyltransferases that adds glucuronic acid to drugs, increasing water solubility.
Which term describes a drug that binds to a receptor and produces a submaximal response even at full receptor occupancy?
Answer: Partial agonist
A partial agonist has intrinsic efficacy less than 1, so it cannot produce the maximum response a full agonist achieves even when all receptors are occupied.