Pharmacology Terms
Study Guide
KEY
100 Multiple Choice Questions
1. the physiologic reactions of the body to a drug. They can be therapeutic or toxic and describe
how the function of the body is affected as whole by the drug. The terms onset, peak, and
duration are used to describe drug effects (most often referring to therapeutic effects) (No
Answer)
1. drug actions
2. additive effects
3. CORRECT: drug effects
4. adverse effects
2. any condition, especially one related to a disease state or other patient characteristic,
including current or recent drug therapy, that renders a particular form of treatment improper
or undesirable. (No Answer)
1. intoxication
2. CORRECT: contraindication
3. biotransformation
4. addiction
3. a collective term for all of the chromosomal material within a given cell (No Answer)
1. raves
2. CORRECT: chromatin
3. chromosomes
4. toxic
4. the active (energy-requiring) movement of a substance between different tissues via
biomolecular pumping mechanisms contained within cell membranes (No Answer)
1. receptor
2. CORRECT: active transport
3. habituation
4. affective domain
5. a type of warning that appears in a drug's prescribing information, required by the US FDA
alerting prescribers of serious adverse events that have occurred with the given drug (No
Answer)
1. antagonist
2. CORRECT: black box warning
3. onset of action
4. learning
6. drug interactions in which the effect of a combination of two or more drugs is less than the
sum of the individual effects of the same drugs given alone (1+1<2); it is usually caused by
an antagonizing (blocking or reducing) effect of one drug on another. (No Answer)
1. synergistic effects
2. CORRECT: antagonistic effects
3. iatrogenic effects
4. adverse effects
7. the study of poisons, including toxic drug effects, and applicable treatments (evolve online
course for pharmocolgy states the study of the side effects produced by a drug and how the
drug influences the effectiveness of other drugs) (No Answer)
1. placebo
2. CORRECT: toxicology
3. narcolepsy
4. teaching
8. the entire set of proteins produced from the information encoded in an organism's genome
(No Answer)
1. phenotype
2. prodrug
3. CORRECT: proteome
4. neonate
9. an act that protects health insurance coverage for workers and their families when they
change jobs. It also protects patient information. If confidentiality of a patient is breached,
severe fines may be imposed (No Answer)
1. double-blind investigational drug study
2. therapeutic index
3. CORRECT: health insurance portability and accountability act (HIPAA)
4. mechanism of action
10. a system of directed and deliberate actions intended to induce learning (No Answer)
1. CORRECT: teaching
2. heredity
3. toxic
4. learning
11. alternative medicine when used simultaneously with, rather than instead of, standard Western
medicine (using conventional medicine and alternative medicine at the same time) (No
Answer)
1. personalized medicine
2. nonadherence
3. CORRECT: complementary medicine
4. compliance
12. the length of time the concentration of a drug in the blood or tissues is sufficient to elicit a
response (No Answer)
1. biotransformation
2. dissolution
3. habituation
4. CORRECT: duration of action
13. the development of congenital anomalies or defects in the developing fetus caused by the
toxic effects of drugs (No Answer)
1. Pharmacogenetics
2. CORRECT: drug-induced teratogenesis
3. drug interaction
4. medication use process
14. written permission obtained from a patient consenting to the performance of a specific
procedure, after the patient has been given information regarding the procedure deemed
necessary for the patient to make a sound or "informed" decision (No Answer)
1. prescriber
2. CORRECT: informed consent
3. tolerance
4. nonadherence
15. DNA molecules that have been artificially synthesized or modified in a laboratory setting (No
Answer)
1. medical error
2. cognitive domain
3. medication error
4. CORRECT: recombinant DNA (rDNA)
16. genetic diseases that result from defective alleles passed from parents to offspring (No
Answer)
1. adverse effects
2. genetic disease
3. CORRECT: inherited diseases
4. illicit drug use
17. a condition characterized by strong desires to obtain and use a substance (No Answer)
1. chemical name
2. therapeutic index
3. tolerance
4. CORRECT: psychologic dependence
18. the type of application that a drug manufacturer submits to the FDA following successful
completion of required human research studies (No Answer)
1. adverse drug reaction
2. blinded investigational drug study
3. CORRECT: investigational new drug application
4. expedited drug approval
19. alteration in the pharmacologic activity of a given drug caused by the presence of one or
more additional drugs: it is usually related to effects on the enzymes required for metabolism
of the involved drugs (No Answer)
1. biotransformation
2. addiction
3. intoxication
4. CORRECT: drug interaction
20. protein molecules that catalyze one or more of a variety of biochemical reactions, including
those related to the body's own physiologic processes as well as those related to drug
metabolism. (No Answer)
1. genomics
2. CORRECT: enzymes
3. genotype
4. genetics
21. a procedure implemented by health care providers to maintain an accurate and up-to-date
list of medications for all patients between all phases of health care delivery (No Answer)
1. CORRECT: medication reconciliation
2. mechanism of action
3. contraindication
4. medication error
22. the particular alleles present at a given site (locus) on the chromosomes of an organism that
determine a specific genetic trait for that organism (No Answer)
1. genetics
2. genome
3. CORRECT: genotype
4. phenotype
23. any health care professional licensed by the appropriate regulatory board to prescribe
medications (this includes nurse practitioners and physician's assistants) (No Answer)
1. prodrug
2. phenotype
3. proteome
4. CORRECT: prescriber
24. the lowest concentration of drug reached in the body after it falls from its peak level, usually
measured in a blood sample for therapeutic drug monitoring (No Answer)
1. chromatin
2. intrathecal
3. peak level
4. CORRECT: through level
25. the cellular processes involved in the interaction between a drug and body cells (e.g., the
action of a drug on a receptor protein); also called mechanism of action (No Answer)
1. dissolution
2. CORRECT: drug actions
3. chromatin
4. drug interaction
26. the name that describes the chemical composition and molecular structure of a drug (No
Answer)
1. chromatin
2. CORRECT: chemical name
3. medical error
4. generic name
27. the use of a drug or substance in a way that it is not intended to be used or the use of a drug
that is not legally approved for human administration (No Answer)
1. CORRECT: illicit drug use
2. withdrawal
3. legend drugs
4. adverse drug event
28. the physiologic state in which the amount of drug removed via elimination is equal to the
amount of drug absorbed with each does (No Answer)
1. nonadherence
2. addiction
3. phenotype
4. CORRECT: steady state
29. a branch of pharmacogenetics that involves the survey of the entire genome to detect
multigenic (multiple-gene) determinants of drug response (No Answer)
1. proteomics
2. CORRECT: pharmacogenomics
3. pharmacodynamics
4. pharmaceutics
30. Acceleration of the usual investigational new drug approval process by the U.S. FDA and
pharmaceutical companies, usually for drugs used to treat life-threatening diseases (No
Answer)
1. illicit drug use
2. drug actions
3. CORRECT: expedited drug approval
4. legend drugs
31. DNA or RNA molecules or portions thereof (No Answer)
1. generic name
2. intrathecal
3. CORRECT: genetic material
4. genetic disease
32. person younger than 1 month of age; newborn infant (No Answer)
1. agonist
2. bias
3. genome
4. CORRECT: neonate
33. a scientific project of the US Department of Energy and National Institutes of Health to
describe in detail the entire genome of a human being (No Answer)
1. iatrogenic effects
2. nursing process
3. CORRECT: Human Genome Project (HGP)
4. psychoactive properties
34. any unexpected, unintended, undesired, or excessive response to a medication given at
therapeutic dosages (as opposed to overdose) (No Answer)
1. drug interaction
2. contraindication
3. allergic reaction
4. CORRECT: adverse drug reaction
35. the desired or intended effect of a particular medication (No Answer)
1. synergistic effects
2. iatrogenic effects
3. CORRECT: therapeutic effect
4. first-pass effect
36. the two or more alternative forms of a gene that can occupy a specific locus (location) on a
chromosome (No Answer)
1. roofies
2. CORRECT: alleles
3. neonate
4. herbs
37. an inactive (inert) substance, that is not a drug but is formulated to resemble a drug for
research purposes (No Answer)
1. roofies
2. gene
3. CORRECT: placebo
4. prodrug
38. The process of measuring drug peak and trough levels to gauge the level of a patient's drug
exposure and allow adjustment of dosages with the goals of maximizing therapeutic effects
and minimizing toxicity (No Answer)
1. expedited drug approval
2. genetic predisposition
3. CORRECT: therapeutic drug monitoring
4. therapeutic effect
39. molecule of DNA and RNA in the nucleus of every cell. DNA makes up the chromosomes and
encodes the genes (No Answer)
1. CORRECT: nucleic acids
2. teaching
3. pharmaceutics
4. drug effects
40. the time required for a drug to reach its maximum therapeutic response in the body (No
Answer)
1. CORRECT: peak effect
2. genetics
3. adverse effects
4. drug effects
41. allele variants that occur in the chromosomes 1% or more of the general population (i.e., they
occur too frequently to be caused by a random recurrent mutation) (No Answer)
1. genetic disease
2. generic name
3. CORRECT: genetic polymorphisms (PMs)
4. drug polymorphism
42. person who is 65 years of age or older (No Answer)
1. raves
2. gene
3. heredity
4. CORRECT: elderly
43. a measure of the extent of drug absorption for a given drug and route (0-100%) (No Answer)
1. pharmacology
2. incompatibility
3. CORRECT: bioavailability
4. intoxication
44. within a sheath (No Answer)
1. narcolepsy
2. neonate
3. CORRECT: intrathecal
4. proteome
45. the prescribing, dispensing, and administering of medications, and the monitoring of their
effects (No Answer)
1. nursing process
2. CORRECT: medication use process
3. medication error
4. duration of action
46. drugs available to consumers without a prescription. Also called nonprescription drugs (No
Answer)
1. parent drug
2. CORRECT: over-the-counter drugs
3. nonprescription drugs
4. orphan drugs
47. a general term for any undesirable effects that are a direct response to one or more drugs.
(No Answer)
1. CORRECT: adverse effects
2. peak effect
3. antagonistic effects
4. first-pass effect
48. an inactive drug dosage form that is converted to an active metabolite by various biochemical
reactions once it is inside the body (No Answer)
1. proteome
2. CORRECT: prodrug
3. agonist
4. raves
49. the maximum concentration of a drug in the body after administration, usually measured in a
blood sample for therapeutic drug monitoring (No Answer)
1. through level
2. alleles
3. metabolite
4. CORRECT: peak level
50. an imunologic hypersensitivity reaction resulting from the unusual sensitivity of a patient to a
particular medication; a type of adverse drug event (No Answer)
1. idiosyncratic reaction
2. nucleic acids
3. CORRECT: allergic reaction
4. drug interaction
51. produces calming effect without causing sleep; depresses CNS (Amytal, Buticaps,
phenobarbital) (No Answer)
1. CORRECT: sedative
2. antacid
3. laxative
4. emetic
52. prevents or relieves cough (codeine, dextrometorphan) (No Answer)
1. antibiotic
2. antidote
3. antimigraine
4. CORRECT: antitussive
53. used to lower abnormally high blood levels of fatty substances (lipids). (Lipitor, Lopid,
Mevacor, Nicobid, Zocor) (No Answer)
1. antidysrhythmic
2. antidiabetic
3. CORRECT: antihyperlipidemic
4. antiemetic
54. prevents or relieves convulsions / seizures (Tegretol, Zarontin, Dilantin) (No Answer)
1. antianginal
2. antiviral
3. antidepressant
4. CORRECT: anticonvulsant
55. may influence the course of disease progression of rheumatoid arthritis (Arava, Cuprimine,
Cytoxan, Rheumatrex, Ridaura) (No Answer)
1. anti-inflammatory
2. CORRECT: disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
3. lipid-lowering agent
4. selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
56. combats a specific viral disease (e.g. herpes) (Denavir, Famivir, Relenza, Retrovir, Tamiflu,
Zovirax) (No Answer)
1. CORRECT: antiviral
2. antifungal
3. antidote
4. antianginal
57. controls cardiac arrhythmias (lidocaine HCl, Xylocaine, Inderal) (No Answer)
1. antiemetic
2. CORRECT: antiarrhythmic
3. antidysrhythmic
4. antianemic
58. dissolves an existing thrombus (clot) when administered soon after its occurence
(Abbokinase, Activase, Eminase, Kabikinase, Streptase) (No Answer)
1. hemostatic
2. hypnotic
3. emetic
4. CORRECT: thrombolytic
59. selectively inhibits serotonin reuptake and results in potentiation of serotonergic
neurotransmissions (Luvox, Paxilo, Prozac, Zoloft) (No Answer)
1. antihypertensive
2. weight control agent
3. CORRECT: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
4. COX-2 Inhibitor
60. neutralizes acid (Amphojel, Gelusil, Mylanta, Milk of Magnesia) (No Answer)
1. antimanic
2. CORRECT: antacid
3. antidote
4. antigout
61. used in treatment of tuberculosis; inhibits growth of mycobacteria (INH, Myambutal,
Mycobutin, Priftin, PZA, Rifadin, Streptomycin) (No Answer)
1. antibiotic
2. antipsychotic
3. CORRECT: antituberculosis
4. antihypertensive
62. increases the excretion of urine (Diuril, Lasix, Osmitrol) (No Answer)
1. antiemetic
2. CORRECT: diuretic
3. hypnotic
4. emetic
63. prevents or relieves angina attacks (No Answer)
1. antianxiety
2. antiviral
3. CORRECT: antianginal
4. antifungal
64. reduces nasal congestion and/or swelling; produces vasoconstriction (Afrin, Sudafed) (No
Answer)
1. anticonvulsant
2. antidepressant
3. CORRECT: decongestant
4. hemostatic
65. dilates the bronchi (Proventil, Isuprel) (No Answer)
1. thrombolytic
2. CORRECT: bronchodilator
3. mucolytic
4. vasodilator
66. agent that relieves pain without causing loss of consciousness (Tylenol, Advil, Motrin) (No
Answer)
1. anesthetic
2. antimanic
3. CORRECT: analgesic
4. antianemic
67. destroys protozoa (No Answer)
1. antidiarrheal
2. CORRECT: antiprotozoal
3. antifungal
4. antianginal
68. acts to prevent the action of histamine (allergies) (Allegra, Benadryl, Dimetane) (No Answer)
1. antitussive
2. antimigraine
3. CORRECT: antihistamine
4. antibiotic
69. controls hypermotility in IBS (No Answer)
1. antimanic
2. antipsychotic
3. antidiabetic
4. CORRECT: antispasmodic
70. kills or inhibits growth of fungi (No Answer)
1. antibiotic
2. CORRECT: antifungal
3. antimanic
4. antitussive
71. supresses gastric acid secretions; also used for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
(Aciphex, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix) (No Answer)
1. bone resorption inhibitor
2. platelet inhibitor
3. CORRECT: gastric acid-pump inhibitor
4. COX-2 Inhibitor
72. prevents inflammation (Advil, Motrin, Naprosyn) (No Answer)
1. antiflatulent
2. CORRECT: anti-inflammatory
3. antihistamine
4. antidiabetic
73. device, method or agent that prevents conception (No Answer)
1. antacid
2. anti-infective
3. laxative
4. CORRECT: contraceptive
74. used for treatment and management of asthma (Singulair, Zyflo, Accolate) (No Answer)
1. CORRECT: leukotriene receptor antagonist blocker
2. platelet inhibitor
3. hormone replacement (HRT)
4. otic preparations
75. seems to slow if not halt altogether the destruction of joints by disrupting the activity of
tumor necrosis factor (TNF) (Enbrel) (No Answer)
1. antiretroviral
2. antituberculosis
3. CORRECT: antitumor necrosis factor
4. anticholinergic
76. lowers cholesterol (No Answer)
1. weight control agent
2. CORRECT: lipid-lowering agent
3. decongestant
4. antidepressant
77. used to treat psychotic disorders (No Answer)
1. antidiabetic
2. antiemetic
3. antibiotic
4. CORRECT: antipsychotic
78. used to induce vomiting (Apomorphine HCl, Ipecac syrup) (No Answer)
1. diuretic
2. antacid
3. sedative
4. CORRECT: emetic
79. breaks chemical bonds in mucus, lowering the viscosity (Mucomyst) (No Answer)
1. hemostatic
2. immunologic
3. neuroleptic
4. CORRECT: mucolytic
80. inhibits production of uric acid (No Answer)
1. antiulcer
2. antimanic
3. antibiotic
4. CORRECT: antigout
81. prevents or relieves diarrhea; inhibits peristalsis and reduces fecal volume (Keopectate,
Lomotil, Pepto-Bismol) (No Answer)
1. antidiabetic
2. antianginal
3. CORRECT: antidiarrheal
4. antiviral
82. causes vasoconstriction in large intracranial arteries (No Answer)
1. CORRECT: antimigraine
2. antianginal
3. antiviral
4. antitussive
83. lowers blood glucose level (Diabinese, insulin) (No Answer)
1. hypnotic
2. CORRECT: hypoglycemic
3. mucolytic
4. antidiabetic
84. prevents or delays blood clotting (heparin, warfarin, Coumadin) (No Answer)
1. antigout
2. CORRECT: anticoagulant
3. antidepressant
4. antifungal
85. used to manage nicotine withdrawl (No Answer)
1. antidepressant
2. CORRECT: smoking deterrent
3. antiflatulent
4. muscle relaxant
86. facilitates removal of secretion from broncho-pulmonary mucous membrane (Robitussin,
Mucinex) (No Answer)
1. anesthetic
2. anticoagulant
3. antiviral
4. CORRECT: expectorant
87. produces lack of feeling either local or general depending upon type and how administered
(lidocaine, Xylocaine, Novocain) (No Answer)
1. emetic
2. antibiotic
3. CORRECT: anesthetic
4. antipyretic
88. used in treatment of active duodenal ulcer and for pathological hypersecretory; controls
stomach acid (Axid, Pepcid, Tagamet, Zantac) (No Answer)
1. antifungal
2. antimanic
3. CORRECT: antiulcer
4. antidote
89. used to manage HIV infections (No Answer)
1. CORRECT: antiretroviral
2. antiprotozoal
3. antifungal
4. antianginal
90. relieves gas and bloating in GI tract (No Answer)
1. antianxiety
2. anticonvulsant
3. CORRECT: antiflatulent
4. antihistamine
91. treat and prevent rejection of transplanted organs (No Answer)
1. vasopressor
2. CORRECT: immunosuppressant
3. immunologic
4. antidepressant
92. destroys or inhibits growth of microorganisms (Kelfin, Rocephin, Pentids, penicillins,
Augmentin) (No Answer)
1. antidote
2. CORRECT: antibiotic
3. antiemetic
4. antidiabetic
93. inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX-2) enzyme found in joints and other areas affected by
inflammation (No Answer)
1. vasodilator
2. antibiotic
3. bronchodilator
4. CORRECT: COX-2 Inhibitor
94. reduces fever (Tylenol, aspirin) (No Answer)
1. CORRECT: antipyretic
2. antiemetic
3. antibiotic
4. antidiabetic
95. loosens and promotes normal bowel elimination; relieves constipation (Dulcolax, Metamucil)
(No Answer)
1. emetic
2. CORRECT: laxative
3. sedative
4. antidote
96. used for treatment of manic episode of manic-depressive and bipolar disorder (lithium) (No
Answer)
1. antianemic
2. antibiotic
3. CORRECT: antimanic
4. antacid
97. used for palliative relief of major symptoms of Parkinson disease (L-Dopa, Requip,
Symmetrel, Tasar) (No Answer)
1. anticholinergic
2. CORRECT: antiparkinsonian
3. antibiotic
4. antianginal
98. treats or prevents electrolyte depletion (No Answer)
1. expectorant
2. hormone replacement (HRT)
3. CORRECT: electrolyte replacement
4. weight control agent
99. prevents the replication of neoplastic cells; used to treat tumors (Myleran, Cytoxan) (No
Answer)
1. antimanic
2. CORRECT: antineoplastic
3. antiemetic
4. antianemic
100.
prevents or controls high blood pressure (Catapres, Aldomet, Lopressor) (No Answer)
1. anti-infective
2. CORRECT: antihypertensive
3. antitussive
4. antihistamine