Chemistry · Biology

Pharmacology and Therapeutics

1,643 Questions

Engage with critical pharmacology and therapeutics questions covering drug classifications and therapeutic mechanisms. Topics include chemical absorption, medication formulations, and pharmacogenomics. This collection is useful for students preparing for medical entrance, nursing, and science competitive examinations.

Chemical absorption routesDrug formulation typesMedication mechanismsEnzyme inhibitorsPharmacogenomic tests

Pharmacology and Therapeutics Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following is contraceptive drugs, used as a ‘morning after pill’?

  1. Ulipristalacetate

  2. Ethinyl estradiol

  3. Norethindrone

  4. Promethazine

  5. Ethynodiol diacetate
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Emergency contraceptive pills (sometimes referred to as emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) in Great Britain) may contain higher doses of the same hormones (estrogens, progestins, or both) found in regular combined oral contraceptive pills. Taken after unprotected sexual intercourse or contraceptive failure, such higher doses may prevent pregnancy from occurring. Some examples are - progestin-only (levonorgestrel) pills, and antiprogestin (ulipristalacetate or mifepristone) pills, etc.

Multiple choice

Antacids cure

  1. Headaches

  2. Stomach aches

  3. Asthma

  4. Hormone deficiency
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Antacids are medications that neutralize stomach acid. They are used to treat conditions caused by excess stomach acid, including indigestion, heartburn, and stomach aches. They do not treat headaches (pain relievers), asthma (bronchodilators), or hormone deficiency (hormone replacement).

Multiple choice

Directions: For this question, select the best of the answer choices given.

Although aspirin has been proven to eliminate moderate fever associated with some illnesses, many doctors no longer routinely recommend its use for this purpose. A moderate fever stimulates the activity of the body's disease-fighting white blood cells and also inhibits the growth of many strains of disease-causing bacteria. If the statements above are true, which of the following conclusions is most strongly supported by them?

  1. Aspirin, an effective painkiller, alleviates the pain and discomfort of many illnesses.

  2. Aspirin can prolong a patient's illness by eliminating moderate fever helpful in fighting some diseases.

  3. Aspirin inhibits the growth of white blood cells, which are necessary for fighting some illnesses.

  4. The more white blood cells a patient's body produces, the less severe the patient's illness will be.

  5. The focus of modern medicine is on inhibiting the growth of disease-causing bacteria within the body.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

If moderate fever helps the body fight disease by stimulating white blood cells and inhibiting bacterial growth, then eliminating fever with aspirin could prolong illness by removing this beneficial defense mechanism. The conclusion follows logically: aspirin may relieve symptoms but could extend recovery time.

Multiple choice

Directions: For this question, select the best of the answer choices given.

A pharmaceutical company developed a new diuretic reported to cause fewer side effects than their old diuretic, which was still being manufactured. During the first year that both were sold, the earlier medication far outsold the new one; the manufacturer thus concluded that reducing side effects was not the customers' primary consideration. Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the manufacturer's conclusion?

  1. Both hospitals and patients buy diuretics from this pharmaceutical company.

  2. Many customers consider older medications a better safety risk than new ones, since more is usually known about the safety of the earlier drugs.

  3. Many customers of this pharmaceutical company also bought medications from companies who did not produce new diuretics reported to cause fewer side effects.

  4. The newer diuretic can be used by all the patients who could use the earlier diuretic.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The best answer is (2). The manufacture's conclusion was that reducing side effects was not the customers' primary consideration. Choice (2) states that customers consider older medication a better safety risk, so those customers bought the older diuretic out of safety considerations.

Multiple choice

The drug for hypertension is obtained from:

  1. sida

  2. neem

  3. tulsi

  4. rauwolffia
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Rauwolfia (Rauvolfia serpentina) is a medicinal plant that contains reserpine, an alkaloid used historically to treat hypertension and other cardiovascular conditions. The plant has been used in traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda) for centuries. Modern antihypertensive drugs have largely replaced reserpine due to its side effects, but it remains important in medical history. Other options - Sida, Neem (Azadirachta indica), and Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) - have medicinal uses but not primarily for hypertension.

Multiple choice

Nitric oxide

  1. is seen in the lung of smokers

  2. increases cAMP levels

  3. is used to treat hypertension

  4. none of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Multiple choice

OC pills are contraindicated in patients receiving

  1. rifampicin

  2. ethambutol

  3. streptomycin

  4. pyrazinamide
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Rifampicin is a potent hepatic enzyme inducer that accelerates estrogen metabolism in OC pills, reducing their contraceptive efficacy and increasing failure risk. This is a clinically important drug interaction. Other anti-TB drugs listed (ethambutol, streptomycin, pyrazinamide) don't significantly interact with OCs.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is uterine relaxant with the least side effect?

  1. Ritodrine

  2. MgSO4

  3. Nifedipine

  4. Progesterone
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

MgSO4 is effective uterine relaxant (tocolytic) with favorable safety profile when monitored properly. Ritodrine has more cardiovascular side effects. Nifedipine is also used but MgSO4 has additional neuroprotection benefits in preeclampsia. Progesterone supports pregnancy but isn't a direct tocolytic.