ICHS PHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM | QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED ANSWERS PLUS
RATIONALES | EXAM ALREADY GRADED A+ | LATEST
EXAM
1. Which of the following drugs is classified as a β1-selective adrenergic blocker?
A. Propranolol
B. Metoprolol
C. Labetalol
D. Carvedilol
Answer: B
Rationale: Metoprolol selectively blocks β1 receptors in the heart, reducing heart rate
and contractility without significant β2 effects.
2. What is the primary mechanism of action of furosemide?
A. Inhibition of carbonic anhydrase
B. Loop diuretic inhibiting Na⁺/K⁺/2Cl⁻ transporter
C. Thiazide diuretic inhibiting Na⁺/Cl⁻ transporter
D. Potassium-sparing diuretic antagonizing aldosterone
Answer: B
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic, inhibiting the Na⁺/K⁺/2Cl⁻ transporter in the
ascending loop of Henle, leading to potent diuresis.
3. Which antibiotic inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding
proteins?
A. Ciprofloxacin
B. Amoxicillin
C. Tetracycline
D. Erythromycin
Answer: B
Rationale: Amoxicillin is a β-lactam antibiotic that inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis
by binding to penicillin-binding proteins.
4. Which drug is used as an antidote for acetaminophen overdose?
A. N-acetylcysteine
B. Flumazenil
C. Atropine
D. Naloxone
Answer: A
Rationale: N-acetylcysteine replenishes glutathione, detoxifying the toxic metabolite
NAPQI in acetaminophen overdose.
5. Which class of drugs is first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes?
A. Sulfonylureas
B. Biguanides
C. Thiazolidinediones
D. DPP-4 inhibitors
, Answer: B
Rationale: Metformin, a biguanide, is first-line therapy due to its efficacy, safety profile,
and cardiovascular benefits.
6. Which of the following is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor?
A. Losartan
B. Lisinopril
C. Amlodipine
D. Metoprolol
Answer: B
Rationale: Lisinopril inhibits ACE, preventing conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin
II, leading to vasodilation.
7. Which opioid receptor primarily mediates analgesia?
A. Delta
B. Mu
C. Kappa
D. Sigma
Answer: B
Rationale: Mu receptors are responsible for analgesia, euphoria, and respiratory
depression when activated by opioids.
8. Which of the following drugs is used to reverse benzodiazepine overdose?
A. Naloxone
B. Flumazenil
C. Atropine
D. Physostigmine
Answer: B
Rationale: Flumazenil is a benzodiazepine antagonist used to reverse sedation and
overdose.
9. Which of the following is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Ibuprofen
C. Prednisone
D. Methotrexate
Answer: B
Rationale: Ibuprofen inhibits cyclooxygenase enzymes, reducing prostaglandin synthesis
and inflammation.
10. Which drug is a proton pump inhibitor used for peptic ulcer disease?
A. Ranitidine
B. Omeprazole
C. Sucralfate
D. Aluminum hydroxide
Answer: B
Rationale: Omeprazole irreversibly inhibits H⁺/K⁺ ATPase in gastric parietal cells,
reducing acid secretion.
11. Which medication is first-line therapy for hypertension in pregnancy?
A. ACE inhibitors
B. Methyldopa
, C. Losartan
D. Atenolol
Answer: B
Rationale: Methyldopa is safe in pregnancy and effectively reduces blood pressure.
12. Which of the following is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)?
A. Amitriptyline
B. Sertraline
C. Phenelzine
D. Bupropion
Answer: B
Rationale: Sertraline selectively inhibits serotonin reuptake, improving mood in
depression and anxiety.
13. Which anticoagulant works by activating antithrombin III?
A. Warfarin
B. Heparin
C. Dabigatran
D. Rivaroxaban
Answer: B
Rationale: Heparin activates antithrombin III, which inactivates thrombin and factor Xa,
preventing clot formation.
14. Which diuretic can cause hyperkalemia?
A. Furosemide
B. Hydrochlorothiazide
C. Spironolactone
D. Mannitol
Answer: C
Rationale: Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic that blocks aldosterone
receptors, increasing potassium retention.
15. Which medication is used as a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) in
rheumatoid arthritis?
A. Methotrexate
B. Ibuprofen
C. Prednisone
D. Acetaminophen
Answer: A
Rationale: Methotrexate inhibits dihydrofolate reductase, modulating the immune
response and slowing joint damage.
16. Which antibiotic binds the 30S ribosomal subunit to inhibit protein synthesis?
A. Erythromycin
B. Tetracycline
C. Vancomycin
D. Ciprofloxacin
Answer: B
Rationale: Tetracyclines bind the bacterial 30S ribosomal subunit, preventing aminoacyl-
tRNA attachment and protein synthesis.
, 17. Which of the following is an H2 receptor antagonist?
A. Omeprazole
B. Ranitidine
C. Aluminum hydroxide
D. Misoprostol
Answer: B
Rationale: Ranitidine blocks H2 receptors on parietal cells, reducing gastric acid
secretion.
18. Which antiepileptic drug enhances GABAergic transmission?
A. Phenytoin
B. Diazepam
C. Carbamazepine
D. Valproic acid
Answer: B
Rationale: Diazepam is a benzodiazepine that enhances GABA-A receptor activity,
increasing inhibitory neurotransmission.
19. Which class of drugs reduces mortality in heart failure by blocking neurohormonal
activation?
A. Calcium channel blockers
B. Beta blockers
C. Diuretics
D. Nitrates
Answer: B
Rationale: Beta blockers reduce sympathetic overactivation, improving survival in
chronic heart failure.
20. Which drug is a selective COX-2 inhibitor?
A. Aspirin
B. Celecoxib
C. Ibuprofen
D. Naproxen
Answer: B
Rationale: Celecoxib selectively inhibits COX-2, reducing inflammation with lower risk
of gastric ulcers.
21. Which medication is used as prophylaxis for malaria?
A. Chloroquine
B. Metronidazole
C. Amoxicillin
D. Ciprofloxacin
Answer: A
Rationale: Chloroquine interferes with heme detoxification in Plasmodium, preventing
malaria infection.
22. Which of the following drugs is an NMDA receptor antagonist used in anesthesia?
A. Propofol
B. Ketamine
C. Midazolam
D. Fentanyl
AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED ANSWERS PLUS
RATIONALES | EXAM ALREADY GRADED A+ | LATEST
EXAM
1. Which of the following drugs is classified as a β1-selective adrenergic blocker?
A. Propranolol
B. Metoprolol
C. Labetalol
D. Carvedilol
Answer: B
Rationale: Metoprolol selectively blocks β1 receptors in the heart, reducing heart rate
and contractility without significant β2 effects.
2. What is the primary mechanism of action of furosemide?
A. Inhibition of carbonic anhydrase
B. Loop diuretic inhibiting Na⁺/K⁺/2Cl⁻ transporter
C. Thiazide diuretic inhibiting Na⁺/Cl⁻ transporter
D. Potassium-sparing diuretic antagonizing aldosterone
Answer: B
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic, inhibiting the Na⁺/K⁺/2Cl⁻ transporter in the
ascending loop of Henle, leading to potent diuresis.
3. Which antibiotic inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding
proteins?
A. Ciprofloxacin
B. Amoxicillin
C. Tetracycline
D. Erythromycin
Answer: B
Rationale: Amoxicillin is a β-lactam antibiotic that inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis
by binding to penicillin-binding proteins.
4. Which drug is used as an antidote for acetaminophen overdose?
A. N-acetylcysteine
B. Flumazenil
C. Atropine
D. Naloxone
Answer: A
Rationale: N-acetylcysteine replenishes glutathione, detoxifying the toxic metabolite
NAPQI in acetaminophen overdose.
5. Which class of drugs is first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes?
A. Sulfonylureas
B. Biguanides
C. Thiazolidinediones
D. DPP-4 inhibitors
, Answer: B
Rationale: Metformin, a biguanide, is first-line therapy due to its efficacy, safety profile,
and cardiovascular benefits.
6. Which of the following is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor?
A. Losartan
B. Lisinopril
C. Amlodipine
D. Metoprolol
Answer: B
Rationale: Lisinopril inhibits ACE, preventing conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin
II, leading to vasodilation.
7. Which opioid receptor primarily mediates analgesia?
A. Delta
B. Mu
C. Kappa
D. Sigma
Answer: B
Rationale: Mu receptors are responsible for analgesia, euphoria, and respiratory
depression when activated by opioids.
8. Which of the following drugs is used to reverse benzodiazepine overdose?
A. Naloxone
B. Flumazenil
C. Atropine
D. Physostigmine
Answer: B
Rationale: Flumazenil is a benzodiazepine antagonist used to reverse sedation and
overdose.
9. Which of the following is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Ibuprofen
C. Prednisone
D. Methotrexate
Answer: B
Rationale: Ibuprofen inhibits cyclooxygenase enzymes, reducing prostaglandin synthesis
and inflammation.
10. Which drug is a proton pump inhibitor used for peptic ulcer disease?
A. Ranitidine
B. Omeprazole
C. Sucralfate
D. Aluminum hydroxide
Answer: B
Rationale: Omeprazole irreversibly inhibits H⁺/K⁺ ATPase in gastric parietal cells,
reducing acid secretion.
11. Which medication is first-line therapy for hypertension in pregnancy?
A. ACE inhibitors
B. Methyldopa
, C. Losartan
D. Atenolol
Answer: B
Rationale: Methyldopa is safe in pregnancy and effectively reduces blood pressure.
12. Which of the following is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)?
A. Amitriptyline
B. Sertraline
C. Phenelzine
D. Bupropion
Answer: B
Rationale: Sertraline selectively inhibits serotonin reuptake, improving mood in
depression and anxiety.
13. Which anticoagulant works by activating antithrombin III?
A. Warfarin
B. Heparin
C. Dabigatran
D. Rivaroxaban
Answer: B
Rationale: Heparin activates antithrombin III, which inactivates thrombin and factor Xa,
preventing clot formation.
14. Which diuretic can cause hyperkalemia?
A. Furosemide
B. Hydrochlorothiazide
C. Spironolactone
D. Mannitol
Answer: C
Rationale: Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic that blocks aldosterone
receptors, increasing potassium retention.
15. Which medication is used as a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) in
rheumatoid arthritis?
A. Methotrexate
B. Ibuprofen
C. Prednisone
D. Acetaminophen
Answer: A
Rationale: Methotrexate inhibits dihydrofolate reductase, modulating the immune
response and slowing joint damage.
16. Which antibiotic binds the 30S ribosomal subunit to inhibit protein synthesis?
A. Erythromycin
B. Tetracycline
C. Vancomycin
D. Ciprofloxacin
Answer: B
Rationale: Tetracyclines bind the bacterial 30S ribosomal subunit, preventing aminoacyl-
tRNA attachment and protein synthesis.
, 17. Which of the following is an H2 receptor antagonist?
A. Omeprazole
B. Ranitidine
C. Aluminum hydroxide
D. Misoprostol
Answer: B
Rationale: Ranitidine blocks H2 receptors on parietal cells, reducing gastric acid
secretion.
18. Which antiepileptic drug enhances GABAergic transmission?
A. Phenytoin
B. Diazepam
C. Carbamazepine
D. Valproic acid
Answer: B
Rationale: Diazepam is a benzodiazepine that enhances GABA-A receptor activity,
increasing inhibitory neurotransmission.
19. Which class of drugs reduces mortality in heart failure by blocking neurohormonal
activation?
A. Calcium channel blockers
B. Beta blockers
C. Diuretics
D. Nitrates
Answer: B
Rationale: Beta blockers reduce sympathetic overactivation, improving survival in
chronic heart failure.
20. Which drug is a selective COX-2 inhibitor?
A. Aspirin
B. Celecoxib
C. Ibuprofen
D. Naproxen
Answer: B
Rationale: Celecoxib selectively inhibits COX-2, reducing inflammation with lower risk
of gastric ulcers.
21. Which medication is used as prophylaxis for malaria?
A. Chloroquine
B. Metronidazole
C. Amoxicillin
D. Ciprofloxacin
Answer: A
Rationale: Chloroquine interferes with heme detoxification in Plasmodium, preventing
malaria infection.
22. Which of the following drugs is an NMDA receptor antagonist used in anesthesia?
A. Propofol
B. Ketamine
C. Midazolam
D. Fentanyl
