1
PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY EXAM COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS 2026-27 VERSION
Note: all answers are marked in red
1. The FDA assigns the letters A, B, C, D, and X to drugs approved for human use.
To which of the following does this classification apply?
A. Amount of dosage reduction needed as serum creatinine clearances fall
B. Amount of dosage reduction needed in presence of liver dysfunction
C. Fetal risk when given to pregnant women
D. Relative margins of safety/therapeutic index
2. We administer a therapeutic dose of a drug that selectively and competitively
blocks the postsynaptic Alpha-adrenergic (alpha-1) receptors. It has no effects
on presynaptic alpha adrenergic receptors (alpha-2) or beta-adrenergic
receptors found anywhere in the periphery, whether as an agonist or
antagonist. Which of the following is the most likely drug?
A. Ephedrine B. Labetalol C. Phentolamine D. Prazosin
3. We have a patient with essential hypertension, and unusually high circulating
catecholamine levels. Our goal is to block both alpha and beta adrenergic
receptors using just one drug. Which of the following is capable of doing that?
A. Labetalol B. Metoprol C. Nadolol
ol D. Timolol
4. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, e.g.,
emphysema) is receiving an orally inhaled muscarinic receptor-blocking drug
,2
to maintain bronchodilation. Which of the following drug is this patient most
likely taking?
A. Albuterol C. Ipratropium
B. Diphenhydramine D. Pilocarpine
5. We have a 48-year-old female patient with a history of myasthenia gravis. She
has been treated with an oral acetylcholinesterase inhibitor for several years,
and has done well till now. She presents with muscle weakness and other signs
and symptoms that could reflect either a cholinergic crisis (excess dosages of
her maintenance drug) or a myasthenic crisis (insufficient treatment). We will
use a rapidly acting parenteral acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChE) to help
make the differential diagnosis.
Which of the following drugs would be most appropriate for this use?
A. Edrophonium B. Physostigmine C. Pralidoxime D. Pyridostigmine
6. It is common to include small amounts of epinephrine (EPI) in solutions of local
anesthetics that will be administered by infiltration (injection around sensory
nerve endings), as when a skin laceration needs suturing. Which of the
following is the most likely reason for, or outcome of, including the EPI?
A. To counteract cardiac depression caused by the anesthetic
B. To prevent anaphylaxis in patients who are allergic to the anesthetic
C. To reduce the risk of toxicity caused by systemic absorption of the
anesthetic
D. To shorten the duration of anesthetic action
7. “First-generation” (older) histamine H1 blockers such as diphenhydramine,
phenothiazine antipsychotic drugs (e.g., chlorpromazine), and tricyclic
antidepressants (e.g., imipramine) have pharmacologic actions, side effects,
, 3
toxicities, and contraindications that are very similar to those of which of the
following?
A. Atropine B. Bethanechol C. Neostigmine D. Propranolol
8. The attending with whom you are working in the emergency department
quizzes you on your basic knowledge of local anesthetics and their uses. She
asks you to identify the drug that is suitable for topical administration (e.g., to
mucous membranes), but cannot be given parenterally because of its
physicochemical properties, which render it very poorly soluble. Which of the
following drugs is the best answer to her question?
A. Benzocaine B. Bupivacaine C. Etidocaine D. Procaine
9. A physician considers placing a patient on long-term (months, years)
phenobarbital for control of a relatively common medical condition. For most
of these indications, newer and arguably more efficacious drugs are available
and preferred. For which of the following, however, is it still considered
reasonable and appropriate to use this barbiturate?
A. Alcohol withdrawal signs/symptoms
B. Anxiety management
C. Certain epilepsies D. Sleep disorders such as insomnia
10.We have a patient with Parkinson’s disease. Signs and symptoms can be
classified as “moderate” now but progressive and not responding well to
current drug therapy. The physician decides to empirically assess an
antiparkinson drug that is a selective inhibitor of monoamine oxidase type B
(MAO-B). Which of the following drugs would that be?
A. Bromocriptine B. Carbidopa C. Phenelzine D. Selegiline
PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY EXAM COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS 2026-27 VERSION
Note: all answers are marked in red
1. The FDA assigns the letters A, B, C, D, and X to drugs approved for human use.
To which of the following does this classification apply?
A. Amount of dosage reduction needed as serum creatinine clearances fall
B. Amount of dosage reduction needed in presence of liver dysfunction
C. Fetal risk when given to pregnant women
D. Relative margins of safety/therapeutic index
2. We administer a therapeutic dose of a drug that selectively and competitively
blocks the postsynaptic Alpha-adrenergic (alpha-1) receptors. It has no effects
on presynaptic alpha adrenergic receptors (alpha-2) or beta-adrenergic
receptors found anywhere in the periphery, whether as an agonist or
antagonist. Which of the following is the most likely drug?
A. Ephedrine B. Labetalol C. Phentolamine D. Prazosin
3. We have a patient with essential hypertension, and unusually high circulating
catecholamine levels. Our goal is to block both alpha and beta adrenergic
receptors using just one drug. Which of the following is capable of doing that?
A. Labetalol B. Metoprol C. Nadolol
ol D. Timolol
4. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, e.g.,
emphysema) is receiving an orally inhaled muscarinic receptor-blocking drug
,2
to maintain bronchodilation. Which of the following drug is this patient most
likely taking?
A. Albuterol C. Ipratropium
B. Diphenhydramine D. Pilocarpine
5. We have a 48-year-old female patient with a history of myasthenia gravis. She
has been treated with an oral acetylcholinesterase inhibitor for several years,
and has done well till now. She presents with muscle weakness and other signs
and symptoms that could reflect either a cholinergic crisis (excess dosages of
her maintenance drug) or a myasthenic crisis (insufficient treatment). We will
use a rapidly acting parenteral acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChE) to help
make the differential diagnosis.
Which of the following drugs would be most appropriate for this use?
A. Edrophonium B. Physostigmine C. Pralidoxime D. Pyridostigmine
6. It is common to include small amounts of epinephrine (EPI) in solutions of local
anesthetics that will be administered by infiltration (injection around sensory
nerve endings), as when a skin laceration needs suturing. Which of the
following is the most likely reason for, or outcome of, including the EPI?
A. To counteract cardiac depression caused by the anesthetic
B. To prevent anaphylaxis in patients who are allergic to the anesthetic
C. To reduce the risk of toxicity caused by systemic absorption of the
anesthetic
D. To shorten the duration of anesthetic action
7. “First-generation” (older) histamine H1 blockers such as diphenhydramine,
phenothiazine antipsychotic drugs (e.g., chlorpromazine), and tricyclic
antidepressants (e.g., imipramine) have pharmacologic actions, side effects,
, 3
toxicities, and contraindications that are very similar to those of which of the
following?
A. Atropine B. Bethanechol C. Neostigmine D. Propranolol
8. The attending with whom you are working in the emergency department
quizzes you on your basic knowledge of local anesthetics and their uses. She
asks you to identify the drug that is suitable for topical administration (e.g., to
mucous membranes), but cannot be given parenterally because of its
physicochemical properties, which render it very poorly soluble. Which of the
following drugs is the best answer to her question?
A. Benzocaine B. Bupivacaine C. Etidocaine D. Procaine
9. A physician considers placing a patient on long-term (months, years)
phenobarbital for control of a relatively common medical condition. For most
of these indications, newer and arguably more efficacious drugs are available
and preferred. For which of the following, however, is it still considered
reasonable and appropriate to use this barbiturate?
A. Alcohol withdrawal signs/symptoms
B. Anxiety management
C. Certain epilepsies D. Sleep disorders such as insomnia
10.We have a patient with Parkinson’s disease. Signs and symptoms can be
classified as “moderate” now but progressive and not responding well to
current drug therapy. The physician decides to empirically assess an
antiparkinson drug that is a selective inhibitor of monoamine oxidase type B
(MAO-B). Which of the following drugs would that be?
A. Bromocriptine B. Carbidopa C. Phenelzine D. Selegiline
