PHARMACOLOGY MIDTERM BOARD
EXAMINATION SET 2026 CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ A 28-year-old man with seborrheic dermatitis is prescribed a topical
corticosteroid creme by his dermatologist in hopes of alleviating the
chronic rash and erythema on the cheeks. Which of the following steps
is most critical to achieve a therapeutic drug concentration in plasma?
(A) Absorption
(B) Distribution
(C) Elimination
(D) Glycosylation
(E) Metabolism.
Answer: (A) Absorption
⩥ A 31-year-old man is brought to the emergency department
complaining of dyspnea. He has a history of asthma and has had
multiple asthma attacks requiring intubation for airway maintenance. He
is noncompliant with his medications prescribed for this condition.
Physical examination reveals a young man in acute distress. His room
air oxygen saturation is 87%. In addition to administration of oxygen,
immediate drug administration of albuterol should be administered by
which of the following routes?
(A) Inhalation
,(B) Intranasal puff metered dose
(C) Subcutaneous
(D) Sublingual
(E) Topical.
Answer: (A) Inhalation
⩥ A 27-year-old female with vulvovaginal candidiasis is given a one-
time 100 mg dose of oral fluconazole. She has no other pertinent
medical problems and takes no prescription medications. Administration
of the medication results in a peak plasma concentration of 20 ug/mL.
What is the apparent volume of drug distribution?
(A) 0.5 L
(B) 1 L
(C) 3 L
(D) 5 L
(E) 50 L.
Answer: (D) 5 L
⩥ A 48-year-old-man with end-stage liver disease is hospitalized on the
intensive care unit. Review of his blood work reveals elevated liver
function tests to five times the normal rate. The patient is receiving
multiple intravenous medications. Which of the following medications is
likely to be therapeutic for this patient?
(A) Epinephrine
,(B) Erythromycin
(C) Nifedipine
(D) Rifampin
(E) Verapamil.
Answer: (A) Epinephrine
⩥ A 29-year-old man presents to his primary care physician complaining
of dysuria, urgency, and painful ejaculation. The patient has a past
medical history of allergic rhinitis. Physical examination reveals a tender
prostate. The patient is given a prescription of sulfamethoxazole to be
taken daily (q 12 h) for 30 days. The half-life is 12 hours. How long will
it take for the medication to reach 90% of its final steady state level?
(A) 10 h
(B) 20 h
(C) 30 h
(D) 40 h
(E) 50 h.
Answer: (D) 40 h
⩥ A hospitalized patient with systemic candidiasis is receiving
intravenous antifungal medications. He also has hepatic and renal
insufficiency. Which of the following drug administration schemes
would allow for the most steady state amount of drug in the body over a
2-week hospitalization period where medication administration will be
necessary?
, (A) Continuous IV infusion
(B) Once weekly IV injection
(C) Single daily IV injection
(D) Twice daily IV injection
(E) Twice weekly IV injection.
Answer: (A) Continous IV infusion
⩥ A 27-year-old man with HIV disease and hepatic insufficiency
presents to his primary care physician complaining of rectal pain and
bleeding with bowel movements. Physical examination reveals several
internal and external hemorrhoids. The patient would like to avoid
surgical therapy for this condition. Which of the following routes of drug
administration would be preferred in this patient?
(A) Enteral
(B) Intramuscular
(C) Intravenous
(D) Rectal
(E) Transdermal.
Answer: (D) Rectal
⩥ Soon after the IV injection of 2 grams of a drug, the concentration in
the plasma is 10 mg/100 mL. The calculated apparent volume of
distribution would be
(A) 0.50 liters
EXAMINATION SET 2026 CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ A 28-year-old man with seborrheic dermatitis is prescribed a topical
corticosteroid creme by his dermatologist in hopes of alleviating the
chronic rash and erythema on the cheeks. Which of the following steps
is most critical to achieve a therapeutic drug concentration in plasma?
(A) Absorption
(B) Distribution
(C) Elimination
(D) Glycosylation
(E) Metabolism.
Answer: (A) Absorption
⩥ A 31-year-old man is brought to the emergency department
complaining of dyspnea. He has a history of asthma and has had
multiple asthma attacks requiring intubation for airway maintenance. He
is noncompliant with his medications prescribed for this condition.
Physical examination reveals a young man in acute distress. His room
air oxygen saturation is 87%. In addition to administration of oxygen,
immediate drug administration of albuterol should be administered by
which of the following routes?
(A) Inhalation
,(B) Intranasal puff metered dose
(C) Subcutaneous
(D) Sublingual
(E) Topical.
Answer: (A) Inhalation
⩥ A 27-year-old female with vulvovaginal candidiasis is given a one-
time 100 mg dose of oral fluconazole. She has no other pertinent
medical problems and takes no prescription medications. Administration
of the medication results in a peak plasma concentration of 20 ug/mL.
What is the apparent volume of drug distribution?
(A) 0.5 L
(B) 1 L
(C) 3 L
(D) 5 L
(E) 50 L.
Answer: (D) 5 L
⩥ A 48-year-old-man with end-stage liver disease is hospitalized on the
intensive care unit. Review of his blood work reveals elevated liver
function tests to five times the normal rate. The patient is receiving
multiple intravenous medications. Which of the following medications is
likely to be therapeutic for this patient?
(A) Epinephrine
,(B) Erythromycin
(C) Nifedipine
(D) Rifampin
(E) Verapamil.
Answer: (A) Epinephrine
⩥ A 29-year-old man presents to his primary care physician complaining
of dysuria, urgency, and painful ejaculation. The patient has a past
medical history of allergic rhinitis. Physical examination reveals a tender
prostate. The patient is given a prescription of sulfamethoxazole to be
taken daily (q 12 h) for 30 days. The half-life is 12 hours. How long will
it take for the medication to reach 90% of its final steady state level?
(A) 10 h
(B) 20 h
(C) 30 h
(D) 40 h
(E) 50 h.
Answer: (D) 40 h
⩥ A hospitalized patient with systemic candidiasis is receiving
intravenous antifungal medications. He also has hepatic and renal
insufficiency. Which of the following drug administration schemes
would allow for the most steady state amount of drug in the body over a
2-week hospitalization period where medication administration will be
necessary?
, (A) Continuous IV infusion
(B) Once weekly IV injection
(C) Single daily IV injection
(D) Twice daily IV injection
(E) Twice weekly IV injection.
Answer: (A) Continous IV infusion
⩥ A 27-year-old man with HIV disease and hepatic insufficiency
presents to his primary care physician complaining of rectal pain and
bleeding with bowel movements. Physical examination reveals several
internal and external hemorrhoids. The patient would like to avoid
surgical therapy for this condition. Which of the following routes of drug
administration would be preferred in this patient?
(A) Enteral
(B) Intramuscular
(C) Intravenous
(D) Rectal
(E) Transdermal.
Answer: (D) Rectal
⩥ Soon after the IV injection of 2 grams of a drug, the concentration in
the plasma is 10 mg/100 mL. The calculated apparent volume of
distribution would be
(A) 0.50 liters
