ELITE COMPREHENSIVE
PHARMACOLOGY (PCOL) COMPREHENSIVE
EXAMINATION
Clinical Pharmacology and Medication
Management Assessment|| Questions and
Answers
Spring Examination May 2026
Mechanism of action of local anesthetics.
A. Block sodium channel thereby stopping axonal conduction
B. Block alpha and beta receptor
C. Block neuronal firing by decreasing Ach in the neuromuscular junction
D. Inhibition of acetyl cholinesterase enzyme
E. Inhibition of enzyme responsible for pain response
✓ Block sodium channel thereby stopping axonal conduction
The following are factors that affect the absorption of drug from the gastrointestinal (GI)
track except:
A. Surface area of absorption
1
Page
B. Blood flow to the site of absorption
, C. Physical state of the drug
D. Concentration of the drug at the site of absorption
E. Protein binding
✓ E. Protein binding
Continued stimulation of cells with agonists generally results in which of the following?
A. Desensitization
B. Up-regulation
C. Down-regulation
D. A and B
E. A and C
✓ E. A and C
Drug that lacks intrinsic efficacy but retains affinity and competes with the agonist for the
binding sites of the receptor.
A. Competitive antagonist
B. Full agonist
C. Non-competitive antagonist
D. Partial antagonist
E. Partial agonist
✓ Competitive antagonist
2
Page
, This type of drug produce its effect by binding a site on the receptor distinct from that of
the primary agonist and thereby changing the affinity of the receptor for the agonist.
A. Competitive antagonist
B. Full agonist
C. Non-competitive antagonist
D. Partial antagonist
E. Partial agonist
✓ C. Non-competitive antagonist
In this type of study, participants are blinded to treatment assignment, investigators are
not.
A. Double blind study
B. Single blind study
C. Masking
D. Open-label
E. Un-blinded study
✓ B. Single blind study
The neurotransmitter of all preganglionic autonomic fibers, and all postganglionic
parasympathetic fibers:
A. Norepinephrine
3
B. Noradrenaline
Page
C. Acetylcholine
, D. A and B
E. A and C
✓ C. Acetylcholine
The release of ach and other neurotransmitters by exocytosis is inhibited by:
A. Acetylcholinesterase
B. Botulinum toxin
C. Reserpine
D. Metyrosine
E. Guanethidine
✓ B. Botulinum toxin
All of the following are enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of epinephrine from
tyrosine EXCEPT:
A. Tyrosine hydroxylase
B. Aromatic L amino acid decarboxylase
C. Dopamine Beta-hydroxylase
D. Phenyl ethanolamine-N-Methyl transferase
E. Monoamine oxidase
✓ E. Monoamine oxidase
4
Page
PHARMACOLOGY (PCOL) COMPREHENSIVE
EXAMINATION
Clinical Pharmacology and Medication
Management Assessment|| Questions and
Answers
Spring Examination May 2026
Mechanism of action of local anesthetics.
A. Block sodium channel thereby stopping axonal conduction
B. Block alpha and beta receptor
C. Block neuronal firing by decreasing Ach in the neuromuscular junction
D. Inhibition of acetyl cholinesterase enzyme
E. Inhibition of enzyme responsible for pain response
✓ Block sodium channel thereby stopping axonal conduction
The following are factors that affect the absorption of drug from the gastrointestinal (GI)
track except:
A. Surface area of absorption
1
Page
B. Blood flow to the site of absorption
, C. Physical state of the drug
D. Concentration of the drug at the site of absorption
E. Protein binding
✓ E. Protein binding
Continued stimulation of cells with agonists generally results in which of the following?
A. Desensitization
B. Up-regulation
C. Down-regulation
D. A and B
E. A and C
✓ E. A and C
Drug that lacks intrinsic efficacy but retains affinity and competes with the agonist for the
binding sites of the receptor.
A. Competitive antagonist
B. Full agonist
C. Non-competitive antagonist
D. Partial antagonist
E. Partial agonist
✓ Competitive antagonist
2
Page
, This type of drug produce its effect by binding a site on the receptor distinct from that of
the primary agonist and thereby changing the affinity of the receptor for the agonist.
A. Competitive antagonist
B. Full agonist
C. Non-competitive antagonist
D. Partial antagonist
E. Partial agonist
✓ C. Non-competitive antagonist
In this type of study, participants are blinded to treatment assignment, investigators are
not.
A. Double blind study
B. Single blind study
C. Masking
D. Open-label
E. Un-blinded study
✓ B. Single blind study
The neurotransmitter of all preganglionic autonomic fibers, and all postganglionic
parasympathetic fibers:
A. Norepinephrine
3
B. Noradrenaline
Page
C. Acetylcholine
, D. A and B
E. A and C
✓ C. Acetylcholine
The release of ach and other neurotransmitters by exocytosis is inhibited by:
A. Acetylcholinesterase
B. Botulinum toxin
C. Reserpine
D. Metyrosine
E. Guanethidine
✓ B. Botulinum toxin
All of the following are enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of epinephrine from
tyrosine EXCEPT:
A. Tyrosine hydroxylase
B. Aromatic L amino acid decarboxylase
C. Dopamine Beta-hydroxylase
D. Phenyl ethanolamine-N-Methyl transferase
E. Monoamine oxidase
✓ E. Monoamine oxidase
4
Page
