APEA PHARMACOLOGY PRACTICE TEST
2026 COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ Factors affecting Absorption.
Answer: Route (IV vs. PO vs. IM vs. Topical), gastric pH, presence of
food, gastric motility, first-pass effect (liver metabolism of oral drugs
before systemic circulation).
⩥ Distribution.
Answer: Movement of drug from bloodstream into tissues.
⩥ Factors affecting Distribution.
Answer: Blood flow to tissues, protein binding (albumin), blood-brain
barrier (lipid solubility).
⩥ Metabolism (Biotransformation).
Answer: Chemical alteration of drugs by the body (usually to make them
more excretable).
⩥ Primary site of Metabolism.
Answer: Liver (CYP450 enzyme system is KEY).
,⩥ CYP450 Inducers.
Answer: Speed up metabolism of other drugs (e.g., Carbamazepine,
Phenytoin, Rifampin, St. John's Wort). Leads to decreased drug levels.
⩥ CYP450 Inhibitors.
Answer: Slow down metabolism of other drugs (e.g., Grapefruit juice,
Amiodarone, Ketoconazole, Macrolides, SSRIs, Cimetidine). Leads to
increased drug levels and potential toxicity.
⩥ Prodrugs.
Answer: Inactive form activated by metabolism (e.g., Codeine to
Morphine, Lisdexamfetamine to Dextroamphetamine).
⩥ Excretion.
Answer: Elimination of drugs from the body.
⩥ Primary site of Excretion.
Answer: Kidneys (glomerular filtration, tubular reabsorption/secretion).
⩥ Other routes of Excretion.
Answer: Feces, bile, breast milk, sweat, breath.
⩥ Factors affecting Excretion.
, Answer: Renal function (creatinine clearance, GFR), urine pH.
⩥ Mechanism of Action (MOA).
Answer: How the drug interacts with biological targets (receptors,
enzymes, ion channels, transporters) to produce its effect.
⩥ Agonist.
Answer: Binds to receptor and activates it (produces a response).
⩥ Antagonist.
Answer: Binds to receptor and blocks activation (prevents a response).
⩥ Dose-Response Relationships.
Answer: Minimum effective concentration (MEC), therapeutic range,
toxic concentration.
⩥ Therapeutic Index.
Answer: Ratio of toxic dose to therapeutic dose.
⩥ Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs.
Answer: Require careful monitoring (e.g., Warfarin, Lithium, Digoxin,
Phenytoin, Theophylline). Small changes in dose can lead to toxicity or
therapeutic failure.
2026 COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ Factors affecting Absorption.
Answer: Route (IV vs. PO vs. IM vs. Topical), gastric pH, presence of
food, gastric motility, first-pass effect (liver metabolism of oral drugs
before systemic circulation).
⩥ Distribution.
Answer: Movement of drug from bloodstream into tissues.
⩥ Factors affecting Distribution.
Answer: Blood flow to tissues, protein binding (albumin), blood-brain
barrier (lipid solubility).
⩥ Metabolism (Biotransformation).
Answer: Chemical alteration of drugs by the body (usually to make them
more excretable).
⩥ Primary site of Metabolism.
Answer: Liver (CYP450 enzyme system is KEY).
,⩥ CYP450 Inducers.
Answer: Speed up metabolism of other drugs (e.g., Carbamazepine,
Phenytoin, Rifampin, St. John's Wort). Leads to decreased drug levels.
⩥ CYP450 Inhibitors.
Answer: Slow down metabolism of other drugs (e.g., Grapefruit juice,
Amiodarone, Ketoconazole, Macrolides, SSRIs, Cimetidine). Leads to
increased drug levels and potential toxicity.
⩥ Prodrugs.
Answer: Inactive form activated by metabolism (e.g., Codeine to
Morphine, Lisdexamfetamine to Dextroamphetamine).
⩥ Excretion.
Answer: Elimination of drugs from the body.
⩥ Primary site of Excretion.
Answer: Kidneys (glomerular filtration, tubular reabsorption/secretion).
⩥ Other routes of Excretion.
Answer: Feces, bile, breast milk, sweat, breath.
⩥ Factors affecting Excretion.
, Answer: Renal function (creatinine clearance, GFR), urine pH.
⩥ Mechanism of Action (MOA).
Answer: How the drug interacts with biological targets (receptors,
enzymes, ion channels, transporters) to produce its effect.
⩥ Agonist.
Answer: Binds to receptor and activates it (produces a response).
⩥ Antagonist.
Answer: Binds to receptor and blocks activation (prevents a response).
⩥ Dose-Response Relationships.
Answer: Minimum effective concentration (MEC), therapeutic range,
toxic concentration.
⩥ Therapeutic Index.
Answer: Ratio of toxic dose to therapeutic dose.
⩥ Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs.
Answer: Require careful monitoring (e.g., Warfarin, Lithium, Digoxin,
Phenytoin, Theophylline). Small changes in dose can lead to toxicity or
therapeutic failure.
