NR 293 PHARMACOKINETICS
3 Study Quizzes
Q&A
2024
,1. A patient with renal impairment is prescribed a drug that
is mainly eliminated by the kidneys. What pharmacokinetic
parameter is most likely to be affected by the patient's
condition?
a) Absorption
b) Distribution
c) Metabolism
d) Elimination*
Rationale: Elimination is the process of removing a drug
from the body, and it mainly occurs through the kidneys.
Renal impairment can reduce the glomerular filtration rate
(GFR), which is the rate at which the kidneys filter the
blood. A lower GFR means that less drug is eliminated per
unit of time, which can lead to drug accumulation and
toxicity.
2. A nurse administers a loading dose of 500 mg of a drug
to a patient, followed by a maintenance dose of 100 mg
every 12 hours. The drug has a half-life of 6 hours and a
volume of distribution of 50 L. What is the peak plasma
concentration of the drug after the loading dose?
a) 5 mg/L
b) 10 mg/L*
c) 20 mg/L
d) 40 mg/L
Rationale: The peak plasma concentration of a drug after a
loading dose can be calculated by dividing the loading dose
by the volume of distribution. In this case, 500 mg / 50 L =
10 mg/L.
, 3. A patient is taking two drugs that are both highly
protein-bound. One of the drugs has a low therapeutic
index, meaning that there is a narrow range between its
effective and toxic doses. What is the potential
pharmacokinetic interaction between these two drugs?
a) Increased absorption of both drugs
b) Decreased distribution of both drugs
c) Altered metabolism of both drugs
d) Displacement of one drug from protein binding sites*
Rationale: Protein binding is the process of attaching a
drug to plasma proteins, such as albumin, which act as
carriers for the drug in the blood. Only the unbound or free
fraction of a drug can exert its pharmacological effect,
cross membranes, and be eliminated. When two drugs are
highly protein-bound, they may compete for the same
binding sites, resulting in displacement of one drug from
the protein. This increases the free fraction and plasma
concentration of the displaced drug, which can lead to
toxicity, especially if the drug has a low therapeutic index.
4. A patient is prescribed a drug that undergoes extensive
first-pass metabolism by the liver. The drug is available in
oral and intravenous (IV) formulations. What route of
administration would result in higher bioavailability of the
drug?
a) Oral
b) IV*
c) Both routes have equal bioavailability
d) It depends on other factors, such as food intake and
3 Study Quizzes
Q&A
2024
,1. A patient with renal impairment is prescribed a drug that
is mainly eliminated by the kidneys. What pharmacokinetic
parameter is most likely to be affected by the patient's
condition?
a) Absorption
b) Distribution
c) Metabolism
d) Elimination*
Rationale: Elimination is the process of removing a drug
from the body, and it mainly occurs through the kidneys.
Renal impairment can reduce the glomerular filtration rate
(GFR), which is the rate at which the kidneys filter the
blood. A lower GFR means that less drug is eliminated per
unit of time, which can lead to drug accumulation and
toxicity.
2. A nurse administers a loading dose of 500 mg of a drug
to a patient, followed by a maintenance dose of 100 mg
every 12 hours. The drug has a half-life of 6 hours and a
volume of distribution of 50 L. What is the peak plasma
concentration of the drug after the loading dose?
a) 5 mg/L
b) 10 mg/L*
c) 20 mg/L
d) 40 mg/L
Rationale: The peak plasma concentration of a drug after a
loading dose can be calculated by dividing the loading dose
by the volume of distribution. In this case, 500 mg / 50 L =
10 mg/L.
, 3. A patient is taking two drugs that are both highly
protein-bound. One of the drugs has a low therapeutic
index, meaning that there is a narrow range between its
effective and toxic doses. What is the potential
pharmacokinetic interaction between these two drugs?
a) Increased absorption of both drugs
b) Decreased distribution of both drugs
c) Altered metabolism of both drugs
d) Displacement of one drug from protein binding sites*
Rationale: Protein binding is the process of attaching a
drug to plasma proteins, such as albumin, which act as
carriers for the drug in the blood. Only the unbound or free
fraction of a drug can exert its pharmacological effect,
cross membranes, and be eliminated. When two drugs are
highly protein-bound, they may compete for the same
binding sites, resulting in displacement of one drug from
the protein. This increases the free fraction and plasma
concentration of the displaced drug, which can lead to
toxicity, especially if the drug has a low therapeutic index.
4. A patient is prescribed a drug that undergoes extensive
first-pass metabolism by the liver. The drug is available in
oral and intravenous (IV) formulations. What route of
administration would result in higher bioavailability of the
drug?
a) Oral
b) IV*
c) Both routes have equal bioavailability
d) It depends on other factors, such as food intake and
