Pharmacology worksheet with answers

What is drug synergism?

1. AOne drug cancels out the effect of another drug
2. BTwo drugs together have a greater effect than the sum of each alone
3. CA drug loses its effect after repeated doses
4. DTwo drugs together produce exactly the sum of their separate effects

Why is magnesium sulfate given to a woman with severe pre-eclampsia?

1. ATo start labour contractions
2. BTo raise her blood pressure
3. CTo treat a urinary infection
4. DTo prevent eclamptic seizures

What does the "efficacy" of a drug describe?

1. AThe dose needed to produce half the effect
2. BThe maximum effect the drug can produce
3. CThe speed at which the drug is absorbed
4. DThe fraction of the dose bound to plasma proteins

Which common side effect is typical of ACE inhibitors?

1. AHypoglycaemia
2. BDry cough
3. CAnkle swelling caused by vasodilation
4. DBradycardia

Warfarin works by:

1. ABlocking platelet aggregation through irreversible inhibition of COX-1
2. BActivating antithrombin
3. CDirectly inhibiting thrombin
4. DBlocking the vitamin K-dependent synthesis of clotting factors

Which patient should usually not receive a live vaccine?

1. AA patient with mild seasonal allergies
2. BA patient receiving chemotherapy for leukaemia
3. CA healthy adult nurse who works on a children's ward
4. DA healthy 1-year-old child

A drug has a half-life of 6 hours. Its plasma level is 80 mg/L. Assuming first-order elimination and no further doses, what is the level after 18 hours?

1. A26.7 mg/L
2. B10 mg/L
3. C40 mg/L
4. D20 mg/L

A patient with heart failure on furosemide is also given metolazone, a thiazide-like diuretic. Which risk increases most?

1. ASevere hypertension, tachycardia and fluid retention
2. BHypoglycaemia and weight gain
3. CHyperkalaemia and fluid overload
4. DSevere hypokalaemia, hyponatraemia and dehydration