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Pharmacology Quiz: Test Your Drug Knowledge Now!

Think you know drug effects? Take the pharmacology practice test!

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Sugaya RieUpdated Aug 25, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for pharmacology quiz on golden yellow background with pills molecules syringe Atropine Nifedipine

This pharmacology quiz helps you practice drug actions, side effects, and safe nursing considerations, with items on Atropine, Nifedipine, and more. You'll sharpen recall and quickly spot gaps before an exam or clinicals. After you finish, build on what you missed with the systemic pharmacology review .

Atropine primarily produces which effect on the eye?
Mydriasis by stimulating alpha-1 receptors
Miosis by activating muscarinic M3 receptors
Mydriasis by blocking muscarinic M3 receptors on the iris sphincter (correct)
Accommodation spasm via ciliary muscle contraction
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Nifedipine most strongly affects which tissue at therapeutic doses?
Platelets, inhibiting aggregation
Cardiac nodal tissue, markedly slowing AV conduction
Vascular smooth muscle, causing arteriolar vasodilation and decreased afterload (correct)
Skeletal muscle, enhancing contraction
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Aspirin's antiplatelet effect is due to inhibition of which enzyme in platelets?
Thrombin
Adenylate cyclase
Phospholipase A2
Cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), irreversibly acetylated to block thromboxane A2 synthesis (correct)
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Warfarin decreases synthesis of which clotting factors?
VIII and von Willebrand factor by hepatic toxicity
I, II, V by inhibiting thrombin
II, VII, IX, X by inhibiting vitamin K epoxide reductase (correct)
XII only via direct inhibition
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Protamine sulfate is used to reverse toxicity from which drug?
Dabigatran via direct binding
Warfarin via vitamin K mimicry
Unfractionated heparin via ionic binding (correct)
Aspirin via platelet receptor blockade
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Which beta-blocker is relatively beta-1 selective at low doses?
Timolol
Propranolol
Nadolol
Metoprolol (cardioselective) (correct)
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Rifampin causes orange discoloration of body fluids and is a potent inducer of CYP enzymes.
False
True - It induces hepatic CYPs and colors urine/tears orange (correct)
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Amiodarone can cause which notable adverse effect with chronic use?
Hemorrhagic cystitis via acrolein
Gynecomastia via androgen blockade
Pulmonary fibrosis due to drug accumulation in lung tissue (correct)
Severe hypoglycemia via insulin release
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Clopidogrel inhibits platelet aggregation by blocking which receptor?
GP IIb/IIIa receptor
P2Y12 ADP receptor on platelets (correct)
TxA2 receptor
Thrombin PAR-1 receptor
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Doxycycline is contraindicated in children under 8 due to tooth discoloration.
False
True - Tetracyclines deposit in teeth/bone causing yellow-brown discoloration (correct)
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Which local anesthetics preferentially bind which state of voltage-gated Na+ channels?
Ligand-gated chloride channels
Closed resting state only
Open and inactivated states, blocking rapidly firing neurons (correct)
Phosphorylated state of K+ channels
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Zero-order elimination at therapeutic doses is characteristic of which drug?
Phenytoin, which saturates metabolic pathways (correct)
Amoxicillin
Metoprolol
Warfarin
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What is the best initial management for organophosphate poisoning?
Naloxone for respiratory depression
Physostigmine to increase ACh
Atropine to block muscarinic effects, plus pralidoxime to regenerate AChE (correct)
Propranolol to slow the heart
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Which drug interaction is most likely due to St John's wort?
Reduced efficacy of oral contraceptives via CYP3A4 induction (correct)
Enhanced lithium levels via renal blockade
Increased warfarin effect via CYP inhibition
Serotonin syndrome prevention
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Grapefruit juice commonly inhibits CYP3A4, increasing levels of some calcium channel blockers.
True - CYP3A4 inhibition elevates drug exposure (correct)
False
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Beta-blockers are first-line for acute cocaine-induced chest pain.
True
False - Unopposed alpha-adrenergic stimulation can worsen vasospasm; use benzodiazepines and nitrates (correct)
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Which drug most selectively dilates afferent arterioles in the kidney and can worsen edema in heart failure?
Acetazolamide, alkalinizing urine
Furosemide, increasing venous capacitance
Losartan, constricting efferent arterioles
Amlodipine, causing arteriolar vasodilation with reflex sympathetic activation (correct)
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Which antidote is specific for methotrexate toxicity presenting with myelosuppression?
Pyridoxine
Vitamin K
Leucovorin (folinic acid) to rescue normal cells (correct)
Deferoxamine
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Which pharmacokinetic change is expected in liver cirrhosis for high-extraction drugs?
Increased bioavailability from enhanced first-pass metabolism
Increased plasma protein binding
Decreased clearance due to reduced hepatic blood flow and function (correct)
Shortened half-life
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Lithium toxicity risk increases with which commonly used medication class?
SGLT2 inhibitors, via osmotic diuresis
Calcium channel blockers, by blocking renal lithium transporters
Macrolides, via CYP inhibition
Thiazide diuretics, which increase proximal sodium and lithium reabsorption (correct)
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze Drug Effects and Mechanisms -

    Decode how medications like Atropine, Captopril, and Nifedipine produce therapeutic outcomes, reinforcing your understanding of pharmacodynamics.

  2. Identify Common Side Effects -

    Recognize typical adverse reactions associated with key drugs, equipping you to anticipate and manage patient responses.

  3. Differentiate Drug Classes -

    Distinguish between major pharmacological categories, enabling more targeted therapy selection in clinical practice.

  4. Apply Clinical Decision-Making -

    Navigate case-based scenarios to choose appropriate medications, simulating real-world nursing pharmacology quiz challenges.

  5. Calculate and Adjust Dosages -

    Perform accurate dosage calculations and modifications, promoting safe prescribing and administration practices.

  6. Evaluate Your Pharmacology Knowledge -

    Measure your performance with our free pharmacology practice test, highlighting strengths and areas for further study.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Muscarinic Antagonism: Atropine -

    Atropine competitively blocks M2 receptors in the heart, increasing heart rate and reducing secretions. Remember "Hot as a hare, blind as a bat, dry as a bone" to recall side effects like hyperthermia and blurred vision (Rang & Dale's Pharmacology). Practice this concept on every pharmacology quiz to ace muscarinic vs nicotinic distinctions.

  2. ACE Inhibition: Captopril -

    Captopril prevents conversion of angiotensin I to II by inhibiting ACE, reducing vasoconstriction and aldosterone release. The phrase "ACE inhibitors cause a dry hack" helps recall the persistent cough side effect (American Heart Association). Review dosing adjustments in renal impairment to succeed on nursing pharmacology quiz questions.

  3. Calcium Channel Blockade: Nifedipine -

    Nifedipine, a dihydropyridine, blocks L-type calcium channels in vascular smooth muscle for potent vasodilation. Contrast with non-DHPs (verapamil, diltiazem) by using the mnemonic "pine for vessels" to remember its arterial selectivity (Goodman & Gilman). Watch for reflex tachycardia as a key point on your drug effects quiz.

  4. Pharmacokinetic Calculations -

    Use the half-life formula t½ = 0.693 × Vd/CL to calculate elimination, as outlined by FDA bioequivalence guidelines. For example, a Vd of 40 L and CL of 5 L/h yields t½ ≈ 5.5 h, guiding dosing intervals. Regular practice of these equations in your pharmacology practice test boosts accuracy under time pressure.

  5. Effective Quiz Strategies -

    Apply the "Read-Recall-Review" method: read the stem carefully, recall key mechanisms, and review each answer choice to eliminate distractors. Focus on root words like "pril" (ACE inhibitors) and "pine" (CCBs) to streamline your approach on drug effects quiz questions. Consistent use of flashcards and spaced repetition (Anki decks) can enhance long-term retention for nursing pharmacology quiz success.

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