Master Posology in Pharmacology with MCQs covering drug dosage, calculations, and administration principles. Strengthen your understanding of key concepts for successful exam preparation.
Posology MCQs
- Posology is the study of:
- A) Drug interactions
- B) Dosage and administration of drugs
- C) Drug side effects
- D) Drug formulations
- Answer: B
- What is the primary aim of posology?
- A) To reduce drug costs
- B) To maximize therapeutic effects and minimize toxicity
- C) To enhance drug stability
- D) To improve patient compliance
- Answer: B
- The term “therapeutic window” refers to:
- A) The range of doses that provides therapeutic effects without toxicity
- B) The time frame for drug absorption
- C) The time a drug remains in the body
- D) The duration of treatment
- Answer: A
- What does the term “loading dose” refer to?
- A) The dose given after the initial dose
- B) A higher dose administered to rapidly achieve therapeutic levels
- C) A reduced dose for patients with renal impairment
- D) The standard dose for maintenance therapy
- Answer: B
- Which factor does NOT influence the dosage of a drug?
- A) Age
- B) Gender
- C) Time of day
- D) Weight
- Answer: C
- In pediatrics, dosing is often calculated based on:
- A) Adult dosing guidelines
- B) Body surface area (BSA)
- C) Time of day
- D) Weight only
- Answer: B
- The term “maintenance dose” refers to:
- A) The initial dose given at the start of treatment
- B) A dose given to maintain therapeutic drug levels
- C) A higher dose to quickly achieve effects
- D) A reduced dose for elderly patients
- Answer: B
- What is the main reason for calculating dosage adjustments in elderly patients?
- A) Increased metabolism
- B) Decreased liver and kidney function
- C) Decreased body weight
- D) Increased drug absorption
- Answer: B
- Which term describes the amount of drug administered over a specific period?
- A) Dosage
- B) Dose
- C) Frequency
- D) Concentration
- Answer: A
- What is the recommended practice for converting dosages between different routes of administration?
- A) Use the same dosage for all routes
- B) Apply a conversion factor based on bioavailability
- C) Only use oral doses for all routes
- D) Administer the same volume regardless of the route
- Answer: B
- When calculating drug doses for animals, which is a common reference used?
- A) Body weight
- B) Age only
- C) Diet type
- D) Breed only
- Answer: A
- In pharmacology, “unit dose” refers to:
- A) The total amount of a drug in a prescription
- B) The specific amount of medication given at one time
- C) The amount of drug in a vial
- D) A dosage form intended for prolonged release
- Answer: B
- The term “therapeutic index” refers to:
- A) The ratio of toxic dose to therapeutic dose
- B) The concentration of drug in the blood
- C) The absorption rate of the drug
- D) The time taken for drug clearance
- Answer: A
- Which type of dosing regimen provides a constant plasma level of a drug?
- A) Intermittent dosing
- B) Continuous infusion
- C) Single dose
- D) Short-term treatment
- Answer: B
- What does “titration” in pharmacology refer to?
- A) Determining the correct dosage through gradual adjustment
- B) Measuring blood pressure during treatment
- C) Evaluating patient compliance
- D) The process of excretion
- Answer: A
- Which of the following would typically require a dosage adjustment?
- A) Age
- B) Weight
- C) Organ function
- D) All of the above
- Answer: D
- A drug with a narrow therapeutic index requires:
- A) Close monitoring of blood levels
- B) Larger doses
- C) Infrequent administration
- D) Reduced bioavailability
- Answer: A
- Which of the following is NOT a common route of drug administration?
- A) Intravenous
- B) Sublingual
- C) Intraocular
- D) Intramuscular
- Answer: C
- What is the primary consideration when determining dosages for pregnant patients?
- A) The weight of the fetus
- B) Potential drug transfer to the fetus
- C) Maternal comfort
- D) The duration of pregnancy
- Answer: B
- In which situation might a healthcare provider choose to administer a drug by the parenteral route?
- A) When oral absorption is preferred
- B) When rapid onset of action is required
- C) When the patient can swallow pills
- D) When a drug is not soluble
- Answer: B
- What is the significance of the “dosage form” in pharmacology?
- A) It affects how the drug is marketed
- B) It determines the route of administration and release characteristics
- C) It has no impact on efficacy
- D) It only relates to the size of the drug
- Answer: B
- Drugs with high protein binding may:
- A) Be more readily eliminated
- B) Have reduced free drug concentrations
- C) Require higher doses for efficacy
- D) All of the above
- Answer: D
- What does “dose-response relationship” describe?
- A) The relationship between drug formulation and its marketing
- B) The correlation between drug dosage and the extent of the therapeutic effect
- C) The link between drug storage and efficacy
- D) The time taken for a drug to be metabolized
- Answer: B
- When switching from one medication to another, healthcare providers often:
- A) Use the same dosage as the previous medication
- B) Calculate an equivalent dose based on therapeutic equivalence
- C) Reduce the dose by half
- D) Avoid titration altogether
- Answer: B
- The standard practice for determining dosages in drug studies involves:
- A) Using the lowest effective dose
- B) Using the maximum tolerated dose
- C) Using average body weight as the only reference
- D) Ignoring patient age and health status
- Answer: A
- A physician decides to increase a patient’s medication dosage due to a lack of response. This is an example of:
- A) Loading dose
- B) Titration
- C) Maintenance dose
- D) Intermittent dosing
- Answer: B
- Drug bioavailability can be influenced by:
- A) Route of administration
- B) Formulation type
- C) Patient health status
- D) All of the above
- Answer: D
- Which dosing method is preferred for achieving rapid therapeutic levels in acute conditions?
- A) Continuous infusion
- B) Bolus dosing
- C) Intermittent dosing
- D) Prophylactic dosing
- Answer: B
- What is a common reason for using combination therapy in treatment?
- A) To reduce costs
- B) To achieve synergistic effects
- C) To limit patient education
- D) To reduce the number of doses
- Answer: B
- The maximum dose of a drug that can be given without causing toxicity is called the:
- A) Minimum effective dose
- B) Therapeutic ceiling
- C) Maximum tolerated dose
- D) Cumulative dose
- Answer: C
