Scope of pharmacology MCQs With Answer

Introduction: The “Scope of pharmacology MCQs With Answer” provides B. Pharm students a focused review of core pharmacology topics including drug classification, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, ADME, drug development, therapeutics, adverse drug reactions, pharmacovigilance, and clinical pharmacy. These concise, exam-oriented MCQs emphasize essential concepts like drug-receptor interactions, dose-response relationships, bioavailability, therapeutic index, drug interactions, and regulatory aspects. Designed to deepen understanding and improve recall, this resource links theoretical principles to practical applications in patient care, formulation, and drug safety. It is ideal for semester exams, viva preparation, and competitive tests. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Which branch of pharmacology primarily studies the beneficial effects and uses of drugs in the treatment of diseases?

• Pharmacodynamics
• Pharmacokinetics
• Therapeutics
• Toxicology

Correct Answer: Therapeutics

Q2. Which parameter describes the time required for the plasma concentration of a drug to decrease by 50%?

• Clearance
• Volume of distribution
• Half-life (t1/2)
• Bioavailability

Correct Answer: Half-life (t1/2)

Q3. Bioavailability is best defined as:

• The fraction of an administered dose that reaches systemic circulation unchanged
• The rate at which a drug is metabolized in the liver
• The distribution of the drug within body tissues
• The total amount excreted in urine

Correct Answer: The fraction of an administered dose that reaches systemic circulation unchanged

Q4. Which kinetic order describes a constant amount of drug eliminated per unit time?

• First-order kinetics
• Zero-order kinetics
• Mixed-order kinetics
• Nonlinear kinetics due to saturation

Correct Answer: Zero-order kinetics

Q5. The primary focus of pharmacodynamics is to study:

• How the body affects a drug (ADME)
• How the drug affects the body (mechanism of action)
• Drug manufacturing processes
• Regulatory approval pathways

Correct Answer: How the drug affects the body (mechanism of action)

Q6. Which term describes a drug that binds to a receptor and produces a maximal response?

• Partial agonist
• Full agonist
• Competitive antagonist
• Inverse agonist

Correct Answer: Full agonist

Q7. Therapeutic index (TI) is a measure of:

• Drug potency compared between two agents
• Ratio of toxic dose to effective dose indicating safety margin
• Rate of absorption after oral administration
• Extent of protein binding in plasma

Correct Answer: Ratio of toxic dose to effective dose indicating safety margin

Q8. Which phase of clinical trials primarily assesses drug safety in a small number of healthy volunteers?

• Phase I
• Phase II
• Phase III
• Phase IV

Correct Answer: Phase I

Q9. First-pass metabolism refers to:

• Metabolism occurring in the kidney before excretion
• Hepatic metabolism of orally absorbed drug before reaching systemic circulation
• Metabolism by gut microbiota that enhances absorption
• Metabolism in the blood by plasma esterases

Correct Answer: Hepatic metabolism of orally absorbed drug before reaching systemic circulation

Q10. Bioequivalence studies are required to compare:

• Two drugs with different active ingredients
• A generic product and its innovator reference product
• An intravenous and oral formulation of the same drug
• Two drugs with different therapeutic indications

Correct Answer: A generic product and its innovator reference product

Q11. Which receptor property determines the maximal effect a drug can produce?

• Potency
• Efficacy
• Affinity
• Bioavailability

Correct Answer: Efficacy

Q12. Which regulatory agency is primarily responsible for drug approval in the United States?

• European Medicines Agency (EMA)
• Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• World Health Organization (WHO)

Correct Answer: Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Q13. Which study type is conducted after drug approval to monitor long-term safety and rare adverse events?

• Phase I trial
• Phase II trial
• Phase III trial
• Phase IV (post-marketing surveillance)

Correct Answer: Phase IV (post-marketing surveillance)

Q14. Protein binding of drugs in plasma primarily affects:

• Intrinsic activity at receptor
• Volume of distribution and free (active) drug concentration
• P-glycoprotein efflux in the gut
• Drug chemical stability during storage

Correct Answer: Volume of distribution and free (active) drug concentration

Q15. An antagonist that binds reversibly to the same receptor site as the agonist is called:

• Non-competitive antagonist
• Competitive antagonist
• Partial agonist
• Allosteric modulator

Correct Answer: Competitive antagonist

Q16. Pharmacogenomics studies the impact of:

• Dietary supplements on drug dissolution
• Genetic variation on drug response and metabolism
• Physical therapy on drug efficacy
• Environmental toxins on drug stability

Correct Answer: Genetic variation on drug response and metabolism

Q17. Which route of administration bypasses first-pass hepatic metabolism?

• Oral
• Rectal (partial)
• Intravenous
• Enteric-coated oral tablet

Correct Answer: Intravenous

Q18. A drug with a high volume of distribution (Vd) is most likely to:

• Remain primarily in the plasma compartment
• Distribute extensively into tissues
• Have low lipid solubility
• Be rapidly excreted unchanged in urine

Correct Answer: Distribute extensively into tissues

Q19. Which concept explains increased drug effect when two drugs with different mechanisms produce a greater combined effect?

• Additive effect
• Synergistic effect
• Antagonistic effect
• Potentiation due to competitive inhibition

Correct Answer: Synergistic effect

Q20. The primary objective of preclinical pharmacology studies is to:

• Assess commercial viability of the drug
• Evaluate safety, toxicity, and pharmacological activity in vitro and in animals
• Determine patient-reported outcomes in humans
• Market the drug to healthcare professionals

Correct Answer: Evaluate safety, toxicity, and pharmacological activity in vitro and in animals

Q21. Which adverse drug reaction classification is dose-related and predictable?

• Type A (augmented)
• Type B (bizarre)
• Type C (chronic)
• Type D (delayed)

Correct Answer: Type A (augmented)

Q22. Which term refers to the minimum concentration of drug needed to produce a therapeutic effect?

• Maximum tolerated concentration
• Therapeutic threshold or minimum effective concentration (MEC)
• Minimum toxic concentration (MTC)
• Area under the curve (AUC)

Correct Answer: Therapeutic threshold or minimum effective concentration (MEC)

Q23. Which pharmacokinetic parameter integrates rate and extent of drug exposure?

• Volume of distribution (Vd)
• Area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC)
• Clearance alone
• Time to peak concentration (Tmax)

Correct Answer: Area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC)

Q24. Orphan drugs are developed for:

• Common chronic conditions with large markets
• Rare diseases with small patient populations
• Over-the-counter symptomatic relief
• Veterinary purposes only

Correct Answer: Rare diseases with small patient populations

Q25. Which assay measures the potency of a drug by comparing a biological response to a standard?

• Pharmacovigilance report
• Bioassay
• Stability-indicating assay
• Chromatographic impurity profile

Correct Answer: Bioassay

Q26. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux transporters primarily affect:

• Metabolic clearance by CYP enzymes
• Drug absorption and multidrug resistance by pumping drugs out of cells
• Plasma protein binding percentage
• Renal glomerular filtration rate

Correct Answer: Drug absorption and multidrug resistance by pumping drugs out of cells

Q27. In dose-response curves, potency is indicated by:

• Maximal effect achievable
• Concentration or dose producing 50% of maximal effect (EC50)
• Onset time of drug action
• Drug elimination half-life

Correct Answer: Concentration or dose producing 50% of maximal effect (EC50)

Q28. Which molecule class frequently acts as intracellular receptors modulating gene transcription?

• Ion channel-linked receptors
• G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)
• Nuclear receptors (e.g., steroid receptors)
• Tyrosine kinase-linked receptors

Correct Answer: Nuclear receptors (e.g., steroid receptors)

Q29. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is most useful for drugs that have:

• Wide therapeutic index and predictable kinetics
• Narrow therapeutic index, variable pharmacokinetics, and clear concentration-response relationship
• Rapid onset and short half-life only
• Exclusively topical administration

Correct Answer: Narrow therapeutic index, variable pharmacokinetics, and clear concentration-response relationship

Q30. Pharmacovigilance primarily involves:

• Designing drug molecules in silico
• Monitoring, detecting, and preventing adverse drug reactions and ensuring drug safety
• Marketing strategies for new drug launches
• Quality control testing during manufacturing only

Correct Answer: Monitoring, detecting, and preventing adverse drug reactions and ensuring drug safety

G S Sachin

I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.

Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com