Oral drug delivery is the most widely used route of drug administration due to its convenience, non-invasiveness, and high patient compliance. It encompasses a variety of dosage forms such as tablets, capsules, liquids, and powders. This quiz will help Pharm.D. students strengthen their understanding of formulation principles, pharmacokinetics, drug release mechanisms, and barriers affecting oral bioavailability.
1. Which of the following is a primary advantage of oral drug delivery?
- A. Avoids systemic absorption
- B. Suitable for unconscious patients
- C. Convenient and widely accepted by patients
- D. Requires sterile formulation
Correct answer: C. Convenient and widely accepted by patients
2. The first-pass effect refers to:
- A. Drug absorption in the lungs
- B. Drug metabolism in the liver before systemic circulation
- C. Immediate therapeutic effect
- D. Passage through the blood-brain barrier
Correct answer: B. Drug metabolism in the liver before systemic circulation
3. Which dosage form is designed to release drug slowly over time?
- A. Immediate-release tablet
- B. Extended-release capsule
- C. Sublingual tablet
- D. Oral suspension
Correct answer: B. Extended-release capsule
4. A disintegrant in a tablet serves to:
- A. Prolong drug action
- B. Increase tablet hardness
- C. Facilitate breakdown of the tablet in the digestive tract
- D. Act as a preservative
Correct answer: C. Facilitate breakdown of the tablet in the digestive tract
5. What is the typical site of drug absorption for most orally administered drugs?
- A. Stomach
- B. Mouth
- C. Small intestine
- D. Colon
Correct answer: C. Small intestine
6. Which factor most significantly affects oral drug bioavailability?
- A. Drug color
- B. Packaging material
- C. First-pass metabolism
- D. Tablet shape
Correct answer: C. First-pass metabolism
7. What is a major disadvantage of oral drug delivery?
- A. Requires intravenous access
- B. Risk of systemic infection
- C. Slower onset of action compared to parenteral routes
- D. Always bypasses liver metabolism
Correct answer: C. Slower onset of action compared to parenteral routes
8. Enteric-coated tablets are designed to:
- A. Dissolve in the stomach
- B. Increase flavor
- C. Resist stomach acid and dissolve in the intestine
- D. Act as chewables
Correct answer: C. Resist stomach acid and dissolve in the intestine
9. Which of the following is a solid oral dosage form?
- A. Emulsion
- B. Capsule
- C. Elixir
- D. Suspension
Correct answer: B. Capsule
10. Sublingual tablets are used to:
- A. Delay onset
- B. Provide local effect only
- C. Bypass the first-pass effect for rapid absorption
- D. Promote digestion
Correct answer: C. Bypass the first-pass effect for rapid absorption
11. A liquid oral formulation that requires shaking is likely a:
- A. Syrup
- B. Suspension
- C. Solution
- D. Emulsion
Correct answer: B. Suspension
12. Which excipient enhances palatability in pediatric oral drugs?
- A. Binder
- B. Disintegrant
- C. Sweetener
- D. Lubricant
Correct answer: C. Sweetener
13. Buccal drug delivery refers to:
- A. Absorption via the colon
- B. Absorption through the stomach wall
- C. Absorption through the cheek mucosa
- D. Topical application
Correct answer: C. Absorption through the cheek mucosa
14. Which formulation is best for patients with swallowing difficulties?
- A. Extended-release tablet
- B. Enteric-coated tablet
- C. Oral liquid (e.g., solution or suspension)
- D. Subcutaneous injection
Correct answer: C. Oral liquid (e.g., solution or suspension)
15. The function of a lubricant in tablet formulation is to:
- A. Improve taste
- B. Reduce tablet hardness
- C. Prevent sticking during manufacturing
- D. Color the drug
Correct answer: C. Prevent sticking during manufacturing
16. Orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) are beneficial because they:
- A. Are injectable
- B. Require chewing
- C. Dissolve quickly in the mouth without water
- D. Must be swallowed whole
Correct answer: C. Dissolve quickly in the mouth without water
17. Drugs that undergo significant hepatic metabolism are poorly suited for:
- A. Buccal delivery
- B. Sublingual delivery
- C. Oral delivery
- D. Inhalation
Correct answer: C. Oral delivery
18. Which formulation is considered a monophasic oral liquid?
- A. Suspension
- B. Emulsion
- C. Solution
- D. Granules
Correct answer: C. Solution
19. The rate of disintegration of a tablet directly influences:
- A. Drug color
- B. Drug absorption
- C. Syrup viscosity
- D. Flavor intensity
Correct answer: B. Drug absorption
20. Which factor can increase oral drug absorption?
- A. Poor solubility
- B. High first-pass metabolism
- C. High lipophilicity and membrane permeability
- D. Complexation with ions
Correct answer: C. High lipophilicity and membrane permeability
21. Which route bypasses hepatic first-pass metabolism?
- A. Oral tablets
- B. Sublingual
- C. Enteric-coated tablets
- D. Oral suspensions
Correct answer: B. Sublingual
22. Which condition may reduce oral drug absorption?
- A. Normal gastric emptying
- B. Delayed gastric emptying
- C. Fasting state
- D. High water intake
Correct answer: B. Delayed gastric emptying
23. Why are some oral tablets scored?
- A. For decoration
- B. To split doses easily
- C. To increase hardness
- D. To prevent swallowing
Correct answer: B. To split doses easily
24. An oral drug with poor aqueous solubility may benefit from:
- A. Enteric coating
- B. Co-administration with food
- C. Nanoparticle formulation or solid dispersion
- D. Rapid elimination
Correct answer: C. Nanoparticle formulation or solid dispersion
25. The bioavailability of an oral drug is defined as:
- A. The time taken to reach peak plasma level
- B. The rate and extent of drug reaching systemic circulation
- C. The taste of the formulation
- D. The binding to plasma proteins
Correct answer: B. The rate and extent of drug reaching systemic circulation
26. Which formulation would have the fastest onset of action?
- A. Enteric-coated tablet
- B. Extended-release tablet
- C. Oral solution
- D. Controlled-release capsule
Correct answer: C. Oral solution
27. A poorly compressible powder is best formulated as a:
- A. Solution
- B. Capsule
- C. Hard tablet
- D. Rectal suppository
Correct answer: B. Capsule
28. A drug with high acid sensitivity should be formulated as a:
- A. Syrup
- B. Buccal lozenge
- C. Enteric-coated tablet
- D. Chewable tablet
Correct answer: C. Enteric-coated tablet
29. Which of the following can enhance the dissolution rate of a poorly soluble drug?
- A. Increasing particle size
- B. Using wax coatings
- C. Micronization
- D. Decreasing porosity
Correct answer: C. Micronization
30. Buccal administration avoids:
- A. Rapid absorption
- B. Patient cooperation
- C. First-pass metabolism
- D. Local effect
Correct answer: C. First-pass metabolism
31. Which form offers both systemic and local effects in the GI tract?
- A. Sublingual tablet
- B. Enteric-coated capsule
- C. Oral solution
- D. Chewable antacid
Correct answer: D. Chewable antacid
32. Which of the following is true about hard gelatin capsules?
- A. Cannot be filled with liquids
- B. Are chewable
- C. Are made of two parts that can be filled with powder
- D. Dissolve only in acid
Correct answer: C. Are made of two parts that can be filled with powder
33. Oral syrups contain:
- A. Emulsified oils
- B. Alcohol only
- C. A concentrated aqueous sugar solution
- D. Micelles
Correct answer: C. A concentrated aqueous sugar solution
34. Which is a risk with crushed extended-release tablets?
- A. Enhanced palatability
- B. Dose dumping and toxicity
- C. Slower action
- D. Reduced dissolution
Correct answer: B. Dose dumping and toxicity
35. What determines the choice between tablet and capsule form?
- A. Drug name
- B. Cost alone
- C. Drug stability, release profile, and patient preference
- D. Pharmacist opinion
Correct answer: C. Drug stability, release profile, and patient preference
36. The site of absorption for enteric-coated drugs is:
- A. Buccal mucosa
- B. Colon
- C. Stomach
- D. Small intestine
Correct answer: D. Small intestine
37. A drug given orally in enteric-coated form should NOT be:
- A. Given before meals
- B. Taken with milk
- C. Crushed
- D. Given with water
Correct answer: C. Crushed
38. Oral suspensions must be:
- A. Clear
- B. Stored in the freezer
- C. Shaken before use
- D. Given IV
Correct answer: C. Shaken before use
39. A powder that absorbs moisture from the air is called:
- A. Hygroscopic
- B. Isotonic
- C. Volatile
- D. Neutral
Correct answer: A. Hygroscopic
40. A liquid oral drug with two immiscible phases is a:
- A. Suspension
- B. Solution
- C. Emulsion
- D. Decoction
Correct answer: C. Emulsion
41. Patient education for oral meds should include:
- A. Color of the tablet
- B. Brand name only
- C. Administration instructions and storage tips
- D. Pharmacokinetics lecture
Correct answer: C. Administration instructions and storage tips
42. An advantage of chewable tablets is:
- A. Slow onset
- B. Bypassing taste receptors
- C. Improved compliance in pediatrics
- D. Enteric protection
Correct answer: C. Improved compliance in pediatrics
43. Which form is best for water-insoluble drugs?
- A. Aqueous solution
- B. Syrup
- C. Emulsion or suspension
- D. Sublingual tablet
Correct answer: C. Emulsion or suspension
44. What limits use of oral drug delivery in emergencies?
- A. Excessive absorption
- B. Long expiration
- C. Slower onset of action
- D. Incomplete metabolism
Correct answer: C. Slower onset of action
45. Which form provides the fastest onset in oral administration?
- A. Chewable tablet
- B. Oral solution
- C. Enteric-coated tablet
- D. Extended-release capsule
Correct answer: B. Oral solution
46. Sublingual nitroglycerin is used for:
- A. Flu treatment
- B. Hypertension only
- C. Rapid relief of angina
- D. Prolonged effect
Correct answer: C. Rapid relief of angina
47. Patient with gastroparesis may benefit from:
- A. Enteric-coated capsule
- B. Rectal or parenteral route
- C. Hard tablets
- D. Oral suspension
Correct answer: B. Rectal or parenteral route
48. Orally administered insulin is ineffective because:
- A. It dissolves too fast
- B. It is destroyed by gastric enzymes and acid
- C. It cannot be absorbed in the lungs
- D. It tastes bitter
Correct answer: B. It is destroyed by gastric enzymes and acid
49. Which dosage form allows easy dose titration?
- A. Oral liquid
- B. Extended-release capsule
- C. Chewable tablet
- D. Enteric-coated pill
Correct answer: A. Oral liquid
50. The ultimate goal of oral drug delivery is to:
- A. Avoid prescription
- B. Increase compliance and achieve therapeutic plasma concentration
- C. Replace all other routes
- D. Use only generics
Correct answer: B. Increase compliance and achieve therapeutic plasma concentration