Free Questions and Answers for All Medical Students all over the World
Start here: practice all 87 questions on one page in our USMLE Pharmacology Question Bank, organized by system.
Pharmacology is one of the highest-yield subjects on USMLE Step 1, and it appears in almost every system block. This page collects all of our pharmacology practice questions in one place.
High-yield pharmacology topics to master
• Mechanisms of action – know the target (receptor, enzyme or channel) for every major drug class.
• Classic side effects – ACE inhibitor cough, hydralazine lupus, amiodarone pulmonary fibrosis, aminoglycoside nephro- and ototoxicity.
• Drug interactions – CYP450 inducers (rifampin, carbamazepine) and inhibitors, warfarin interactions, digoxin and hypokalemia.
• Antidotes and toxicity – N-acetylcysteine, dantrolene, vitamin K and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
• Autonomic pharmacology – alpha and beta agonists and blockers, cholinergic and anticholinergic drugs.
Try each question before opening the answer, then read the explanation even when you get it right. Each post has 3–8 exam-style questions with answers and short explanations written by Dr. Ray Makar.
Want hundreds more? See the Repeated USMLE Questions eBook series on Amazon.
Q- A 70-year-old man with atrial fibrillation is prescribed warfarin. He is advised to avoid consuming large amounts of leafy green vegetables. What is the reason for this recommendation? A- They decrease the anticoagulant effect B- They increase bleeding risk C. They increase liver enzyme activity D. They reduce drug absorption Q- A 28-year-old … Read more
Q- A patient is prepared for major surgery. Administration of which one of the following skeletal muscle relaxants may cause hypotension, bronchospasm, and increased bronchial and salivary secretions? A- Atracurium B- Dantrolene C- Tubocurarine D- Vecuronium Q- A female infant is diagnosed with Turner syndrome. Which one of the following long-term hormone replacement therapies … Read more
Q- A child is brought to the emergency room because he accidentally ingested a large amount of rat poison. His vital signs are within normal limits, and his physical examination is unremarkable. His lab tests come back normal except for an elevated prothrombin time. Which of the following is the most effective treatment? A- Atropine … Read more
Q- Which one of the following medications is contraindicated in pregnancy due to the risk of fetal tooth discoloration? A- Amoxicillin B- Cephalexin C- Erythromycin D- Tetracycline Q- Which one of the following clinical trials primarily evaluates drug safety? A- Phase I B- Phase II C- Phase III D- Phase IV Q- … Read more
Q- Which of the following medications has the narrowest margin of safety due to a small difference between its therapeutic and toxic doses? A- Alprazolam B- Amantadine C- Lithium D- Simvastatin Q- Which one of the following chemotherapeutic agents acts by binding to tubulin and disturbing microtubule polymerization? A- Cyclophosphamide B- Doxorubicin C- … Read more
Q- A 5-month-old boy is brought to the clinic by his mother because of a 10-day history of “coughing spells” that occur several times daily and last 1 to 2 minutes; he often vomits afterward. He was delivered at term to a 16-year-old patient, gravida 1, para 1, following an uncomplicated pregnancy and spontaneous vaginal … Read more