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.
A 23-year-old man who takes anti-mycobacterial therapy for pulmonary tuberculosis presents to the clinic because of recent visual disturbance and pain with movement of his left eye. On examination, there is tenderness to the pressure of the left eye and a blind spot at the center of vision. Fundus examination reveals pale optic disc. What … Read more
A 61-year-old man with a history of recurrent angina and hypertension presents to the clinic for routine examination. His vital signs are within normal limits and his cardiac examination is satisfactory. Reviewing his medication, his physician noticed that he had been prescribed labetalol for 2 years. He discussed with his patient replacing it with atenolol. … Read more
A 24-year-old man with a history of AIDS is currently managed by antiretroviral therapy (HAART) containing a protease-inhibitor, a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. Which one of these drugs is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor? A-Etravirine B-Efavirenz C-Indinavir D-Saquinavir E-Zidovudine Answer Zidovudine is the only drug on this list that … Read more
Q- A 32-year-old woman presents with a complaint of severe pain during menstruation. She is prescribed indomethacin. Which of the following is the mechanism of action of this drug to reduce her pain? A- Interferes with the production of leukotrienes B- Limits the production of histamine C- Stimulates the production of prostaglandin E2 D- Inhibits … Read more
A 23-year-old man with a long history of duodenal ulcer has been treated with cimetidine (Tagamet) for 6 months. What is the mechanism of action of this drug? A-Adds a protective membrane to gastric mucosa B-Blocks H2 receptors C-Stimulates H2 receptors D-Inhibits H+,K+-ATPase Answer Cimetidine blocks H2 receptor so, it blocks the secretion of hydrochloric … Read more
A 9-month- old girl is brought by her grandmother to the clinic for routine examination. She told you that the girl is totally fine but she noticed yellow discoloration of her teeth. The physician asks if her mother took any medications during her pregnancy. She remembers that she was taking an antibiotic for bronchitis. Which … Read more