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 77-year-old man presents to the emergency room with a complaint of retention of urine. Carbachol is administered to stimulate bladder emptying. Which of the following is a prominent side effect of carbachol? A-Tachycardia B-Excessive salivation C-Dry skin D-Dilation of the pupils E-Delirium Answer Carbachol is a cholinomimetic drug which activates acetylcholine receptors so, it … Read more
A 54 year-old man with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) presents by his son to the emergency room semi-unconscious with shortness of breath. He has nausea, diarrhea and restlessness for the last four hours. His arterial oxygen saturation is 88% with room air. His ECG shows normal sinus rhythm with non-specific changes … Read more
A 33-year-old woman presents to the clinic for her regular yearly physical examination. She has a long history of depression and takes fluoxetine regularly for two years. Which amino acid is the precursor of the neurotransmitter affected by this drug? A- Glycine B- Glutamate C- Methionine D- Phenylalanine E- Tryptophan Answer Fluoxetine is a selective … Read more
A 45 year-old man presents with progressive burning epigastric pain. He smokes and drinks alcohol socially. Physical examination, laboratory tests and imaging studies confirm the diagnosis of peptic ulcer. He is prescribed omeprazole. What is the effect of this medication that improves this condition? A-Anti-cholinergic effect B-Inhibition of H+/K+ ATPase pump C-Blocking of H2 receptor … Read more
A 29-year-old woman with a history of rheumatic heart disease and prosthetic aortic valve presents to her physician for consultation. She is referred by her dentist for prophylaxis before she undergoes an oral surgery next month. She has no history of bacterial endocarditis. She is allergic to penicillin. Which of the following is the prophylactic … Read more
Q- A patient presents to the ER with multiple episodes of tonic-clonic seizures for the past hour. The patient does not recover between these episodes. Which of the following is the treatment of choice in this condition? A- Fosphenytoin B- Gabapentin C- Lorazepam D- Valproic acid Q- A 56-year-old man with a history of type … Read more