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 55-year-old male presents to the ER with sudden-onset severe chest pain radiating to the left arm. He appears diaphoretic and anxious. His blood pressure is 90/60 mm Hg, heart rate is 110/min, and respiratory rate is 24/min. An electrocardiogram (ECG) reveals ST-segment elevation in leads II, III, and aVF. Which of the following … Read more
Q- Which one of the following is the first line of treatment recommended for a case of acute gout attack? A- Allopurinol B- Colchicine C- Pegloticase D- Probenecid Q- Which of the following is the most common causative organism of bacterial meningitis in elderly patients? A- Escherichia Coli B- Listeria monocytogenes C- Neisseria meningitidis D- … Read more
Q- Which one of the following conditions is characterized by the detection of atrophied villi on an intestinal biopsy? A- Celiac disease B- Crohn’s disease C- Lactose intolerance D- Ulcerative colitis Q- Primary osteoporosis generally occurs in which one of the following conditions? A- Glucocorticoid use B- Hyperthyroidism C- Hypogonadism D- Post-menopause Q- Which one … Read more
Q- Which one of the following nerves is affected in a patient diagnosed with tarsal tunnel syndrome? A- Common peroneal nerve B- Deep fibular nerve C- Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve D- Tibial nerve Q- Phenylketonuria occurs due to a deficiency of which one of the following enzymes? A- Dopamine B-hydroxylase B- Phenylalanine decarboxylase C- Phenylalanine … Read more
Q- Which one of the following diuretics may lead to elevated blood calcium level? A- Acetazolamide B- Furosemide C- Hydrochlorothiazide D- Torsemide Q- Which one of the following medications can be used for both prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis? A- Cyclosporine B- Hydrocortisone C- Medroxyprogesterone acetate D- Risedronate Q- Which of the following conditions … Read more
Q- Which one of the following is an estimate for the fraction of administered drug that reaches systemic circulation unchanged? A- Bioavailability B- Clearance C- Half-life D- Volume of distribution Q- Which one of the following drugs may cause pancreatitis as an adverse effect? A- Acetaminophen B- Didanosine C- Clindamycin D- Rifampin Q- Which one … Read more