Pharmacology and the Nursing Process by Linda Lane Lilley: Practice Exam

What is a prodrug?

1. A fast-acting medicine

2. A high-dose medication

3. Inactive until metabolized

4. A universally effective drug

The correct answer is: Inactive until metabolized

A prodrug is a medication or compound that is inactive until it is metabolized into its active form in the body. This allows the medication to be administered in an inactive form and then be activated once inside the body. Option A is incorrect because a prodrug may not necessarily act faster than other medications. Option B is also incorrect because a prodrug does not necessarily have a high dosage. Option D is incorrect because a prodrug's effectiveness may vary depending on individual factors such as metabolism rate.