Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences

Unit Code: PAC3241

Semester 1 Examination 2012

Time allowed: 3 hrs

Monash University
04209062

Semester One 2012 Examination Period

Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
EXAM CODES:

PAC 3241

TITLE OF PAPER:

Drug delivery, disposition and dynamics

EXAM DURATION:

3 hours writing time

READING TIME:

10 minutes

THIS PAPER IS FOR STUDENTS STUDYING AT:( tick where applicable)

Berwick
Caulfield
Parkville

Clayton
Gippsland
Other (specify)

Malaysia
Peninsula

Off Campus Learning Open Learning

Enhancement Studies Sth Africa

During an exam, you must not have in your possession, a book, notes, paper, calculator, pencil
case, mobile phone or other material/item which has not been authorised for the exam or
specifically permitted as noted below. Any material or item on your desk, chair or person will be
deemed to be in your possession. You are reminded that possession of unauthorised materials in
an exam is a discipline offence under Monash Statute 4.1.
No examination papers are to be removed from the room.
AUTHORISED MATERIALS
CALCULATORS
YES
NO
Only scientific calculators with a "Monash University, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical
Sciences Approved" sticker attached are permitted in examinations for Pharmacy and
Pharmaceutical Science students. No graphic calculators will be permitted.
OPEN BOOK

YES

NO

SPECIFICALLY PERMITTED ITEMS

if yes, items permitted are:

YES

NO

Candidates must complete this section if required to write answers within this paper

STUDENT ID

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

DESK NUMBER

__ __ __ __

Page 1 of 6

Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences

Unit Code: PAC3241

Semester 1 Examination 2012

Time allowed: 3 hrs

Pharmacokinetic Equation Sheet (PAC3241)

Amount of drug in body = Volume of distribution x plasma (serum, or blood) drug concentration
t = (0.693 x V)/CL

Examination continues over page

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Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences

Unit Code: PAC3241

Semester 1 Examination 2012

Time allowed: 3 hrs

There are TWO SECTIONS in this exam. Section A is to be answered in the exam booklet
provided. Section B is to be answered in the Multiple Choice Answer sheet. Section A is
worth 74 marks and Section B is worth 26 marks. Total mark is 100.
Answer both sections. Answer ALL questions.

SECTION A
There are 10 questions in this section. Answer ALL questions in the exam booklet
provided. Answer a new question on a new page. Marks assigned to each question are as
indicated.

QUESTION 1
Describe the rationale behind the following interactions and describe what advice you would
provide to the patient and/or prescriber in these situations:
(a) Oral contraceptives and antibiotics
(b) Phenytoin and valproate
(c) Verapamil and digoxin
(5+5+5 = 15 marks)

QUESTION 2
A patient has been routinely taking drug A for 2 years and exhibits steady state plasma
concentrations. Drug A has an extraction ratio of 0.9 and exhibits a low degree of plasma
protein binding (65%). The fraction of drug excreted unchanged in the urine is 0.05. What would
you expect to occur to the following parameters if the patient was prescribed drug B (a drug
which significantly displaces drug A from plasma proteins)? In your answer, you should state
whether there is an increase, decrease or no change, and the reason for this.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Hepatic clearance
Renal clearance
Total clearance
Steady state concentration (total)
Steady state concentration (unbound)
(1+1+1+1+1= 5 marks)

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Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences

Unit Code: PAC3241

Semester 1 Examination 2012

Time allowed: 3 hrs

QUESTION 3
Following oral administration, the plasma concentration of drugs in pregnant women is generally
lower relative to non-pregnant women. Describe the pharmacokinetic reasons as to why this
phenomenon is often observed.
(5 marks)

QUESTION 4
Describe how drug transporters contribute to the overall ability of the body to clear drugs from
the systemic circulation.
(5 marks)

QUESTION 5
Specify the characteristics of drugs that make them suitable for, or make them require,
therapeutic drug monitoring.
(3 marks)

QUESTION 6
Specify and briefly discuss the information that is required for interpretation of a measured
plasma drug concentration when undertaking therapeutic drug monitoring.
(7 marks)

QUESTION 7
A new anti-infective compound is to be formulated as an emulsion (5 mg/mL, 100 mL), suitable
for intravenous administration. The compound is poorly water soluble (<0.01 mg/mL), highly
lipophilic (log p > 5) and freely lipid soluble (>100 mg/mL) in castor oil, soybean oil and peanut
oil. a) Propose a suitable emulsion formulation outlining any excipients that you may need and
explain why. b) Suggest a method of preparation and a reason for choosing this method. c)
Discuss Four factors responsible for physical stability of emulsions.
(4+2+8 =14 marks)

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Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences

Unit Code: PAC3241

Semester 1 Examination 2012

Time allowed: 3 hrs

QUESTION 8
Explain why addition of buffering or isotonicity adjusting salts can alter the stability of colloidal
dispersions stabilized by electrical double layer approach. You may use diagrams as necessary.
(8 marks)
QUESTION 9
Compare formulation principles, advantages and disadvantages of homogenous and
heterogeneous aerosols.
(8 marks)

QUESTION 10
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the use of liposomes in drug delivery?
(4 marks)

END OF SECTION A

GO TO SECTION B

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