Subject guide

Toxicology MCQs for Pharmacy Exams

Poisons, antidotes, heavy metals and overdose management.

Practice Toxicology MCQs

Toxicology covers the harmful effects of drugs and chemicals and how poisoning is managed. It appears in hospital pharmacist, PPSC and Drug Inspector tests, and it matters in Pakistan, where pesticide, kerosene and medication poisonings are common presentations.

The subject is highly testable because so much of it pairs cleanly: a poison and its antidote, a heavy metal and its chelator, a toxidrome and its signs. These toxicology MCQs are organised around those pairings.

Topics covered

What Toxicology questions on PharmaPrep cover.

High-yield Toxicology topics

  • Organophosphate poisoning: atropine and pralidoxime
  • Paracetamol overdose and N-acetylcysteine
  • Chelators for lead, mercury, arsenic and iron
  • Opioid and benzodiazepine reversal agents
  • Contraindications to inducing vomiting

Exams that test Toxicology

Sample Toxicology MCQs

Original practice questions with answers and explanations.

  1. 1Which drug reactivates acetylcholinesterase in organophosphate poisoning if given early?

    • APralidoxime
    • BAtropine
    • CPhysostigmine
    • DNeostigmine
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Pralidoxime

    Pralidoxime regenerates phosphorylated acetylcholinesterase before ageing occurs. Atropine blocks muscarinic effects but does not reactivate the enzyme, and physostigmine and neostigmine are themselves cholinesterase inhibitors.

  2. 2The chelating agent used to treat acute iron poisoning is:

    • ADeferoxamine
    • BDimercaprol
    • CPenicillamine
    • DCalcium disodium EDTA
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Deferoxamine

    Deferoxamine binds ferric iron to form ferrioxamine, which is excreted in urine. Dimercaprol is used for arsenic, mercury and lead, and calcium disodium EDTA mainly for lead.

  3. 3Flumazenil is the specific antagonist for overdose of:

    • ABenzodiazepines
    • BOpioids
    • CTricyclic antidepressants
    • DBeta blockers
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Benzodiazepines

    Flumazenil competitively antagonises the benzodiazepine site on the GABA-A receptor. Opioid overdose is reversed with naloxone and beta-blocker overdose may need glucagon.

Practice all Toxicology MCQs

Toxicology FAQs

What is the best way to learn antidotes?

Build a single table of poison, antidote and mechanism and quiz yourself in both directions until the pairs are automatic.

Is toxicology relevant to Drug Inspector tests?

Yes. Poisons, hazardous substances and their control connect directly to regulatory and enforcement work.

Do the questions reflect poisonings common in Pakistan?

Yes. Organophosphate and pesticide poisoning, kerosene ingestion and common drug overdoses are covered.

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