2024 PN NCLEX Questions Nursing Practice Question
The tendency of a drug to combine with its receptor is called:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Affinity refers to the strength of the interaction between a drug and its receptor, indicating how readily the drug binds to the receptor. This is crucial for determining the drug's effectiveness.
Potency (A) measures the amount of drug needed to produce a certain effect, not the binding strength. Efficacy (B) describes the maximum effect a drug can produce, regardless of how well it binds. Kinetics (C) pertains to the rate of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, rather than the binding affinity. Understanding these distinctions is essential for grasping drug-receptor interactions.