NURS 3100 Exam 1 Practice

If a drug is said to have high efficacy, what does that indicate?

1. It produces significant therapeutic effects at low doses

2. It causes fewer side effects

3. It has a large initial dose followed by smaller doses

4. It provides the desired therapeutic effect

The correct answer is: It provides the desired therapeutic effect

If a drug is described as having high efficacy, it indicates that it is highly effective in providing the desired therapeutic effect. Efficacy refers to the maximum effect a drug can produce regardless of the dose. This means that even at lower doses, the drug is still able to produce the maximum intended therapeutic effect. In contrast, the other options are not directly related to efficacy. Option A mentions significant therapeutic effects at low doses, which could relate to potency rather than efficacy. Option B refers to causing fewer side effects, which is more about the safety profile of the drug. Option C talks about a dosing regimen (large initial dose followed by smaller doses) which does not necessarily indicate efficacy.