Which object-precipitant pair is associated with increased blood serum levels of the object drug?

Which object-precipitant pair is associated with increased blood serum levels of the object drug?

• A. I only
• B. I III
• C. II III
• D. I IV

Answer: (A)

When a precipitant blocks the body’s ability to clear the drug or slows its metabolism, more of the drug stays in the bloodstream, so the serum level rises. This happens if the precipitant inhibits hepatic enzymes that metabolize the drug or inhibits transporters that help remove it from the body (or even increases absorption in some cases). The pair that includes a precipitant producing this inhibitory effect will show higher blood levels of the drug, which is why it’s the correct choice. The other pairings don’t produce that same decrease in clearance or increase in absorption, so they don’t lead to elevated serum levels.

When a precipitant blocks the body’s ability to clear the drug or slows its metabolism, more of the drug stays in the bloodstream, so the serum level rises. This happens if the precipitant inhibits hepatic enzymes that metabolize the drug or inhibits transporters that help remove it from the body (or even increases absorption in some cases). The pair that includes a precipitant producing this inhibitory effect will show higher blood levels of the drug, which is why it’s the correct choice. The other pairings don’t produce that same decrease in clearance or increase in absorption, so they don’t lead to elevated serum levels.