Colorado QMAP Practice Exam

Systemic drug action refers to the effect a medication has on the entire body rather than just a localized area. Tylenol, known generically as acetaminophen, is designed to enter the bloodstream and provide analgesic (pain-relieving) and antipyretic (fever-reducing) effects throughout the body. When ingested, it is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and distributed via the circulatory system, allowing it to exert its effects on pain and fever regardless of location. In contrast, the other choices primarily demonstrate localized action. For example, a lidocaine patch may provide relief targeted to a specific area of the body (like pain relief at the skin level), while ointments and creams are generally formulated for topical use, affecting primarily the site of application rather than the systemic circulation. Thus, the distinction lies in the ability of Tylenol to impact the body as a whole, which qualifies it as an example of systemic drug action.