PTCB Practice Questions
Convert 1 : 7,500 to a percentage strength.
.013% When given a ratio and asked to convert it to percentage strength, simply divide 100 by the ratio value:( 100 ÷ 7,500 ) = 0.013% It's that straightforward.Always remember that 'percentage strength' refers to 'out of 100 percent'. This should help you remember what to do when a question of this kind comes up on the PTCB exam.
If a medicine has an expiration date of 06/2024, on what date does it expire?
06 / 30 / 2024 A medicine with an expiration date of "06/2024" indicates that it can be used until the last day of that month, which in this case is June. Therefore, the expiration date is 06/30/2024.
A prescription comes in for digoxin 0.125 mg QD, what is the equivalent dose in mcg?
125 mcg
180 grams of ointment contains 25 grams of active ingredient and 155 grams of excipient. To the nearest whole number, what is the percentage strength of the medicine?
14% Active ingredient = 25mg (the drug substance) Total weight of the medicine = 180 grams (active ingredient + excipients) Therefore, (25 mg / 180 grams) x 100% = 13.88% Rounding up to the nearest whole number = 14%
Convert 84 degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Celsius.
28.9 degrees C Subtract 32 and divide by 5/9 (1.8)
Before use, how long should a laminar air flow hood be turned on?
30 Minutes
A prescriber writes an order for Amoxicillin 0.5 g TID x 7 days. You currently only have 250 mg capsules available. How many total capsules are needed to fill the entire prescription?
42 250 mg is equivalent to 0.25 g. It will take 2 capsules three times per day for 7 days. That would be equivalent to 6 capsules per day X 7 days which would equal 42 total capsules.
How many mL of Amoxicillin 250 mg/5 mL should be dispensed if the prescription is written for i tbsp PO BID x 14 days?
420 mL
Which alcohol concentration is defined as Alcohol USP?
95% ethyl alcohol
Medicines with the suffix -pril are members of which drug class?
ACE inhibitors
Because of poor processes and procedures, a pharmacy technician has been exposed unnecessarily to chemotherapy agents. Which federal organization would have the most oversight over this issue?
Answer - OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Their primary objective is to watch out for the health and welfare of workers.
Medicines with the suffix -lol are members of which drug class?
Beta-blockers
What term is used to refer to the total cost of keeping items in stock?
Carrying costs Carrying costs is the term used to describe the total cost of keeping items in stock; the various costs that the business or pharmacy has to absorb to keep those items in stock.Examples of carrying costs include storage fees, taxes, insurance, and any associated employee costs.
What is the primary mechanism of action of carvedilol?
Carvedilol inhibits beta-1, beta-2, and alpha-1 receptors. Inhibition of beta-1 receptors leads to a reduction in heart rate, contractility, and blood pressure. Beta-2 inhibition can lead to negative effects in respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD. Alpha receptor inhibition can lead to vasodilation and a reduction in blood pressure.
Which drug class is also classified as "hazardous waste"?
Chemotherapeutic agents Chemotherapeutic agents are used in the treatment of cancer. Examples include cisplatin, trastuzumab, methotrexate, and doxorubicin.Many of these drugs are very toxic, hence why they are considered "hazardous waste".
Which medication is typically only used for 1-2 weeks at most?
Ciprofloxacin
When a medication is dispensed, what is the flat fee that the patient must pay to the pharmacy?
Co-pay
Antitussive drugs are used in the treatment of which condition?
Cough
If a prescriber instructs to "dispense as written," which code should be used?
DAW 1
Years ago, the antidepressant named Brintellix was changed to Trintellix. Which agency would be responsible for monitoring the safety of names, labels, and packaging?
DMEPA is under the umbrella of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) (and ultimately under the big FDA umbrella)
Under what legislation were medicines divided between prescription drugs and OTC drugs?
Durham-Humphrey Amendment, 1951 The 1951 Durham-Humphrey amendment codified the categorization of medicines into prescription drugs and OTC drugs (Over the Counter).Drugs that were deemed to be harmful or addictive were required to include the label, "Caution: Federal law prohibits dispensing without a prescription".
What name is given to the type of error that occurs when something is performed incorrectly, such as dispensing medicine incorrectly?
Error of Commissin
Federal legislation states that pharmacies must complete an inventory of controlled substances. How regularly should this be conducted?
Every 2 Years
Which food decreases the anticoagulant effects of warfarin?
Green, leafy vegetables
Which is a boxed warning on furosemide?
Hyperkalemia
Which agency is not run by or part of the FDA?
ISMP is a nonprofit organization that is focused on medication error prevention and ultimately the safe use of medications. ISMP will share information with the FDA to help them better identify safety and error concerns.
Which medication should be avoided with the use of warfarin?
Ibuprofen
A drug manufacturer has announced that there was an error in production and a different excipient was put into tablets of metoprolol. This excipient is FDA-approved as safe for human consumption and there is no anticipated risk to patients. What type of recall would this be?
In a class 3 recall, exposure to the product is unlikely to cause harm to patients taking the medication or using the device. A class one recall is the highest level recall that does run the risk of serious harm to patients.
What name is given to the licensed clinical uses of a medicine?
Indication
A pharmacy technician receives the following prescription: iii gtts ou ud x 7d. How is the medicine administered to the patient?
Into the Eye
Which route of administration will have the fastest onset of action?
Intravenous
A patient is requesting a diabetes medication that is not an injection. Which of the following medications would be given as an oral dosage form?
Jardiance
Mr. Thomas was prescribed lamotrigine by their neurologist. They can't recall what side effects are associated with this medication. What adverse effect carries a boxed warning?
Lamotrigine is well known to cause a rash and this can be very serious and lead to Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. It carries a boxed warning from the FDA regarding this risk. Higher dosages without slow titration can increase this risk. Valproic acid in combination with lamotrigine can also increase this risk.
How are Class III FDA drug recalls classified?
Least severe recall level
Escitalopram, a drug used in the treatment of depression, is the active ingredient of which medicine?
Lexapro Escitalopram is the active ingredient of the medicine Lexapro. As well as depression, escitalopram is also used in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Escitalopram belongs to the SSRI class of medicines (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors).In terms of the other three answers (all SSRIs, too):Fluoxetine is the active ingredient of Prozac.Sertraline is the active ingredient of Zoloft.Fluvoxamine is the active ingredient of Luvox.
Examples of PPE (Personal protective equipment)
Masks, gloves, gowns, eye goggles, and face visors Caps, uniforms, and long sleeves do not count
Which of the following statements best describes therapeutic equivalence?
Medications that are therapeutically equivalent will have similar drug effects and can be used interchangeably
A patient reports intolerable side effects to prednisone. Which medication is from the same class as prednisone and would be likely to cause similar side effects?
Medrol
For all prescription and OTC medicines, which of these is a product identifier?
NDC number = National Drug Code; a 10-digit code identifier that appears on every medicinal product. For example: NDC 1334 - 4501 - 08 First set of digits = manufacturer, re-packager, distributer. Second set of digits = product code - strength, dosage form etc. Third set of digits = package code; size and type.
What is the 10-digit identifier used by healthcare providers to transmit healthcare details?
NPI Number (National Provider Identifier)
As you review Mr. Steven's medication list, you realize that he has many PRN medications. Which one would be of the highest concern with regard to drug interactions with tadalafil?
Nitroglycerin for chest pain
A patient reports that they cannot afford the price of Protonix. Which of the following would represent an alternative in the same class of medication?
Omeprazole
Which of the following Medicare components covers the Medication Therapy Management benefit?
Part D
Which part of Medicare covers certain vaccines administered to patients in a pharmacy setting?
Part D Part D of Medicare covers specific vaccines administered to patients in pharmacies.Part A covers inpatient care in hospitals.Part B covers outpatient care, as well as services from doctors and other healthcare providers.Part C refers to Medicare Advantage Plans offered by private companies approved by Medicare that combines both Part A and Part B coverage.
Which of the following statements is true regarding a CMR?
Performing a CMR via telehealth is acceptable under most situations
Actonel Generic Name
Risedronate
A patient asks you about taking saw palmetto extract. What is the most common indication that a patient would use this for?
Saw palmetto is commonly marketed for its utility in BPH despite limited evidence supporting its use.
Ms. Jones has asked about the risks with regard to her birth control. She informs you that she is taking Loestrin which is a combination of estrogen and progestin. You inform her that it can increase the risk of blood clots. Which part of her history would increase the risk of a blood clot?
She is a smoker
In which part of the prescription do you find instructions on how to take the medicine?
Signature (sig)
What piece of legislation set up two categories of drugs (legend and over-the-counter)?
The Durham Humphrey Amendment was set up to create two categories of medicines. The Amendment set up a category of drugs that cannot be safely used without medical supervision and sale is restricted to prescription (legend or prescription drugs). In addition, this legislation set up a category of drugs that could be reasonably used without provider supervision (over-the-counter or OTC's).
Which of the following tasks would not typically be associated with the FDA's role?
The FDA doesn't typically develop and create compounding standards. This would be more of a task related to USP. The FDA may regulate pharmacies that do these activities, but they don't actually create the standards that need to be followed.
Which legislation/program was created in response to an individual causing cyanide poisoning by replacing acetaminophen with cyanide pills?
The Tamper Resistant Packaging Regulation of 1982 made it a crime to tamper with packaged consumer products. It also influenced manufacturers to create packaging for their drugs so patients knew if the package had been opened already. This was brought about after an individual was placing cyanide in Tylenol containers.
A new medication is applying for an ANDA. Which of the following best represents the requirement to obtain approval?
The drug must demonstrate bioequivalence with the parent product
In the creation of a REMS program, which of the following is true?
The manufacturer sets up the program and the FDA approves it. It is reevaluated periodically and may be eliminated or revised if new evidence on safety is available. Medication guides being given to the patient are required. The REMS program goal is to reduce the risk of serious adverse effects or reactions.
Patients who have trouble with alcohol addiction will often need this supplement?
Thiamine
Which is a boxed warning on liraglutide
Thyroid C-cell tumors
To ensure safe drug storage, how frequently should refrigerator and freezer temperatures be monitored?
Twice daily
Patients taking MAO inhibitors should avoid foods that contain which of the following?
Tyramine Tyramine-rich foods include aged meats and cheeses; fermented foods/drinks; sauerkraut; soy and teriyaki sauce; alcoholic drinks, and yeast extract (among others).
A pharmacy technician receives a prescription with the instruction "a.c.". How should the medicine be taken?
a.c. derives from the Latin - ante cibum - meaning "before meals".
What is a Superscription?
date the prescription was written, as well as patient information and Rx
What is inscription?
details the name an d amount or strength of the drug to be dispensed. May also contain the name an strength of each compounded ingrdient
What is subscription?
instructions given to the pharmacist
Which pharmacy abbreviation indicates that a medicine is to be taken "by mouth"?
po
