NHA practice: medication classifications

A pharmacy technician should recognize that which of the following immunizations is recommended for adults age 60 and older?

Feedback: The shingles immunization is recommended for adults age 60 and older.

Shingles

A pharmacy technician is filling a prescription for amitriptyline (Elavil) for a patient. The technician should recognize that which of the following is an adverse reaction to the medication?

Feedback: Having suicidal thoughts is a life-threatening adverse reaction to amitriptyline, which is a tricyclic antidepressant.

Suicidal thoughts

A pharmacy technician should recognize that ACE inhibitor medication names end with which of the following suffixes?

Feedback: The technician should recognize that ACE inhibitor medication names end with the suffix "pril." For example, a common ACE inhibitor is lisinopril. ACE inhibitors are primarily used to treat high blood pressure.

“pril”

A pharmacy technician is entering a prescription for buccal tablets. The technician should recognize which of the following as the appropriate method for administering this medication?

Feedback: The patient should place a buccal tablet between the cheek and gum above a rear molar and allow 15 to 30 min for the tablet to dissolve. After that time, the patient should swallow any remaining fragments with water.

Place the tablet between the cheek and gum.

A patient at the pharmacy counter tells a pharmacy technician she wants to purchase the 24-hr formulation of pseudoephedrine (Sudafed). The technician should understand that which of the following symptoms is an indication for this behind-the-counter (BTC) medication?

Feedback: Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that treats nasal congestion, sinus pressure, and upper respiratory symptoms.

Nasal congestion

A pharmacy technician receives a faxed prescription for Amlodipine (Norvasc). The technician should recognize that this medication is prescribed for patients who have which of the following conditions?

Feedback: The technician should recognize that Amlodipine (Norvasc) is a calcium channel blocker, that is used to treat hypertension and angina (chest pain).

Hypertension and angina

Which of the following should a pharmacy technician recognize as a possible adverse effect of acetaminophen (Tylenol)?

Feedback: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) has a potential to cause liver toxicity, especially when taken in high doses or over extended periods.

Liver damage

A pharmacy technician should recognize that which of the following immunizations is recommended for adults age 65 and older?

Feedback: The CDC recommends that all adults age 65 and older receive the pneumococcal pneumonia immunization. In addition, adults over the age of 18 should receive the immunization if they have conditions such as chronic heart or lung disease.

Pneumococcal pneumonia

A pharmacy technician should recognize that alendronate (Fosamax) is a part of which of the following classes of medication?

Feedback: Alendronate is a bisphosphonate medication that helps to prevent and treat bone density loss (osteoporosis). Other examples of bisphosphonates include ibandronate (Boniva) and risedronate (Actonel).

Bisphosphonate

A pharmacy technician should identify that precipitation in an IV medication solution that was just prepared is an indication of which of the following?

Feedback: Any visible settling of ingredients or particles in a solution, or cloudiness of a solution that should be clear, indicates incompatibilities between the IV solution and the additive medication. Phosphate, calcium, and magnesium salts tend to cause precipitation in many medication solutions.

Incompatibility

A pharmacy technician should recognize that gabapentin (Neurontin) is classified as which of the following types of medication?

Feedback: Gabapentin is classified as an anticonvulsant. Anticonvulsant medications help to prevent and control seizures. Gabapentin also helps relieve nerve pain, hot flashes, intractable hiccups, and restless leg syndrome.

Anticonvulsant

Which of the following medications should a pharmacy technician expect a provider to prescribe for a patient who is experiencing muscle spasms?

Feedback: The technician should expect the provider to prescribe cyclobenzaprine, a skeletal muscle relaxant, to treat muscle spasms.

Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)

A pharmacy technician receives a prescription for Prozac and notes that a generic substitution is acceptable. Which of the following should the technician recognize as the generic name for Prozac?

Feedback: Fluoxetine is the generic name for Prozac, a medication that treats depression.

Fluoxetine

A patient tells a pharmacy technician that his doctor recommended several over-the-counter (OTC) medications for him, but he can’t remember which symptoms fluticasone (Flonase) will treat. The technician should tell him that this medication should help relieve which of the following symptoms?

Feedback: Fluticasone is an OTC nasal spray that treats allergic rhinitis. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis include runny nose.

Runny nose

A pharmacy technician is filling a prescription for Januvia. The technician should identify that the generic name for this medication is which of the following?

Feedback: Sitagliptin is the generic name for Januvia, a medication that treats diabetes mellitus.

Sitagliptin

A pharmacy technician should recognize that bisacodyl (Dulcolax) suppositories should be administered via which for the following routes of administration?

feedback: Bisacodyl is a laxative that comes in tablets for oral use and suppositories for rectal use.

Rectal

A pharmacy technician should recognize that which of the following over-the-counter (OTC) medications treats heartburn?

feedback: The technician should recognize that famotidine is an OTC medication that is used to treat stomach ulcers, acid indigestion, and heartburn, which can be a manifestation of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Famotidine (Pepcid)

A pharmacy technician should identify that which of the following is the generic name for Cialis?

Feedback: Tadalafil is the generic name for Cialis.

Tadalafil

A pharmacy technician should recognize that an otic preparation should only be used for which of the following parts of the body?

Feedback: Otic preparations should be instilled into the ears. A common otic preparation is antibiotic ear drops.

Ears

A pharmacy technician is preparing a vaccine for a pharmacist to administer to a patient intradermally. The technician should recognize that the pharmacist will administer this vaccine in which of the following ways?

Feedback: An intradermal injection is administered into the dermis, which is the layer of skin just beneath the epidermis, or outer layer.

Into the skin

Which of the following medications must a pharmacy technician store behind the pharmacy counter?

Feedback: According to the 2005 Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act, pharmacies are required to store pseudoephedrine behind the counter due to its potential use in the illicit production of methamphetamine.

Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)

Which of the following vitamins is water-soluble?

Feedback: Water-soluble vitamins include the B-complex vitamins and vitamin C. Fat-soluble vitamins are A, D, E, and K, which are stored in body fat and the liver.

Vitamin C