PTCB EXAM QUESTIONS

The directions for use for Timoptic is 2 gtts os bid. What is the meaning of os?

left eye

What is the Latin abbreviation for "after meals"?

pc

An order reads "Tylenol 325mg pr q 4 h prn". What dosage form should be dispensed?

suppositories

A pharmacy technician repacks bulk solid dosage forms into unit dosed packages. What expiration date will appear on the package?

50% of labeled expiration date to a maximum of 1 year

The expiration date on a bottle of Cipro 500mg tablets states 4/09. When does this drug expire?

midnight 4/30/09

A physician prescribes Ceclor 375mg po bid. What is wrong with this prescription?

the Rx lacks a duration of therapy

Which dosage form is formulated to dissolve in the intestine rather than the stomach?

enteric-coated

What is the term for the process by which substances are taken up and transported to the bloodstream?

absorption

What is "room temperature"

15-30 degrees Centigrade

The process whereby a drug is transformed by the liver is referred to as;

metabolism

A patient enters the pharmacy complaining of persistent heartburn. The pharmacy technician should:

tell the patient to speak to the pharmacist

Which of the following duties may a pharmacy technician not do?
enter a prescription data into the computer
call the wholesaler for a drug order
affix a drug label to a prescription container
accept a verbal medication order from a physician

accept a verbal medication order from a physician

The directions for use of a medication are " ii gtts au q 4 h x 5d". What is au?

in both ears

The dispensing label on an outpatient pharmacy prescription requires:

legal name of pharmacy and address

The NDC on a medication bottle refers to the:

-manufacturer
-drug product
-quantity packaged

What dosage form is formulated to mask an objectionable taste of a medication?

film-coated tablets

What dosage forms has the highest concentration of alcohol in its formulation?

a tincture

Which of the following is NOT required on a unit-dosed packaged drug?
-expiration date
-lot #
-storage requirements
-strength of medication

storage requirements

Nonprescription drugs should not be included in the patient profile.
a) true
b) false

false

Amoxicillin oral suspension is stable in a refrigerator for how many days after reconstitution?

14

Which drug is likely to cause a photosensitivity reaction?
a) Biaxin
b) penicillin
c) Cipro
d) tetracycline

tetracycline

The abbreviation 'PCN" means what?

penicillin

Which of the following 2 drug classes have cross sensitivity?
a) tetracycline and penicillin
b) penicillin and erythromycin
e) erythromycin and penicillin
d) penicillin and cephalosporin

penicillin and cephalosporin

What is the storage requirement for reconstituted amoxicillin 250 mg/ 5ml?

36 to 46 degrees F

Translate the following:
a. Gtt ii o.u. q 4 h prn
b. M. ft ung
c. tsp i q 4 h or 5 h prn itching

a) Place 2 drops into both eyes every 4 hours as needed
b) Mix and make an ointment
c) Take one teaspoonful by mouth every 4 to 5 hours as needed for itch

How many times can an unscheduled prescription be refilled on a PRN prescription order?

as needed for one year

What schedule are the following drug products?
Vicodin ______
Valium ______
Codeine _____
Lomotil ______

Vicodin __3___
Valium __4___
Codeine __2__
Lomotil __5__

Acetaminophen possesses all of the following except
a) analgesic
b) anti-inflammatory
c) antipyretic

anti-inflammatory

How does activated charcoal work in an overdose?

absorbs the poison

The dose of syrup of ipecac for children is_____

15 ml

The normal dose of fexofenadine is:

60 mg bid

The highest strength of Demerol is:

100 mg

List 3 known routes of transmission of HIV infections

-bodily fluids
-blood transfusions
-mom to fetus

Medication class of Provera?

progestin

Estraderm is available in which dosage form?

patch

Pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient in cold preparations, is contraindicated in which of the following disease states?
a) hypertension
b) asthma
c) constipation
d) cancer

hypertension

Which of the following drugs is a benzodiazepine?
Fiorinal
b) Percodan
c) Demerol
d) Klonopin

Klonopin

What drug is used to treat dyspepsia (ulcers)?

Pepcid

A patient hands you an empty vial of Ritalin and asks for the Rx to be refilled. What should you do?

tell the patient that the medicine is not refillable

Which of the following drugs is not an OTC product?
a) Advil
b) Nuperin
c) Ibuprofen 400mg
d) Tylenol suppositories

Ibuprofen 400mg

Which of the following drugs is used in chest pain?
a) meperidine
b) diltiazem
c) nitroglycerin
d) piroxicam

nitroglycerin

Codeine, meperidine and oxycodone all belong to which controlled schedule?

II

What is "Syrup of Ipecac" indicated for?

to induce vomiting

Which of the following drugs is not a laxative?
a) Dulcolax
b) Metamucil
c) Imodium
d) Colace

Imodium

A patient on warfarin therapy should never take which of the following medications?
a) Percocet
b) Tylenol
c) Demerol
d) Percodan

Percodan

Which of the following is a Scheduled IV controlled substance?
a) Lomotil
b) Xanax
c) Demerol
d) Haldol

Xanax

Heparin belongs to which pharmacological category?

anticoagulant

Which of the following medications is an anticonvulsant?
a) atenolol
b) dextromethorphan
c) carbamazepine
d) isoxsuprine

carbamazepine

Terbutaline belongs to which drug classification?
a) antineoplastic
b) anticonvulsant
c) bronchodilator

bronchodilator

The joint action of drugs in which their combined effect is more intense or longer in duration than the sum of their
individual effects is:

synergism

The most used drug for parkinsonism is

Sinemet

The exact amount of a drug administered to get a specific response is the

dose

When dispensing an antidepressant; the patient should be informed that

it may take as long as two weeks before the drug is effective

Which drug has a loading dose as part of the regimen?
a) Macrodantin
b) Zithromax
c) Cipro
d) Doxycycline

Zithromax

Treatment for migraine is most effective if

initiated early in the attack

Expectorants are used in lung disease to

stimulate respiratory secretions and break up mucus

Which drugs listed should be taken on an empty stomach
a) tetracycline
b) NSAIDS
c) Dilantin
d) all of the above

tetracycline

Which B vitamins need to be given IM?

B12

The nitro patch should not be worn 24 hours a day in order to avoid

tolerance

Which OTC lowers cholesterol and can cause a flushing reaction?

niacin

The technician should check for which drugs in the profile if the patient is on a potassium supplement?

-ACE inhibitors
-Dyazide
-Maxzide

Nitroglycerin may be stored in all of the listed except
a) an amber glass bottle
b) prescription bottles
c) original container
d) none of the above

prescription bottles

Why are diuretics commonly used in congestive heart failure?

to decrease the amount of fluid in the body by increasing urination

All of the following belong to the class of drugs known as ACE inhibitors except
a) captopril
b) digoxin
c) enalapril
d) ramipril

digoxin

Most superpotent topical steroids have restrictions limiting their use to

2 weeks; 40-50 grams in one week

The NSAID most frequently used to treat gout is

indomethacin

Which urinary analgesic will turn urine orange?

Pyridium

Which drug reduces blood pressure and grows hair?
a) Inderal
b) Catapress
c) Loniten
d) Aldomet

Loniten (minoxidil)

Which drug dissolves a clot once it has formed?
a) heparin
b) Coumadin
c) Fragmin
d) urokinase

urokinase

Which drug is a loop diuretic?
a) Bumex
b) Dyazide
c) Diltiazem
d) Ziac

Bumex

Which drug is a calcium channel blocker?
a) digoxin
b) nitroglycerin
c) verapamil
d) Zestril

verapamil

The drug most used for an acute gout attack is

Zyloprim

What type of prescription balance must be used for compounding 120 mgs of a 1% topical antifungal cream?

class A

What type of measuring device should be used to measure 3 ml of a liquid for compounding?

10 ml cylindrical graduate

Grinding of tablets into a fine powder in a porcelain mortar is an example of:

trituration

What is the proper method of measuring a liquid in a graduated cylinder?

hold at eye level and read the bottom of the meniscus

The process of producing a smooth dispersion of a drug with a spatula is called

levigation

What is the most accurate device for measuring liquids?

cylindrical graduate

What is the smallest weight a class A balance can weigh?

120 mg (2 grain)

When dispensing a Ventolin inhaler, how often must the Patient Package insert (PPI) be included with the drug product?

every time the prescription is dispensed

Which drug requires a follow-up "Cover" prescription when dispensed as a verbal order?
phenobarbital
b) vicodin
c) valium
d) all the above

-phenobarbital
-vicodin
-valium

What is the proper procedure for cleaning a laminar flow hood?

side to side, back to front

Which procedure would you not do when opening an ampule?
a) wipe the neck with an alcohol pad
b) after wiping with an alcohol pad, dry the neck with a paper towel
c) break the ampule with an alcohol pad covering the neck
d) filter the contents with a filter needle

after wiping with an alcohol pad, dry the neck with a paper towel

How far into the hood should the pharmacy technician work?

6 inches

What size filter is considered a sterilizing filter?

0.22 micron

How often must a laminar flow hood be checked?

every 6 months

How long may a schedule class II drug be refilled?

no refills

If a HCTZ prescription states, 'refill prn', for how long may this Rx be refilled?

1 year

How often must controlled substances be physically inventoried?

once every 2 years

Which governmental agency is responsible for safety in the workplace?

OSHA

The "C" designation for controlled substances must appear on a controlled prescription:

in red in the lower right hand corner of the Rx

A vial of reconstituted Adriamycin breaks inside a vertical flow hood. What should the technician do?

clean up the spill with a spill kit

Which federal legislation enacted in 1970 regulates the use and distribution of substances with high abuse potential?

CSA

Which legislation established two classes of drugs?

Durham-Humphrey Amendment

The manufacturing, dispensing and distribution of controlled substances is regulated by the:

FDA

Which law allows nasal inhalers to be dispensed without a child-resistant container?

Poison Control Act of 1970

Which law allows pharmacists/interns to take prescriptions over the telephone from a physician's office?

Durham-Humphrey Amendment

Which organization oversees Medicare and Medicaid service?

CMS

How long is a DEA Form 222 valid?

60 days

Methylphenidate treats:

• ADHD
• NARCOLEPSY