Pharmacy Technician Exam Notes

  • Pharmacy Front End and OTC Medications

    • OTC (Over-the-Counter) medications are available without a prescription.
    • The pharmacy front end is where these products are located.
    • Important to understand different sections of OTC areas for efficient patient assistance.
    • Pharmacy technicians must ensure their advice stays within their scope of practice; consult with pharmacists for any questions beyond their training.

  • Importance of Exact Product Selection

    • Small differences in OTC medications can significantly impact effectiveness and safety.
    • Example: Calcitriate vs. Calcium Carbonate
    • Calcium citrate has better absorption compared to calcium carbonate.
    • Example: Enteric coated 81 mg aspirin vs. 81 mg chewable aspirin
    • The wrong type could cause stomach irritation.

  • OBRA 90 and Its Implications

    • The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA 90) impacted Medicare and Medicaid funding, increasing the role of pharmacy technicians.
    • OBRA 90 mandated pharmacists to conduct Drug Utilization Reviews (DURs) and offer counseling to patients.
    • Required states to set patient counseling standards, which applies to all patients, not just Medicaid recipients.

  • Counseling Requirements Under OBRA 90

    • Pharmacists must provide counseling on:
    • Medication name and description
    • Route of administration
    • Dose and dosage form
    • Duration of therapy
    • Special directions and precautions
    • Common and severe side effects, adverse effects, interactions
    • Therapeutic contraindications
    • Counseling is critical at prescription pickup, serving as a final check for accuracy.

  • Teach Back Method

    • A counseling technique where pharmacists ask patients to repeat back medication instructions to confirm understanding.
    • Helps identify if the patient has heard and understood their instructions properly.

  • Forged Prescriptions

    • Increasingly sophisticated methods make forged prescriptions harder to detect.
    • e-Scripts have reduced the chances of physical prescription alterations.
    • Signs to identify altered or illegitimate prescriptions:
    • Handwriting inconsistencies
    • Poorly written directions or misspellings
    • Different ink colors
    • Looks photocopied
    • Unusually large quantities or overdoses prescribed.

  • Preventing Forged Prescriptions

    • Familiarity with local providers can help recognize legitimate prescriptions.
    • Know common signatures and patient records.
    • Question prescriptions that seem unusual, such as those from unfamiliar patients or distant locations.
    • Check prescription dates; anything older than a few days should be scrutinized.
    • Notify a pharmacist if there’s any doubt regarding a prescription’s legitimacy.

  • Addressing Prescription Validity Concerns

    • If a prescription raises questions, consult the pharmacist.
    • In case of errors or missing information on prescriptions, contact the provider for verification.