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A patient presents the following prescription:
Amoxicillin 250 mg/5 mL
1 tsp tid x 10 days
How much of the medication, in mL, will be used during the first 5 days of therapy?
Correct Answer: C
To calculate how muchamoxicillin suspensionwill be used in the first5 days, we follow these steps:
Amoxicillin concentration:250 mg per5 mL
Dosage:1 tsp (5 mL) three times daily (tid)
Duration:First5 days
Step 1: Identify Given InformationStep 2: Calculate Total Daily Volume5 mL×3=15 mL per day5 \text{ mL} \times 3 = 15 \text{ mL per day}5 mL×3=15 mL per day
Step 3: Multiply by 5 Days15 mL/day×5 days=75 mL15 \text{ mL/day} \times 5 \text{ days} = 75 \text{ mL}15 mL/day×5 days=75 mL
Thus, the patient will use75 mLof medication in the first5 days.
A. 25 mL→ Incorrect; this would be correct if taken onlyonce dailyinstead ofthree times daily.
B. 50 mL→ Incorrect; this is the correct amount for3.3 days, not 5 days.
D. 150 mL→ Incorrect; this is thefull 10-day course, not just the first 5 days.
Other Answer Choices Explained:References:
PTCB PTCE Exam Content Outline (Pharmaceutical Calculations – Dosage & Volume Calculations)
USP < 795 > Nonsterile Compounding Guidelines
Lexicomp Drug Monograph for Amoxicillin Suspension
If 120 g of cream contains 3 g of drug, how many g of drug are in 2 oz of cream?
Correct Answer: A
To determine how muchdrug (active ingredient)is in2 oz (ounces) of cream, we use the given ratio and perform unit conversions.
120 gof cream contains3 gof drug.
2 ozof cream =2 × 28.35 g(since1 oz = 28.35 g)
2 oz = 56.7 g
Step 1: Identify Given DataStep 2: Set Up a Proportion3 g drug120 g cream=x g drug56.7 g cream\frac{3 \text{ g drug}}{120 \text{ g cream}} = \frac{x \text{ g drug}}{56.7 \text{ g cream}}120 g cream3 g drug=56.7 g creamx g drug
Step 3: Solve forxxxx=3×56.7120=170.1120=1.42≈1.5 gx = \frac{3 \times 56.7}{120} = \frac{170.1}{120} = 1.42 \approx 1.5 \text{ g}x=1203×56.7=120170.1=1.42≈1.5 g
Thus,1.5 g of drugis present in2 oz of cream.
B. 6 g→ Incorrect; this would assume a higher drug concentration.
C. 15 g→ Incorrect; this is a miscalculation of the ratio.
D. 60 g→ Incorrect; far exceeds the total weight of the cream.
Other Answer Choices Explained:References:
PTCB PTCE Exam Content Outline (Pharmaceutical Calculations – Ratios and Proportions)
United States Pharmacopeia (USP) General Chapters on Compounding
The Pharmacy Technician’s Pocket Drug Reference
A pharmacy technician receives a prescription forZyrtec 10 mg once a dayfor schizophrenia. The technician should alert the pharmacist because:
Correct Answer: C
Zyrtec (cetirizine)is asecond-generation antihistamineused to treatallergies.
Schizophreniais a psychiatric disorder treated withantipsychotics, NOT antihistamines.
This is likely aLook-Alike Sound-Alike (LASA) error, where the intended drug wasZyprexa (olanzapine), anantipsychoticcommonly used for schizophrenia.
The technician must alert the pharmacist before dispensing.
Why Other Options Are Incorrect:
A. Special Handling?❌No, Zyrtec is OTC and does not require special handling.
B. Exceeding Daily Dose?❌No, Zyrtec’s max daily dose is 10 mg for adults.
D. REMS Program?❌No, Zyrtec is not part of aRisk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program.
???? Reference:ISMP’s LASA Drug List,FDA Drug Labeling Guidelines.
With the implementation of electronic medication administration records, which of the following can be used to prevent unnecessary and prolonged drug therapy?
Correct Answer: C
eMAR/CPOE safety practices include setting automatic stop parameters such as a total number of doses or defined stop dates (e.g., for antibiotics), so therapy automatically discontinues when intended, preventing unnecessary or prolonged treatment. “Continuation orders” (Option B) extend therapy and do the opposite of preventing prolongation. Insurance information (A) and standard precautions (D) are unrelated to eMAR stop controls.
[References:• ISMP recommendations for antimicrobial stewardship and automatic stop dates within eMAR/CPOE.• ASHP guidelines on medication-use technology: eMAR configuration for stop dates/total doses.• PTCB/ExCPT Medication Safety: Order-entry safeguards to prevent therapy continuation errors., , ]
What is the brand name for linagliptin?
Correct Answer: C
Linagliptin is thegeneric name for Tradjenta, a medication used to treattype 2 diabetes mellitus.
Linagliptin is a DPP-4 inhibitor (Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor).
Works byincreasing incretin levels, which boost insulin secretion and reduce glucagon levels.
Used tolower blood glucose levelsin patients with type 2 diabetes.
(A) Forteo❌Incorrect – Forteo (teriparatide) is for osteoporosis.
(B) Januvia❌Incorrect – Januvia (sitagliptin) is another DPP-4 inhibitor but not the same as Tradjenta.
(C) Tradjenta✅Correct – The brand name for linagliptin.
(D) Xarelto❌Incorrect – Xarelto (rivaroxaban) is an anticoagulant.
Tradjenta Prescribing Information (FDA):https://www.tradjenta.com
American Diabetes Association (ADA) – Pharmacologic Approaches to Diabetes Management:https://diabetesjournals.org
PTCB Exam Content Outline – Brand & Generic Name Drug Recognition
Drug Classification & Mechanism:Analysis of Answer Choices:References for Pharmacy Technicians: