PTCB EXAM QUESTIONS Complete Exam
Study Guide 2026 – Actual Questions with
Verified Answers & Detailed Explanations
The directions for use for Timoptic is 2 gtts os bid. What is the meaning of os? -
answer✅✅✅left eye
What is the Latin abbreviation for "after meals"? -answer✅✅✅pc
An order reads "Tylenol 325mg pr q 4 h prn". What dosage form should be dispensed? -
answer✅✅✅suppositories
A pharmacy technician repacks bulk solid dosage forms into unit dosed packages. What
expiration date will appear on the package? -answer✅✅✅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? -answer✅✅✅midnight 4/30/09
A physician prescribes Ceclor 375mg po bid. What is wrong with this prescription? -
answer✅✅✅the Rx lacks a duration of therapy
Which dosage form is formulated to dissolve in the intestine rather than the stomach? -
answer✅✅✅enteric-coated
What is the term for the process by which substances are taken up and transported to
the bloodstream? -answer✅✅✅absorption
What is "room temperature" -answer✅✅✅15-30 degrees Centigrade
The process whereby a drug is transformed by the liver is referred to as; -
answer✅✅✅metabolism
A patient enters the pharmacy complaining of persistent heartburn. The pharmacy
technician should: -answer✅✅✅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 -answer✅✅✅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? -
answer✅✅✅in both ears
The dispensing label on an outpatient pharmacy prescription requires: -
answer✅✅✅legal name of pharmacy and address
The NDC on a medication bottle refers to the: -answer✅✅✅-manufacturer
-drug product
-quantity packaged
What dosage form is formulated to mask an objectionable taste of a medication? -
answer✅✅✅film-coated tablets
What dosage forms has the highest concentration of alcohol in its formulation? -
answer✅✅✅a tincture
Which of the following is NOT required on a unit-dosed packaged drug?
-expiration date
-lot #
-storage requirements
-strength of medication -answer✅✅✅storage requirements
Nonprescription drugs should not be included in the patient profile.
a) true
b) false -answer✅✅✅false
Amoxicillin oral suspension is stable in a refrigerator for how many days after
reconstitution? -answer✅✅✅14
Which drug is likely to cause a photosensitivity reaction?
a) Biaxin
b) penicillin
c) Cipro
d) tetracycline -answer✅✅✅tetracycline
The abbreviation 'PCN" means what? -answer✅✅✅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 -answer✅✅✅penicillin and cephalosporin
What is the storage requirement for reconstituted amoxicillin 250 mg/ 5ml? -
answer✅✅✅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 -answer✅✅✅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? -answer✅✅✅as needed for one year
What schedule are the following drug products?
Vicodin ______
Valium ______
Codeine _____
Lomotil ______ -answer✅✅✅Vicodin __3___
Valium __4___
Codeine __2__
Lomotil __5__
Acetaminophen possesses all of the following except
a) analgesic
b) anti-inflammatory
c) antipyretic -answer✅✅✅anti-inflammatory
How does activated charcoal work in an overdose? -answer✅✅✅absorbs the poison
The dose of syrup of ipecac for children is_____ -answer✅✅✅15 ml
The normal dose of fexofenadine is: -answer✅✅✅60 mg bid
The highest strength of Demerol is: -answer✅✅✅100 mg
List 3 known routes of transmission of HIV infections -answer✅✅✅-bodily fluids
-blood transfusions
-mom to fetus
Medication class of Provera? -answer✅✅✅progestin
, Estraderm is available in which dosage form? -answer✅✅✅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 -answer✅✅✅hypertension
Which of the following drugs is a benzodiazepine?
Fiorinal
b) Percodan
c) Demerol
d) Klonopin -answer✅✅✅Klonopin
What drug is used to treat dyspepsia (ulcers)? -answer✅✅✅Pepcid
A patient hands you an empty vial of Ritalin and asks for the Rx to be refilled. What
should you do? -answer✅✅✅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 -answer✅✅✅Ibuprofen 400mg
Which of the following drugs is used in chest pain?
a) meperidine
b) diltiazem
c) nitroglycerin
d) piroxicam -answer✅✅✅nitroglycerin
Codeine, meperidine and oxycodone all belong to which controlled schedule? -
answer✅✅✅II
What is "Syrup of Ipecac" indicated for? -answer✅✅✅to induce vomiting
Which of the following drugs is not a laxative?
a) Dulcolax
b) Metamucil
c) Imodium
d) Colace -answer✅✅✅Imodium
A patient on warfarin therapy should never take which of the following medications?
Study Guide 2026 – Actual Questions with
Verified Answers & Detailed Explanations
The directions for use for Timoptic is 2 gtts os bid. What is the meaning of os? -
answer✅✅✅left eye
What is the Latin abbreviation for "after meals"? -answer✅✅✅pc
An order reads "Tylenol 325mg pr q 4 h prn". What dosage form should be dispensed? -
answer✅✅✅suppositories
A pharmacy technician repacks bulk solid dosage forms into unit dosed packages. What
expiration date will appear on the package? -answer✅✅✅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? -answer✅✅✅midnight 4/30/09
A physician prescribes Ceclor 375mg po bid. What is wrong with this prescription? -
answer✅✅✅the Rx lacks a duration of therapy
Which dosage form is formulated to dissolve in the intestine rather than the stomach? -
answer✅✅✅enteric-coated
What is the term for the process by which substances are taken up and transported to
the bloodstream? -answer✅✅✅absorption
What is "room temperature" -answer✅✅✅15-30 degrees Centigrade
The process whereby a drug is transformed by the liver is referred to as; -
answer✅✅✅metabolism
A patient enters the pharmacy complaining of persistent heartburn. The pharmacy
technician should: -answer✅✅✅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 -answer✅✅✅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? -
answer✅✅✅in both ears
The dispensing label on an outpatient pharmacy prescription requires: -
answer✅✅✅legal name of pharmacy and address
The NDC on a medication bottle refers to the: -answer✅✅✅-manufacturer
-drug product
-quantity packaged
What dosage form is formulated to mask an objectionable taste of a medication? -
answer✅✅✅film-coated tablets
What dosage forms has the highest concentration of alcohol in its formulation? -
answer✅✅✅a tincture
Which of the following is NOT required on a unit-dosed packaged drug?
-expiration date
-lot #
-storage requirements
-strength of medication -answer✅✅✅storage requirements
Nonprescription drugs should not be included in the patient profile.
a) true
b) false -answer✅✅✅false
Amoxicillin oral suspension is stable in a refrigerator for how many days after
reconstitution? -answer✅✅✅14
Which drug is likely to cause a photosensitivity reaction?
a) Biaxin
b) penicillin
c) Cipro
d) tetracycline -answer✅✅✅tetracycline
The abbreviation 'PCN" means what? -answer✅✅✅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 -answer✅✅✅penicillin and cephalosporin
What is the storage requirement for reconstituted amoxicillin 250 mg/ 5ml? -
answer✅✅✅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 -answer✅✅✅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? -answer✅✅✅as needed for one year
What schedule are the following drug products?
Vicodin ______
Valium ______
Codeine _____
Lomotil ______ -answer✅✅✅Vicodin __3___
Valium __4___
Codeine __2__
Lomotil __5__
Acetaminophen possesses all of the following except
a) analgesic
b) anti-inflammatory
c) antipyretic -answer✅✅✅anti-inflammatory
How does activated charcoal work in an overdose? -answer✅✅✅absorbs the poison
The dose of syrup of ipecac for children is_____ -answer✅✅✅15 ml
The normal dose of fexofenadine is: -answer✅✅✅60 mg bid
The highest strength of Demerol is: -answer✅✅✅100 mg
List 3 known routes of transmission of HIV infections -answer✅✅✅-bodily fluids
-blood transfusions
-mom to fetus
Medication class of Provera? -answer✅✅✅progestin
, Estraderm is available in which dosage form? -answer✅✅✅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 -answer✅✅✅hypertension
Which of the following drugs is a benzodiazepine?
Fiorinal
b) Percodan
c) Demerol
d) Klonopin -answer✅✅✅Klonopin
What drug is used to treat dyspepsia (ulcers)? -answer✅✅✅Pepcid
A patient hands you an empty vial of Ritalin and asks for the Rx to be refilled. What
should you do? -answer✅✅✅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 -answer✅✅✅Ibuprofen 400mg
Which of the following drugs is used in chest pain?
a) meperidine
b) diltiazem
c) nitroglycerin
d) piroxicam -answer✅✅✅nitroglycerin
Codeine, meperidine and oxycodone all belong to which controlled schedule? -
answer✅✅✅II
What is "Syrup of Ipecac" indicated for? -answer✅✅✅to induce vomiting
Which of the following drugs is not a laxative?
a) Dulcolax
b) Metamucil
c) Imodium
d) Colace -answer✅✅✅Imodium
A patient on warfarin therapy should never take which of the following medications?
