PTCB (ACTUAL) EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
1 grain (gr) = - ANS-65 mg (the range is actually 60-65 mg)
15) If a patient came in with a script containing 5 different drugs listed ( one drug is TCN
) what should the patient be
warned about? - ANS-• Know your auxiliary labels and side effects of medications
• TCN: photosensitivity, no calcium products, no antacids, not for children and
pregnancy, if expired it is fatal
A customer brings in two prescriptions to be filled. One is for atenolol and the other is
for Tenormin. What should the
technician do next? - ANS-Atenolol is the generic of Tenormin; therefore the patient
does not need both due to a possible drug overdose. The
technician should bring this to the attention of the pharmacist. THIS IS DUBLICATE
THERAPY
A hyperglycemic pamphlet would refer to - ANS-sugar levels
A patient enters the pharmacy complaining of persistent heartburn. The pharmacy
technician should: - ANS-tell the patient to speak to the pharmacist
A patient hands you an empty vial of Ritalin and asks for the Rx to be refilled. What
should you do? - ANS-tell the patient that the medicine is not refillable
A patient on warfarin therapy should never take which of the following medications?
a) Percocet
b) Tylenol
c) Demerol
d) Percodan - ANS-Percodan
A pharmacy technician repacks bulk solid dosage forms into unit dosed packages. What
expiration date will appear on the package? - ANS-50% of labeled expiration date to a
maximum of 1 year
A physician prescribes Ceclor 375mg po bid. What is wrong with this prescription? -
ANS-the Rx lacks a duration of therapy
A pre-filled syringe is made out of glass or plastic? - ANS-glass
A vial of reconstituted Adriamycin breaks inside a vertical flow hood. What should the
technician do? - ANS-clean up the spill with a spill kit
,Acetaminophen possesses all of the following except
a) analgesic
b) anti-inflammatory
c) antipyretic - ANS-anti-inflammatory
All of the following belong to the class of drugs known as ACE inhibitors except
a) captopril
b) digoxin
c) enalapril
d) ramipril - ANS-digoxin
Amlodopine is what? - ANS-Norvasc (Calcium Channel Blocker)
Amoxicillin oral suspension is stable in a refrigerator for how many days after
reconstitution? - ANS-14
An ampule lid is made out of what? - ANS-An ampule is entirely made out of glass ( one
piece )
An order reads "Tylenol 325mg pr q 4 h prn". What dosage form should be dispensed? -
ANS-suppositories
Are there any special requirements concerning an IV with fats in it? - ANS-Instability
Class B balance weighs up to - ANS-120 gms (grams not milligrams) (Bulk balance)
Codeine, meperidine and oxycodone all belong to which controlled schedule? - ANS-II
Coumadin and aspirin - ANS-• Coumadin (warfarin) interacts with aspirin. Coumadin
thins the blood and so does aspirin. If taken together - the blood
could be thinned too much and unusual bleeding can occur.
• Drugs with aspirin: Percodan, Fiorinal, Ecotrin, Bayer, Bufferin, Excedrin, Darvon
• A customer has a prescription for coumadin and asks the tech if it is okay to take
aspirin occasionally. What should the
tech do? Answer: refer the customer to the pharmacist.
Cozaar and Hyzaar : - ANS-• they are both ACE inhibitors use for high blood pressure
• they do not produce the side effect of cough like the other ACE inhibitors
• other ACE inhibitors end in -pril
DEA form #106 is for - ANS-CII theft and local police must be notified
DEA form #41 is for _____. All 3 copies of form #41 are submitted to respective DEA
offices. - ANS-destroying CII's
, DEA form 222 orders ___. No mistakes can be made when filling out the form. Brown
copy stays with pharmacy
and green copy is sent to the DEA office. - ANS-CII drugs
Define:
• Absorption -
• Distribution -
• Metabolism -
• Elimination - - ANS-• Absorption - drug goes "into the bloodstream".
• Distribution - drug goes to "where it is needed"
• Metabolism - drug is "broken down" by the liver
• Elimination - "excretion" of the drug out of the body
Digoxin is a: - ANS-• Cardiac glycoside
• Anti-arrhythmic
• If you can only pick one and not both - pick cardiac glycoside
Drugs that end in "-azepam" are what? - ANS-• benzodiazepines (class IV)
• anti-anxiety agents
Drugs that end in "-pril" are what? - ANS-ACE Inhibitors
Estraderm is available in which dosage form? - ANS-patch
Expectorants are used in lung disease to - ANS-stimulate respiratory secretions and
break up mucus
Grinding of tablets into a fine powder in a porcelain mortar is an example of: - ANS-
trituration
Heparin belongs to which pharmacological category? - ANS-anticoagulant
How does activated charcoal work in an overdose? - ANS-absorbs the poison
How far into the hood should the pharmacy technician work? - ANS-6 inches
How long does a laminar flow hood run before use? - ANS-30-60 minutes
How long is a DEA Form 222 valid? - ANS-60 days
How long may a schedule class II drug be refilled? - ANS-no refills
How many times can an unscheduled prescription be refilled on a PRN prescription
order? - ANS-as needed for one year
AND ANSWERS
1 grain (gr) = - ANS-65 mg (the range is actually 60-65 mg)
15) If a patient came in with a script containing 5 different drugs listed ( one drug is TCN
) what should the patient be
warned about? - ANS-• Know your auxiliary labels and side effects of medications
• TCN: photosensitivity, no calcium products, no antacids, not for children and
pregnancy, if expired it is fatal
A customer brings in two prescriptions to be filled. One is for atenolol and the other is
for Tenormin. What should the
technician do next? - ANS-Atenolol is the generic of Tenormin; therefore the patient
does not need both due to a possible drug overdose. The
technician should bring this to the attention of the pharmacist. THIS IS DUBLICATE
THERAPY
A hyperglycemic pamphlet would refer to - ANS-sugar levels
A patient enters the pharmacy complaining of persistent heartburn. The pharmacy
technician should: - ANS-tell the patient to speak to the pharmacist
A patient hands you an empty vial of Ritalin and asks for the Rx to be refilled. What
should you do? - ANS-tell the patient that the medicine is not refillable
A patient on warfarin therapy should never take which of the following medications?
a) Percocet
b) Tylenol
c) Demerol
d) Percodan - ANS-Percodan
A pharmacy technician repacks bulk solid dosage forms into unit dosed packages. What
expiration date will appear on the package? - ANS-50% of labeled expiration date to a
maximum of 1 year
A physician prescribes Ceclor 375mg po bid. What is wrong with this prescription? -
ANS-the Rx lacks a duration of therapy
A pre-filled syringe is made out of glass or plastic? - ANS-glass
A vial of reconstituted Adriamycin breaks inside a vertical flow hood. What should the
technician do? - ANS-clean up the spill with a spill kit
,Acetaminophen possesses all of the following except
a) analgesic
b) anti-inflammatory
c) antipyretic - ANS-anti-inflammatory
All of the following belong to the class of drugs known as ACE inhibitors except
a) captopril
b) digoxin
c) enalapril
d) ramipril - ANS-digoxin
Amlodopine is what? - ANS-Norvasc (Calcium Channel Blocker)
Amoxicillin oral suspension is stable in a refrigerator for how many days after
reconstitution? - ANS-14
An ampule lid is made out of what? - ANS-An ampule is entirely made out of glass ( one
piece )
An order reads "Tylenol 325mg pr q 4 h prn". What dosage form should be dispensed? -
ANS-suppositories
Are there any special requirements concerning an IV with fats in it? - ANS-Instability
Class B balance weighs up to - ANS-120 gms (grams not milligrams) (Bulk balance)
Codeine, meperidine and oxycodone all belong to which controlled schedule? - ANS-II
Coumadin and aspirin - ANS-• Coumadin (warfarin) interacts with aspirin. Coumadin
thins the blood and so does aspirin. If taken together - the blood
could be thinned too much and unusual bleeding can occur.
• Drugs with aspirin: Percodan, Fiorinal, Ecotrin, Bayer, Bufferin, Excedrin, Darvon
• A customer has a prescription for coumadin and asks the tech if it is okay to take
aspirin occasionally. What should the
tech do? Answer: refer the customer to the pharmacist.
Cozaar and Hyzaar : - ANS-• they are both ACE inhibitors use for high blood pressure
• they do not produce the side effect of cough like the other ACE inhibitors
• other ACE inhibitors end in -pril
DEA form #106 is for - ANS-CII theft and local police must be notified
DEA form #41 is for _____. All 3 copies of form #41 are submitted to respective DEA
offices. - ANS-destroying CII's
, DEA form 222 orders ___. No mistakes can be made when filling out the form. Brown
copy stays with pharmacy
and green copy is sent to the DEA office. - ANS-CII drugs
Define:
• Absorption -
• Distribution -
• Metabolism -
• Elimination - - ANS-• Absorption - drug goes "into the bloodstream".
• Distribution - drug goes to "where it is needed"
• Metabolism - drug is "broken down" by the liver
• Elimination - "excretion" of the drug out of the body
Digoxin is a: - ANS-• Cardiac glycoside
• Anti-arrhythmic
• If you can only pick one and not both - pick cardiac glycoside
Drugs that end in "-azepam" are what? - ANS-• benzodiazepines (class IV)
• anti-anxiety agents
Drugs that end in "-pril" are what? - ANS-ACE Inhibitors
Estraderm is available in which dosage form? - ANS-patch
Expectorants are used in lung disease to - ANS-stimulate respiratory secretions and
break up mucus
Grinding of tablets into a fine powder in a porcelain mortar is an example of: - ANS-
trituration
Heparin belongs to which pharmacological category? - ANS-anticoagulant
How does activated charcoal work in an overdose? - ANS-absorbs the poison
How far into the hood should the pharmacy technician work? - ANS-6 inches
How long does a laminar flow hood run before use? - ANS-30-60 minutes
How long is a DEA Form 222 valid? - ANS-60 days
How long may a schedule class II drug be refilled? - ANS-no refills
How many times can an unscheduled prescription be refilled on a PRN prescription
order? - ANS-as needed for one year
