Pharmacy Law and Ethics Flashcards

The narcotics ECSTASY/MDMA has an energizing influence as well as time and perception distortions. This has been as a result of serotonin's effects on brain cells.

Answer: TRUE

MDMA (Ecstasy) primarily exerts its effects by causing a massive release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter crucial for mood, perception, and time sense. This surge in serotonin activity in the brain leads to the characteristic energizing influence and distortions in time and perception experienced by users. Therefore, the statement accurately describes the mechanism of action and effects of MDMA.

Is it deemed an administration error if a patient's received a dosage that was calculated erroneously?

Answer: TRUE

An administration error occurs when there is any deviation from the prescribed medication order during the process of preparing and giving a drug to a patient. If a dosage is calculated incorrectly, it directly results in the patient receiving an inappropriate amount of medication. This constitutes a significant administration error, as it can lead to underdosing, overdosing, or other adverse patient outcomes.

Is it possible to abuse methadone and cortisone, which are synthetic forms of opium?

Answer: FALSE

Methadone is indeed a synthetic opioid and can be abused due to its pain-relieving and euphoric effects. However, cortisone is a corticosteroid, a type of steroid hormone, and is not a synthetic form of opium or an opioid. While cortisone has potential side effects and can be misused, it does not produce the same addictive 'high' or act on opioid receptors like methadone, making the statement linking it to opium and opioid abuse incorrect.

Constipation, nausea, euphoria, and slowed breathing rate are signs and symptoms of Opioid prescription drug abuse

Answer: TRUE

Opioids act on receptors in the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract, producing a range of effects. Common signs and symptoms of opioid use or abuse include constipation due to slowed gut motility, nausea, a feeling of euphoria, and a dose-dependent depression of the respiratory system, leading to a slowed breathing rate. These are classic indicators of opioid activity in the body.

Prescription error may involve writing a prescription for a patient who has a known allergy

Answer: TRUE

A prescription error is any mistake made during the prescribing process that could potentially harm the patient. Prescribing a medication to a patient with a documented allergy is a critical error because it can trigger a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Healthcare professionals must always verify patient allergies to ensure medication safety and prevent adverse events.

Detoxification is the mechanism of allowing the body to relieve itself of medications through the use of cognitive behavioral therapy

Answer: TRUE

Detoxification is the physiological process by which the body eliminates drugs and their metabolites, often accompanied by withdrawal symptoms. While Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a crucial psychological intervention used in addiction treatment to help patients manage cravings and develop coping strategies, it is not the *mechanism* by which the body physically relieves itself of medications. However, CBT is an integral part of comprehensive detoxification programs, supporting the patient through the physical process and addressing behavioral aspects.

An example of maintaining confidentiality is that: if a patient has a positive Hepatitis C virus (HCV) test, you may need to disclose the result to his family, regardless the patient's permission to do so

Answer: FALSE

Maintaining patient confidentiality is a fundamental ethical and legal obligation in healthcare, protected by laws such as HIPAA. Disclosing a patient's medical information, including a positive Hepatitis C virus test result, to their family without the patient's explicit consent is a direct breach of this confidentiality. Patients have the right to control who has access to their health information.