CDT Topical Medication Administration 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which vehicle type is most appropriate for delivering medication to a hairy area of the body?
- Ointment
- Solution or lotion (Correct answer)
- Cream
- Paste
Correct answer: Solution or lotion
Solutions and lotions are preferred for hairy areas because they penetrate hair follicles more easily and are less occlusive than thicker formulations.
Question 2: A patient reports burning and stinging immediately after applying a topical corticosteroid to the face. The most appropriate first action is to:
- Recommend switching to an ointment base
- Instruct the patient to rinse the area with water
- Document and report the reaction to the provider (Correct answer)
- Tell the patient this is a normal response
Correct answer: Document and report the reaction to the provider
Burning and stinging after topical corticosteroid application should be documented and reported to the supervising provider, as it may indicate irritation or an adverse reaction.
Question 3: What does the term 'vehicle' refer to in a topical medication formulation?
- The active therapeutic ingredient
- The inactive base that carries the active drug (Correct answer)
- The packaging container
- The concentration percentage
Correct answer: The inactive base that carries the active drug
The vehicle is the inactive base (such as water, oil, or alcohol) that carries the active drug and determines how it penetrates and distributes across the skin.
Question 4: Topical tacrolimus (Protopic) is classified as a:
- Topical corticosteroid
- Topical calcineurin inhibitor (Correct answer)
- Topical retinoid
- Topical antifungal
Correct answer: Topical calcineurin inhibitor
Tacrolimus is a topical calcineurin inhibitor used for atopic dermatitis that works by suppressing T-cell activation without the side effects of corticosteroids.
Question 5: When instructing a patient to apply a topical medication to the periorbital area, which caution is most critical?
- Apply only at bedtime to avoid light sensitivity
- Avoid getting the medication into the eyes (Correct answer)
- Use twice as much to ensure penetration
- Cover with an occlusive dressing
Correct answer: Avoid getting the medication into the eyes
Periorbital application requires extreme caution to prevent medication from contacting the eyes, as many topical agents can cause serious ocular damage.
Question 6: Which of the following is a characteristic of an emulsion-based topical formulation?
- It contains only water-soluble ingredients
- It is a mixture of oil and water stabilized by an emulsifier (Correct answer)
- It is completely anhydrous
- It contains only alcohol as the vehicle
Correct answer: It is a mixture of oil and water stabilized by an emulsifier
Emulsions are mixtures of oil and water held together by an emulsifying agent, and most creams and lotions are oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsions.
Question 7: A patient is prescribed a topical medication with instructions to apply 'sparingly.' This means:
- Apply a thick layer for maximum effect
- Apply a thin layer using just enough to cover the area (Correct answer)
- Skip applications when symptoms improve
- Apply only to the most affected spots, ignoring surrounding skin
Correct answer: Apply a thin layer using just enough to cover the area
Applying sparingly means using a thin layer — just enough to lightly coat the affected area — to minimize systemic absorption and side effects.
CDT Topical Medication Administration 2
Which vehicle type is most appropriate for delivering medication to a hairy area of the body?