CPhT Patient Counseling 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient picking up a new nitroglycerin sublingual prescription asks how to store it. Which instruction is correct?
- Store in the refrigerator at all times
- Keep in the original amber glass bottle away from heat and light (Correct answer)
- Transfer to a plastic pill organizer for convenience
- Store in a shirt pocket close to body warmth
Correct answer: Keep in the original amber glass bottle away from heat and light
Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets must be kept in the original amber glass container because plastic absorbs the drug and light/heat degrade it.
Question 2: When a pharmacy technician notices a patient has prescriptions from three different prescribers, the BEST action is to:
- Fill each prescription without comment
- Alert the pharmacist so they can review for drug interactions (Correct answer)
- Ask the patient which medications they actually need
- Call each prescriber to verify the prescriptions
Correct answer: Alert the pharmacist so they can review for drug interactions
The technician should flag potential interactions to the pharmacist, who is responsible for clinical review and patient counseling.
Question 3: A patient asks a pharmacy technician whether it is safe to take ibuprofen with their blood pressure medication. The technician should:
- Advise that ibuprofen is always safe OTC
- Tell the patient to ask their doctor when they get a chance
- Refer the patient to the pharmacist immediately (Correct answer)
- Look up the interaction and answer the patient directly
Correct answer: Refer the patient to the pharmacist immediately
Drug interaction questions require pharmacist judgment; technicians must refer all clinical questions to the pharmacist.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of an auxiliary label that should be applied to a metronidazole prescription?
- Take with a full glass of water
- Avoid alcohol while taking this medication (Correct answer)
- May cause photosensitivity
- Shake well before use
Correct answer: Avoid alcohol while taking this medication
Metronidazole can cause a severe disulfiram-like reaction when combined with alcohol, so an 'avoid alcohol' auxiliary label is required.
Question 5: A caregiver picking up a pediatric amoxicillin suspension asks how to measure the dose accurately. The technician should provide:
- A household teaspoon from the kitchen
- An oral syringe or calibrated dosing cup from the pharmacy (Correct answer)
- A tablespoon for larger doses
- A dropper from any other medication bottle
Correct answer: An oral syringe or calibrated dosing cup from the pharmacy
Calibrated oral syringes or dosing cups ensure accurate measurement; household spoons vary widely in volume.
Question 6: A patient states they cannot afford their brand-name medication. The pharmacy technician's FIRST step should be to:
- Tell the patient to skip doses to make the medication last longer
- Suggest the patient buy the medication online from a foreign website
- Inform the pharmacist and ask about generic alternatives or assistance programs (Correct answer)
- Advise the patient to stop taking the medication
Correct answer: Inform the pharmacist and ask about generic alternatives or assistance programs
The technician should involve the pharmacist and explore generics or manufacturer assistance programs as appropriate next steps.
Question 7: Which statement about medication adherence counseling is within the pharmacy technician's scope of practice?
- Explaining the clinical rationale for dose adjustments
- Reminding the patient of the refill due date and encouraging them to return on time (Correct answer)
- Advising the patient to cut the dose if side effects occur
- Changing the medication therapy to improve tolerability
Correct answer: Reminding the patient of the refill due date and encouraging them to return on time
Technicians can support adherence through administrative reminders; clinical recommendations require pharmacist involvement.
CPhT Patient Counseling 2
A patient picking up a new nitroglycerin sublingual prescription asks how to store it.
Which instruction is correct?