DOH Clinical Medicine & Pharmacology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which opioid analgesic requires a special narcotics prescription form under UAE Federal Law No. 14 of 1995 on Narcotic Drugs?
- Tramadol
- Codeine cough syrup
- Morphine (Correct answer)
- Ibuprofen
Correct answer: Morphine
Morphine, as a Schedule I narcotic under UAE Federal Law No. 14 of 1995, requires a special narcotics prescription and is subject to strict storage, dispensing, and documentation controls.
Question 2: A patient taking warfarin is started on fluconazole for oral candidiasis. What is the expected drug interaction?
- Decreased INR due to reduced warfarin absorption
- Increased INR due to CYP2C9 inhibition by fluconazole (Correct answer)
- No clinically significant interaction
- Decreased INR due to fluconazole inducing warfarin metabolism
Correct answer: Increased INR due to CYP2C9 inhibition by fluconazole
Fluconazole inhibits CYP2C9, the enzyme responsible for warfarin metabolism, leading to elevated warfarin plasma levels and increased INR with bleeding risk.
Question 3: According to UAE health guidelines, at what HbA1c level is the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus confirmed?
- ≥ 5.7%
- ≥ 6.0%
- ≥ 6.5% (Correct answer)
- ≥ 7.0%
Correct answer: ≥ 6.5%
A fasting HbA1c of ≥ 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) on two separate occasions (or with confirmatory symptoms) meets the diagnostic threshold for diabetes mellitus per international and UAE guidelines.
Question 4: Which antimicrobial is used as prophylaxis for meningococcal meningitis close contacts, relevant to Hajj and Umrah pilgrims from Abu Dhabi?
- Amoxicillin
- Rifampicin or ciprofloxacin (Correct answer)
- Metronidazole
- Doxycycline
Correct answer: Rifampicin or ciprofloxacin
Rifampicin (or ciprofloxacin as an alternative) is recommended for close contacts of confirmed meningococcal meningitis cases to eradicate nasopharyngeal carriage.
Question 5: A physician prescribes a Schedule II controlled drug in Abu Dhabi. How many days' supply is the maximum permitted on a single DOH-compliant prescription?
- 7 days
- 14 days
- 30 days (Correct answer)
- 90 days
Correct answer: 30 days
DOH regulations permit a maximum of 30 days' supply of Schedule II controlled substances on a single prescription to balance patient access with misuse prevention.
Question 6: Which condition has the highest prevalence in the Emirati population and is a priority target of Abu Dhabi's 'Weqaya' national screening programme?
- Malaria
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus (Correct answer)
- Tuberculosis
- Hepatitis A
Correct answer: Type 2 diabetes mellitus
The UAE has one of the highest rates of type 2 diabetes globally; the Weqaya programme by Daman/DOH focuses on screening and managing diabetes and related cardiometabolic conditions in Emiratis.
DOH Clinical Medicine & Pharmacology 2
Which opioid analgesic requires a special narcotics prescription form under UAE Federal Law No. 14 of 1995 on Narcotic Drugs?