Pharmacy Practice Flashcards

A pharmacist receives a prescription for amoxicillin 250 mg/5 mL suspension, dispense 150 mL. After reconstitution, what storage instruction should be provided?

Answer: Refrigerate and discard after 14 days

Reconstituted amoxicillin suspension is stable for 14 days when refrigerated; beyond this, potency declines significantly.

Which law requires pharmacies to report dispensing errors that cause patient harm to regulatory authorities?

Answer: State pharmacy practice acts

State pharmacy practice acts govern professional standards including error reporting requirements; federal law does not mandate a uniform error-reporting system for pharmacies.

A patient asks about potential interactions between St. John's Wort and their oral contraceptive. What should the pharmacist advise?

Answer: St. John's Wort induces CYP enzymes, potentially reducing contraceptive efficacy

St. John's Wort is a potent CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein inducer, which accelerates metabolism of ethinyl estradiol and progestin, potentially causing contraceptive failure.

During a drug utilization review (DUR), a pharmacist identifies a patient receiving both an ACE inhibitor and a potassium-sparing diuretic. What is the primary concern?

Answer: Hyperkalemia due to additive potassium retention

ACE inhibitors decrease aldosterone, retaining potassium; combined with potassium-sparing diuretics (e.g., spironolactone), dangerous hyperkalemia can result.

What is the correct needle gauge to use when administering a subcutaneous (SQ) injection to an average-weight adult?

Answer: 25–27 gauge

Subcutaneous injections in adults typically use a 25–27 gauge needle to minimize tissue trauma while delivering medication into the subcutaneous fat.

A pharmacist is performing medication therapy management (MTM) for an elderly patient on multiple medications. Which tool is MOST commonly used to identify potentially inappropriate medications in older adults?

Answer: The Beers Criteria

The Beers Criteria, published by the American Geriatrics Society, lists medications that are potentially inappropriate for adults aged 65 and older.

Which type of medication error involves a drug being administered via the wrong route (e.g., IV instead of IM)?

Answer: Wrong route error

A wrong route error occurs when a medication is given by a route other than that specified, which can cause serious harm (e.g., vincristine given intrathecally).