MPharm Master of Pharmacy Master of Pharmacy: Pharmaceutical Formulations and Dosage Forms 2

Question 1

Which mechanism governs drug release from an osmotic pump tablet (OROS)?

Accepted Answer

Osmotic pressure driving fluid in and drug solution out through a laser-drilled orifice

Answer

OROS tablets use osmotic pressure to draw water in, building pressure that pushes drug solution out through a precision orifice at a controlled rate.

Question 2

What is the primary purpose of a plasticizer in film-coated tablets?

Accepted Answer

Reduce polymer brittleness and improve film flexibility

Answer

Plasticizers (e.g., PEG, triethyl citrate) lower the glass transition temperature of coating polymers, making the film flexible and resistant to cracking.

Question 3

A suppository base that melts at body temperature but is immiscible with water is classified as:

Accepted Answer

Fatty or oleaginous base (cocoa butter)

Answer

Cocoa butter is the classic fatty base that melts near 37 °C and does not mix with rectal fluids, releasing drug by melting rather than dissolution.

Question 4

Which type of emulsion is preferred for intravenous parenteral nutrition lipid emulsions?

Accepted Answer

Oil-in-water (O/W)

Answer

IV lipid emulsions are O/W type so the aqueous continuous phase is miscible with blood, preventing fat embolism.

Question 5

In hot-melt extrusion (HME), the primary role of the process is to:

Accepted Answer

Disperse drug molecularly in a polymer carrier to form a solid dispersion

Answer

HME uses heat and mechanical shear to embed drug molecules within a thermoplastic polymer matrix, producing an amorphous solid dispersion that enhances solubility.

MPharm Master of Pharmacy Practice Test

MPharm Master of Pharmacy Practice Test

MPharm Master of Pharmacy Master of Pharmacy: Pharmaceutical Formulations and Dosage Forms 2