Practice Test Geeks(MTM) Medication Therapy Management Certification for Pharmacists Practice Test
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Polypharmacy Assessment & Reduction Flashcards

7 cards from real MTM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Polypharmacy Assessment & Reduction flashcards as text

  1. A 65-year-old patient taking a statin, ACE inhibitor, beta-blocker, aspirin, diuretic, and two diabetes agents following an MI presents with new myalgia. Which medication is MOST likely responsible?

    Answer: Statin therapy causing drug-induced myopathy

    Statin-induced myopathy is a well-recognized adverse effect presenting as myalgia or elevated creatine kinase levels, particularly when combined with interacting medications.

  2. Which interprofessional approach is MOST effective for reducing polypharmacy in the ambulatory care setting?

    Answer: Pharmacist-led medication review communicated to prescribers with collaborative prescribing authority

    Pharmacist-led CMRs with collaborative practice agreements and direct communication to prescribers have the strongest evidence for achieving medication reduction in ambulatory settings.

  3. A frail 85-year-old patient with moderate dementia is taking a cholinesterase inhibitor, memantine, and antipsychotic. Which consideration is MOST relevant for the MTM pharmacist?

    Answer: Antipsychotics carry an FDA black box warning for increased mortality in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis

    The FDA requires a black box warning on antipsychotics regarding increased risk of death in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis, making their use a high-priority deprescribing candidate.

  4. What is the PRIMARY goal of a Comprehensive Medication Review (CMR) in the context of polypharmacy?

    Answer: Identify, resolve, and prevent medication-related problems to optimize therapeutic outcomes

    The CMR systematically identifies medication-related problems including inappropriateness, interactions, and duplications to optimize therapy and improve patient outcomes.

  5. A patient with osteoporosis takes calcium carbonate 500 mg twice daily and is also prescribed levothyroxine, ciprofloxacin, and ferrous sulfate. Which interaction requires timing separation?

    Answer: Calcium carbonate reduces absorption of levothyroxine, ciprofloxacin, and ferrous sulfate when taken simultaneously

    Calcium forms insoluble complexes with levothyroxine, fluoroquinolones, and iron, significantly reducing their absorption when taken at the same time.

  6. Which definition BEST describes 'hyperpolypharmacy' as used in geriatric pharmacotherapy literature?

    Answer: Concurrent use of 10 or more medications

    While polypharmacy is generally defined as 5 or more medications, hyperpolypharmacy refers specifically to concurrent use of 10 or more medications.

  7. A pharmacist receives a referral for a patient who takes NSAIDs chronically for osteoarthritis and is also prescribed antihypertensives, diuretics, and an anticoagulant. Which drug-related problem should be addressed FIRST?

    Answer: NSAIDs increase bleeding risk with anticoagulants and blunt antihypertensive and diuretic efficacy, making them inappropriate in this combination

    Chronic NSAID use is contraindicated with anticoagulants due to additive bleeding risk and interferes with antihypertensive and diuretic mechanisms, representing multiple concurrent drug-related problems.