Pharm.D. Doctor of Pharmacy Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2

Question 1

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) reduce gastric acid by:

Accepted Answer

Irreversibly inhibiting H+/K+-ATPase on parietal cells

Answer

PPIs (e.g., omeprazole, pantoprazole) irreversibly inhibit the H+/K+-ATPase (proton pump) in gastric parietal cells, providing the most potent and sustained acid suppression.

Question 2

Which lipid-lowering drug class most effectively reduces LDL cholesterol and is first-line for ASCVD risk reduction?

Accepted Answer

Statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors)

Answer

Statins inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, reducing hepatic cholesterol synthesis, upregulating LDL receptors, and producing the greatest LDL reduction with proven cardiovascular mortality benefit.

Question 3

Tamoxifen is used in the treatment of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Its mechanism of action is:

Accepted Answer

Selective estrogen receptor modulation (SERM) — blocks estrogen receptors in breast tissue

Answer

Tamoxifen is a SERM that competitively blocks estrogen receptors in breast tissue, preventing estrogen-driven tumor proliferation while acting as an estrogen agonist in bone and uterus.

Question 4

Which medication is the first-line treatment for C. difficile infection (CDI) of non-severe severity?

Accepted Answer

Oral vancomycin or oral fidaxomicin

Answer

Current IDSA/SHEA guidelines recommend oral vancomycin or fidaxomicin as first-line for non-severe CDI, replacing oral metronidazole which has inferior cure rates.

Question 5

When selecting an antibiotic for a UTI caused by MRSA, which agent is appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) if susceptible, or nitrofurantoin

Answer

MRSA is resistant to beta-lactams; TMP-SMX or nitrofurantoin are appropriate for uncomplicated MRSA UTI if in vitro susceptibility is confirmed.

Pharm.D. Doctor of Pharmacy Practice Test

Pharm.D. Doctor of Pharmacy Practice Test

Pharm.D. Doctor of Pharmacy Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2