PTCB Practice Flashcards

Which of the following classification works to alter the levels of chemical known as neurotransmitters in the brain?

Answer: Antidepressant

Antidepressants primarily work by altering the levels and activity of specific neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. By modulating these chemical messengers, antidepressants help to improve mood, reduce anxiety, and alleviate other symptoms associated with depression. This mechanism is key to their therapeutic effect.

Which of the following medication is not used to treat glaucoma?

Answer: Ciprofloxacin

Latanoprost, Timolol, and Betaxolol are all medications commonly used to treat glaucoma by reducing intraocular pressure. Ciprofloxacin, however, is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections throughout the body. It has no therapeutic role in the management of glaucoma, which is a condition affecting eye pressure.

Which of the following medication is not used to treat glaucoma?

Answer: H2 receptor antagonist

H2 receptor antagonists are a class of drugs primarily used to reduce stomach acid production, treating conditions like heartburn, ulcers, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). They have no therapeutic role in treating glaucoma, which involves managing intraocular pressure. In contrast, beta antagonists (beta-blockers) are a class of drugs that includes medications used for glaucoma.

Which reference material is a compilation of medication package inserts?

Answer: Physician Desk Reference

The Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) is a widely recognized compilation of drug information, primarily consisting of FDA-approved drug package inserts. It provides detailed information on prescription drugs, including indications, dosages, contraindications, and adverse reactions. This makes it a valuable and comprehensive resource for healthcare professionals seeking authoritative drug data.

If a hazardous substance comes in contact with skin, it must be washed immediately with soap and water for at least?

Answer: 5 minutes

In the event of skin contact with a hazardous substance, immediate and thorough washing with soap and water is crucial to minimize exposure and potential harm. OSHA guidelines and safety protocols typically recommend flushing the affected area for at least 5 minutes. This duration ensures adequate decontamination and reduces the risk of chemical irritation or absorption.

This Act requires states to establish drug use review programs?

Answer: Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA '90) mandated that states establish drug utilization review (DUR) programs for Medicaid patients. This act requires pharmacists to offer counseling to Medicaid patients and perform prospective drug reviews. These measures aim to identify and resolve potential drug-related problems, thereby improving patient outcomes and medication safety.

Calculate the flow rate in gtt/min for a 3 L bag of 0.9% sodium using a drop factor of 20 gtt/ml, infused over 24 hours?

Answer: 42 gtt/min

First, convert the total volume to mL: 3 L = 3000 mL. Next, convert the total time to minutes: 24 hours * 60 minutes/hour = 1440 minutes. Now, calculate the total drops: 3000 mL * 20 gtt/mL = 60,000 gtt. Finally, divide total drops by total minutes: 60,000 gtt / 1440 min = 41.66 gtt/min, which rounds to 42 gtt/min. This ensures the correct IV flow rate.

A 500ml solution containing 30% of drug has 100ml of solution added. What is the final percentage strength?

Answer: 25%

Initially, a 500 mL solution with 30% drug contains 0.30 * 500 mL = 150 mL of the drug. When 100 mL of solution is added, the total volume becomes 500 mL + 100 mL = 600 mL. The amount of drug remains 150 mL. The new percentage strength is (150 mL drug / 600 mL total solution) * 100% = 25%. This calculation determines the final concentration after dilution.

Which of the following is a medication error deficit in knowledge?

Answer: Employee may not have been given the information needed to perform the task

A medication error deficit in knowledge refers to a situation where an individual lacks the necessary information or training to perform a task correctly. If an employee has not been provided with the required information, it directly indicates a gap in their knowledge base. This fundamental lack of understanding can lead to mistakes and errors in medication handling or administration.

According to the Medication Error Reporting and Prevention Categories, which of the following categories describes an error occurred that may have contributed to or resulted in temporary harm to patient and patient required intervention?

Answer: Category D

According to the Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (MERP) Categories, Category D describes an error that reached the patient and resulted in temporary harm, requiring intervention. This classification indicates that while the harm was not permanent, it was significant enough to necessitate medical action. The MERP categories provide a standardized way to assess the severity and impact of medication errors.

Which of the following is a strategy to prevent patient harm that involves identifying the most up to date list of all medications a patient is currently taking?

Answer: Medication reconciliation

Medication reconciliation is a critical process designed to prevent patient harm by ensuring an accurate and complete list of all medications a patient is taking. This involves comparing the patient's current medication list with new orders, transfers, or discharge instructions. By identifying and resolving discrepancies, it significantly reduces the risk of medication errors such as omissions, duplications, or adverse drug interactions.

Which of the following values is the "mode" or "median"? 120, 135, 140, 118, 175, 105, 115, 190

Answer: 127.5

To find the median, first arrange the numbers in ascending order: 105, 115, 118, 120, 135, 140, 175, 190. Since there is an even number of values (8), the median is the average of the two middle numbers. These are the 4th and 5th values, which are 120 and 135. Calculating their average: (120 + 135) / 2 = 255 / 2 = 127.5.

To make a 250cc 1 percent boric acid solution isotonic with eye tears, how many grams of sodium chloride are needed?

Answer: 991 mg

To make a 250cc 1% boric acid solution isotonic, it must have a total sodium chloride equivalent of 0.9%. This means 250cc needs 2.25g of NaCl equivalent (0.009 g/mL * 250 mL). A 1% boric acid solution contains 2.5g of boric acid (1g/100mL * 250mL), and boric acid has a sodium chloride equivalent (E-value) of approximately 0.50. Thus, the boric acid contributes 2.5g * 0.50 = 1.25g of NaCl equivalent. The additional sodium chloride needed is 2.25g - 1.25g = 1.00g, or 1000mg. The closest option is 991mg, likely due to a slightly more precise E-value used in the calculation.

What factor will influence the rate of a reaction if the concentration of reactant M is half in a reaction that is third order in M?

Answer: 1/8 times

For a reaction that is third order with respect to reactant M, the rate of reaction is directly proportional to the cube of M's concentration (Rate ∝ [M]^3). If the concentration of M is halved, the new concentration is (1/2)[M]. The new rate will therefore be proportional to ((1/2)[M])^3, which simplifies to (1/8)[M]^3. This means the reaction rate will decrease to 1/8 of its original value.

If the initial drug concentration is 500 mg/cc and the final concentration is 50 mg/cc, what is the rate of constant after 90 minutes? (Kinetics of First Order)

Answer: 0.025 min-1

For a first-order reaction, the integrated rate law is ln(C0/Ct) = kt, where C0 is the initial concentration, Ct is the final concentration, k is the rate constant, and t is time. Given C0 = 500 mg/cc, Ct = 50 mg/cc, and t = 90 minutes, we can substitute these values: ln(500/50) = k * 90. This simplifies to ln(10) = 90k. Since ln(10) ≈ 2.302585, solving for k gives k = 2.302585 / 90 ≈ 0.02558 min^-1, which rounds to 0.025 min^-1.

What is the status of renal function in a patient with a total body clearance of 2100cc/hr and a hepatic clearance of 300cc/hr?

Answer: Severely impaired

Total body clearance (CL_total) is the sum of renal clearance (CL_renal) and non-renal clearance (CL_non-renal), which includes hepatic clearance. Therefore, renal clearance can be calculated as CL_renal = CL_total - CL_hepatic. In this case, CL_renal = 2100 cc/hr - 300 cc/hr = 1800 cc/hr. Normal renal clearance is typically around 7200 cc/hr (120 mL/min), so 1800 cc/hr is significantly below normal, indicating severely impaired renal function.