SPEX Assessment Exam Flashcards
7 cards from real SPEX practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 SPEX Assessment Exam flashcards as text
A patient asks about the difference between 'use by' and 'expiration date' on their prescription. Which statement is most accurate?
Answer: The expiration date guarantees potency and safety when stored properly; beyond this date, efficacy cannot be assured
The expiration date marks the point through which the manufacturer guarantees potency and safety under proper storage conditions; use beyond this date is not recommended.
Which parameter is used to assess how much of the body a drug distributes into, with high values suggesting extensive tissue binding?
Answer: Volume of distribution (Vd)
A high volume of distribution (Vd) indicates that a drug distributes extensively into tissues beyond the bloodstream, often reflecting lipophilicity or tissue binding.
A patient stabilized on warfarin begins taking St. John's Wort for depression. What is the expected pharmacokinetic outcome?
Answer: Decreased warfarin levels due to CYP450 induction, increasing clotting risk
St. John's Wort is a potent CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein inducer, increasing warfarin metabolism and reducing anticoagulant effect.
Which condition requires the pharmacist to report to a state health department as a notifiable disease when identified through a prescription?
Answer: Active tuberculosis (TB)
Tuberculosis is a nationally notifiable disease; health professionals including pharmacists may be required to report suspected or confirmed cases to public health authorities.
When counseling a patient about a new inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) for asthma, which adverse effect should be specifically mentioned and mitigated?
Answer: Oral candidiasis, prevented by rinsing the mouth after each use
Inhaled corticosteroids can cause oral candidiasis (thrush) due to oropharyngeal deposition; rinsing and spitting after use effectively prevents this.
A pharmacist is asked to compound a preparation not commercially available. Which USP chapter governs non-sterile compounding standards?
Answer: USP
USP sets standards for non-sterile pharmaceutical compounding, covering stability, labeling, and beyond-use dating.
Which counseling statement about metronidazole (Flagyl) is most important to include?
Answer: Avoid alcohol during therapy and for 48 hours after the last dose
Metronidazole inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase, causing a disulfiram-like reaction (flushing, nausea, vomiting) if alcohol is consumed during or shortly after therapy.