VTNE Pharmacy and Pharmacology 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is an example of a compounded medication in veterinary medicine?
- A commercially available antibiotic tablet given at the labeled dose
- A flavored liquid suspension made from a tablet for a cat that refuses pills (Correct answer)
- An FDA-approved injectable solution drawn into a syringe
- A human drug used at its human labeled dose in a dog
Correct answer: A flavored liquid suspension made from a tablet for a cat that refuses pills
Compounding involves preparing a customized formulation (such as a flavored liquid) from an existing drug when a commercially suitable form is unavailable.
Question 2: What does the abbreviation 'SQ' or 'SC' indicate on a prescription label?
- Slowly and carefully
- Subcutaneous route of administration (Correct answer)
- Sublingual route of administration
- Sub-cardiac administration
Correct answer: Subcutaneous route of administration
SQ or SC stands for subcutaneous, meaning the drug is administered into the tissue beneath the skin.
Question 3: Which drug is most commonly used to treat hyperthyroidism in cats?
- Prednisone
- Levothyroxine
- Methimazole (Correct answer)
- Propranolol
Correct answer: Methimazole
Methimazole (Tapazole) inhibits thyroid hormone synthesis and is the most common medical treatment for feline hyperthyroidism.
Question 4: A technician must reconstitute a vial of ampicillin powder. The label states 'add 9.6 mL sterile water to yield 10 mL of 250 mg/mL solution.' What does this process describe?
- Dilution
- Reconstitution (Correct answer)
- Compounding
- Titration
Correct answer: Reconstitution
Reconstitution is the process of adding a diluent to a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder to prepare it for injection or use.
Question 5: Which type of drug interaction occurs when two drugs compete for the same plasma protein binding sites, potentially increasing free drug levels?
- Pharmacodynamic synergism
- Protein binding displacement (Correct answer)
- Enzyme induction
- Receptor downregulation
Correct answer: Protein binding displacement
Protein binding displacement occurs when one drug displaces another from albumin binding sites, increasing the free (active) concentration of the displaced drug.
Question 6: Which ophthalmic drug class is used to treat glaucoma in dogs by reducing aqueous humor production?
- Miotics
- Mydriatics
- Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (Correct answer)
- Corticosteroids
Correct answer: Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (e.g., dorzolamide, brinzolamide) reduce aqueous humor production, lowering intraocular pressure in glaucoma.
Question 7: What is the withdrawal time of a drug in food-producing animals?
- Time needed for a drug to reach peak plasma concentration
- Period after drug administration before the animal or its products are safe for human consumption (Correct answer)
- Duration of therapeutic effect after a single dose
- Time required for 50% of the drug to be eliminated from plasma
Correct answer: Period after drug administration before the animal or its products are safe for human consumption
Withdrawal time is the mandatory period that must elapse after the last drug dose before the animal or its products (meat, milk, eggs) can enter the human food supply.
VTNE Pharmacy and Pharmacology 5
Which of the following is an example of a compounded medication in veterinary medicine?