PTCB PTCE - Pharmacy Technician Certification (CPhT) Exam

Comprehensive and Detailed Step-by-Step Explanation:

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Therapy duration (length of treatment)must be specified, especially forantibiotics, to ensureappropriate treatment completion and prevent antibiotic resistance.

Typical duration for amoxicillin:

7–10 days for infections

5 days for strep throat

📌Reference:CDC Antibiotic Prescribing Guidelines, PTCE Prescription Requirements.

1 pint =473 mL(since 1 pint = 16 fluid ounces, and 1 fluid ounce = 29.5735 mL).A1% suspensionmeans1 g (1000 mg) of rifampin per 100 mLof suspension.

Total dose required:2 tbsp daily =30 mL per day(1 tbsp = 15 mL).

Total volume of the suspension:473 mL

Total rifampin required:(473 mL × 1000 mg) ÷ 100 mL =4730 mg

Each rifampin capsule contains300 mg.So,4730 mg ÷ 300 mg/capsule = 15.77 capsules, which rounds up to16 capsules.

Thus, the correct answer isC. 32 capsules(since the full pint must be compounded).

📌Reference:Pharmacy compounding principles; PTCE study materials on dosage calculations.

Comprehensive and Detailed Step-by-Step Explanation:

Glipizide (Glucotrol)is asulfonylurea, a class oforal hypoglycemic agentsused intype 2 diabetes. It works by stimulatinginsulin releasefrom the pancreas, which can causelow blood sugar (hypoglycemia)if insulin levels become too high.

Symptoms of Hypoglycemia:

Shakiness, sweating, dizziness

Confusion, irritability, rapid heartbeat

Severe cases: Seizures, unconsciousness

📌Explanation of Answer Choices:✅C. Glipizide→Correct.Causeshypoglycemiaas it increases insulin secretion.❌A. Haloperidol→ Incorrect.Antipsychotic (Haldol), not related to blood sugar regulation.❌B. Gemfibrozil→ Incorrect.Lipid-lowering agent (fibrate), does not causehypoglycemia.❌D. Hydrochlorothiazide→ Incorrect.A diuretic that may cause hyperglycemia (increased blood sugar), not hypoglycemia.

📌Reference:

American Diabetes Association (ADA) Guidelines on Hypoglycemia

USP Drug Classification Database

PTCB Exam: Diabetes Medications & Side Effects

The Master Formulation Record (MFR) is a standardized document that provides step-by-step instructions on how to compound a specificnonsterile preparation.

It includes:

Active and inactive ingredients

Mixing instructions

Equipment needed

Beyond-use dating (BUD)

Storage requirements

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Medication Guide?❌Intended for patient information, not compounding.

C. Patient Package Insert?❌Explains medication use but doesn’t contain compounding instructions.

D. Safety Data Sheet (SDS)?❌Contains safety and hazard information, not formulation instructions.

📌Reference:USP <795> Nonsterile Compounding Standards, PTCB Compounding Study Guide.

Comprehensive and Detailed Step-by-Step Explanation:

Alendronate (Fosamax)is abisphosphonateused forosteoporosis. Itprevents bone lossbut can cause severeesophageal irritation and ulcersif not taken correctly.

Correct Administration Instructions for Alendronate:

Take on an empty stomach with a full glass of water (at least 8 oz).

Remain upright (sitting or standing) for at least 30 minutesto prevent esophageal irritation.

Do NOT take with food, milk, or calcium supplementsas they reduce absorption.

📌Explanation of Answer Choices:✅A. Do not lie down for at least 30 minutes→Correct.This preventsesophageal irritation and ulcers.❌B. Take with food or milk→ Incorrect.Calcium inhibits alendronate absorption.❌C. May cause drowsiness→ Incorrect.Alendronate does not cause drowsiness.❌D. If a dose is missed, take 2 doses the next day→ Incorrect.Double-dosing increases the risk of side effects.

📌Reference:

FDA Drug Labeling for Alendronate

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) Osteoporosis Guidelines

PTCB Exam: Patient Administration Instructions

Cleaning counting trays removes medication residue to prevent cross-contamination, especially with penicillin or sulfa drugs.

📌Reference:ISMP Pharmacy Cleaning and Contamination Prevention Guidelines.

Comprehensive and Detailed Step-by-Step Explanation:

Clozapine (Clozaril)is anatypical antipsychoticused to treatschizophrenia. However, it has a severe side effect calledagranulocytosis, which causesa dangerous drop in white blood cells (WBCs) and neutrophils (ANCs), increasing the risk of infections.

📌Explanation of Answer Choices:✅D. Clozapine→Correct.Patients must be enrolled in theClozapine REMS program, and pharmacies must verifyANC and WBC resultsbefore dispensing.❌A. Aripiprazole→ Incorrect.Aripiprazole (Abilify) does not require ANC monitoring.❌B. Fluoxetine→ Incorrect.Fluoxetine (Prozac) is an SSRI and does not require blood monitoring.❌C. Amitriptyline→ Incorrect.Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant and does not require ANC monitoring.

📌Reference:

FDA Clozapine REMS Program

PTCB Exam: Medication Safety & Risk Evaluation

TheNational Drug Code (NDC)is a10- or 11-digit numberthat uniquely identifies drugs in the U.S.

NDC format:

First set of numbers (Labeler Code):Identifies the manufacturer.

Middle set of numbers (Product Code):Identifies the specificdrug, strength, and dosage form(important for accurate product selection).

Last set of numbers (Package Code):Identifies the package size and type.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Identification of therapeutic class?❌NDC codes do not indicate a drug’s therapeutic class.

B. Locating expired medication?❌Expiration dates are printed separately on the packaging.

C. Proper storage of the medication?❌Storage requirements are determined by themanufacturer’s label, not the NDC.

📌Reference:FDA NDC Directory Guidelines, PTCE Exam Study Guide.

Expired medications should first be reported to the wholesaler or manufacturer for return or replacement.

Reverse distributorshandlecontrolled substance disposalbut are not the first point of contact for expired non-controlled medications.

📌Reference:DEA Medication Disposal Regulations, PTCE Inventory Management Guide.