Co-pay (co-payment) is the name given to the flat fee the patient pays to the pharmacy when their medicine is dispensed.

Class III recalls are considered the “least serious”.

Class II recalls are considered “intermediate level threat”, whereas Class I recalls are classified as the “most severe threat” level.

ACE inhibitors include perindopril, ramipril, and lisinopril (note that all ACE inhibitors have the suffix -pril).

ACE inhibitors are used to treat conditions such as hypertension and heart failure.

Common side effects include a persistent dry cough, hypotension, and elevated potassium levels. Due to the sulfur component of captopril, this particular ACE inhibitor can cause patient's to develop a metallic taste.

NPI number = National Provider Identifier

A National Provider Identifier (NPI) is a unique 10-digit identification number issued to healthcare providers by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

It replaced the unique physician identification number (UPIN).

“Error of commission” is the name given to a type of error when something is performed incorrectly - in this case, where a medicine was incorrectly dispensed to the patient.

Errors of commission can occur in the pharmacy setting and contribute to medication errors.

Errors of omission, in contrast, are errors that involve the patient missing something that they needed, such as not being dispensed a medicine that they should have received.

The prescription iii gtts ou ud x 7d is translated as: Three drops, applied to both eyes, as directed, for 7 days.

gtts refers to "drops" and the "ou" confirms it's for the eyes rather than the ears (which would be "au").

If, during the PTCB exam, you are given a ratio and asked to convert it to percentage strength - simply divide 100 by the ratio value.

( 100 divided by 7,500 ) = 0.013%

It’s as simple as that!

Always remember that 'percentage strength' refers to 'out of 100 percent', and this should help you remember what to do when a question of this kind comes up.

Federal legislation states that – every 2 years – pharmacies should complete an inventory of controlled substances.

Antitussive drugs are used to treat cough – specifically, by suppressing cough.

The word "antitussive" derives from the word "tussis", which is the Latin word for a cough.

Examples of antitussive drugs include codeine, dextromethorphan, and pholcodine.

DAW 1 should be selected if the prescriber writes “dispense as written” for the medication fill process.

In other words, DAW 1 means that “substitution not allowed by prescriber”

Part D of Medicare covers specific vaccines administered to patients in pharmacies.

A medicine with an expiration date of “06 / 2024” means that the medicine can be used until the last day of that month – in this case, June.

Therefore, the correct answer is 06 / 30 / 2024.

The pharmacy abbreviation “po” is Latin for “per os”, meaning “by mouth”.

More frequently, it’s recommended that “orally” should instead by spelled out on prescriptions to reduce the risk of medication error.

Freezers and refrigerator temperatures should be monitored twice daily to ensure that medicines are correctly and safely stored.

Alcohol USP refers to 95% ethyl alcohol.

In other words, 95% ethanol and 5% water.

Indications are what a medicine is used to treat.

For example:

- beta-2 agonists (such as albuterol) are used to treat the indications, asthma and COPD.
- bisphosphonates (such as alendronic acid) are used to treat the indication, osteoporosis.
- valproate is used to treat the indications, epilepsy and bipolar disorder.

In contrast, a contraindication is a condition in which a drug or drug class must be avoided in the patient. For example: having an active bleeding condition is a contraindication to take warfarin, precisely because warfarin itself increases the risk of bleeding.

Beta-blockers include drugs such as bisoprolol, metoprolol, propranolol, and atenolol.

They are used for a wide variety of conditions including heart failure, glaucoma, abnormal heart rhythms, and hypertension.

NDC number = National Drug Code; a 10-digit code identifier that appears on every medicinal product.

For example: NDC 1334 - 4501 - 08

First set of digits = manufacturer, re-packager, distributer.

Second set of digits = product code – strength, dosage form etc.

Third set of digits = package code; size and type.

The signature (sig) is that part of a prescription where you find details on how the patient should take the medicine.

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, 1990 requires that pharmacies maintain patient profiles.

a.c. derives from the Latin – ante cibum – meaning “before meals”.

Escitalopram is the active ingredient of the medicine Lexapro.

Fluoxetine is the active ingredient of Prozac.

Sertraline is the active ingredient of Zoloft.

Fluvoxamine is the active ingredient of Luvox.

“Carrying costs” is the term used to describe the total cost of keeping items in stock.

Active ingredient = 25mg (the drug substance)

Total weight of the medicine = 180 grams (active ingredient + excipients)

Therefore, (25mg / 180grams) x 100% = 13.88%

Rounding up to the nearest whole number = 14%

Chemotherapeutic agents are used to treat cancer.

Many of them are very toxic, hence why they should be considered “hazardous waste”.

hey should alert the pharmacist. The other choices are beyond the scope of the pharmacy technician.

Several studies have shown that highlighting sections of drug names using tall man (mixed case) letters can help distinguish similar drug names, making them less prone to mix-ups. The tall man letters are used to help draw attention to the dissimilarities in drug names. For instance Celexa would be written as CeleXA to avoid confusion with CeleBREX. The Institute for Safe Medical Practices (ISMP), the FDA, and the Joint Commission promote the use of tall man letters as one method of reducing confusion between similar drug names

The primary function of a prescription formulary is to specify particular medications that are approved to be prescribed under a particular insurance policy. Formularies are developed by evaluating the safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of various drugs. With a closed formulary the insurance policy won't pay for drugs that are not on the list. An open formulary allows drugs that are not on the list, but will generally charge a higher co-pay for those drugs.

The Red Book is the leading resource for information on drug pricing.

To convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit temperature and then divide by 1.8.

There are 3 methods for comminution: trituration, pulverization by intervention, and levigation.

This is an alligation problem, so you will put 50 in the upper left of your tic-tac-toe table, 5 in the lower left, and 20 in the middle. Subtracting across the middle you will put 15 in the upper right and 30 in the lower right. So you need 15 parts of the 50% and 30 parts of the 5%, for a total of 45 parts.

Amount of 50% needed will be:
(15/45) x 600 = 200

Amount of 5% needed will be:
(30/45) x 600 = 400

Generic proton pump inhibitors usually have the suffix “prazole”

Nexium is used to treat GERD

Gross profit is selling price minus purchase price. For net profit you also need to subtract the dispensing cost as well.

Kava is sedating and it is usually consumed in order to relax without disrupting mental clarity.

Antagonism is when two drugs work against each other. Synergism is when the effect of two drugs together is greater than the sum of their individual effects. Additive Effect is when the effect of two drugs together is equal to the sum of their individual effects.

To solve this problem, you must first find the total number of minutes:
60 x 4 = 240
Then find mL/min:
400/240 = 1.67 ml infused in 1 minute.
Then multiply this by the drop factor:
1.67 x 12 = 20 drops per minute.

Graves' Disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.

Medicare Part D is a federal government program which subsidizes the costs of prescription drugs and drug insurance premiums for Medicare Recipients. This program was authorized by the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003.

Lunesta (eszopiclone) is a hypnotic that is used to treat insomnia.

The minimum weight that can be weighed on a Class A Prescription Balance is 120 mg and the maximum weight is 120 g. The sensitivity is 6 mg, meaning that 6 mg of a substance will move the pointer of the balance one division off equilibrium, or one degree.

USP <797> Hand Hygiene Procedure: 1) Remove debris under fingernails with nail cleaner and warm water. 2) Wash hands and forearms to the elbow for at least 30 seconds with soap and water. Be vigorous and thorough. 3) Do not use antimicrobial scrub brushes on the skin because they can damage the skin and increase skin shedding. 4) Dry hands and forearms completely using lint-free disposable wipes or an electric hand dryer.

OBRA-90 placed regulations on the pharmacist in how to interact with the patient, with a goal of improving therapeutic outcomes. The law includes prospective drug utilization review (ProDUR) requirements, counseling obligations, and record-keeping mandates.

A PPI (patient package insert) is a document provided along with a prescription medication to provide additional information about that drug. The first section lists the brand name and generic name of the product. The other sections cover clinical pharmacology, indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, adverse reactions, drug abuse and dependence, overdosage, dosage and administration, and how supplied. The clinical pharmacology section tells how the medicine works in the body, how it is absorbed and eliminated, and what its effects are likely to be at various concentrations.

10 gtt/mL means 10 drops per mL. So for 500 mL you will get:
10 x 500 = 5,000 drops
The flow rate is 40 gtt/min, which means 40 drops per minute, so divide total drops by 40 to get the number of minutes:
5,000/40 = 125

Percent means parts per hundred:
1/125 = x/100
Cross multiply:
125x = 100
x = 0.8

Divide the volume by the time to get the flow rate:
2 liters equals 2,000 mL
2000/18 = 111.1 mL/hr

Recall that a kilogram is equal to 2.2 pounds:
5.5 x 2.2 = 12.1

Class I recalls are the most serious type. Class II recalls are for less serious problems, such as temporary adverse health consequences. Class III recalls are for situations in which adverse health consequences are unlikely.

Coordination of benefits is important when a patient is covered by more than one insurance plan. Medicare is often one of the plans involved with COB.

With tall man letters you capitalize the part of the drug name that is DIFFERENT.

The abbreviation t.i.d. means 3 times a day. So 7 days x 3 times per day x 25 mg each = 525 mg total needed.
100/3 = 525/x
Cross multiply to solve for x:
100x = 1575
x = 15.75 mL.
The answer asks for liters so divide by 1000:
15.75/1000 = 0.01575 L

Norvasc (amlodipine) is a calcium channel blocker that is used to lower blood pressure and prevent chest pain.

Isotretinoin is a medication primarily used to treat cystic acne. Common brands include Absorica, Accutane, Amnesteem, Claravis, Epuris, Isotroin, and Roaccutane. iPLEDGE is a mandatory distribution program that is intended to prevent the use of isotretinoin during pregnancy, due to the high risk of birth defects.

The generic name for Cymbalta is duloxetine. The generic name for Paxil is paroxetine. The generic name for Zyrtec is cetirizine. The generic name for Ativan is lorazepam.

The HIPAA Privacy Rule provides federal protections for personal health information and gives patients an array of rights with respect to that information.

PPO plans provide substantial discounts for doctors and hospitals in the network. When using out-of-network providers, PPO members are reimbursed at a reduced rate. With a PPO, members can see the doctor or specialist they like without having to see a PCP first. PPO premiums tend to be higher than HMO plans, and there is usually a deductible

Fexofenadine is an antihistamine with the brand name Allegra. Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor. Losartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Fluconazole is an antifungal.

Coordination of benefits is important when a patient is covered by more than one insurance plan. Medicare is often one of the plans involved with COB.

With tall man letters you capitalize the part of the drug name that is DIFFERENT.

The abbreviation t.i.d. means 3 times a day. So 7 days x 3 times per day x 25 mg each = 525 mg total needed.
100/3 = 525/x
Cross multiply to solve for x:
100x = 1575
x = 15.75 mL.
The answer asks for liters so divide by 1000:
15.75/1000 = 0.01575 L

Norvasc (amlodipine) is a calcium channel blocker that is used to lower blood pressure and prevent chest pain.

Isotretinoin is a medication primarily used to treat cystic acne. Common brands include Absorica, Accutane, Amnesteem, Claravis, Epuris, Isotroin, and Roaccutane. iPLEDGE is a mandatory distribution program that is intended to prevent the use of isotretinoin during pregnancy, due to the high risk of birth defects.

The generic name for Cymbalta is duloxetine. The generic name for Paxil is paroxetine. The generic name for Zyrtec is cetirizine. The generic name for Ativan is lorazepam.

The HIPAA Privacy Rule provides federal protections for personal health information and gives patients an array of rights with respect to that information.

PPO plans provide substantial discounts for doctors and hospitals in the network. When using out-of-network providers, PPO members are reimbursed at a reduced rate. With a PPO, members can see the doctor or specialist they like without having to see a PCP first. PPO premiums tend to be higher than HMO plans, and there is usually a deductible

Fexofenadine is an antihistamine with the brand name Allegra. Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor. Losartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Fluconazole is an antifungal.

The minimum weight that can be weighed on a Class A Prescription Balance is 120 mg and the maximum weight is 120 g. The sensitivity is 6 mg, meaning that 6 mg of a substance will move the pointer of the balance one division off equilibrium, or one degree.

USP <797> Hand Hygiene Procedure: 1) Remove debris under fingernails with nail cleaner and warm water. 2) Wash hands and forearms to the elbow for at least 30 seconds with soap and water. Be vigorous and thorough. 3) Do not use antimicrobial scrub brushes on the skin because they can damage the skin and increase skin shedding. 4) Dry hands and forearms completely using lint-free disposable wipes or an electric hand dryer.

OBRA-90 placed regulations on the pharmacist in how to interact with the patient, with a goal of improving therapeutic outcomes. The law includes prospective drug utilization review (ProDUR) requirements, counseling obligations, and record-keeping mandates.

A PPI (patient package insert) is a document provided along with a prescription medication to provide additional information about that drug. The first section lists the brand name and generic name of the product. The other sections cover clinical pharmacology, indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, adverse reactions, drug abuse and dependence, overdosage, dosage and administration, and how supplied. The clinical pharmacology section tells how the medicine works in the body, how it is absorbed and eliminated, and what its effects are likely to be at various concentrations.

10 gtt/mL means 10 drops per mL. So for 500 mL you will get:
10 x 500 = 5,000 drops
The flow rate is 40 gtt/min, which means 40 drops per minute, so divide total drops by 40 to get the number of minutes:
5,000/40 = 125

Percent means parts per hundred:
1/125 = x/100
Cross multiply:
125x = 100
x = 0.8

Divide the volume by the time to get the flow rate:
2 liters equals 2,000 mL
2000/18 = 111.1 mL/hr

Recall that a kilogram is equal to 2.2 pounds:
5.5 x 2.2 = 12.1

Class I recalls are the most serious type. Class II recalls are for less serious problems, such as temporary adverse health consequences. Class III recalls are for situations in which adverse health consequences are unlikely.

hey should alert the pharmacist. The other choices are beyond the scope of the pharmacy technician.

Several studies have shown that highlighting sections of drug names using tall man (mixed case) letters can help distinguish similar drug names, making them less prone to mix-ups. The tall man letters are used to help draw attention to the dissimilarities in drug names. For instance Celexa would be written as CeleXA to avoid confusion with CeleBREX. The Institute for Safe Medical Practices (ISMP), the FDA, and the Joint Commission promote the use of tall man letters as one method of reducing confusion between similar drug names

The primary function of a prescription formulary is to specify particular medications that are approved to be prescribed under a particular insurance policy. Formularies are developed by evaluating the safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of various drugs. With a closed formulary the insurance policy won't pay for drugs that are not on the list. An open formulary allows drugs that are not on the list, but will generally charge a higher co-pay for those drugs.

The Red Book is the leading resource for information on drug pricing.

To convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit temperature and then divide by 1.8.

There are 3 methods for comminution: trituration, pulverization by intervention, and levigation.

This is an alligation problem, so you will put 50 in the upper left of your tic-tac-toe table, 5 in the lower left, and 20 in the middle. Subtracting across the middle you will put 15 in the upper right and 30 in the lower right. So you need 15 parts of the 50% and 30 parts of the 5%, for a total of 45 parts.

Amount of 50% needed will be:
(15/45) x 600 = 200

Amount of 5% needed will be:
(30/45) x 600 = 400

Generic proton pump inhibitors usually have the suffix “prazole”

Nexium is used to treat GERD

Gross profit is selling price minus purchase price. For net profit you also need to subtract the dispensing cost as well.

Kava is sedating and it is usually consumed in order to relax without disrupting mental clarity.

Antagonism is when two drugs work against each other. Synergism is when the effect of two drugs together is greater than the sum of their individual effects. Additive Effect is when the effect of two drugs together is equal to the sum of their individual effects.

To solve this problem, you must first find the total number of minutes:
60 x 4 = 240
Then find mL/min:
400/240 = 1.67 ml infused in 1 minute.
Then multiply this by the drop factor:
1.67 x 12 = 20 drops per minute.

Graves' Disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.

Medicare Part D is a federal government program which subsidizes the costs of prescription drugs and drug insurance premiums for Medicare Recipients. This program was authorized by the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003.

Lunesta (eszopiclone) is a hypnotic that is used to treat insomnia.

NDC number = National Drug Code; a 10-digit code identifier that appears on every medicinal product.

For example: NDC 1334 - 4501 - 08

First set of digits = manufacturer, re-packager, distributer.

Second set of digits = product code – strength, dosage form etc.

Third set of digits = package code; size and type.

The signature (sig) is that part of a prescription where you find details on how the patient should take the medicine.

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, 1990 requires that pharmacies maintain patient profiles.

a.c. derives from the Latin – ante cibum – meaning “before meals”.

Escitalopram is the active ingredient of the medicine Lexapro.

Fluoxetine is the active ingredient of Prozac.

Sertraline is the active ingredient of Zoloft.

Fluvoxamine is the active ingredient of Luvox.

“Carrying costs” is the term used to describe the total cost of keeping items in stock.

Active ingredient = 25mg (the drug substance)

Total weight of the medicine = 180 grams (active ingredient + excipients)

Therefore, (25mg / 180grams) x 100% = 13.88%

Rounding up to the nearest whole number = 14%

Chemotherapeutic agents are used to treat cancer.

Many of them are very toxic, hence why they should be considered “hazardous waste”.

DAW 1 should be selected if the prescriber writes “dispense as written” for the medication fill process.

In other words, DAW 1 means that “substitution not allowed by prescriber”

Part D of Medicare covers specific vaccines administered to patients in pharmacies.

A medicine with an expiration date of “06 / 2024” means that the medicine can be used until the last day of that month – in this case, June.

Therefore, the correct answer is 06 / 30 / 2024.

The pharmacy abbreviation “po” is Latin for “per os”, meaning “by mouth”.

More frequently, it’s recommended that “orally” should instead by spelled out on prescriptions to reduce the risk of medication error.

Freezers and refrigerator temperatures should be monitored twice daily to ensure that medicines are correctly and safely stored.

Alcohol USP refers to 95% ethyl alcohol.

In other words, 95% ethanol and 5% water.

Indications are what a medicine is used to treat.

For example:

- beta-2 agonists (such as albuterol) are used to treat the indications, asthma and COPD.
- bisphosphonates (such as alendronic acid) are used to treat the indication, osteoporosis.
- valproate is used to treat the indications, epilepsy and bipolar disorder.

In contrast, a contraindication is a condition in which a drug or drug class must be avoided in the patient. For example: having an active bleeding condition is a contraindication to take warfarin, precisely because warfarin itself increases the risk of bleeding.

Beta-blockers include drugs such as bisoprolol, metoprolol, propranolol, and atenolol.

They are used for a wide variety of conditions including heart failure, glaucoma, abnormal heart rhythms, and hypertension.

Co-pay (co-payment) is the name given to the flat fee the patient pays to the pharmacy when their medicine is dispensed.

Class III recalls are considered the “least serious”.

Class II recalls are considered “intermediate level threat”, whereas Class I recalls are classified as the “most severe threat” level.

ACE inhibitors include perindopril, ramipril, and lisinopril (note that all ACE inhibitors have the suffix -pril).

ACE inhibitors are used to treat conditions such as hypertension and heart failure.

Common side effects include a persistent dry cough, hypotension, and elevated potassium levels. Due to the sulfur component of captopril, this particular ACE inhibitor can cause patient's to develop a metallic taste.

NPI number = National Provider Identifier

A National Provider Identifier (NPI) is a unique 10-digit identification number issued to healthcare providers by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

It replaced the unique physician identification number (UPIN).

“Error of commission” is the name given to a type of error when something is performed incorrectly - in this case, where a medicine was incorrectly dispensed to the patient.

Errors of commission can occur in the pharmacy setting and contribute to medication errors.

Errors of omission, in contrast, are errors that involve the patient missing something that they needed, such as not being dispensed a medicine that they should have received.

The prescription iii gtts ou ud x 7d is translated as: Three drops, applied to both eyes, as directed, for 7 days.

gtts refers to "drops" and the "ou" confirms it's for the eyes rather than the ears (which would be "au").

If, during the PTCB exam, you are given a ratio and asked to convert it to percentage strength - simply divide 100 by the ratio value.

( 100 divided by 7,500 ) = 0.013%

It’s as simple as that!

Always remember that 'percentage strength' refers to 'out of 100 percent', and this should help you remember what to do when a question of this kind comes up.

Federal legislation states that – every 2 years – pharmacies should complete an inventory of controlled substances.

Antitussive drugs are used to treat cough – specifically, by suppressing cough.

The word "antitussive" derives from the word "tussis", which is the Latin word for a cough.

Examples of antitussive drugs include codeine, dextromethorphan, and pholcodine.