TheoryPharmacy Technician Study Guide
Study for the Pharmacy Technician with exam topics, practice questions, a free PDF, video walkthrough and timed mock exam links.
How to study for Pharmacy Technician
- Read the topic list so you know what the exam is likely to cover.
- Answer the free practice questions and read every explanation.
- Download the PDF for offline review.
- Use timed mock exams when your untimed practice feels comfortable.
Topics to review
- Safe and effective care environment
- Health promotion and maintenance
- Psychosocial and physiological integrity
- Pharmacology, infection control and patient safety
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Q1A patient with type 2 diabetes is started on metformin. Which mechanism best explains why metformin is preferred as first-line therapy over sulfonylureas for most patients?
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✓ Correct answer: Metformin decreases hepatic glucose production and does not cause hypoglycemia or weight gain
Metformin (Glucophage) works primarily by suppressing hepatic gluconeogenesis; it does not stimulate insulin secretion, so it carries minimal hypoglycemia risk and is weight-neutral, making it first-line per ADA guidelines.
Q2A prescriber orders warfarin for a patient who is also taking fluconazole for a vaginal yeast infection. What is the expected clinical outcome and the mechanism responsible?
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✓ Correct answer: Increased anticoagulant effect; fluconazole inhibits CYP2C9, decreasing warfarin metabolism
Fluconazole is a potent CYP2C9 inhibitor; since S-warfarin (the more active enantiomer) is primarily metabolized by CYP2C9, co-administration raises warfarin plasma levels and significantly increases bleeding risk.
Q3Which of the following brand/generic pairs is correctly matched?
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✓ Correct answer: Lipitor — atorvastatin
Lipitor is the brand name for atorvastatin, a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin); Norvasc is amlodipine, Synthroid is levothyroxine, and Zestril is lisinopril.
Q4A patient receiving chemotherapy develops severe nausea. The oncologist prescribes ondansetron. To which pharmacological class does ondansetron belong?
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✓ Correct answer: Serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist
Ondansetron (Zofran) is a selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist that blocks serotonin at vagal afferents in the gut and at the chemoreceptor trigger zone, making it highly effective for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Q5A pharmacy receives a prescription for lithium carbonate 300 mg three times daily. Which parameter is most critical for a technician to flag for pharmacist counseling regarding patient monitoring?
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✓ Correct answer: Serum lithium levels, renal function, and thyroid function tests due to a narrow therapeutic index
Lithium has a narrow therapeutic index (target serum level 0.6–1.2 mEq/L for maintenance), and toxicity correlates closely with renal clearance and sodium balance; routine serum level, BMP, and thyroid monitoring are mandatory.
Q6Which of the following statements correctly describes the dosage form known as a transdermal patch?
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✓ Correct answer: A reservoir or matrix system applied to the skin that delivers drug systemically through the dermal layers
Transdermal patches (e.g., fentanyl, nicotine, nitroglycerin) use reservoir or matrix technology to provide controlled systemic drug delivery through the skin, bypassing first-pass hepatic metabolism.
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