Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam Study
Guide 2025 | PTCB / ExCPT Test Prep, Calculations,
Compounding, Drug Classes & Interactions.
If a drug is .12% (eg. triamcinolone .12%), how many mg are in a tube?
.12mg (.12g/100ml)
how many ml in an oz?
30 ml
what is the formula for finding the amount of needed diluant?
q2 - q1
How do you set up an allegation table in order to find a intermediate strength? We have a 3%
and 10% strength Hydrogen peroxide solution. We want to find how many parts of each
strength is needed.
Top left = higher strength
Top right = higher strength part
Bottom left = lower strength
Bottom right = lower strength part
Middle = goal strength
Subtract middle from the strength (e.g. 10-5 = 5)
- disregard negative sign
answer = 5 parts 10% and 2 parts 3%
- Adding both parts of the higher strength and lower strength = total parts needed
After setting up an alligation table, how do you find the amount of product needed per each
strength? We have 1,200ml of a product; the ratio is 20 parts of lower strength and 10 parts of
higher strength; the total parts is 30.
Total parts/ higher strength parts = ml product/ x
30 parts/ 10 parts = 1200/ x; x = 400; 1200 - 400 = 800; 400 ml higher strength and 800 ml lower
strength
,if you have a 100-U 10 ml vile, how many units are in the entire vile?
1,000 units (100 units per ml)
T/F: The smaller the guage, the larger the bore of the needle
True
What does TPN stand for?
Total parenteral nutrition
How often should laminar flow hoods be inspected?
Every 6 months
What two places can chemotherapy drugs be compounded?
Either a vertical laminar flow hood or a Class II biosafety cabinet
What are common symptoms of morphine? (4 things)
- Diarrhea
- stomach pain
- headaches/ dizziness
- nausea/ stomach pain/ vomiting
What is gemfibrozil for?
high cholesterol
How does antacids work? What are examples of antacids? Side effects? Drug Interactions?
Acts as a base to neutralize the gastric acid; examples are Calcium Carbonate (Maalox),
Magnesium Hydroxide & Aluminum Hydroxide; Sides effects are constipation in aluminum (not
good for elderly) and diarrhea in magnesium (milk of magnesia); also harsh on kidneys
What are the three types of acid reducers?
Antacids, H2 Receptor Antagonists, Proton Pump Inhibitors
How do H2 Receptor Antagonists work? What are examples? Side effects? Drug interactions?
- Works against stomach cells to prevent secretion of gastric acid
- Famotidine (Pepsid), Ranitidine (Zantac), Cimetidine (Tagamet)
- little side effects/ interactions; takes 1-2 hours to take effect
*H2 Receptor Antagonists often ends with -tidine
, How do Proton Pump Inhibitors work? What are examples?
- Works against acid pumps in stomach to prevent secretion of gastric acid
OTC:
- Esomeprazole (Nexium)
- Omeprazole (Prilosec)
-Lansoprazole (Prevacid)
RX:
-Rabeprazole (AcipHex)
-Pantoprazole (Protonix)
-Dexlansoprazole (Dexilant)
*decrease amount of acid more than H2 RA
*Most end with -prazole
What is lomotil (diphenoxylate with atropine) for? What drug class is it? What about
Loperamide?
Diarrhea; Schedule 5; Loperamide is generic Imodium which is OTC
Which antibiotics get effected by certain antidiarrheals and acid reducers? (2 items)
Tetracyclines & Fluoroquinolones
How do emolliant laxatives work? What is the common ingrediant?
- Allows more water to be absored into the stool, "softening" the stool and allowing it to pass
easier (stool softener)
- Docusate
How do saline laxatives work? What are common forms?
- Draws fluid into the intestines, shortening the time to pass stool
- Milk of Magnesia and Magnesium Citrate
How do Hyperosmotic laxatives work? What are common forms?
- Increases fluid in the intestinal lining
- Lactulose & Polyethylene Glycole
*Lactulose is used on patients with chronic constipation, such as those with high pain med use
How do Stimulant Laxatives work? What is the common form? Side effect?
Guide 2025 | PTCB / ExCPT Test Prep, Calculations,
Compounding, Drug Classes & Interactions.
If a drug is .12% (eg. triamcinolone .12%), how many mg are in a tube?
.12mg (.12g/100ml)
how many ml in an oz?
30 ml
what is the formula for finding the amount of needed diluant?
q2 - q1
How do you set up an allegation table in order to find a intermediate strength? We have a 3%
and 10% strength Hydrogen peroxide solution. We want to find how many parts of each
strength is needed.
Top left = higher strength
Top right = higher strength part
Bottom left = lower strength
Bottom right = lower strength part
Middle = goal strength
Subtract middle from the strength (e.g. 10-5 = 5)
- disregard negative sign
answer = 5 parts 10% and 2 parts 3%
- Adding both parts of the higher strength and lower strength = total parts needed
After setting up an alligation table, how do you find the amount of product needed per each
strength? We have 1,200ml of a product; the ratio is 20 parts of lower strength and 10 parts of
higher strength; the total parts is 30.
Total parts/ higher strength parts = ml product/ x
30 parts/ 10 parts = 1200/ x; x = 400; 1200 - 400 = 800; 400 ml higher strength and 800 ml lower
strength
,if you have a 100-U 10 ml vile, how many units are in the entire vile?
1,000 units (100 units per ml)
T/F: The smaller the guage, the larger the bore of the needle
True
What does TPN stand for?
Total parenteral nutrition
How often should laminar flow hoods be inspected?
Every 6 months
What two places can chemotherapy drugs be compounded?
Either a vertical laminar flow hood or a Class II biosafety cabinet
What are common symptoms of morphine? (4 things)
- Diarrhea
- stomach pain
- headaches/ dizziness
- nausea/ stomach pain/ vomiting
What is gemfibrozil for?
high cholesterol
How does antacids work? What are examples of antacids? Side effects? Drug Interactions?
Acts as a base to neutralize the gastric acid; examples are Calcium Carbonate (Maalox),
Magnesium Hydroxide & Aluminum Hydroxide; Sides effects are constipation in aluminum (not
good for elderly) and diarrhea in magnesium (milk of magnesia); also harsh on kidneys
What are the three types of acid reducers?
Antacids, H2 Receptor Antagonists, Proton Pump Inhibitors
How do H2 Receptor Antagonists work? What are examples? Side effects? Drug interactions?
- Works against stomach cells to prevent secretion of gastric acid
- Famotidine (Pepsid), Ranitidine (Zantac), Cimetidine (Tagamet)
- little side effects/ interactions; takes 1-2 hours to take effect
*H2 Receptor Antagonists often ends with -tidine
, How do Proton Pump Inhibitors work? What are examples?
- Works against acid pumps in stomach to prevent secretion of gastric acid
OTC:
- Esomeprazole (Nexium)
- Omeprazole (Prilosec)
-Lansoprazole (Prevacid)
RX:
-Rabeprazole (AcipHex)
-Pantoprazole (Protonix)
-Dexlansoprazole (Dexilant)
*decrease amount of acid more than H2 RA
*Most end with -prazole
What is lomotil (diphenoxylate with atropine) for? What drug class is it? What about
Loperamide?
Diarrhea; Schedule 5; Loperamide is generic Imodium which is OTC
Which antibiotics get effected by certain antidiarrheals and acid reducers? (2 items)
Tetracyclines & Fluoroquinolones
How do emolliant laxatives work? What is the common ingrediant?
- Allows more water to be absored into the stool, "softening" the stool and allowing it to pass
easier (stool softener)
- Docusate
How do saline laxatives work? What are common forms?
- Draws fluid into the intestines, shortening the time to pass stool
- Milk of Magnesia and Magnesium Citrate
How do Hyperosmotic laxatives work? What are common forms?
- Increases fluid in the intestinal lining
- Lactulose & Polyethylene Glycole
*Lactulose is used on patients with chronic constipation, such as those with high pain med use
How do Stimulant Laxatives work? What is the common form? Side effect?
