BCPS PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS | 2026
UPDATE
A 56-year-old female patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus is not adequately controlled
on the current metformin dose of 1,000 mg twice daily. The patient's A1c was checked
one week ago, and it was 7.9%. The patient's body mass index is 32 kg/m2, and she has
no other significant medical history.
Which medication should be added to the patient's regimen?
A) Glipizide
B) Insulin glargine
C) Liraglutide
D) Sitagliptin
C
Which patient is a candidate for the 12-dose directly observed therapy regimen of
isoniazid / rifapentine for latent tuberculosis infection?
A) 6-month-old infant
B) 26-year-old man who is HIV-positive and taking antiretrovirals
C) 36-year-old pregnant woman
D) 40-year-old man with hypertension
D
Which guidance should be given to a patient receiving amphetamine /
dextroamphetamine mixed salts extended release 20 mg orally once daily for a recent
diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?
A) This medication might cause drowsiness. Use caution when driving or operating
heavy machinery.
B) This medication might cause suicidal ideation. Seek help if you have thoughts of
hurting yourself.
C) This medication might cause weight gain. A diet low in fat and carbohydrates is
,highly recommended.
D) This medication might increase the likelihood of developing tics.
B
A 48-year-old female patient receives left-ventricular-assist device placement in the
cardiothoracic surgery ICU. Two days later, the patient remains intubated and
mechanically ventilated and continues to require hemodynamic support with several
vasopressors.
The following laboratory values are observed:
SCr 1.9 mg/dL (baseline 0.7 mg/dL)
WBC 13,600 cells/mm3
Urine output (past 24 hours) 20 mL
Plt 248,000 cells/mm3
AST 37 units/L
ALT 24 units/L
Total bilirubin 1 mg/dL
Which medication should be utilized for pain control in this patient?
A) Acetaminophen 1,000 mg intravenously every 4 hours
B) Fentanyl 25 mcg/hr continuous intravenous infusion
C) Meperidine 50 mg intravenously every 4 hours
D) Morphine 2 mg/hr continuous intravenous infusion
B
A patient with symptomatic lower extremity peripheral artery disease and chronic
heart failure (Class II, ejection fraction 40%) presents to a clinic with increased
shortness of breath while walking on flat surfaces.
The patient's medications include the following:
Aspirin 81 mg dailyFurosemide 40 mg once dailyPotassium chloride 10 mEq once
dailyMetoprolol succinate 100 mg once dailyLisinopril 20 mg once dailyCilostazol 100
mg twice daily
Which change should be made in the patient's medication regimen?
A) Add spironolactone 25 mg once daily.
B) Increase aspirin to 325 mg once daily.
,C) Increase furosemide to 60 mg once daily.
D) Discontinue cilostazol 100 mg twice daily.
D
A 55-year-old woman calls a clinic and asks if she should stop her hormone replacement
therapy after hearing a program on the news. She is currently taking conjugated equine
estrogen 0.625 mg orally daily, medroxyprogesterone 5 mg orally daily, and calcium 500
mg orally twice daily. Which is an accurate statement regarding this patient's hormone
replacement therapy is correct?
A) It decreases the risk of stroke.
B) It decreases the risk of non-vertebral fracture.
C) It decreases the incidence of cardiovascular disease.
D) It increases the risk of colon cancer.
B
Which is an accurate statement regarding the use of the HPV vaccine?
A) Need for the vaccination must be established beforehand by an HPV or Pap test.
B) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the HPV vaccine for
girls and women 9 to 26 years of age.
C) The HPV vaccine has no demonstrated benefit in girls and women who already have
acquired at least one of the HPV types covered by the vaccine.
D) The HPV vaccine protects against all causes of cervical cancer and genital warts.
B
A patient received the first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine 7
days ago and presents to a clinic with numerous bruises and small red spots on the
lower legs. The patient is diagnosed with thrombocytopenia purpura, which is suspected
to be vaccine-induced. Where should the pharmacotherapy specialist report this
adverse effect?
A) CDC/FDA Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System
B) FDA Adverse Event Reporting System
C) FDA MedWatch
D) ISMP National Vaccine Errors Reporting Program
A
, While reviewing the patient's home medications, a pharmacist discovers that a patient
has been taking St. John's wort in addition to prescribed sertraline without consultation
with a primary care provider. The pharmacist educates the patient on potential drug
interactions between St. John's wort and sertraline, and then recommends that the
patient take sertraline only.
How should the pharmacotherapy specialist document the interaction with this patient?
A) Communicate the interaction to the patient's prescriber, and request for the
prescriber to document it in the patient's medical record.
B) Enter a note in the patient's medical record describing the interaction and the
recommendation.
C) Place a patient-signed statement verifying the interaction in the patient's medical
record.
D) Send a note to the patient's outpatient pharmacy regarding the duplicate therapy.
B
Which intervention is recommended for an 82-year-old patient with documented
pneumococcal pneumonia and gram-positive diplococci who is unresponsive to 3 days of
ceftriaxone?
A) Increase the dose of ceftriaxone.
B) Initiate ampicillin / sulbactam.
C) Initiate cefazolin.
D) Initiate vancomycin therapy.
D
A 54-year-old patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus is taking pravastatin 40 mg daily for
coronary artery disease after having a myocardial infarction 10 months ago.
The following laboratory values were observed:
Total cholesterol 265 mg/dL
HDL cholesterol 30 mg/dL
LDL cholesterol1 43 mg/dL
Triglycerides370 mg/dL
A1c7.1%
Which intervention is recommended?
AND CORRECT ANSWERS | 2026
UPDATE
A 56-year-old female patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus is not adequately controlled
on the current metformin dose of 1,000 mg twice daily. The patient's A1c was checked
one week ago, and it was 7.9%. The patient's body mass index is 32 kg/m2, and she has
no other significant medical history.
Which medication should be added to the patient's regimen?
A) Glipizide
B) Insulin glargine
C) Liraglutide
D) Sitagliptin
C
Which patient is a candidate for the 12-dose directly observed therapy regimen of
isoniazid / rifapentine for latent tuberculosis infection?
A) 6-month-old infant
B) 26-year-old man who is HIV-positive and taking antiretrovirals
C) 36-year-old pregnant woman
D) 40-year-old man with hypertension
D
Which guidance should be given to a patient receiving amphetamine /
dextroamphetamine mixed salts extended release 20 mg orally once daily for a recent
diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?
A) This medication might cause drowsiness. Use caution when driving or operating
heavy machinery.
B) This medication might cause suicidal ideation. Seek help if you have thoughts of
hurting yourself.
C) This medication might cause weight gain. A diet low in fat and carbohydrates is
,highly recommended.
D) This medication might increase the likelihood of developing tics.
B
A 48-year-old female patient receives left-ventricular-assist device placement in the
cardiothoracic surgery ICU. Two days later, the patient remains intubated and
mechanically ventilated and continues to require hemodynamic support with several
vasopressors.
The following laboratory values are observed:
SCr 1.9 mg/dL (baseline 0.7 mg/dL)
WBC 13,600 cells/mm3
Urine output (past 24 hours) 20 mL
Plt 248,000 cells/mm3
AST 37 units/L
ALT 24 units/L
Total bilirubin 1 mg/dL
Which medication should be utilized for pain control in this patient?
A) Acetaminophen 1,000 mg intravenously every 4 hours
B) Fentanyl 25 mcg/hr continuous intravenous infusion
C) Meperidine 50 mg intravenously every 4 hours
D) Morphine 2 mg/hr continuous intravenous infusion
B
A patient with symptomatic lower extremity peripheral artery disease and chronic
heart failure (Class II, ejection fraction 40%) presents to a clinic with increased
shortness of breath while walking on flat surfaces.
The patient's medications include the following:
Aspirin 81 mg dailyFurosemide 40 mg once dailyPotassium chloride 10 mEq once
dailyMetoprolol succinate 100 mg once dailyLisinopril 20 mg once dailyCilostazol 100
mg twice daily
Which change should be made in the patient's medication regimen?
A) Add spironolactone 25 mg once daily.
B) Increase aspirin to 325 mg once daily.
,C) Increase furosemide to 60 mg once daily.
D) Discontinue cilostazol 100 mg twice daily.
D
A 55-year-old woman calls a clinic and asks if she should stop her hormone replacement
therapy after hearing a program on the news. She is currently taking conjugated equine
estrogen 0.625 mg orally daily, medroxyprogesterone 5 mg orally daily, and calcium 500
mg orally twice daily. Which is an accurate statement regarding this patient's hormone
replacement therapy is correct?
A) It decreases the risk of stroke.
B) It decreases the risk of non-vertebral fracture.
C) It decreases the incidence of cardiovascular disease.
D) It increases the risk of colon cancer.
B
Which is an accurate statement regarding the use of the HPV vaccine?
A) Need for the vaccination must be established beforehand by an HPV or Pap test.
B) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the HPV vaccine for
girls and women 9 to 26 years of age.
C) The HPV vaccine has no demonstrated benefit in girls and women who already have
acquired at least one of the HPV types covered by the vaccine.
D) The HPV vaccine protects against all causes of cervical cancer and genital warts.
B
A patient received the first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine 7
days ago and presents to a clinic with numerous bruises and small red spots on the
lower legs. The patient is diagnosed with thrombocytopenia purpura, which is suspected
to be vaccine-induced. Where should the pharmacotherapy specialist report this
adverse effect?
A) CDC/FDA Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System
B) FDA Adverse Event Reporting System
C) FDA MedWatch
D) ISMP National Vaccine Errors Reporting Program
A
, While reviewing the patient's home medications, a pharmacist discovers that a patient
has been taking St. John's wort in addition to prescribed sertraline without consultation
with a primary care provider. The pharmacist educates the patient on potential drug
interactions between St. John's wort and sertraline, and then recommends that the
patient take sertraline only.
How should the pharmacotherapy specialist document the interaction with this patient?
A) Communicate the interaction to the patient's prescriber, and request for the
prescriber to document it in the patient's medical record.
B) Enter a note in the patient's medical record describing the interaction and the
recommendation.
C) Place a patient-signed statement verifying the interaction in the patient's medical
record.
D) Send a note to the patient's outpatient pharmacy regarding the duplicate therapy.
B
Which intervention is recommended for an 82-year-old patient with documented
pneumococcal pneumonia and gram-positive diplococci who is unresponsive to 3 days of
ceftriaxone?
A) Increase the dose of ceftriaxone.
B) Initiate ampicillin / sulbactam.
C) Initiate cefazolin.
D) Initiate vancomycin therapy.
D
A 54-year-old patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus is taking pravastatin 40 mg daily for
coronary artery disease after having a myocardial infarction 10 months ago.
The following laboratory values were observed:
Total cholesterol 265 mg/dL
HDL cholesterol 30 mg/dL
LDL cholesterol1 43 mg/dL
Triglycerides370 mg/dL
A1c7.1%
Which intervention is recommended?
