Pharmacy Technician Final Exam Questions and
Answers with Rationale | New Update 2026-2027 |
Graded A+
Question 1
A pregnant female presents a prescription for isotretinoin to be filled. Which of
the following should a pharmacy technician do?
A. Alert the pharmacist of the situation
B. Contact the prescriber to determine if they were aware the patient was
pregnant
C. Fill the prescription
D. Return the prescription to the patient
Correct Answer: A. Alert the pharmacist of the situation
Rationale: Isotretinoin (Accutane) is a Pregnancy Category X drug that causes
severe birth defects. The pharmacist must be notified immediately. The technician
should NEVER fill the prescription (C) or return it (D) without pharmacist
involvement. Contacting the prescriber (B) is the pharmacist's responsibility. The
technician's role is to alert the pharmacist.
Question 2
Which of the following drugs must be placed in a child-resistant container?
A. Erythromycin ethylsuccinate tablets in packages not containing more than 16 g
B. Mebendazole tablets
C. Rosiglitazone tablets
D. Sodium fluoride tablets
Correct Answer: D. Sodium fluoride tablets
Rationale: Sodium fluoride tablets require child-resistant packaging. Exemptions
from child-resistant packaging include:
, • Erythromycin ethylsuccinate tablets in packages ≤16 g
• Mebendazole tablets
• Rosiglitazone is not exempt
• Sublingual nitroglycerin, oral contraceptives, and some other drugs may
also be exempt
Sodium fluoride is toxic and must be in child-resistant containers.
Question 3
The pharmacy technician receives a prescription for cyclobenzaprine 10 mg, and
the instructions read "i PO tid". What is the total daily dose?
A. 10 mg
B. 20 mg
C. 30 mg
D. 40 mg
Correct Answer: C. 30 mg
Rationale: "i PO tid" = 1 tablet by mouth three times daily. 10 mg × 3 = 30 mg total
daily dose. Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant used for acute musculoskeletal
pain.
Question 4
How often is biennial pharmacy inventory for controlled substances taken in the
pharmacy?
A. Monthly
B. Twice per year
C. Yearly
D. Every 2 years
Correct Answer: D. Every 2 years
,Rationale: Biennial means every 2 years. Controlled substances (CII-CV) must be
inventoried every 2 years. The inventory must include exact counts of all
controlled substances on hand.
Question 5
Which classification of antidepressants needs to be washed out of the body
before a patient switches to another antidepressant?
A. Lithium
B. MAOIs
C. SSRIs
D. TCAs
Correct Answer: B. MAOIs
Rationale: MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors) require a washout
period (typically 2 weeks) before switching to another antidepressant to
prevent serotonin syndrome. Lithium (A) is a mood stabilizer (not an
antidepressant). SSRIs and TCAs do not require a washout period before switching
between them.
Question 6
How much guaifenesin with codeine would you dispense for a 7-day supply if
the prescription calls for "Guaifenesin with Codeine 5 mL q4h PO prn"?
A. 120 mL
B. 150 mL
C. 180 mL
D. 210 mL
Correct Answer: D. 210 mL
Rationale: q4h = every 4 hours = 6 doses per day (24 ÷ 4 = 6). 6 doses × 5 mL = 30
mL per day. 30 mL × 7 days = 210 mL. Guaifenesin with codeine is a Schedule V
controlled substance (cough syrup).
, Question 7
Which of the following interpretations of "i cap PO qid ac and hs" is correct?
A. Take one caplet by mouth 1 hour before meals and at bedtime
B. Take one capsule by mouth 1 hour before meals and at bedtime
C. Take one capsule by mouth after meals and before bedtime
D. Take one capsule by mouth four times a day before meals and at bedtime
Correct Answer: D. Take one capsule by mouth four times a day before meals
and at bedtime
Rationale:
• i cap = 1 capsule
• PO = by mouth
• qid = four times a day
• ac = before meals
• hs = at bedtime
So: "Take one capsule by mouth four times a day before meals and at bedtime."
Question 8
What is the generic name for Zestril?
A. Enalapril
B. Fosinopril
C. Lisinopril
D. Quinapril
Correct Answer: C. Lisinopril
Rationale: Zestril is the brand name for lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor used for
hypertension and heart failure. Other ACE inhibitors include enalapril (Vasotec),
fosinopril, and quinapril. Lisinopril is the correct generic for Zestril.
Answers with Rationale | New Update 2026-2027 |
Graded A+
Question 1
A pregnant female presents a prescription for isotretinoin to be filled. Which of
the following should a pharmacy technician do?
A. Alert the pharmacist of the situation
B. Contact the prescriber to determine if they were aware the patient was
pregnant
C. Fill the prescription
D. Return the prescription to the patient
Correct Answer: A. Alert the pharmacist of the situation
Rationale: Isotretinoin (Accutane) is a Pregnancy Category X drug that causes
severe birth defects. The pharmacist must be notified immediately. The technician
should NEVER fill the prescription (C) or return it (D) without pharmacist
involvement. Contacting the prescriber (B) is the pharmacist's responsibility. The
technician's role is to alert the pharmacist.
Question 2
Which of the following drugs must be placed in a child-resistant container?
A. Erythromycin ethylsuccinate tablets in packages not containing more than 16 g
B. Mebendazole tablets
C. Rosiglitazone tablets
D. Sodium fluoride tablets
Correct Answer: D. Sodium fluoride tablets
Rationale: Sodium fluoride tablets require child-resistant packaging. Exemptions
from child-resistant packaging include:
, • Erythromycin ethylsuccinate tablets in packages ≤16 g
• Mebendazole tablets
• Rosiglitazone is not exempt
• Sublingual nitroglycerin, oral contraceptives, and some other drugs may
also be exempt
Sodium fluoride is toxic and must be in child-resistant containers.
Question 3
The pharmacy technician receives a prescription for cyclobenzaprine 10 mg, and
the instructions read "i PO tid". What is the total daily dose?
A. 10 mg
B. 20 mg
C. 30 mg
D. 40 mg
Correct Answer: C. 30 mg
Rationale: "i PO tid" = 1 tablet by mouth three times daily. 10 mg × 3 = 30 mg total
daily dose. Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant used for acute musculoskeletal
pain.
Question 4
How often is biennial pharmacy inventory for controlled substances taken in the
pharmacy?
A. Monthly
B. Twice per year
C. Yearly
D. Every 2 years
Correct Answer: D. Every 2 years
,Rationale: Biennial means every 2 years. Controlled substances (CII-CV) must be
inventoried every 2 years. The inventory must include exact counts of all
controlled substances on hand.
Question 5
Which classification of antidepressants needs to be washed out of the body
before a patient switches to another antidepressant?
A. Lithium
B. MAOIs
C. SSRIs
D. TCAs
Correct Answer: B. MAOIs
Rationale: MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors) require a washout
period (typically 2 weeks) before switching to another antidepressant to
prevent serotonin syndrome. Lithium (A) is a mood stabilizer (not an
antidepressant). SSRIs and TCAs do not require a washout period before switching
between them.
Question 6
How much guaifenesin with codeine would you dispense for a 7-day supply if
the prescription calls for "Guaifenesin with Codeine 5 mL q4h PO prn"?
A. 120 mL
B. 150 mL
C. 180 mL
D. 210 mL
Correct Answer: D. 210 mL
Rationale: q4h = every 4 hours = 6 doses per day (24 ÷ 4 = 6). 6 doses × 5 mL = 30
mL per day. 30 mL × 7 days = 210 mL. Guaifenesin with codeine is a Schedule V
controlled substance (cough syrup).
, Question 7
Which of the following interpretations of "i cap PO qid ac and hs" is correct?
A. Take one caplet by mouth 1 hour before meals and at bedtime
B. Take one capsule by mouth 1 hour before meals and at bedtime
C. Take one capsule by mouth after meals and before bedtime
D. Take one capsule by mouth four times a day before meals and at bedtime
Correct Answer: D. Take one capsule by mouth four times a day before meals
and at bedtime
Rationale:
• i cap = 1 capsule
• PO = by mouth
• qid = four times a day
• ac = before meals
• hs = at bedtime
So: "Take one capsule by mouth four times a day before meals and at bedtime."
Question 8
What is the generic name for Zestril?
A. Enalapril
B. Fosinopril
C. Lisinopril
D. Quinapril
Correct Answer: C. Lisinopril
Rationale: Zestril is the brand name for lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor used for
hypertension and heart failure. Other ACE inhibitors include enalapril (Vasotec),
fosinopril, and quinapril. Lisinopril is the correct generic for Zestril.
