AAMA Pharmacology Exam – Q&A
Which federal agency regulates OTC medications and prescriptions?
✔️Ans - FDA
Who regulates the development of new drugs and process of approval they
go through prior to distribution? ✔️Ans - FDA
What are the different names of drugs? ✔️Ans - Chemical- its chemical
makeup, Generic which is the official name, and its trade or brand name
used for marketing.
How long can a drug be under copyright/patent (where another
manufacturer cannot sell the drug)? ✔️Ans - 17 years
Can a drug have more than one trade or generic name? ✔️Ans - Many
trade names and only ever one generic.
What is common for a patient to leave out when going over the medications
list? ✔️Ans - Self-administered OTCs, vitamins and other remedies.
Who monitors the production and distribution of controlled substances or
narcotics? ✔️Ans - DEA
Who enforces drug abuse laws and drug abuse prevention? ✔️Ans -
DEA
What are Schedule one drugs? ✔️Ans - No acceptable medical use these
cannot be prescribed.
How are drugs in levels 2-5 prescribed? ✔️Ans - There are limitations
that must be followed. Meticulous records must be kept regarding
administration, destruction and accounting.
What must every physician have to write prescriptions for drugs on
schedules 2-5? ✔️Ans - A federal DEA registration number.
, How are controlled prescriptions written? ✔️Ans - In triplicate with
copies for pharmacy and federal regulators. It must be handwritten (cannot
be sent electronically, or called in.)
How are schedule 2-5 drugs regulated? ✔️Ans - Prescription pad
should be kept in a secure area where unauthorized people cannot access
it. Also controlled substances must be secured and procedures must be
present to implement it.
What is not commonly known about drug misuse? ✔️Ans - Any drug
has the potential for misuse not just controlled substances.
What is drug misuse? ✔️Ans - Improper administration of a drug that
can cause physical dependence on it.
Can someone misuse OTC drugs? ✔️Ans - Yes, even laxatives and
antihistamines are misused.
What is the definition of drug abuse? ✔️Ans - Use of a drug in a manner
that leads to physical OR psychological dependence.
What happens when someone is physiologically dependent on a drug and
then stops taking it? ✔️Ans - They will experience withdrawal.
Is withdrawal dangerous? ✔️Ans - In extreme cases it can even cause
death.
What can the MA do to monitor for drug abuse? ✔️Ans - Check phone
calls especially in regards to narcotic refills carefully and document every
request in the record.
What must be available in every office for looking up medications?
✔️Ans - A drug reference manual.
Where can the MA obtain material for educating patients about common
medications (especially in specialty offices where there are similar
prescriptions)? ✔️Ans - Drug companies and sales staff often have that
material on hand.
Which federal agency regulates OTC medications and prescriptions?
✔️Ans - FDA
Who regulates the development of new drugs and process of approval they
go through prior to distribution? ✔️Ans - FDA
What are the different names of drugs? ✔️Ans - Chemical- its chemical
makeup, Generic which is the official name, and its trade or brand name
used for marketing.
How long can a drug be under copyright/patent (where another
manufacturer cannot sell the drug)? ✔️Ans - 17 years
Can a drug have more than one trade or generic name? ✔️Ans - Many
trade names and only ever one generic.
What is common for a patient to leave out when going over the medications
list? ✔️Ans - Self-administered OTCs, vitamins and other remedies.
Who monitors the production and distribution of controlled substances or
narcotics? ✔️Ans - DEA
Who enforces drug abuse laws and drug abuse prevention? ✔️Ans -
DEA
What are Schedule one drugs? ✔️Ans - No acceptable medical use these
cannot be prescribed.
How are drugs in levels 2-5 prescribed? ✔️Ans - There are limitations
that must be followed. Meticulous records must be kept regarding
administration, destruction and accounting.
What must every physician have to write prescriptions for drugs on
schedules 2-5? ✔️Ans - A federal DEA registration number.
, How are controlled prescriptions written? ✔️Ans - In triplicate with
copies for pharmacy and federal regulators. It must be handwritten (cannot
be sent electronically, or called in.)
How are schedule 2-5 drugs regulated? ✔️Ans - Prescription pad
should be kept in a secure area where unauthorized people cannot access
it. Also controlled substances must be secured and procedures must be
present to implement it.
What is not commonly known about drug misuse? ✔️Ans - Any drug
has the potential for misuse not just controlled substances.
What is drug misuse? ✔️Ans - Improper administration of a drug that
can cause physical dependence on it.
Can someone misuse OTC drugs? ✔️Ans - Yes, even laxatives and
antihistamines are misused.
What is the definition of drug abuse? ✔️Ans - Use of a drug in a manner
that leads to physical OR psychological dependence.
What happens when someone is physiologically dependent on a drug and
then stops taking it? ✔️Ans - They will experience withdrawal.
Is withdrawal dangerous? ✔️Ans - In extreme cases it can even cause
death.
What can the MA do to monitor for drug abuse? ✔️Ans - Check phone
calls especially in regards to narcotic refills carefully and document every
request in the record.
What must be available in every office for looking up medications?
✔️Ans - A drug reference manual.
Where can the MA obtain material for educating patients about common
medications (especially in specialty offices where there are similar
prescriptions)? ✔️Ans - Drug companies and sales staff often have that
material on hand.
