TL;DR
Study common drug interactions, contraindications, and adverse effect recognition. Identifying potential interactions prevents patient harm and is a tested competency.
Free Side Effects & Interactions Practice Questions
PTCB Pharmacy Technician Certification · Medications
This module covers Side Effects & Interactions as part of the Medications section, testing your understanding of core concepts and their practical application.
| Exam | PTCB Pharmacy Technician Certification |
| Pass Rate | 72% |
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Module | Side Effects & Interactions |
Why Side Effects & Interactions matters
Side Effects & Interactions is a commonly tested topic on the PTCB Pharmacy Technician Certification because it covers fundamental knowledge required for competent professional practice.
Sample Practice Questions (5)
1. A 70-year-old patient is being discharged on gentamicin IV therapy with home health nursing. The pharmacist counsels about monitoring because aminoglycosides carry a risk of:
- Nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity — requiring peak/trough levels and renal function monitoring
- Hepatotoxicity and jaundice — requiring LFT monitoring
- Bone marrow suppression — requiring weekly CBC
- Pulmonary fibrosis — requiring periodic chest X-rays
2. Grapefruit juice significantly interacts with many medications by inhibiting:
- CYP3A4 enzyme in the intestinal wall
- CYP2D6 enzyme in the liver
- P-glycoprotein in the kidneys
- Acetylcholinesterase in the brain
3. A patient currently taking fluoxetine (Prozac) is prescribed linezolid (Zyvox) for an MRSA infection. The pharmacy technician should alert the pharmacist because this combination significantly increases the risk of:
- Serotonin syndrome — linezolid has weak MAOI activity that potentiates SSRI serotonergic effects
- QT prolongation and torsades de pointes
- Rhabdomyolysis from combined muscle toxicity
- Aplastic anemia from bone marrow suppression
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Start practicing free →4. Which medication interaction requires a "washout period" of at least 14 days before switching?
- MAOI to SSRI (or SSRI to MAOI)
- One statin to another statin
- ACE inhibitor to ARB
- One PPI to another PPI
5. A patient on carbamazepine (Tegretol) is prescribed clarithromycin for a respiratory infection. The technician should flag this interaction because clarithromycin:
- Is a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor that can increase carbamazepine levels to toxic concentrations
- Induces CYP3A4, causing subtherapeutic carbamazepine levels
- Competes with carbamazepine for renal elimination
- Has no clinically significant interaction with carbamazepine
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