PEBC (Therapeutic) Sample Questions
Categories: PEBC Canada
Ques. A 41 years old chronic alcoholic male, no known allergies, past medical history: Anxiety, difficulty sleeping. Current medications: triazolam 0.5 mg qhs x 3 years and acetaminophen/caffeine/codeine (Tylenol #1) ii prn headache. You notice that this patient has been coming in early for refills for triazolam and has received extra prescriptions for this medication from many walk-in clinics. Patient approaches you and states that he is concerned about his triazolam usage, so he stopped using it 24 hours ago. He asks you what the most common withdrawal symptoms will be:
A. Diarrhea, shakes and chills
B. Insomnia, muscle spasms and irritability
C. Increased headache, fatigue and nausea
D. Seizures, delirium, and hallucinations
Answer: (b)
Ques. Which of the following patient assessments is LEAST important for insomnia?
A) Total sleep time
B) Sleep latency
C) Early and/or frequent awakening
D) Alcohol consumption
E) Daytime impact of sleeping problem
Answer: (d)
Ques. A physician prescribed alprazolam 0.5 mg SL 3 tab. Repeat 5 times. What is correct?
A) Prescription is NOT valid
B) Prescriptions is forged
C) Prescription should not contain repeats
D) Prescription is valid
E) The prescription is NOT allowed
Answer: (d)
Ques. The pharmacist fills a prescription for sumatriptan 100 mg tablets for a patient with migraine. Appropriate information to provide to the patient includes which of the following?
a. If the sumatriptan does not relieve the headache within four hours, ergotamine may be used.
b. If no relief is achieved in two hours, sumatriptan may be repeated.
c. If the headache is relieved but another headache occurs eight hours later, sumatriptan may be used for the second headache.
d. The maximum dosage in any 24 hour period is six tablets.
e. If relief is not achieved, no other medication can be used for 24 hours.
Answer: (c)
Ques. A 30-year-old patient, is currently on antidepressant treatment, wants to stop taking fluoxetine because she continues to have trouble sleeping and does not wish to use a sedative. Which is the best option to improve sleep?
a) Add lorazepam at bedtime
b) Switch to bupropion
c) Switch to moclobemide
d) Switch to mirtazapine
Answer: (d)
Ques. MD is a 40-year-old woman who has recently been diagnosed with panic disorder. She describes to you the very frightening episodes she has experienced over the last six months. She was convinced she had a serious heart problem, but has been assured by her doctor that she is physically healthy. She is obviously very anxious, fidgeting with her purse, looking around to see who may also be in the pharmacy. Upon questioning, you found out that she has been having trouble concentrating and sleeping and that she is very worried about having another attack.
Which of the following medications would be the best choice, as a single agent, for immediate relief of MD’s symptoms?
a. Buspirone
b. Desipramine
c. Alprazolam
d. Fluoxetine
Answer: (c)