CDT CDT Dermatologic Pharmacology & Medications 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What class of medication is isotretinoin (Accutane)?
- Topical corticosteroid
- Systemic retinoid (Correct answer)
- Oral antibiotic
- Antifungal agent
Correct answer: Systemic retinoid
Isotretinoin is a systemic retinoid (vitamin A derivative) that treats severe nodular acne by reducing sebum production and normalizing follicular keratinization.
Question 2: What mandatory US risk management program must patients and providers enroll in before isotretinoin can be prescribed?
- iPLEDGE REMS program (Correct answer)
- Medicare Part D
- HIPAA compliance program
- FDA Fast Track designation
Correct answer: iPLEDGE REMS program
The iPLEDGE REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) program is mandatory for isotretinoin because of its severe teratogenicity risk.
Question 3: What is the mechanism of action of topical calcineurin inhibitors like tacrolimus (Protopic)?
- Block T-cell activation to reduce inflammation (Correct answer)
- Increase sebum production
- Kill bacteria directly on the skin surface
- Thicken the epidermis
Correct answer: Block T-cell activation to reduce inflammation
Calcineurin inhibitors block T-cell activation and inflammatory cytokine release, treating atopic dermatitis without causing the skin atrophy seen with steroids.
Question 4: Which oral antibiotic is most commonly prescribed to treat inflammatory acne in the US?
- Amoxicillin
- Doxycycline (Correct answer)
- Ciprofloxacin
- Vancomycin
Correct answer: Doxycycline
Doxycycline is the most widely prescribed oral antibiotic for inflammatory acne due to its combined antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties against C. acnes.
Question 5: What is the primary mechanism of action of benzoyl peroxide in acne treatment?
- Reduces sebum production
- Kills bacteria by releasing free oxygen radicals (Correct answer)
- Exfoliates dead skin cells only
- Blocks androgen receptors
Correct answer: Kills bacteria by releasing free oxygen radicals
Benzoyl peroxide kills C. acnes bacteria by releasing free oxygen radicals that create an anaerobic-hostile environment, while also having comedolytic effects.
Question 6: Which systemic dermatologic medication requires monthly monitoring of liver function tests and fasting lipid panels?
- Topical tretinoin
- Oral isotretinoin (Correct answer)
- Oral antihistamine
- Topical clindamycin
Correct answer: Oral isotretinoin
Isotretinoin can elevate liver enzymes and triglycerides, requiring monthly blood monitoring of liver function and lipid levels throughout treatment.
CDT CDT Dermatologic Pharmacology & Medications 1
What class of medication is isotretinoin (Accutane)?