Pharmacy Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Pharmacy facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which drug suffix is characteristic of calcium channel blockers (dihydropyridine class)? → -dipine
2. Which of the following is the brand name for metformin? → Glucophage
3. What storage condition does the designation "refrigerate" indicate? → 2–8°C
4. The DEA requires a biennial (every 2 years) inventory of all controlled substances on which date? → Any date within 2 years of the previous inventory, on or close to the biennial anniversary
5. All of the drugs listed below are used to treat angina, with the exception of which one? → Montelukast
6. Metformin is primarily prescribed to treat which condition? → Type 2 diabetes
7. What does the prefix "cef-" or "ceph-" typically indicate about a drug? → It is a cephalosporin antibiotic
8. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is associated with which class of adverse effects in elderly patients? → Anticholinergic effects (confusion, urinary retention, constipation)
9. Which analgesic was rescheduled from Schedule III to Schedule II in 2014 by the DEA? → Hydrocodone combination products (e.g., Vicodin)
10. A patient will receive 100 mg/kg of ampicillin per day. What is the total daily dose for a 40-pound patient? → 1.8 g
11. Prozac is the brand name for which antidepressant? → Fluoxetine
12. Under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, which type of packaging is generally required for prescription medications? → Child-resistant packaging (CRP)
13. Keppra's active ingredient is → Levetiracetam
14. Which filter pore size is used for sterilization by filtration of a CSP? → 0.22 micron
15. An order is received for heparin 25,000 units in 250 mL D5W to run at 1,000 units/hour. What is the flow rate in mL/hr? → 10 mL/hr
16. If a patient is on which of the following medications, a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test should be done on a regular basis? → Levothyroxine
17. Which of the following is the primary pharmacological effect of opioids? → Binding mu, kappa, and delta opioid receptors to reduce pain transmission
18. What does "PRN" mean in pharmacy? → As needed
19. Which of the following is the correct ISO class for a horizontal laminar airflow workbench (LAFW) used for IV compounding? → ISO Class 5
20. Carbamazepine (Tegretol) requires monitoring for which serious adverse effect? → Aplastic anemia and agranulocytosis
21. What is the most important professional competency for Pharmacy certification in therapeutics? → Deep knowledge combined with practical application skills
22. A drug with a narrow therapeutic index (NTI) is best described as: → A drug where there is little difference between the effective and toxic dose
23. Which of the following is a classic example of a prodrug that requires CYP2C19-mediated hepatic activation for antiplatelet effect? → Clopidogrel
24. Aceon, what is the active ingredient in the medicine? → Perindopril
25. Seroquel's active ingredient is → Quetiapine
26. Which of the following report is used to account for significant theft or loss of a controlled substance? → Diversion report
27. What does the abbreviation stat. in pharmacy mean? → Immediately
28. What does the abbreviation 'PRN' mean on a prescription? → As needed
29. Which of these drugs contains the active component azithromycin? → Zithromax
30. Under federal law, what is the maximum number of refills allowed for a Schedule IV controlled substance? → Up to 5 refills within 6 months