Dispensing Practice Flashcards

Reconstitution of an oral antibiotic suspension requires adding which liquid?

Answer: Freshly boiled and cooled water to the specified volume

Oral antibiotic suspensions (e.g., amoxicillin) are reconstituted with freshly boiled and cooled water to the volume indicated on the bottle label, then shaken well. Tap water may contain bacteria.

A patient requires 250 mg of amoxicillin. The suspension contains 125 mg/5 mL. What volume should be dispensed per dose?

Answer: 10 mL

125 mg = 5 mL, therefore 250 mg = 10 mL. Using the formula: required dose / stock strength × volume = 250/125 × 5 = 10 mL.

Which auxiliary label should be added to tetracycline capsules?

Answer: Avoid dairy products and antacids — take on an empty stomach

Tetracyclines chelate divalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Al3+) in dairy and antacids, forming insoluble complexes that reduce absorption by up to 80%. They should be taken 1 hour before or 2 hours after food/dairy.

Methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis is typically prescribed at which unusual frequency that requires special patient counselling?

Answer: Once weekly

Methotrexate for inflammatory conditions is given ONCE WEEKLY — not daily. Daily use causes fatal toxicity. Fatal errors have occurred. Pharmacists must counsel patients explicitly on the once-weekly schedule.

Which expiry date information is mandatory on dispensed prescription labels in Ireland?

Answer: Dispensing date (the label must include the date dispensed)

Irish dispensing regulations require the dispensing date on the dispensed label. This allows identification of how long the patient has had the medicine and aids in recall or safety follow-up.

Which device is used to measure liquid medicines accurately for paediatric doses?

Answer: Oral syringe

Oral syringes are the most accurate method for measuring small paediatric liquid doses. Kitchen spoons are inaccurate (may hold 3–7 mL) and should never be recommended for medicine measurement.