Dispensing Practice Flashcards
6 cards from real PSI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Dispensing Practice flashcards as text
Pharmaceutical compounding in a pharmacy must comply with which quality standard?
Answer: PSI guidance on extemporaneous/compounding preparation and Pharmacopoeia standards
PSI provides guidance on extemporaneous compounding, requiring: appropriate premises/equipment, trained staff, quality control checks, stability data and documentation. BP/EP monographs provide quality standards.
A pharmacy receives a medicine at the wrong storage temperature during delivery. The pharmacist should:
Answer: Quarantine the product, refuse acceptance and raise a deviation report with the supplier/HPRA if needed
Cold-chain breaks compromise product quality. The pharmacist must quarantine the affected stock, refuse or document the deviation, contact the supplier and report significant cold-chain failures to the HPRA.
When handing out a new inhaler, the minimum counselling should include:
Answer: Correct inhaler technique with a demonstrated step-by-step guide
Incorrect inhaler technique is a leading cause of poor asthma/COPD control. The pharmacist must demonstrate correct technique, have the patient practise and check — not merely hand over with verbal advice.
What is the purpose of the batch number on a dispensed medicine?
Answer: It allows the product to be traced and recalled if a safety issue is identified
Batch numbers link a product to its manufacturing record. If a quality defect or contamination is found, the HPRA/manufacturer can identify and recall all packs from the same batch.
A liquid medicine with a measured dose of 5 mL BID for 10 days — what total volume should be dispensed?
Answer: 100 mL (5 mL × 2 × 10)
5 mL per dose × 2 doses per day (BID) = 10 mL/day × 10 days = 100 mL total. Accurate volume calculation ensures the correct supply with no shortfall during the treatment course.
A patient reports they missed their dose of levothyroxine this morning. They should be advised to:
Answer: Take the missed dose as soon as they remember, unless it is almost time for the next dose — then skip the missed dose
Standard missed dose guidance for levothyroxine: take as soon as remembered unless within a few hours of the next scheduled dose. Doubling doses is not recommended as it can cause symptoms of hyperthyroidism.