16 Medications & Pharmacology Practice Questions & Answers

Every Medications & Pharmacology practice question from the Pharmacy Technician (PTCB) Practice Test, with the correct answer and a short explanation.

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1. Which brand-name drug is the same medication as the generic drug lisinopril?
- A.Norvasc
- B.Lopressor
- C.Lasix
- D.Prinivil (or Zestril)✓ Answer
Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor marketed under the brand names Prinivil and Zestril; Norvasc is amlodipine, Lasix is furosemide, and Lopressor is metoprolol, so those are different chemical entities.
Source: PTCB Medications domain; FDA Orange Book (lisinopril = Prinivil/Zestril)Report a problem with this question
2. Metformin is most commonly used to treat which condition?
- A.Depression
- B.Hypertension
- C.Bacterial infection
- D.Type 2 diabetes mellitus✓ Answer
Metformin is a biguanide antihyperglycemic that lowers hepatic glucose production and improves insulin sensitivity, making it the first-line oral agent for type 2 diabetes.
Source: PTCB Medications domain — therapeutic use of biguanidesReport a problem with this question
3. To which therapeutic drug class does atorvastatin belong?
- A.Loop diuretic
- B.HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin)✓ Answer
- C.Proton pump inhibitor
- D.Beta-blocker
Atorvastatin (Lipitor) blocks HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol synthesis, which is why it is classified as a statin used to lower LDL cholesterol.
Source: PTCB Medications domain — drug classifications (statins)Report a problem with this question
4. A common significant side effect of ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril is:
- A.Increased blood clotting
- B.A persistent dry cough✓ Answer
- C.Hair growth
- D.Yellowing of the teeth
ACE inhibitors reduce breakdown of bradykinin, which accumulates in the airways and commonly produces a persistent dry, nonproductive cough.
Source: PTCB Medications domain — adverse effects of ACE inhibitorsReport a problem with this question
5. Which dosage form is intended for placement under the tongue to dissolve, as with nitroglycerin for chest pain?
- A.Enteric-coated tablet
- B.Transdermal patch
- C.Sublingual tablet✓ Answer
- D.Suppository
A sublingual tablet dissolves under the tongue and is absorbed directly through the oral mucosa into the bloodstream, bypassing first-pass metabolism for a rapid effect.
Source: PTCB Medications domain — dosage forms and routes of administrationReport a problem with this question
6. Which of these products must be stored refrigerated (2–8°C) before dispensing?
- A.Insulin (unopened vials/pens)✓ Answer
- B.Acetaminophen caplets
- C.Aspirin tablets
- D.Amlodipine tablets
Unopened insulin is a temperature-sensitive protein that must be kept refrigerated at 2–8°C to preserve potency; the oral tablets listed are stored at controlled room temperature.
Source: PTCB Medications domain — drug storage requirements (insulin 2–8°C)Report a problem with this question
7. Insulin is classified by ISMP as a 'high-alert medication' primarily because:
- A.It is available over the counter for all types
- B.Errors carry a heightened risk of significant patient harm✓ Answer
- C.It is inexpensive
- D.It has no known side effects
High-alert medications are those that bear a heightened risk of causing significant patient harm when used in error, and insulin dosing mistakes can cause life-threatening hypoglycemia.
Source: ISMP List of High-Alert Medications (definition); PTCB Medications domainReport a problem with this question
8. The look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) pair 'hydroxyzine' and 'hydralazine' is dangerous because the two drugs:
- A.Are the exact same drug
- B.Have very similar names but different uses (antihistamine vs. antihypertensive)✓ Answer
- C.Are both antibiotics
- D.Are both vaccines
Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine while hydralazine is a vasodilator antihypertensive; their near-identical spelling makes them a classic LASA pair prone to selection errors.
Source: ISMP List of Confused Drug Names (LASA); PTCB Medications domainReport a problem with this question
9. What is the generic name for the brand-name antibiotic Zithromax?
- A.Azithromycin✓ Answer
- B.Doxycycline
- C.Ciprofloxacin
- D.Amoxicillin
Zithromax is the brand name for azithromycin, a macrolide antibiotic; the other options are different antibiotic entities from the penicillin, fluoroquinolone, and tetracycline classes.
Source: PTCB Medications domain; FDA Orange Book (Zithromax = azithromycin)Report a problem with this question
10. Omeprazole (Prilosec) works to reduce stomach acid by acting as a:
- A.Beta-2 agonist
- B.Anticoagulant
- C.Proton pump inhibitor✓ Answer
- D.Calcium channel blocker
Omeprazole irreversibly inhibits the H+/K+ ATPase 'proton pump' in gastric parietal cells, which is the final step of acid secretion, so it markedly lowers stomach acid.
Source: PTCB Medications domain — drug classes and mechanisms (PPIs)Report a problem with this question
11. Warfarin is considered a high-alert medication mainly because it can cause:
- A.Tooth discoloration
- B.Drowsiness only
- C.Weight gain only
- D.Serious bleeding if dosed incorrectly✓ Answer
Warfarin is an anticoagulant with a narrow therapeutic index; too much thins the blood excessively and can cause serious or fatal bleeding, which is why it is on the ISMP high-alert list.
Source: ISMP List of High-Alert Medications (anticoagulants); PTCB Medications domainReport a problem with this question
12. Albuterol is primarily used to treat which condition?
- A.Urinary tract infection
- B.High cholesterol
- C.Asthma/bronchospasm✓ Answer
- D.Insomnia
Albuterol is a short-acting beta-2 agonist that relaxes bronchial smooth muscle, opening the airways to relieve asthma and acute bronchospasm.
Source: PTCB Medications domain — therapeutic use of beta-2 agonistsReport a problem with this question
13. A drug ordered to be given 'IV' is administered by which route?
- A.Rectal
- B.Topical (on the skin)
- C.Intravenous (into a vein)✓ Answer
- D.Oral (by mouth)
The abbreviation IV stands for intravenous, meaning the medication is delivered directly into a vein, which produces immediate systemic effect and 100% bioavailability.
Source: PTCB Medications domain — routes of administration abbreviationsReport a problem with this question
14. Ondansetron (Zofran) is most commonly prescribed to:
- A.Prevent nausea and vomiting✓ Answer
- B.Lower blood pressure
- C.Thin the blood
- D.Treat bacterial infections
Ondansetron is a 5-HT3 serotonin-receptor antagonist that blocks the vomiting reflex, making it a first-line antiemetic for chemotherapy- and surgery-related nausea and vomiting.
Source: PTCB Medications domain — therapeutic use of 5-HT3 antagonistsReport a problem with this question
15. A patient hands the pharmacy technician a prescription for the brand-name drug Lipitor. Which generic medication should be dispensed?
- A.Metoprolol
- B.Lisinopril
- C.Amlodipine
- D.Atorvastatin✓ Answer
Lipitor is the brand name for atorvastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) used to lower cholesterol. Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor, amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker, and metoprolol is a beta-blocker, so none of those match the Lipitor brand.
Source: PTCB Medications knowledge domain; brand/generic drug name equivalence (Lipitor = atorvastatin)Report a problem with this question
16. When reviewing a medication list, a pharmacy technician sees several drugs whose generic names end in the suffix "-pril." This suffix most commonly identifies which drug class?
- A.Beta-blockers
- B.Benzodiazepines
- C.ACE inhibitors✓ Answer
- D.Proton pump inhibitors
The stem "-pril" (as in lisinopril, enalapril, and ramipril) marks angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which lower blood pressure by blocking the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. Beta-blockers use "-olol," proton pump inhibitors use "-prazole," and benzodiazepines commonly use "-pam" or "-lam."
Source: PTCB Medications knowledge domain; standardized generic drug name stems (USAN/WHO INN), ACE-inhibitor stem "-pril"Report a problem with this question

Practice questions based on the PTCB exam content outline. Not affiliated with the PTCB, and not medical advice. About the PTCE →

1. Which brand-name drug is the same medication as the generic drug lisinopril?

2. Metformin is most commonly used to treat which condition?

3. To which therapeutic drug class does atorvastatin belong?

4. A common significant side effect of ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril is:

5. Which dosage form is intended for placement under the tongue to dissolve, as with nitroglycerin for chest pain?

6. Which of these products must be stored refrigerated (2–8°C) before dispensing?

7. Insulin is classified by ISMP as a 'high-alert medication' primarily because:

8. The look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) pair 'hydroxyzine' and 'hydralazine' is dangerous because the two drugs:

9. What is the generic name for the brand-name antibiotic Zithromax?

10. Omeprazole (Prilosec) works to reduce stomach acid by acting as a:

11. Warfarin is considered a high-alert medication mainly because it can cause:

12. Albuterol is primarily used to treat which condition?

13. A drug ordered to be given 'IV' is administered by which route?

14. Ondansetron (Zofran) is most commonly prescribed to:

15. A patient hands the pharmacy technician a prescription for the brand-name drug Lipitor. Which generic medication should be dispensed?

16. When reviewing a medication list, a pharmacy technician sees several drugs whose generic names end in the suffix "-pril." This suffix most commonly identifies which drug class?