PharmacyFactsThatCanBeUsefulforLocalandState

BoardExaminations
The following material may be of particular importance on state and local board
examinations.
1.
All official dilute acids are 10%w/v, except acetic acid which is 6%
w/v. (Both)
Phenolphthalein gives colorless endpoint in acidic solution and red with
basic solution. (Local)
2.

The purpose of NaI or KI in iodine solution or Lugol's solution is to serve

as a cosolvent. (Both)
3.

PVT TIM HALL is the mnemonics of ten essential amino acids, which are
Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Isoleucine, Methionine, Histidine,
Arginine, Leucine and Lysine. (Local)
4.

Aluminum acetate solution (Burrow's solution) must be diluted with 10-40

parts water before use. (Both)
5.

Vitamin D3 is known as cholecalciferol, and significant for efficient calcium

absorption. It is activated in skin by sun rays. (Local)
6.

Povidone-iodine (Betadine) 5% solution releases 0.5% free iodine (10:1

ratio) so 30% releases 3% free iodine. Terpin hydrate and codeine elixir = 0.2%
codeine and 42% alcohol. White lotion (lotio alba) = 4% zinc sulfate and 4%
sulfurated potash. (Local)
7.

8.

The usual dose of magnesium citrate is 200ml (entire bottle). (State)

Specific Gravity is the ratio of the weight of a substance in air at 25 oC to

the weight of an equal volume of substance at the same temperature. Water is
the usual standard for the specific gravities of liquids and solids; the most useful
standard for gases is hydrogen. (Local)
9.

10.

Density is the mass per unit of a substance. (Local)

Simple syrup requires no preservative because of the absence of free

water. (Both)
11.

Most biologicals are stored at between 2-8oC (refrigerator) with the

exception of yellow fever vaccine, smallpox vaccine, and live oral polio vaccine
which must be stored at 0oC (freezer). (Both)
12.

Parasympathetic (Cholinergic) is the rest and digest system; dominant

during tranquil conditions. Sympathetic (Adrenergic) is the fight or flight symtem;
dominant during stressful situations. (Local)
13.

Tincture of potent drugs are 10%, while nonpotent drug tincture are
20%. (State)
14.

Fluidextracts
milliliter). (State)
15.

are

considered

100%

tinctures

(or

1g

of

drug

HLB stands for hydrophilic lipophilic balance and an HLB value of 3-6 will
give a w/o emulsion while an 8-18 value will give you o/w. (State)
16.

Insulin's packaging is color coded relative to the strength and type (e.g.,
red indicates 40units/ml, green 80units/ml, and orange 100units/ml). (State)
17.

Drugs that can be steam sterilized should be done so under 15lb of

pressure at 121oC for 20 minutes. (Both)
18.

The number of X's on a bottle of witch hazel represents the number of

times it has been distilled. (State)
19.

Ratio and proportion is the general formula or method in calculating and

solving of almost all pharmacy calculations.(Local)
20.

In converting adult dosages to infant dosages, you may use one o the
following formulas:
A. Young's Rule (for patients two years and over):
{Age (in years)/[age (in years)+12]} x adult dose = child's dose
B. Fried's Rule (patients one year of age):
[age (in months)/150] x adult dose = child's dose
C. Clark's Rule (two years and older):
[weight (in lb)/150] x adult dose = child's dose
D. Surface area: Is the most accurate method since it uses a nomogram
composed of height and weight which is thought to correlate the
physiologic activity with the surface area. (State)
21.

22.

Cold

place temperature dose does not exceed 8oC; A refrigerator is a

cold place held between 2 8oC. (Both)
23.

Cool

24.

Excessive

25.

Percentage strengths:
A. Percentage weight in weight (w/w) represents the number of grams of a
constituent in a 100g of a preparation.
B. Percentage weight in volume (w/v) represents the number of grams of
a constituent in 100 ml of a preparation.
C. Percentage volume in volume (v/v) represents the number of milliliters
of a constituent in 100ml of a preparation.(Both)

place is a temperature between 8 15oC. (Both)

heat is a temperature above 40oC. (Both)

When using
shaken. (Both)
26.

calcium

hydroxide

(lime

water),

it

should

not

be

Sucrose hydrolyzes into dextrose (glucose) and fructose (levulose) which

are referred to as inverted sugars. (Both)
27.

Ipecac syrup is used as an emetic in doses of 15ml and should not be

confused with the fluid extract of ipecac which has a dose of 0.5
1.0ml. (State)
28.

Thixatrophy occurs when a solution is allowed to stand and become a gel;

upon agitation it returns to solution (e.g., bentonite magma). (Both)
29.

Incorrect prescriptions can be classified as erroneous, violative or

impossible prescription. (Local)
30.

31.

These methods for preparation of emulsion are:

A. Continental or dry gum method for fixed oils requires mixture of one
part acacia with four parts oil and then two parts water (4:2:1).
B. English or wet gum method for fixed oils requires mixing of one part
acacia with two parts water and then four parts oil (4:2:1).
C. Bottle or Forbes' method for oleaginous or volatile substances requires
placing one part acacia in bottle, then placing two parts oil and then two
parts water are added (2:2:1). (Both)

Cocoa butter should not be overheated since it can form a metastable

from which will melt below room temperature.(Both)
32.

The number following polyethylene glycol represents its average

molecular weight (PEG 400), while the number following methylcellulose
represents its viscosity in centerpoise (methylcellulose 4000). (Both)
33.

Glycerin suppositories are used in constipation and contain sodium

stearate as a solidifying agent. (Both)
34.

Vitamins A, D, E and K (ADEK) are fat soluble vitamins, while, Vitamins B

and C are water soluble vitamins. (Local)
35.

Cation in intracellular cell is potassium, and in extracellular cell is sodium.

PISO is the mnemonics which means Potassium In, Sodium Out. (Local)
36.

Precipitated sulfur should always be used in compounding (in place of

sublimed sulfur). (State)
37.

Calamine lotion = 8% zinc oxide and 8% calamine, which is 98% zinc

oxide and 2% ferric oxide. (Both)
38.

Paregoric tincture = 0.4% of anhydrous morphine (40mg morphine per

1000ml). (State)
Legend:
Both Local and State Board Exam
State USA Board Exam
Local Philippine Board Exam
39.

StepsinDispensingPrescriptionorOTCDrugs
Pharmacy is also a business, money can be involved in every transaction. Sales
and profit are secondary main goals of a drugstore, which mean the more the
buyers and customers are, the more the sales revenue can accumulate per day.
Thus, once a customer stops to a drugstore, the establishment must see to it that
the customer's needs are available in them and must be given or satisfy, so that
another time that customer needs drugs again he shall go back to your
drugstore. Also the flow of the dispensing process should be fast but accurate,
and proper courtesy and respect must be shown to impress customer that
consequently achieving their loyalty. In the Philippines dispensing process is
done within 10-15 minutes depending on the number of prescribed drugs, volume
of people and the capacity of manpower a drugstore has.
Steps in Dispensing Drugs
1.
The customer will approach the pharmacy and call the attention of one of
the personnel.
2.
The pharmacist or pharmacy assistant will greet the customer and must
sustain good manners all through the transaction.
3.
The personnel will ask the patient about his/her prescription or drug
needs.
4.
After the presentation of prescription/s or details of drug/s needed, the
personnel shall check the availability of stock on the shelves, the price, the
expiration date and other generic equivalence of that brand or drug/s.
5.
The prescription/s or drug/s will be priced. Allow the customer to budget
his/her money to decide if he/she can afford the brand of that drug/s.
6.
Introduce to him/her other generic equivalence or other drugs that contain
the same generic name, strength, dosage form and alike, which can help him/her
to save money or budget his/her money.
7.
Take time to let the customer to decide what price of drug he/she will buy
and the quantities to be sold. Total the amount incurred by the customer and ask
for his/her payment. (If the patient is senior citizen, ask for requirements, and
deduct the respective percentage).
8.
If decision was made, prepare the decided drug/s (with the cheapest
price) to be bought by acquiring them from the shelves. Blistered or foiled
packaging will be cut in the pieces requested by the customer and/or if the
packaging is loose count the number of the drug needed in the tablet counter and
placing them into compact plastic bottle, wide-mouthed amber bottle or small
capsule cellophane that placing the information of the patient, information of the
drug and quantity of the drug. Check the drug before and after removing from the

shelf if it is the required drug. Check also for expiration of the drug and stability of
it.
9.
When the drug is prepared proceed to billing.
10.
Take back his/her change if there is and counter-check the drug's name,
count and quantities infront of him.
11.
Counsel the customer about the instruction given to him/her by the
physician, the storage condition, and other information about the drugs.
12.
End the transaction by speaking Thank you! and Come back again!.
The prescription shall be filed and kept.
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PharmaceuticalTablets
Tablets are solid dosage forms of medication prepared by compressing or
molding. Since the latter part of the 19th century up to the present time they are
the most popular of all kinds of medicinal preparation intended for oral use.
Advantages of Tablets:
1.
Accuracy and compactness of dosage
2.
Simplicity and economy in manufacturing
3.
Convenience in dispensing and shipping
4.
Simple to identify
5.
Blandness of taste to make it easily to swallow
6.
Available in special-release forms
7.
Most stable in all dosage forms
8.
Best suited to large-scale production
9.
Essential tamper-proof.
Disadvantages:
1.
Some drugs are incompatible to compress into tablets.
2.
Some drugs are hardly to reach the adequate bioavailability.
3.
Undesirable tastes and odor of some drugs cannot be masked.
Tablet Characteristics:
The different specifications by which compressed tablets are characterized
includes the diameter size, shape, thickness, weight, hardness and disintegration
time. The diameter and shape depend on the die and the punches used for
compression. In general, tablets are discoid in shape, however, they may be
oval, oblong, round, cylindrical or triangular. The upper and lower surfaces may
be flat, round, concave or convex to various degrees. The concave punches
maybe shallow, standard and deep cut.

Tablet Types and Classes

1.
Tablet for oral ingestion

a. Compressed Tablets are tablets made from crystalline or granular

materials, alone or in combination with binders, disintegrants, lubricants
and fillers. They are formed by compression and do not contain special
coating.
b. Multiple compressed tablets are compressed tablets made by more
than one compression cycle.
Layered tablets are tablets prepared by compressing additional
tablet granulation on a previously compressed tablet. This operation may be
repeated a number of times to produce a multi-layered tablet.
Compression-coated tablets are tablets prepared by feeding a
previously compressed tablet into a special tablet machine and compressing
another layer around this performed tablet. With this method a compressed tablet
in which compatible ingredients may be kept in separate layers. It has all the
advantages of the compressed tablet, such as: - sletting, monogramming, speed
of disintegration, etc. while retaining the attributes of the sugar-coated tablets in
masking the taste of medication in the internal layers.
c. Repeat-action tablets are layered tablets in which the outer layer gives
an initial dose, quickly disintegrate in the stomach. The inner layer
contains of components that are insoluble in gastric solution but soluble in
intestinal solution.
d. Delayed-action and enteric-coated tablets are tablet coatings that
resist solution in gastric fluid but disintegrate and release their medication
in the intestines. Among the agents used to enteric-coat tablets are fats,
fatty acids, waxes, shellac and cellulose acetate phthalate.
e. Sugar-coated tablets are coating that cover up medicinal possessing
objectionable tastes and odors, and protect sensitive medicinals subject to
deterioration. Sugar-coated may be coated with a colored or an uncolored
sugar. The process includes seal coating (waterproofing), subcoating,
syrup coating (for smoothing and coloring), and polishing. Sugar-coated
tablets may be 50% larger and heavier than the usual tablet.
f. Chocolate-coated tablets originally chocolate was used as a coloring
material, but at present the iron oxide standardized as to color are
available and largely replaced chocolate for this purpose.
g. Film-coated tablets are thin layer or film of a water-soluble imparts the
same general characteristics as sugar-coated tablets with the added
advantage of greatly reduced time required for the coating operation. A
number of polymeric substances with film-coating properties are used for
this purpose.
h. Air suspension-coated tablets are placed into a vertical cylinder that
supported by a column of air and enters from the base of the cylinder. As

2.

the coating solution enters the system, it is rapidly applied to the

suspended rotating solids. Rounding coats can be applied in less than 1
hour with the assistance of warm air blasts released in the chamber.
j. Chewable tablets are tablets that disintegrate smoothly and quickly
when chewed or allowed to dissolve in the oral cavity, giving a creamy
base from specially colored and flavored mannitol. This formulation is
terrific for children that commonly applied to multivitamin tablets.
Tablets used in the oral cavity
a. Buccal or sublingual tablets are small, flat, oval tablets intended to be
inserted in the buccal pouch, or beneath the tongue, where the active
ingredient may be directly absorbed through the mucosa.
b. Troches, lozenges, and dental cones dissolve slowly in the mouth
and provide primarily local effects.

3.

Tablets used to prepare solutions

a. Effervescent tablets are prepared by compressing granular
effervescent salts or other materials such as citric acid, tartaric acid,
sodium bicarbonate, that have the capacity to release carbon dioxide gas
when in contact with water.
b. Dispensing tablets those tablets are not to be dispensed as such as
they contain very large and sometimes lethal doses of the potent drug.
They provide a convenient quantity of a potent drug that can be
incorporated readily into powders, liquids, and other preparations at the
dispensing counter.
c. Hypodermic tablets are tablets made in a tablet triturate mold and are
intended for use in making hypodermic preparation for injection. They are
made with absolute cleanliness as they usually used to prepare parenteral
solution extemporaneously, so they must be completely and rapidly
soluble in the vehicle.

Compressed Tablets

Medicinal substances either in crystalline or powdered form intended to be made

in dosage form with pressure using available equipment should possess a
number of physical characteristics, such as:
Ability to flow freely to ensure a uniform fill in the die cavity and to
allow continuous movement of the granulation from the sources or food hopper.
Cohesiveness ability to hold together the materials thus preventing
tablets from crumbling and falling apart on handling.
Lubrication to minimize friction and to favor the removal of the
compressed tablets from the punch faces. Since these properties are not

commonly found in the ingredients methods should be adopted to impart these

desirable characteristics to the materials.

Tablet Ingredients:
1.
Active or therapeutic ingredients
2.
Additives or excipients are inert materials which can be classified
according to their function into:
Those which help to impart satisfactory compression characteristics like
diluents, binders and lubricants.
Those that help to give additional desirable physical characteristics to the
finished tablet like disintegrants, colors and flavors.
Tablet Excipients:
1.
Diluents These are inert substances added to increase the bulk in order
to produce a practical size for compression. Dicalcium phosphate, calcium
sulfate, lactose, kaolin, mannitol, sodium chloride, dry starch and powdered
sugar are some of the common diluents. Mannitol has a pleasant taste,
chemically stable and is not hygroscopic hence it is usually employed as a
diluent for chewable tablets. Most tablet formulators use only one or two diluents.
Care should be observed regarding incompatibilities between active ingredients
and diluents. Calcium salts interfere with the absorption of tetracycline from the
gastrointestinal tract. Amino bases with lactose and alkaline lubricant will produce
discolored tablets on aging.
Binders or Granulators These are substances added to the powdered
material to impart a cohesiveness to the formula which ensures the tablet to
remain intact after compression. Binders also improve the free-flowing qualities
by the formulation of granules of desired hardness and size. The most common
binders are starch, gelatin, and sugars like sucrose, molasses and lactose.
Natural and synthetic gums which have been used include acacia, sodium
alginate, extract of Irish mess, carboxymethylcellulose, methylcelluloses,
polyvinylpyrrolidone, veegum, and larch arabogalactan. Polyethylene glycol,
ethylcellulose, waxes, water and alcohol may also be considered as binders.
2.

Lubricants These improves the rate of flow of the tablet granulation,

prevent adhesion of the tablet material to the surface of the dies and punches,
reduce interparticle friction, and facilitate the ejection of the tablets from the die
cavity. Examples of them are talc, calcium and magnesium stearate.
3.

Glidants They improve the flow properties of the granules in the food
hopper. Examples are talc, starch, lycopedium, calcium and magnesium stearate,
boric acid, sugar and sodium chloride.
4.

Antiadhesives or antisticking agents Prevent adhesion of the tablet to

dies and punches during compression. Examples are paraffin, stearic acid, cocoa
butter and soaps.
5.

Disintegrants These are substances or mixture of substances, added to

a tablet to hasten the disintegration or breaking up after the tablet is
administered. Release of the active ingredient should be accomplished as
efficiently as possible to allow rapid dissolution. Examples are veegum,
methylcellulose, agar, bentonite, cellusloe, wood products, natural sponge,
cation-exchange resins, alginic acid, guar gum, citrus pulp and
carboxymethlycellulose, surfactants, like sodium lauryl sulfate.
6.

Coloring Agents The use of color in compressed tablets is for several

reasons. It helps the manufacturer control the product during its preparation, it
serves to identify the product and to give and aesthetic appearance to the tablet.
7.

Flavoring Agents For compressed tablets, the addition of flavoring

agents is not a necessity. But for chewable tablets and lozenges, it is often
required. The flavors may be sprayed as an alcoholic solution into the dry
granules before compression or dry flavors may be mixed with the other tablet
constituents.
8.

Processing Problems
1.
Capping is the partial or complete separation of the top or bottom crowns
of a tablet from the main body of the tablet. A remedy for capping is to dampen
the mixture slightly with water alcohol, a mixture of alcohol and water or glucose
solution prior to compressing, as long as there is no incompatibility involved.
Lamination is separation of a tablet into two or more distinct layers. Both
capping and lamination are problems usually result from air entrapment during
processing.
2.

3.

Picking is removal of a tablet's surface material by a punch.

Sticking is adhesion of a tablet material to a die wall. These problems

may result from excessive moisture or substances with low melting temperatures
in the formulation.
4.

Mottling is an unequal color distribution on a tablet, with light or dark

areas standing out on an otherwise uniform surface. This may result from use of
a drug with a color different from that of the tablet excipients or from a drug with
colored degradation products. Colorants may solve the problem but may also
create other problems.
5.

Quality Control
A. Tablet Hardness: Storage, transportation and handling requires tablets that
can resist chipping, abrasion or breakage. A usual rule of thumb test is to break
the tablet between the second and third fingers using the thumb as the fulcrum. It
is of proper hardness if it breaks with a sharp snap. When dropped on the floor,
however, it should not break.
To determine quantitatively the degree of hardness, an instrument, the Mensanto
or Stokes hardness tester is tablet when the force generated by a coil spring is
applied diametrically to the tablet. Another method of testing hardness is by the
use of the Roche friabilator. A number of tablets are weighed and placed in a
tumbling apparatus where they are exposed to rolling and repeated shocks
resulting form free falls within the apparatus. After a given number of rotations
the tablets are weighed. The loss in weight indicates the ability of the tablets to
withstand abrasion in packaging, handling and shipping.
B. Tablet Thickness: The density of the granulation and the pressure applied to
the tablets may change the thickness of the tablet without causing a change in
weight. This should not be tolerated to maintain identical appearance of the tablet
and to ensure that every production lot will be usable with a selected packaging
components. Thicker tablets may no longer be accommodated in the volume of a
given size bottle. Thickness is measured by a caliper like the Ames thickness
gauge which gives reading in millimeters. Depending on the size of the tablet, a
plus or minus 5% may be allowed.
C. Tablet Weight: The weight of the compressed tablet, determined by the
volumetric fill of the die cavity, is the quantity of the granulation which contains
the labeled amount of the therapeutic ingredients. After the tablet machine is in
operation, the weight of the tablets are checked routinely to ensure that the
tablets have the proper weights. This is done by weighing 20 capsules
individually and the average weight is calculated. The weight of not more than
two of the tablets should not differ from the average weight by more than the
percentage, no tablet differ by more than double that percentage.
D. Tablet Disintegration: The in vitro disintegration test uses not necessarily
bear a relationship to the in vivo action of a solid dosage form. Regardless of the
lack of significance as to the tablets in vivo action, the test provides a means of
control in assuring that a given tablet formula is the same as regards
disintegration from the product batch to another.
Methods of Preparation
A. Wet Granulation Method

This is the most widely used and most general method of tablet preparation
because the granules formed usually meet the physical requirements for the
compression of food tablets. However, this method presents certain
disadvantages: the number of separate steps involved and the time and labor
needed to carry out the procedure especially on large scale.
The steps in the wet method are:
1.
Weighing
2.
Mixing
3.
Granulation
4.
Screening the damp mass
5.
Drying
6.
Dry screening
7.
Lubrication
8.
Compression
B. Dry Granulation Method
Dry granulation, precompression, or the double-compression method is
employed when the tablet ingredients are affected by moisture, elevated
temperature due to drying, and when the ingredients have sufficient inherent
binding or cohesive properties. The is shorter.
The steps involved are:
1.
Weighing
2.
Mixing
3.
Slugging
4.
Dry screening
5.
Lubrication
6.
Compression
The active ingredient, diluent (if necessary) and part of the lubricant are blended.
The active ingredient or the diluent must have cohesive properties. Since
powdered material contains considerable amount of air which when expelled
under pressure forms a fairly dense tablet, more time should be allowed for this
air to escape to produce a better tablet or slug.

HintsonAnsweringBoardExamQuestions
Most candidates of board exam practically aim the right answer to each question.
Sometimes the right attitude in answering a question is needed to fully
understand and choose the correct answer. Probably the candidate who is able

to review well pass the board exam; unless luck is with you no matter what
happens you will pass. Hints, as it is not connected to the questions and
answers, maybe helpful to choose the right answer. Following
the guidelines given down list might save you from failing.
1.
Answer all questions. Do not leave it blank.
2.
Your first choice is usually your best answer.
3.
Do not change your answer unless you are convinced that your first
choice is wrong.
4.
It is a good practice to read every question prudently and mark your
answer before going on to the next question. If you are doubtful of the answer,
avoid staying and reading the question over and over again. Leave it out and go
on to the next question. Put an asterisk mark in the margin to remind you that the
question was left unanswered.
5.
When you have finished the examination, go back to the unanswered
questions. Do not reread those questions that you believe you have already
answered correctly this might confuse you and eventually convince you to
change your answer.
6.
When reviewing the questions that you went back, you can usually do
elimination for several choices immediately as being correct. On a multiplechoice question, this will leave you with two or three selections. Make the most
logical choice, even with two possible choices you have a 50:50 chance of
getting it right. This is much better than guessing from five selections where your
chances of guessing correctly are only one in five. Once you have marked your
selection leave it alone and go on to the next unanswered question. If you have
no idea of which answer is correct, do not guess either the first or last choice.
7.
Whenever a problem solving or calculation is being asked put in mind that
ratio and proportion is the general formula for almost drug solving problems. If
possible familiarize the weights and volumes conversion table and some
important pharmaceutical formulas.
8.
For calculations, rounded off or exact answers are usually the choices.
Solving needs the correct formula to lead you to the correct answer, wrong
formula's answer may be one of the choices and you able to choose it. The
examinee should be aware in this case and be prepared when taking board
exam.
However, most of the given guidelines are only applicable for those questions
that are not familiar to you or guess at an answer. When you know the answer do
not hesitate to choose it. Never mind the tricks of the question. Because there is
only one best answer that you looking for. Avoid too much interpretation of the
answer or look for hidden meanings. Best answer can be picked through simple
selection.
Hints:
Clang association: repetition of a word, phrase, or sounding the question and in
the choice.
Example:

The use of beta-blocker agents in the blood is ___________.

A. To decrease blood pressure level
B. To decrease cholesterol level
C. To equalize electrolytes
D. To cause dyspnea
Hint: The word blood in the question and one of the options, A.
Specific determiners: Words such as never and always mean just that never
and always. If there is a possibility of an exception, then choices will not be
correct.
Example:
Which of the following is the characteristic of water?
A. It boils always to 100oC in any altitude.
B. Never transforms to gas
C. It becomes solid when it reached 0oC.
D. Miscible to tannins and acacia.
Hint: A and B contain the specific determiners always and never; D is obviously
wrong because of the word miscible, C is the correct answer.
Length hints: Correct answer is always longer than other choices. Be aware
though, that it could mislead you.
Example:
The term adverse effect of a drug refers to _________.
A. Additional benefits of the drug
B. Potentiate other drug action
C. Any action of a drug in the body other than the one the doctor wanted the drug
to have
D. Action of the drug
Hint: The choice C is a lengthy clue.
Grammatical inconsistency: This could occur when the incorrect choices do not
follow grammatical rules.
Example:
The function red blood cells is to ___________.
A. Carry oxygen to the cells
B. Conveying food to the cells
C. Clotting of the blood
D. Fighting disease
Hint: The to in the stem is the clue. A, the word carry is grammatically correct.