A pharmacist receives a new prescription for Augmentin 500 mg. The prescription reads 1 tab po bid x 10 days. A technician in the pharmacy fills and processes the prescription using 250 mg of Augmentin instead, since the pharmacy is out of stock of 500 mg Augmentin tablets. The pharmacist who is doing the final check of the prescription should:
a. Fill the prescription as it is.
b. Call the physician and get approval regarding this switch.
c. Not fill the prescription.
d. Fill the prescription but counsel and inform the patient about this switch.
Answer:
A pharmacist receives a new prescription for Augmentin 500 mg. The prescription reads 1 tab po bid x 10 days. A technician in the pharmacy fills and processes the prescription using 250 mg of Augmentin instead, since the pharmacy is out of stock of 500 mg Augmentin tablets. The pharmacist who is doing the final check of the prescription should:
a. Fill the prescription as it is.
b. Call the physician and get approval regarding this switch.
c. Not fill the prescription.
d. Fill the prescription but counsel and inform the patient about this switch.
Answer: (c) Since both the 250 mg and 500 mg tablets of amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium contain the same amount of clavulanic acid (125 mg, as the potassium salt), two amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium 250 mg tablets are not equivalent to one 500 mg amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium tablet.
Therefore two 250 mg amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium tablets should not be substituted for one 500 mg amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium tablet.
**This question is taken from Clinical Naplex Test-5. Visit www.pharmacyexam.com**