Which of the following is commonly known as “Z-Drug”?

a. Omeprazole
b. Olanzapine
c. Zolpidem
d. Nizatidine
e. Doxylamine

Which of the following is commonly known as “Z-Drug”?

a. Omeprazole
b. Olanzapine
c. Zolpidem
d. Nizatidine
e. Doxylamine

Answer: (c) The Z-drugs, which include Eszopiclone (Lunesta), Zolpidem (Ambien), and Zaleplon (Sonata), are benzodiazepine receptor agonists.  That means they work in a similar way to the benzodiazepine drugs inside the brain.  They are GABA agonists meaning they somewhat mimic the action of gamma-Aminobutyric acid, the inhibitory neurotransmitter and thereby induce sleepiness.
 
These drugs are sometimes referred to as non-benzodiazepine hypnotics or just non-benzodiazepines.  That's a dumb name, if you ask us.  Too unspecific and vague, especially if you are not in the context of sleep medicine.  Further, even within sleep medicine, there are compounds that are non-benzodiazepine hypnotics that would not be considered part of this class: antihistamines and Ramelteon, for instance.

One problem is that the chemists don't have a category that these drugs all fall into which is narrow enough to signify what medical practitioners are talking about.  These drugs are in the categories pyrazolopyrimidines, imidazopyridines or cyclopyrrones, but they are not all in the same category.

Therefore, we prefer the term Z-drugs.  The generic names for these drugs all contain the letter Z, and it is as good a name as any.

In what concentration is Benzalkonium chloride normally used for preoperative skin preparation and treatment of minor wounds?

a. 1:1
b. 1:10
c. 1:750
d. 10:100
e. 1:250

In what concentration is Benzalkonium chloride normally used for preoperative skin preparation and treatment of minor wounds?

a. 1:1
b. 1:10
c. 1:750
d. 10:100
e. 1:250

Answer: (c) 1:750. Benzalkonium chloride is indicated for prophylaxis and treatment of skin infections. It is antimicrobial against a wide variety of bacteria, fungi and protozoa. A 1:750 concentration of benzalkonium chloride is used for preoperative skin preparation, treatment of minor wounds, and lacerations, as a surgical scrub, and for sterilizing metallic instruments. The antimicrobial action of benzalkonium chloride is attributed to its ability to inactivate bacterial enzyme.

Which of the following supports the good prostate health primarily by maintaining healthy male hormone balance?

a. Lycopene.
b. Horse chestnut seed.
c. Beta-sitosterol.
d. Hyperforin
e. Korean Ginseng

Which of the following supports the good prostate health primarily by maintaining healthy male hormone balance?

a. Lycopene.
b. Horse chestnut seed.
c. Beta-sitosterol.
d. Hyperforin
e. Korean Ginseng

What is the name of the following compound?

I. Phenylacetic acid
II. Benzeneacetic acid
III. α-Toluic acid

a. I only
b. I and II only
c. II and III only
d. All

What is the name of the following compound?

I. Phenylacetic acid
II. Benzeneacetic acid
III. α-Toluic acid

a. I only
b. I and II only
c. II and III only
d. All

Answer: All. Phenylacetic acid (abr. PAA and synonyms are: α-toluic acid, benzeneacetic acid, alpha tolylic acid, 2-phenylacetic acid) is an organic compound containing a phenyl functional group and a carboxylic acid functional group. It is a white solid with a disagreeable odor. Because it is used in the illicit production of phenylacetone (used in the manufacture of meth/amphetamine), it is subject to controls in the United States.

Nitration of Benzaldehyde shall yield which of the following?

a. Ortho-Nitrobenzaldehyde
b. Para-Nitrobenzaldehyde
c. Meta-Nitrobenzaldehyde
d. None of the above

Nitration of Benzaldehyde shall yield which of the following?

a. Ortho-Nitrobenzaldehyde
b. Para-Nitrobenzaldehyde
c. Meta-Nitrobenzaldehyde
d. None of the above

Answer:Meta-Nitrobenzaldehyde. The substituent groups that offer meta isomers of the parent compound are know as meta-director. Below is the list of substituents yields meta isomer of the parent compound.

List of Meta-directors:

1. -NO2
2. -SO3H
3. -CHO
4. -CN
5. -N (CH3)3 +
6. -COOH

In the above example, nitration of benzaldehyde will yield meta-nitrobenzaldehyde because the -CHO group present in the ring is a meta director.

Which of the following compounds is Meso Compound?

a. 1-amino-2-methyl-1phenylpropane
b. Glyceraldehyde
c. 2,3-dichlorobutane
d. Chloroiodoethanoic acid

Which of the following compounds is Meso Compound?

a. 1-amino-2-methyl-1phenylpropane
b. Glyceraldehyde
c. 2,3-dichlorobutane
d. Chloroiodoethanoic acid

Answer: 2,3-dichlorobutane. Meso compound is one whose molecules are superimposable on their mirror images even though they contain chiral centers.

A meso compound is optically inactive for the same reason as any other compound whose molecules are achiral: the rotation caused by any one molecule is cancelled by an equal and opposite rotation caused by another molecule that is the mirror image of the first.

It can be easily identified by the fact that one half of the molecule is the mirror image of the other half.

In which of the following its publications, the FDA publishes listing of its biosimilar and interchangeable biological products?

a. Orange Book
b. Red Book
c. Blue Book
d. Purple Book

In which of the following its publications, the FDA publishes listing of its biosimilar and interchangeable biological products?

a. Orange Book
b. Red Book
c. Blue Book
d. Purple Book

Answer: Purple Book. FDA has released the "Purple Book," new documents listing biological products, including all biosimilar and interchangeable biological products licensed by FDA.

The lists include the date a biological product was licensed and whether FDA evaluated the biological product for reference product exclusivity, as defined under the Public Health Service Act.

The Purple Book will also list whether a licensed biological product has been determined to be biosimilar to or interchangeable with a reference biological product.

Separate lists for those biological products regulated by the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research are updated periodically.

FDA has recently approved Contrave (Naltrexone hydrochloride and Bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets). Contrave is indicated for the treatment of:

a. Management of smoking cessation.
b. Treatment of seizure.
c. Management of chronic weight reduction.
d. Treatment of atypical depression.
e. Management of an opioid abuse.

Answer:

FDA has recently approved Contrave (Naltrexone hydrochloride and Bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets). Contrave is indicated for the treatment of:

a. Management of smoking cessation.
b. Treatment of seizure.
c. Management of chronic weight reduction.
d. Treatment of atypical depression.
e. Management of an opioid abuse.

Answer: Management of chronic weight reduction. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Contrave (Naltrexone hydrochloride and Bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets) as treatment option for chronic weight management in addition to a reduced-calorie diet and physical activity.

The drug is approved for use in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater (obesity) or adults with a BMI of 27 or greater (overweight) who have at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure (hypertension), type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol (dyslipidemia).

The most common adverse reactions reported with Contrave include nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, insomnia, dry mouth, and diarrhea.

On September 9, 2014, the DEA published a new rule that implements the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010. This new rule will allow patients to return to pharmacies the drugs they no longer need, and prevent those drugs from being accessed by abusers....

On September 9, 2014, the DEA published a new rule that implements the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010. This new rule will allow patients to return to pharmacies the drugs they no longer need, and prevent those drugs from being accessed by abusers.

Here are the basics of the rule:

1. Retail and hospital pharmacies, as well as other DEA registrants, may modify their DEA registration to become authorized collectors of unneeded prescription drugs.

2. Registered collectors may operate a collection receptacle at their registered location.

3. Pharmacies may operate collection receptacles at long-term care facilities.

4. Registration as a collector is optional. No pharmacy is required to do this.

For additional information, refer to the DEA Federal Register notice: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/09/09/2014-20926/disposal-of-controlled-substances.

Which of the following statements are TRUE about S.T.E.P.S. Programs?

I. All prescriptions prescribed under these programs must be filled within 3 days.

II. Prescribe no more than 4 weeks (28 days) of therapy, with no automatic refills.

III. All prescribers must register in the S.T.E.P.S. Prescriber Registry via the Prescriber Registration Card that is located in every S.T.E.P.S. folder.

a. I only
b. I and II only
c. II and III only
d. All

Which of the following statements are TRUE about S.T.E.P.S. Programs?

I. All prescriptions prescribed under these programs must be filled within 3 days.

II. Prescribe no more than 4 weeks (28 days) of therapy, with no automatic refills.

III. All prescribers must register in the S.T.E.P.S. Prescriber Registry via the Prescriber Registration Card that is located in every S.T.E.P.S. folder.

a. I only
b. I and II only
c. II and III only
d. All

Answer:II and III only.

1. S.T.E.P.S. stands for System for Thalidomide Education and Prescribing Safety, a proprietary education and restrictive distribution program for Thalomid (Thalidomide).

The S.T.E.P.S. program was developed because of the toxicity associated with fetal exposure to Thalomid (Thalidomide) and to minimize the chance of fetal exposure to Thalomid (Thalidomide).

2. Thalidomide in combination with Dexamethasone is indicated for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma and Erythema Nodosum Leprosum.

3. All prescribers must register in the S.T.E.P.S. Prescriber Registry via the Prescriber Registration Card that is located in every S.T.E.P.S. folder.

4. Only licensed prescribers may register. They should complete, sign, and return the Prescriber Registration Card. Prescriptions cannot be issued by telephone under this program.

5. Prescribers shall not prescribe more than 4 weeks (28 days) of therapy with no automatic refills. A patient shall be informed that all prescriptions must be filled within 7 days (NOT 3 days).