Duration Of Therapy - Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam Ptce

1. A patient is prescribed levothyroxine 100 mcg tablets with the sig "Take 1 tablet on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and 1/2 tablet on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday." If 90 tablets are dispensed, what is the days supply?
   Answer: 126 days Calculate the number of tablets used per week. There are 3 days at 1 tablet/day and 4 days at 0.5 tablets/day. Total weekly usage: $(3 \times 1) + (4 \times 0.5) = 3 + 2 = 5$ tablets per week. Next, find how many weeks the supply will last: $90 \text{ tablets} \div 5 \text{ tablets/week} = 18 \text{ weeks}$. Finally, convert weeks to days: $18 \text{ weeks} \times 7 \text{ days/week} = 126 \text{ days}$.
2. A prescription for clindamycin 150 mg capsules reads: "Take 2 capsules by mouth 4 times a day." If 112 capsules are dispensed, what is the days supply?
   Answer: 14 days First, calculate the total number of capsules taken per day. The patient takes 2 capsules per dose, 4 times a day. The daily amount is $2 \text{ capsules/dose} \times 4 \text{ doses/day} = 8 \text{ capsules/day}$. The total quantity dispensed is 112 capsules. The days supply is $112 \text{ capsules} \div 8 \text{ capsules/day} = 14 \text{ days}$.
3. A prescription is written for a Medrol Dosepak, which contains 21 tablets. The patient is instructed to follow the directions on the package. What is the duration of therapy for this medication?
   Answer: 6 days A Medrol Dosepak is a pre-packaged tapering dose of methylprednisolone. The standard dosing schedule involves taking a decreasing number of tablets each day (6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1) over a period of 6 days. Therefore, the duration of therapy is a fixed 6 days.
4. A prescription for fluticasone propionate nasal spray provides 120 metered sprays. The directions are "Use 2 sprays in each nostril once daily." What is the days supply?
   Answer: 30 days The patient uses 2 sprays in each nostril, for a total of $2 \text{ sprays/nostril} \times 2 \text{ nostrils} = 4 \text{ sprays}$ per day. The container has 120 sprays. The days supply is calculated as: $120 \text{ sprays} \div 4 \text{ sprays/day} = 30 \text{ days}$.
5. A prescription for azithromycin 250 mg tablets has the following directions: "Take tabs ii on day 1, then tab i daily for 4 days." What is the duration of therapy?
   Answer: 5 days This question requires interpreting the sig code to determine the total length of treatment. The patient takes medication on day 1 (the first day of therapy) and then for 4 additional days. The total duration is $1 \text{ day} + 4 \text{ days} = 5 \text{ days}$. This is the standard dosing for an Azithromycin Z-Pak.
6. A patient receives a prescription for fentanyl 25 mcg/hr patches with the sig "Apply 1 patch transdermally every 72 hours." If the quantity dispensed is 10 patches, what is the days supply?
   Answer: 30 days The directions state to apply one patch every 72 hours. First, convert 72 hours to days: $72 \text{ hours} \div 24 \text{ hours/day} = 3 \text{ days}$. Each patch lasts for 3 days. The total days supply for 10 patches is $10 \text{ patches} \times 3 \text{ days/patch} = 30 \text{ days}$.
7. A 10 mL multi-dose vial of testosterone cypionate 200 mg/mL is dispensed. The directions are "Inject 0.5 mL intramuscularly once every week." What is the days supply?
   Answer: 140 days First, determine the number of doses in the vial: $10 \text{ mL} \div 0.5 \text{ mL/dose} = 20 \text{ doses}$. Since each dose is given once per week, the vial will last for 20 weeks. To convert this to days, multiply by 7: $20 \text{ weeks} \times 7 \text{ days/week} = 140 \text{ days}$.
8. A prescription for ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone otic suspension (7.5 mL bottle) has the directions "Instill 4 drops into the right ear twice daily." Assuming 20 drops per mL, what is the days supply?
   Answer: 18 days First, calculate the total drops in the bottle: $7.5 \text{ mL} \times 20 \text{ drops/mL} = 150 \text{ drops}$. Next, calculate daily usage. The directions specify the right ear (AD), so it is one ear: $4 \text{ drops/ear} \times 1 \text{ ear} \times 2 \text{ times/day} = 8 \text{ drops/day}$. The days supply is $150 \text{ drops} \div 8 \text{ drops/day} = 18.75$. The supply will last for 18 full days.
9. A 60 mL bottle of nystatin oral suspension (100,000 units/mL) is dispensed with the directions "Swish and swallow 5 mL four times daily." What is the days supply?
   Answer: 3 days The patient uses 5 mL four times daily (QID), so the total daily volume is $5 \text{ mL/dose} \times 4 \text{ doses/day} = 20 \text{ mL/day}$. The total volume dispensed is 60 mL. The days supply is $60 \text{ mL} \div 20 \text{ mL/day} = 3 \text{ days}$.
10. A patient is prescribed an albuterol HFA inhaler containing 200 metered inhalations. The directions are "Inhale 2 puffs every 4 hours as needed for shortness of breath." What is the minimum days supply for one inhaler?
    Answer: 16 days For "as needed" (PRN) medications, the days supply is calculated based on the maximum possible daily usage. The patient can take a dose every 4 hours, which is $24 \text{ hours} \div 4 \text{ hours/dose} = 6 \text{ doses/day}$. Each dose is 2 puffs, so the maximum daily usage is $6 \text{ doses/day} \times 2 \text{ puffs/dose} = 12 \text{ puffs/day}$. The days supply is $200 \text{ puffs} \div 12 \text{ puffs/day} = 16.66 \text{ days}$. The supply will last for 16 full days.
11. A 5 mL bottle of timolol 0.5% ophthalmic solution is prescribed with the directions "Instill 1 drop in both eyes twice daily." Assuming there are 20 drops per mL, what is the days supply?
    Answer: 25 days First, calculate the total number of drops in the bottle: $5 \text{ mL} \times 20 \text{ drops/mL} = 100 \text{ drops}$. Next, calculate the number of drops used per day: $1 \text{ drop/eye} \times 2 \text{ eyes} \times 2 \text{ times/day} = 4 \text{ drops/day}$. Finally, calculate the days supply: $100 \text{ drops} \div 4 \text{ drops/day} = 25 \text{ days}$.
12. A prescription for amoxicillin 250 mg/5 mL suspension has the directions "Take one teaspoonful by mouth three times a day." If the pharmacy dispenses a 150 mL bottle, what is the duration of therapy?
    Answer: 10 days First, convert teaspoonfuls to mL: 1 tsp = 5 mL. The patient takes 5 mL three times a day, for a total of $5 \text{ mL/dose} \times 3 \text{ doses/day} = 15 \text{ mL/day}$. The total volume dispensed is 150 mL. The days supply is calculated as: $150 \text{ mL} \div 15 \text{ mL/day} = 10 \text{ days}$.
13. A pharmacy receives a prescription for metformin 500 mg tablets. The directions are "Take 1 tablet by mouth twice daily." If the pharmacy dispenses 60 tablets, what is the days supply?
    Answer: 30 days The patient takes 1 tablet twice daily, for a total of 2 tablets per day. The total quantity dispensed is 60 tablets. To find the days supply, divide the total quantity by the number of tablets per day: $60 \text{ tablets} \div 2 \text{ tablets/day} = 30 \text{ days}$.
14. A prescription for methotrexate 2.5 mg tablets has the directions "Take 4 tablets by mouth once weekly." If the pharmacy dispenses 24 tablets, what is the days supply?
    Answer: 42 days The patient takes 4 tablets per dose, and each dose is taken once a week. First, determine how many weekly doses are dispensed: $24 \text{ tablets} \div 4 \text{ tablets/dose} = 6 \text{ doses}$. Since each dose covers one week, the supply will last for 6 weeks. To find the days supply, convert weeks to days: $6 \text{ weeks} \times 7 \text{ days/week} = 42 \text{ days}$.
15. A patient is prescribed warfarin 5 mg tablets with the following directions: "Take 1 tablet daily, except on Sunday take 1/2 tablet." If 30 tablets are dispensed, what is the days supply?
    Answer: 32 days First, calculate the number of tablets used per week. The patient takes 1 tablet for 6 days and 0.5 tablets for 1 day: $(6 \times 1) + (1 \times 0.5) = 6.5$ tablets per week. Next, determine how many full weeks the supply will last: $30 \text{ tablets} \div 6.5 \text{ tablets/week} \approx 4.615 \text{ weeks}$. This is $4.615 \times 7 = 32.3$ days. To verify, after 4 weeks (28 days), $4 \times 6.5 = 26$ tablets are used, leaving 4 tablets. These will last 4 more days (Day 29, 30, 31, 32), for a total of 32 days.
16. A prescription for ondansetron 4 mg is written as "Take 1 tablet by mouth every 8 hours as needed for nausea." If 30 tablets are dispensed, what is the days supply?
    Answer: 10 days For insurance and refill purposes, the days supply for a PRN (as needed) medication is calculated based on the maximum frequency allowed. The maximum frequency is every 8 hours. The number of doses per day is $24 \text{ hours} \div 8 \text{ hours/dose} = 3 \text{ doses/day}$. The patient takes 1 tablet per dose, so the maximum daily usage is 3 tablets. The days supply is $30 \text{ tablets} \div 3 \text{ tablets/day} = 10 \text{ days}$.
17. A prescription for Lantus SoloStar pens (100 units/mL, 3 mL per pen) has the directions "Inject 20 units subcutaneously every evening at bedtime." If a box of 5 pens is dispensed, what is the days supply?
    Answer: 75 days First, calculate the total units dispensed. Each pen has $100 \text{ units/mL} \times 3 \text{ mL} = 300 \text{ units}$. A box of 5 pens has $300 \text{ units/pen} \times 5 \text{ pens} = 1500 \text{ total units}$. The patient uses 20 units per day. The days supply is $1500 \text{ units} \div 20 \text{ units/day} = 75 \text{ days}$.
18. A patient receives a box of 5 Humalog KwikPens (3 mL/pen, 100 units/mL). The directions are "Inject 12 units subcutaneously three times daily with meals." What is the days supply?
    Answer: 41 days First, calculate total units dispensed. Each pen has $3 \text{ mL} \times 100 \text{ units/mL} = 300 \text{ units}$. The box has $5 \text{ pens} \times 300 \text{ units/pen} = 1500 \text{ total units}$. Next, calculate daily usage: $12 \text{ units/dose} \times 3 \text{ doses/day} = 36 \text{ units/day}$. The days supply is $1500 \text{ units} \div 36 \text{ units/day} = 41.66...$. The supply will last 41 full days.
19. A prescription for cefdinir 250 mg/5 mL requires reconstitution to a final volume of 100 mL. The directions are "Take 5 mL by mouth twice daily until gone." What is the duration of therapy for one reconstituted bottle?
    Answer: 10 days The total volume after reconstitution is 100 mL. The patient takes 5 mL twice daily, for a total of $5 \text{ mL/dose} \times 2 \text{ doses/day} = 10 \text{ mL/day}$. To find the duration of therapy (days supply), divide the total volume by the daily volume: $100 \text{ mL} \div 10 \text{ mL/day} = 10 \text{ days}$.
20. A patient is prescribed a Symbicort 80/4.5 mcg inhaler, which contains 120 inhalations. The directions for use are "Inhale 2 puffs twice daily." What is the days supply?
    Answer: 30 days The patient takes 2 puffs twice daily (BID). The total number of puffs per day is $2 \text{ puffs/dose} \times 2 \text{ doses/day} = 4 \text{ puffs/day}$. The inhaler contains 120 puffs. To calculate the days supply, divide the total puffs by the daily usage: $120 \text{ puffs} \div 4 \text{ puffs/day} = 30 \text{ days}$.

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