Published: 6 December 2019

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Quiz answers

Prescriber Update 40(4): 93
December 2019

1. True or False: Paraffin-based emollients are flammable.
   
   Answer: False. Paraffin-based emollients are not themselves flammable. Clothing, bedding or medical dressings covered in paraffin-based emollients are at risk of catching fire and are the main hazard. (June 2019)
2. In general, it is safe to consume how much liquorice per day?
   1. 10 g
   2. 60 g
   3. 200 g
   4. more than 200 g
   
   Answer: b. It’s safe to consume 60–70g of liquorice per day. (December 2019)
3. Hepatotoxicity is a significant risk of harm with vildagliptin. Liver function tests should be performed:
   1. before starting treatment, and as required if symptoms of liver toxicity occur
   2. before starting treatment and once during the first year of treatment
   3. before starting treatment and once per year for the first two years of treatment
   4. before starting treatment, at 3-monthly intervals during the first year of treatment, and periodically thereafter
   
   Answer: d. Liver function tests should be performed before starting treatment with vildagliptin, at 3-monthly intervals during the first year of treatment, and periodically thereafter. (September 2019)
4. What is the term for the clump of tablets in the gut which may be seen after very large overdoses of modified-release paracetamol?
   
   Answer: A pharmacobezoar. With very large overdoses, the modified-release paracetamol tablets may form a clump (called a pharmacobezoar) in the gut, which can further delay absorption due to altered disintegration and dissolution properties of the clumped tablets. (March 2019)
5. Who is responsible for the content of data sheets and consumer medicine information?
   1. Pharmaceutical companies
   2. Medsafe
   3. PHARMAC
   4. All of the above
   
   Answer: a. Pharmaceutical companies are responsible for the content of data sheets and CMI, including keeping the information up-to-date. (September 2019)
6. Approximately how much of the active ingredient included in an eye drop reaches the systemic circulation?
   1. 10 percent
   2. 50 percent
   3. 80 percent
   4. 100 percent
   
   Answer: c. It is estimated that only 5–10 percent of the active medicine included in an eye drop remains in the eye, and up to 80 percent may reach the general circulation. (December 2019)
7. In healthy adults, the elimination half-life of zopiclone after a single dose is 5 hours. Approximately how much longer is it in patients with hepatic failure?
   1. no longer
   2. 3 hours
   3. 5 hours
   4. 7 hours
   
   Answer: d. In patients with hepatic failure, the elimination half-life of zopiclone is prolonged to nearly 12 hours (so is 7 hours longer than in healthy adults). (June 2019)
8. True or False: Low-dose vitamin K is an anticoagulant reversal agent for rivaroxaban.
   
   Answer: False. There is no anticoagulant reversal agent for rivaroxaban. (March 2019)
9. The requirements for a valid adverse drug reaction report are:
   1. suspect medicine, one patient identifier, reporter details
   2. one patient identifier, suspect medicine, suspected reaction, reporter details
   3. suspected reaction, suspect medicine, reporter details, patient’s name and date of birth
   4. reporter details, patient’s name and date of birth, suspected reaction
   
   Answer: b. The four requirements for a valid adverse drug reaction report are: one patient identifier (eg, name, initials, gender, date of birth, age), suspect medicine, suspected reaction, reporter details. (June 2019)
10. Some medicines have been associated with bullous pemphigoid. Name three of them.
    
    Answer: Bullous pemphigoid has been associated with penicillamine, furosemide, captopril, penicillin and its derivatives, sulfasalazine, topical fluorouracil, neuroleptics, loop diuretics, spironolactone, dipeptidyl peptidase inhibitors (eg, vildagliptin, sitagliptin, saxagliptin). (March 2019)