Compounding, the age-old art and science of preparing personalized medications, remains a crucial aspect of modern pharmacy practice. For PharmD students, understanding compounding principles is essential for delivering patient-centered care, especially when commercial products don’t meet specific patient needs. This quiz will test your knowledge of the fundamental concepts, techniques, and historical significance of pharmaceutical compounding.
- What is the primary definition of pharmaceutical compounding?
- Mass production of generic medications.
- The creation of commercial drug products for general sale.
- The preparation of a customized medication to meet an individual patient’s specific needs.
- The process of repackaging drugs into smaller quantities.
- Which of the following is a key reason for compounding a medication?
- To reduce the cost of commercially available drugs.
- To create a dosage form not commercially available (e.g., liquid for a child).
- To increase the shelf life of a drug.
- To bypass regulatory approval processes.
- The “Art of Compounding” historically refers to the pharmacist’s skill in:
- Marketing and sales.
- Diagnosing illnesses.
- Meticulously preparing and formulating medicines by hand.
- Managing large pharmacy chains.
- What does “extemporaneous compounding” mean?
- Preparing medications in large batches in advance.
- Compounding only sterile preparations.
- Preparing a medication on demand, at the time of dispensing.
- Compounding solely with natural ingredients.
- Which of the following scenarios would most likely necessitate pharmaceutical compounding?
- A patient needs a common tablet in its original form.
- A patient is allergic to a non-active ingredient in a commercial product.
- A patient requires a higher dose than the maximum commercially available tablet.
- A patient requests a medication that is out of stock.
- The “Scoville, WL. The Art of Compounding” reading likely provides insights into:
- Modern automated compounding techniques.
- Traditional compounding methods and principles.
- The legal regulations of compounding in the 21st century.
- The history of industrial pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- What is “trituration” in compounding?
- Dissolving a solid in a liquid.
- Grinding a solid substance to a fine powder, often with a mortar and pestle.
- Mixing two liquids vigorously.
- Heating ingredients to form a solution.
- When compounding a suspension, what is the primary goal?
- To create a clear, homogeneous solution.
- To uniformly disperse a solid drug throughout a liquid vehicle.
- To form a stable emulsion.
- To ensure rapid dissolution of the drug.
- A “levigating agent” is used in compounding to:
- Increase the solubility of a drug.
- Reduce the particle size of a powder by grinding it with a liquid.
- Enhance the taste of a preparation.
- Act as a preservative.
- What is a “base” in the context of compounding ointments and creams?
- The active pharmaceutical ingredient.
- The liquid used for dilution.
- The vehicle that carries the active ingredient and provides consistency.
- The flavoring agent.
- Beyond-Use Date (BUD) in compounding refers to:
- The manufacturer’s expiration date.
- The date after which the compounded preparation should not be used.
- The date the prescription was filled.
- The date the ingredients were received.
- What is “geometric dilution” in compounding?
- Diluting a potent substance by adding it all at once to the diluent.
- A technique for mixing a small amount of potent drug with a large amount of diluent to ensure uniform distribution.
- Mixing equal parts of two different solutions.
- Diluting a liquid by adding water until a specific volume is reached.
- What is the significance of “Materia Medica” in the history of compounding?
- It refers to the legal framework for pharmacy.
- It is a historical term for the study of medicinal substances and their properties.
- It describes the financial aspects of a pharmacy.
- It’s an ancient compounding technique.
- Which of the following quality control measures is most fundamental to compounding accurate preparations?
- Relying solely on visual inspection.
- Accurate weighing and measuring of ingredients.
- Estimating ingredient quantities.
- Using expired chemicals.
- What is a “capsule shell” made of?
- Glass.
- Gelatin or cellulose.
- Metal.
- Plastic.
- Why is proper “labeling” crucial for compounded preparations?
- To make the product look aesthetically pleasing.
- To comply with marketing regulations.
- To provide essential information for safe and effective use, including beyond-use date.
- To hide the ingredients from the patient.
- What did “emulsions” refer to in compounding?
- Solid, hard pills.
- Dispersions of two immiscible liquids, stabilized by an emulsifying agent.
- Fine powders.
- Sterile injectable solutions.
- The “USP Chapter 795” provides standards for which type of compounding?
- Sterile compounding.
- Non-sterile compounding.
- Radiopharmaceutical compounding.
- Veterinary compounding exclusively.
- What is the purpose of a “suspending agent” in a compounded liquid?
- To sweeten the preparation.
- To prevent the settling of solid particles in a liquid.
- To increase drug solubility.
- To provide antimicrobial properties.
- When formulating a medication for a pediatric patient, what is a common consideration that often leads to compounding?
- Their preference for large tablets.
- The need for specific flavors or liquid dosage forms.
- Their ability to swallow any dosage form.
- Their requirement for high adult doses.
- What is the primary aim of “Good Compounding Practices (GCP)”?
- To ensure rapid compounding turnaround time.
- To ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of compounded preparations.
- To maximize profit margins.
- To simplify the compounding process.
- What does “trituration” aim to achieve in terms of particle size?
- Increase particle size.
- Reduce particle size to a uniform, fine powder.
- Create irregular particle shapes.
- Cause particles to clump together.
- What is a “diluent” in compounding?
- An active ingredient.
- A substance used to increase the bulk or volume of a preparation.
- A flavoring agent.
- A preservative.
- When preparing a cream, what characteristic is desirable for the final product?
- Separation of layers.
- Gritty texture.
- Smooth and homogeneous consistency.
- Rapid evaporation.
- Which historical invention significantly reduced the need for pharmacists to compound all medications from raw materials?
- The printing press.
- The individual capsule filler.
- Industrial-scale drug manufacturing.
- The microscope.
- What is the “Art of Compounding” often contrasted with in modern pharmacy?
- Patient counseling.
- Clinical research.
- Mass production and commercial drug manufacturing.
- Pharmacy management.
- What did “decoctions” involve in historical compounding?
- Mixing dry powders.
- Boiling herbal materials in water to extract active ingredients.
- Preparing sterile injections.
- Coating pills.
- What is a “vehicle” in a liquid compounded preparation?
- The flavoring agent.
- The solvent or carrier in which the drug is dissolved or suspended.
- The active ingredient.
- The preservative.
- The principle of “first-pass metabolism” can influence the choice of dosage form in compounding, especially for which route of administration?
- Topical.
- Oral.
- Rectal.
- Intravenous.
- What type of water is generally preferred for aqueous-based compounded non-sterile preparations?
- Tap water.
- Distilled or purified water.
- Saline solution.
- Mineral water.
- What does the “Art of Compounding, Materia Medica” lecture cover?
- Sterile product preparation.
- Traditional compounding techniques and medicinal substances.
- Pharmaceutical business management.
- Drug regulatory affairs.
- When compounding, why is “proper attire” (e.g., lab coat, gloves) important?
- To look professional.
- To prevent contamination of the preparation and protect the compounder.
- To distinguish pharmacists from other healthcare professionals.
- To keep warm in the laboratory.
- What is “spatulation” in compounding?
- Weighing ingredients precisely.
- Mixing powders or semi-solids on a flat surface using a spatula.
- Dissolving solids in a liquid.
- Grinding solids in a mortar.
- The phrase “beyond-use date” reflects a focus on what in compounded medications?
- Their manufacturing cost.
- Their chemical and physical stability after preparation.
- Their advertising claims.
- Their market demand.
- What is the primary advantage of compounding for patients with rare diseases?
- It makes common drugs cheaper.
- It allows for access to medications not commercially available for their specific condition.
- It speeds up the drug approval process.
- It eliminates the need for a prescription.
- What does “diluting” a concentrated stock solution involve in compounding?
- Increasing its strength.
- Decreasing its strength by adding a diluent.
- Heating it to evaporate the solvent.
- Adding active ingredients to it.
- The “Pharmacy Laboratory Dr. Foote (Compounding Technique)” video would likely demonstrate:
- Modern automated dispensing systems.
- Hands-on historical compounding methods.
- Clinical patient assessment skills.
- Pharmaceutical research experiments.
- When compounding a topical preparation, why is the “absorption rate” through the skin an important consideration?
- It affects the taste of the preparation.
- It influences the systemic effect and local duration of action.
- It determines the color of the cream.
- It dictates the type of container.
- What is the primary role of “quality assurance” in compounding?
- To minimize the time spent on preparation.
- To ensure the compounded product meets specified standards for identity, strength, quality, and purity.
- To maximize the volume of production.
- To reduce the need for accurate measurements.
- “Capsules” are a solid dosage form commonly compounded to:
- Be swallowed whole.
- Deliver drugs intravenously.
- Be inhaled directly into the lungs.
- Be applied as a topical cream.
- What is an “excipient” in compounding?
- The active drug substance.
- A non-medicinal ingredient added to a formulation.
- A contaminant.
- A flavoring that is also an active ingredient.
- The use of “dosage calculations” in compounding is critical for ensuring:
- The aesthetic appeal of the final product.
- The correct amount of active ingredient is in the preparation.
- Rapid dissolution of the drug.
- Easy packaging.
- Why is “patient counseling” important for compounded medications?
- Compounded medications always taste bad.
- Patients may not be familiar with the unique dosage form or administration instructions.
- Compounded medications are less effective than commercial ones.
- Compounding is a new concept for most patients.
- What does “levigation” often involve when preparing ointments?
- Heating the ingredients until they boil.
- Rubbing a solid material in a mortar with a small amount of liquid to form a smooth paste.
- Shaking a liquid vigorously.
- Filtering the final product.
- What is a “master formulation record” in compounding?
- A patient’s prescription order.
- A document outlining the step-by-step procedure for preparing a specific compounded medication.
- A list of all ingredients available in the pharmacy.
- A record of all medications dispensed in a day.
- When compounding a sterile preparation, what additional environmental control is critical compared to non-sterile compounding?
- A clean, open workbench.
- A laminar airflow workbench or isolator.
- A dusty room.
- A well-ventilated laboratory.
- What is the primary purpose of an “ointment mill” in modern compounding?
- To weigh ingredients.
- To blend and reduce particle size of solids in an ointment base, creating a smoother product.
- To heat ointments.
- To store ointments.
- What is “comminution” in general pharmaceutical terms?
- The process of dissolving a substance.
- The process of reducing the particle size of a substance.
- The process of mixing liquids.
- The process of sterilizing equipment.
- Why is “cleanliness” paramount in a compounding area?
- To make the area look tidy.
- To prevent contamination of compounded preparations.
- To impress inspectors.
- To prolong the life of equipment.
- What is a “suppository” as a dosage form?
- A liquid medication for oral use.
- A solid body designed for insertion into a body orifice (e.g., rectum, vagina) where it melts or dissolves.
- A topical patch.
- An inhaled powder.
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com