Pharmacy Practice: Dosage Forms, Administration, and Pharmacokinetics Study Guide

Pharmacy Theory Midterm Exam Review

Review of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, routes of drug administration, and non-medicinal ingredients including various types of water.

• Pharmacology
• Pharmacokinetics
• Absorption
• Distribution
• Metabolism
• Elimination
• First Pass Effect
• Local Effect
• Systemic Effect
• Adverse Effect
• Drug Interaction
• Onset of Action
• Duration of Action
• Non-Medicinal Ingredients
• Purified Water, USP
• Sterile Water for Irrigation
• Water for Injection
• Sterile Water for Injection
• Bacteriostatic Water for Injection

• Fundamentals of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Water Types

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Pharmacy Pharmacology Routes of Administration Review

This review covers various routes of administration including oral, sublingual, buccal, ophthalmic, otic, nasal, respiratory, topical, transdermal, and rectal routes.

• Oral administration
• Sublingual route administration
• Ophthalmic route administration
• Otic route administration
• Nasal route administration
• Respiratory route administration
• Topical route administration
• Transdermal route administration
• Rectal route administration
• First pass effect
• Drug absorption factors
• Systemic vs local effects
• Dosage forms

Routes of Administration and Dosage Forms

Overview of various routes of administration including rectal, vaginal, urethral, and parenteral routes along with their respective dosage forms and effects.

• Rectal Route
• Vaginal Route
• Urethral Route
• Parenteral Route
• Intravenous Route
• Intramuscular Route
• Subcutaneous Route
• Intra-articular Route
• Dosage Forms
• Pharmacokinetics
• Systemic Effect
• Local Effect
• First Pass Metabolism
• Thrombosis
• Infection Risks

Overview of Solid Dosage Forms

This document explores various solid dosage forms including powders, granules, capsules, tablets, lozenges, and pills, detailing their types, advantages, disadvantages, packaging, and administration.

• Regular Release vs. Modified Release
• Extended-Release (ER)
• Controlled-Release (CR)
• Sustained-Release (SR)
• Enteric-Coated (EC)
• Solid Dosage Forms
• Powders
• Granules
• Capsules
• Hard Gelatin Capsules
• Soft Gelatin Capsules
• Tablets
• Compressed Tablets
• Triturates
• Sugar Coated Tablets
• Film Coated Tablets
• Chewable Tablets
• Buccal and Sublingual Tablets
• Effervescent Tablets
• Immediate Release Tablets

Liquid Dosage Forms and Dispersion Systems

An overview of liquid dosage forms including solutions, dispersion systems, syrups, elixirs, tinctures, collodions, liniments, spirits, suspensions, and emulsions.

• Liquid Dosage Forms
• Solutions
• Dispersion Systems
• Simple Solutions
• Elixirs
• Tinctures
• Collodions
• Liniments
• Spirits
• Suspensions
• Emulsions
• Oil in water (O/W)
• Water in oil (W/O)
• Solvents
• Emulsifying agents

Semi-Solid and Transdermal Dosage Forms

This topic covers the description, packaging, administration, and comparison of semi-solid preparations including foams, ointments, creams, pastes, gels, and plasters, as well as transdermal drug delivery systems.

• Foams packaging and administration
• Occlusion in topical dosage forms
• Ointment bases and selection criteria
• Cream advantages and disadvantages
• Paste consistency and levigating agents
• Gel dispersion and concentration
• Plasters for long contact
• Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) components
• Percutaneous absorption
• First-pass effect avoidance
• Topical preparation spreadability

Respiratory Dosage Forms and Administration

Information regarding respiratory dosage forms including aerosols, metered dose inhalers, spacers, dry powder inhalers, and nebulized solutions.

• Respiratory dosage forms
• Aerosols
• Metered dose inhalers (MDI)
• Propellants
• Hydrofluoro-alkanes (HFA)
• Priming
• Spacers
• Dry powder inhalers (DPI)
• Nebulized solutions
• Nebulizer care
• Administration techniques

Suppositories Description, Types, and Administration

Suppositories are solid forms intended for administration into the rectal, vaginal or urethral orifices using fatty, water-soluble, or water-miscible bases.

• Suppository classification
• Fatty/Oleaginous bases
• Water-soluble and water-miscible bases
• Bypassing portal circulation
• Lipid-water partition coefficient
• Suppository packaging and storage
• Cocoa butter base storage
• Glycerin base hygroscopic nature
• PEG base storage

Pharmacy Dispensing and Drug Stability

This content covers the dispensing process, parenteral dosage forms, drug interchangeability, and factors affecting drug stability and packaging.

• Suppositories administration
• Enema description
• Vaginal creams and ovules
• Vaginal rings and solutions
• Parenteral dosage forms
• Drug interchangeability
• Pharmaceutical care
• Extemporaneous compounding
• Sterile compounding
• Dispensing process workflow
• Prescription assessment
• Patient profile maintenance
• Allergy alerts and drug interactions
• Third-party billing adjudication
• Packaging procedures
• Drug stability types
• Chemical, physical, and microbiologic stability
• Shelf life and expiry dates
• Storage conditions
• Photodegradation

Interpreting Prescriptions and Patient Directions

Review activity for interpreting prescriptions and translating sig into patient directions according to course guidelines.

• Interpreting Prescriptions
• Translating sig into patient directions
• Therapeutic class lookup

Interpreting Medical Prescription Abbreviations

Examples of medical prescriptions including dosage, frequency, and administration instructions using common abbreviations.

• Dosage instructions
• Prescription abbreviations
• Administration frequency
• Calculating days' supply
• Calculating total authorized quantity

Routes of Drug Administration and Dosage Forms

This module introduces pharmacy dispensing, drug definitions, dosage forms, routes of administration, and the principles of pharmacokinetics.

• Drug definition
• Dosage forms
• Routes of administration
• Local effect
• Systemic effect
• Pharmacokinetics
• Absorption
• Distribution
• Metabolism
• Elimination
• First-pass effect
• Adverse effects
• Drug interaction
• Onset of action
• Duration of action
• Reconstitution
• Active pharmaceutical ingredients
• Non-medicinal ingredients
• Sterility
• Particulate matter

• Routes of Drug Administration and Dosage Forms

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Pharmacy Theory Dosage Form Ingredients

This course package details stabilizing agents, base/form agents, coloring and flavouring agents, manufacturing agents, and water used as non-medicinal ingredients.

• Stabilizing agents
• Acidifying agents
• Alkalinizing agents
• Air displacement agents
• Preservatives
• Antioxidants
• Buffering agents
• Chelating agents
• Emulsifying agents
• Humectants
• Surfactants
• Suspending agents
• Base/Form agents
• Aerosol propellants
• Encapsulating agents
• Ointment bases
• Solvents
• Suppository bases
• Vehicles
• Coloring agents

Pharmacy Theory: Water Types and Administration Routes

This content details various types of water for injection and describes the different routes of drug administration and their corresponding dosage forms.

• Water for Injection
• Sterile Water for Injection
• Bacteriostatic Water for Injection
• Oral Route
• Sublingual Route
• Ophthalmic Route
• Otic Route
• Nasal Route
• Respiratory Route
• Topical Route
• Transdermal Route
• Rectal Route
• Vaginal Route
• Urethral Route
• Parenteral Route
• Intravenous Route
• Intramuscular Route
• Subcutaneous Route

Pharmacy Theory Dosage Forms

This content describes regular release and modified release dosage forms including powders, granules, capsules, tablets, liquid dosage forms, and dispersion systems.

• Regular release dosage forms
• Modified release dosage forms
• Extended-release (ER)
• Controlled-release (CR)
• Sustained-release (SR)
• Delayed-release
• Enteric-coated (EC) tablets
• Powders
• Granules
• Capsules
• Hard gelatin capsules
• Soft gelatin capsules
• Tablets
• Compressed tablets
• Sugar-coated tablets
• Film-coated tablets
• Chewable tablets
• Buccal and sublingual tablets
• Effervescent tablets
• Instantly disintegrating or dissolving tablets

Semi-Solid and Topical Dosage Forms

This topic covers semi-solid dosage forms including ointments, creams, pastes, plasters, gels, and transdermal patches used for topical application.

• Ointment bases
• Ointments
• Creams
• Pastes
• Plasters
• Lotions
• Gels
• Transdermal patches
• Systemic absorption
• Occlusive barrier
• Drug reservoir
• Topical dosage forms

Respiratory, Rectal, Vaginal, and Parenteral Dosage Forms

This text covers various dosage forms including intrarespiratory devices, rectal suppositories, vaginal products, parenteral preparations, and drug interchangeability.

• Intrarespiratory dosage forms
• Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI)
• Spacers
• Dry Powder Inhalers (DPI)
• Nebulized solutions
• Rectal dosage forms
• Suppositories
• Enemas
• Vaginal dosage forms
• Parenteral dosage forms
• Interchangeable products
• Pharmaceutical equivalent drugs
• Pharmaceutical alternative drugs
• Therapeutic equivalent drugs

Drug Stability and Storage Principles

This module covers drug stability, expiry dates, and the environmental factors and packaging materials that influence pharmaceutical product integrity.

• Shelf life
• Expiry date
• Drug stability
• Drug instability
• Chemical stability
• Physical stability
• Microbiologic stability
• Therapeutic stability
• Toxicological stability
• Hydrolysis
• Oxidation
• Photolysis
• Photodegradation
• Temperature control
• Humidity
• Absorption and adsorption
• Packaging materials
• Child-resistant packaging
• Tamper-evident packaging
• Reconstituted products

Common Sig Translations and Patient Directions

This document provides common sig translations for various routes and dosage forms to create patient directions.

• Sig translation
• Patient directions
• Oral route
• Sublingual route
• Ophthalmic administration
• Otic administration
• Nasal administration
• Respiratory administration
• Transdermal administration
• Rectal administration
• Vaginal administration
• Parenteral administration
• Acute vs. chronic therapy
• Dosage form terminology

Pharmacy Practice Framework and Legislation

Pharmacy practice is governed by a legislative framework consisting of acts, regulations, drug schedules, and regulatory body governance to ensure quality pharmacy practice, patient safety, and appropriate control of drug distribution.

• Jurisprudence
• Ethics
• Code of Ethics
• Legislation
• Act
• Regulation
• Schedule
• Standards of Practice
• Bylaw
• Policy
• Procedure
• Self-Regulation
• Regulatory Body Governance
• Federal Legislation
• Provincial Legislation
• Continuing Competence Program
• Canada Health Act
• Food and Drug Act
• Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
• Personal Information Protection & Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)

Pharmacy Licensing, Technology, and Quality Improvement

This content covers pharmacy licensing types, regulatory inspections, technological integration in pharmacy practice, and the Continuous Quality Improvement program.

• Community pharmacy license
• Mail order pharmacy license
• Compounding and repackaging pharmacy license
• Satellite pharmacy license
• Pharmacy inspections and assessments
• Disciplinary measures
• Lock and leave
• Real-Time Integration (RTI)
• Alberta Netcare
• Information management systems
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools
• Telepharmacy
• Remote dispensing systems
• Electronic prescribing systems
• Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI+)
• Practice incident
• Root cause analysis
• Just culture
• National Incident Data Repository (NIDR)

Alberta Pharmacy Regulation and TPP

This content covers the Tracked Prescription Program (TPP) Alberta, the Health Professions Act, and the regulated scopes of practice for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy assistants.

• Tracked Prescription Program (TPP)
• Monitored Medications Type 1 and Type 2
• TPP Secure Form (TPP Rx)
• Prescribing Authority
• Health Professions Act (HPA)
• Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP)
• Pharmacist Restricted Activities
• Pharmacy Technician Scope of Practice
• Direct and Indirect Supervision
• Pharmacy Assistant Roles
• Generic and Brand Name Substitution

Privacy Legislation and Pharmacy Professionalism

Pharmacy professionals must comply with legislation including the Health Information Act to protect patient privacy and confidentiality within the circle of care.

• Health Information Act (HIA)
• Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)
• Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP)
• Circle of care
• Custodians and Affiliates
• Implied and Expressed consent
• Privacy breach reporting
• Alberta Netcare
• ACP Code of Ethics

Professional Competencies for Pharmacy Technicians

This document outlines the NAPRA professional competencies, including key categories required for competent performance by pharmacy technicians at entry to practice.

• Providing Care: Clinical Care
• Providing Care: Distribution
• Knowledge and Expertise
• Communication and Collaboration
• Leadership and Stewardship
• Professionalism
• Patient information gathering
• Medication histories
• Prescription processing
• Compounding non-sterile and sterile preparations
• Pharmacy inventory management
• Evidence-informed decision making
• Professional development
• Patient privacy and confidentiality
• Ethical principles in practice
• Legislative and regulatory requirements

ACP Pharmacy Practice and Operational Standards

This document outlines the Alberta College of Pharmacy standards of practice for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and the standards for the operation of licensed pharmacies.

• Standards of Practice for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians
• Standards for the Operation of Licensed Pharmacies
• Person-Centred Care
• Professionalism and Leadership
• Communication and Collaboration
• Knowledge, Skills, and Judgement
• Public Health and Health Stewardship
• Continuous Quality Improvement
• Patient Assessment and Providing Care
• Drug Distribution and Compounding
• Practice Environment
• Drug Management and Licensure
• Information Management
• Governance and Administration
• Security and Loss Prevention
• Health Professions Act
• Pharmacy and Drug Act
• Health Information Act

Pharmacy Standards for POCT and Professional Conduct

Standards of practice for Point of Care Testing and regulations regarding sexual abuse and sexual misconduct for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

• Point of Care Testing (POCT)
• Analytical or diagnostic activities
• Capillary blood, saliva, or urine specimen collection
• Pharmacist and pharmacy technician responsibilities
• Informed consent
• POCT program management
• Pre-test assessment
• Post-test documentation and communication
• Strep Throat and Blood Glucose testing
• Sexual abuse and sexual misconduct
• Professional boundaries
• Health Professions Act (HPA)

Ethics in Pharmacy Practice

Laws and ethics govern human behavior and decision-making through moral principles, professional standards, and fiduciary relationships in health care.

• Laws and ethics
• Fiduciary relationship
• Code of ethics
• Ethical concepts and principles
• Values
• Autonomy
• Paternalism
• Beneficence
• Non-maleficence
• Justice
• Veracity
• Fidelity
• Privacy and confidentiality
• Proportionality
• Conflicts of interest
• Conscientious objection
• Informed consent
• Implied consent
• Expressed consent
• Decision-making capacity

Professionalism and Pharmacy Technician Practice

Regulated pharmacy technicians demonstrate professionalism through attitudes, values, behaviours, and skills to provide patient-centred care and optimize medication safety.

• Professionalism
• Patient-centred care
• Pharmacy technician scope of practice
• Regulation in Alberta
• Professionalism standards
• Competence
• Continuous learning
• Ethics
• Communication
• Accountability and responsibility
• Teamwork
• Self-management
• Critical thinking
• Confidentiality
• Tenets of professionalism
• Collaborator
• Active learner
• Leader

The Pharmacy Dispensing Process and Definitions

This module defines pharmaceutical care, the dispensing process, and key pharmacy terminology including medication adherence and extemporaneous compounding.

• Pharmaceutical care
• Dispensing
• Independent double check
• Medication adherence
• Compliance
• Extemporaneous compounding
• Over-the-counter (OTC) medication
• Audit trail
• Data entry
• Data verification
• Packaging verification
• Final verification

The Pharmacy Dispensing Process Overview

An overview of the entire dispensing process including steps for accepting prescriptions, performing data entry, and conducting verification procedures.

• The dispensing process
• Assessing prescription completeness and validity
• Data entry and patient profile updates
• Pharmacy abbreviations and drug database selection
• Calculating dose, quantity, and days' supply
• Third-party billing claim adjudication
• Packaging procedures and labeling
• Data verification and final verification
• Patient education and counseling
• Accepting prescriptions from new patients

Assessing and Documenting Pharmacy Prescriptions

Pharmacy technicians must assess prescriptions for completeness, validity, authenticity, and indication while documenting patient information and updating patient profiles.

• Prescription completeness and legal requirements
• Assessing prescription validity and authenticity
• Documenting prescription indication
• Collecting personal and health information
• Tracked Prescription Program (TPP) requirements
• Prescription formats
• Patient profile management
• Documenting prescription history
• Identifying new drugs and dose changes
• Dispensing software data entry

Pharmacy Dispensing and Prescription Processing Procedures

Procedures for selecting drugs from a database, calculating doses, verifying data, responding to allergy alerts, performing packaging, and releasing prescriptions to patients.

• Drug schedule determination
• Insurance benefit consultation
• Prescriber directory consultation
• Pricing structure verification
• Allergy alerts and drug interactions
• Data verification 7-point check
• Third-party billing claim adjudication
• Packaging and labeling standards
• Lot number and expiry date documentation
• Balance owing recording
• Wholesaler ordering
• Independent Double Check (IDC)
• Prescription filing and retention
• Patient identity confirmation
• Drug delivery device teaching

Reconstitution and Dosing of Antibiotic Suspensions

Instructions for the reconstitution of antibiotic suspensions and calculating appropriate doses based on patient weight and indication.

• reconstitution of antibiotic suspensions
• antibiotic suspension concentration
• dosage adjustment for pediatric patients
• weight-based dosing calculations
• converting pounds to kilograms
• comparing prescribed doses to usual dose ranges
• selecting appropriate pack size and concentration

Interpreting Prescriptions and Sig Translation

A guide to interpreting prescriptions, understanding the role of the prescriber, and applying guidelines for accurate Sig translation to ensure patient safety.

• Prescription definition
• Prescriber authorization
• Sig (Signa) components
• Sig translation guidelines
• Latin abbreviations and meanings
• Medication safety and error prevention
• Leading and trailing zeros
• Route of administration
• Dosage frequency
• Quantity and form

Calculating Quantity to Dispense

Calculating the quantity to dispense involves determining the number of units of a medication based on the prescription, daily dose, and days' supply.

• Calculating quantity to dispense
• Daily dose calculation
• Total authorized quantity
• Refills calculation
• Rounding guidelines
• Oral contraceptives dispensing
• Oral solutions and suspensions
• Reconstitution of liquid antibiotics

Calculating Quantity and Days' Supply

Instructions for calculating quantity to dispense and days' supply for various medication forms including eye and ear drops, nasal sprays, topicals, and oral contraceptives.

• Quantity to dispense calculation
• Days' supply calculation
• Eye and ear drops administration
• Nasal spray administration
• Rounding days' supply
• Maximum daily dose for quantity ranges
• Topical medication estimation
• Nitroglycerin sublingual administration
• Oral contraceptives packaging
• Infrequent dosing calculations

Pharmacy Regulatory Requirements and Drug Classifications

This document outlines the regulatory frameworks, including the Excise Act, Food and Drugs Act, and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, governing the production, distribution, and sale of various drug categories.

• Excise Act
• Food and Drugs Act and Regulations
• Prescription Drug List
• Prescribing Authority
• Labeling Restrictions
• Drug Samples
• Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA)
• Narcotic Drugs
• Verbal Prescription Narcotics
• Low-Dose Codeine Preparations
• Controlled Drugs Part I, II, and III
• Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances
• Precursor Drugs
• Cannabis Act
• Prescription Transmission and Refills
• Record-keeping and Filing Requirements
• Drug Destruction Protocols

Drug Abuse, Diversion, and Pharmacy Legislation

This topic covers drug abuse and diversion, including robbery, burglary, forgery, and doctoring, alongside provincial pharmacy legislation and licensing requirements.

• Drug abuse
• Drug diversion
• Drug diverter
• Burglary
• Prescription forgery
• Doctoring
• Illicit prescribing
• Indiscriminate prescribing
• Precursor diversion
• Pharmacy and Drug Act
• Licensed pharmacies
• Restricted activities

Drug Schedules and NAPRA Recommendations

This module covers Alberta drug schedules, NAPRA recommendations, and specific inclusion criteria for scheduled and unscheduled drugs.

• NAPRA National Drug Schedule Model
• Schedule Exceptions
• Schedule 1 inclusion criteria
• Schedule 2 requirements
• Schedule 3 requirements
• Unscheduled drug criteria
• Federal legislation and provincial regulatory authorities
• Professional intervention and pharmacist consultation
• Drug advertising restrictions
• Documentation for Schedule 2 drug sales