Skip to main content
ExamWize
Sign up

ExCPT · 13% of the exam

Drugs and Drug Therapy practice questions

10 free Drugs and Drug Therapy questions for the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) exam, each with the correct answer and an explanation for every option.

Start the questionsFree 10-question ExCPT quiz

What this domain covers

Drug knowledge for technicians: names, classes, uses and common side effects of frequently dispensed medications.

Exam weight
13%
On a real exam
≈ 16 questions
In our bank
80 questions

Topics that come up most

  • Brand and generic names
  • Drug classes and indications
  • Common side effects
  • Over-the-counter products
  • Dosage forms

How to study it

Use flash cards grouped by class with one indication each; matching names to classes is the core skill.

Sample Drugs and Drug Therapy questions

Try each one before opening the answer. Original questions written to the official exam objectives.

  1. Question 1

    At what age does the CDC routinely recommend starting the HPV vaccine series?

    • A11–12 years
    • BBirth
    • C65 years
    • D30 years
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) 11–12 years

    • ACorrect. The CDC routinely recommends HPV vaccination at age 11–12 (it can start at 9).
    • BIncorrect. It is not given at birth.
    • CIncorrect. This is not the routine age.
    • DIncorrect. The routine age is much younger.

  2. Question 2

    Losartan belongs to a drug class commonly abbreviated as ARB. What does ARB stand for?

    • AAdrenergic receptor blocker
    • BAldosterone receptor blocker
    • CAngiotensin II receptor blocker
    • DAntihistamine receptor blocker
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Angiotensin II receptor blocker

    ARB stands for angiotensin II receptor blocker (also called an angiotensin II receptor antagonist). Losartan is one example.

    • AIncorrect. Drugs that block adrenergic receptors are usually called alpha blockers or beta blockers, not ARBs. Losartan does not work on adrenergic receptors.
    • BIncorrect. Aldosterone blockers are a different group of drugs. Losartan works at the angiotensin II receptor, and ARB is not the standard abbreviation for aldosterone blockers.
    • CCorrect. ARBs such as losartan (Cozaar) block angiotensin II, a substance that tightens blood vessels. This relaxes the vessels and lowers blood pressure.
    • DIncorrect. Antihistamines such as cetirizine block histamine to relieve allergy symptoms. They are not called ARBs, and losartan is not an antihistamine.

  3. Question 3

    Doxazosin belongs to which drug class?

    • AStatin
    • BBeta blocker
    • CCalcium channel blocker
    • DAlpha blocker
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) Alpha blocker

    • AIncorrect. Statins end in -statin.
    • BIncorrect. Beta blockers usually end in -olol.
    • CIncorrect. Examples include amlodipine.
    • DCorrect. Doxazosin is an alpha-1 blocker used for blood pressure and BPH.

  4. Question 4

    A patient taking an MAO inhibitor should avoid foods high in tyramine, such as aged cheese. Why?

    • ARisk of low blood sugar
    • BA blood pressure spike
    • CRisk of a mild skin rash only
    • DNo risk at all
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) A blood pressure spike

    • AIncorrect. This is not the main concern.
    • BCorrect. Tyramine with an MAOI can cause a dangerous spike in blood pressure.
    • CIncorrect. The main risk is blood pressure.
    • DIncorrect. The interaction is serious.

  5. Question 5

    Drugs ending in "-sartan," such as valsartan, belong to which class?

    • AACE inhibitors
    • BARBs
    • CBeta blockers
    • DStatins
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) ARBs

    • AIncorrect. These end in -pril.
    • BCorrect. -sartan drugs are angiotensin II receptor blockers.
    • CIncorrect. These end in -olol.
    • DIncorrect. These end in -statin.

  6. Question 6

    A patient with hypothyroidism has a prescription for levothyroxine. Which brand-name product contains this drug?

    • ACytomel
    • BTapazole
    • CSynthroid
    • DToprol XL
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Synthroid

    Levothyroxine is sold under brand names such as Synthroid. It replaces the thyroid hormone the body normally makes in patients with hypothyroidism.

    • AIncorrect. Cytomel is a brand of liothyronine, a different thyroid hormone (T3).
    • BIncorrect. Tapazole is a brand of methimazole, which treats an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).
    • CCorrect. Synthroid is a brand of levothyroxine, which replaces thyroid hormone in hypothyroidism.
    • DIncorrect. Toprol XL is a brand of extended-release metoprolol, a beta blocker.

  7. Question 7

    Drugs whose names end in '-dronate,' such as alendronate, are used mainly to treat which condition, and how do they work?

    • AOsteoporosis, by slowing the breakdown of bone
    • BHypertension, by blocking angiotensin conversion
    • CType 2 diabetes, by lowering liver glucose output
    • DHigh cholesterol, by blocking cholesterol synthesis
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Osteoporosis, by slowing the breakdown of bone

    The '-dronate' suffix marks bisphosphonates such as alendronate. They prevent bone breakdown and increase bone density, which is why they are used for osteoporosis.

    • ACorrect. Alendronate is a bisphosphonate. It prevents bone breakdown and increases bone density, so it is used to treat and prevent osteoporosis (and Paget's disease of bone). Patients take it on an empty stomach with a full glass of plain water and stay upright for at least 30 minutes.
    • BIncorrect. Blocking angiotensin conversion describes ACE inhibitors, whose names end in '-pril' (e.g., lisinopril). '-dronate' drugs act on bone.
    • CIncorrect. Lowering the liver's glucose output describes metformin. Bisphosphonates do not treat diabetes.
    • DIncorrect. Blocking cholesterol synthesis describes statins, whose names end in '-statin'. '-dronate' drugs treat bone loss.

  8. Question 8

    A very common side effect of opioid pain medicines is:

    • ADiarrhea
    • BConstipation
    • CWeight gain from fluid
    • DIncreased alertness
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Constipation

    • AIncorrect. Opioids slow the bowel.
    • BCorrect. Patients may need a bowel regimen.
    • CIncorrect. Constipation is most common.
    • DIncorrect. They cause drowsiness.

  9. Question 9

    What is the generic name of Lasix?

    • AFurosemide
    • BHydrochlorothiazide
    • CSpironolactone
    • DLisinopril
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Furosemide

    • ACorrect. Lasix is furosemide, a loop diuretic.
    • BIncorrect. That is a thiazide diuretic.
    • CIncorrect. That is Aldactone.
    • DIncorrect. That is an ACE inhibitor.

  10. Question 10

    A patient mentions she recently started taking St. John's wort, an herbal supplement. Which of her prescription medications is most likely to become less effective as a result?

    • AMetformin
    • BLisinopril
    • COral contraceptives
    • DAmoxicillin
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Oral contraceptives

    St. John's wort induces drug-metabolizing enzymes and can reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives. Patients should tell their prescriber and may need a backup birth control method.

    • AIncorrect. Metformin is not processed by the liver enzymes that St. John's wort speeds up, so it is not a classic St. John's wort interaction.
    • BIncorrect. Lisinopril leaves the body largely unchanged through the kidneys. It is not a known example of a drug that St. John's wort makes less effective.
    • CCorrect. MedlinePlus lists St. John's wort as an herbal product that interacts with oral contraceptives. It speeds up how fast the hormones are broken down, which can lower contraceptive effectiveness and cause breakthrough bleeding or unintended pregnancy.
    • DIncorrect. Amoxicillin is mostly cleared by the kidneys and is not a classic St. John's wort interaction.

Drugs and Drug Therapy: FAQs

How much of the ExCPT exam is Drugs and Drug Therapy?

Drugs and Drug Therapy is 13% of the ExCPT exam by the official exam guide's weighting, which on a 120-question form works out to roughly 16 questions. The real exam's exact split varies by form.

What does the Drugs and Drug Therapy domain cover?

Drug knowledge for technicians: names, classes, uses and common side effects of frequently dispensed medications.

How should I study Drugs and Drug Therapy for ExCPT?

Use flash cards grouped by class with one indication each; matching names to classes is the core skill.

Where can I practise more Drugs and Drug Therapy questions?

This page has 10 free Drugs and Drug Therapy questions with answers. The ExamWize ExCPT question bank has 80 questions in this domain. Every practice exam result breaks your score down by domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

Other ExCPT topics

Also: 15 free questions across all topics, the ExCPT cheat sheet and the study guide.

Get Drugs and Drug Therapy exam-ready

The full ExCPT bank has 80 Drugs and Drug Therapy questions. Timed practice exams match the real exam's length and domain weights, every result shows your score per domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

See the full ExCPT practice examsTake the free diagnostic

Not affiliated with NHA; questions are original, written from the official exam outline, and never copied from the real exam.