Mongolia Pharmacist Licensing Exam flashcards

36 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Henderson–Hasselbalch equation

pH = pKa + log([base]/[acid]). A drug is half ionized at its pKa; each pH unit above pKa makes a weak acid ten times more ionized.

Lipinski rule of five

Oral drug-likeness criteria: molecular weight ≤500, logP ≤5, hydrogen-bond donors ≤5, acceptors ≤10. Two or more violations predict poor oral absorption.

Prodrug

An inactive chemical derivative converted in the body to the active drug. Ester prodrugs such as enalapril improve absorption or extend duration of action.

CYP3A4 inhibition

CYP3A4 metabolizes about half of marketed drugs. Inhibitors such as ketoconazole, erythromycin, and grapefruit raise substrate levels and toxicity risk.

Phase II conjugation

Metabolic reactions attaching glucuronic acid, sulfate, acetate, or glutathione to a drug. Products are more water soluble and more readily excreted.

Enantiomers

Mirror-image stereoisomers with identical physicochemical properties but different receptor binding and metabolism; thalidomide enantiomers differ in sedation and teratogenicity.

Morphine source

A phenanthrene opium alkaloid from Papaver somniferum, richest in the unripe capsule latex. It acts at mu-opioid receptors and causes respiratory depression.

Digoxin mechanism

A cardiac glycoside from Digitalis lanata that inhibits Na+/K+-ATPase, raising intracellular calcium and contractility. It has a narrow therapeutic index.

Artemisinin

A sesquiterpene lactone from Artemisia annua with an endoperoxide bridge activated in the parasite. It is used in combination therapy to prevent resistance.

St John's wort interaction

Hypericum perforatum induces CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein, lowering levels of oral contraceptives, warfarin, ciclosporin, and some antiretrovirals.

Standardized herbal extract

An extract adjusted to a stated marker-compound content. Standardization ensures chemical consistency, not proven bioequivalence or interchangeable clinical effect.

Absolute bioavailability

F = (AUC_oral × Dose_IV) / (AUC_IV × Dose_oral). It compares systemic exposure from a non-intravenous route with intravenous dosing.

First-pass metabolism

Hepatic metabolism of an orally absorbed drug before it reaches systemic circulation. It lowers oral bioavailability; sublingual and intravenous routes bypass it.

Flocculated suspension

A suspension in which particles form loose aggregates. It settles rapidly but redisperses easily on shaking, unlike deflocculated systems that can cake.

Autoclave sterilization

Terminal steam sterilization at 121 °C for 15–20 minutes at about 15 psi. Heat-labile solutions instead require 0.22 µm membrane filtration.

Sodium chloride equivalent

The mass of NaCl producing the same osmotic effect as one gram of drug. It is used to calculate tonicity-adjusting excipient amounts in compounded solutions.

Alligation method

An arithmetic technique mixing two known concentrations to obtain a required intermediate strength. It gives the ratio of the two components to combine.

Half-life equation

t1/2 = 0.693 × Vd / CL. Half-life determines time to steady state, which is reached after roughly four to five half-lives.

Loading dose formula

Loading dose = (Vd × target plasma concentration) / bioavailability. It rapidly fills the volume of distribution when immediate therapeutic levels are needed.

Competitive antagonist

A drug binding reversibly at the agonist site. It shifts the agonist dose–response curve right but does not reduce the maximal response.

Warfarin mechanism

Warfarin inhibits vitamin K epoxide reductase, reducing synthesis of clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X. Effect is monitored with the INR.

Metformin caution

First-line therapy for type 2 diabetes that lowers hepatic glucose output. It risks lactic acidosis in renal impairment and is withheld before contrast imaging.

Naloxone

A short-acting opioid receptor antagonist reversing opioid-induced respiratory depression. Repeat doses or infusion may be needed because its duration is shorter than many opioids.

Pharmaceutical care process

A cycle of assessment, care plan, and follow-up. The pharmacist identifies drug-related problems, sets goals, and monitors outcomes and adherence.

High-alert medications

Drugs carrying high risk of serious harm when misused, including insulin, heparin, concentrated potassium chloride, chemotherapy, and opioids. They need independent double-checks.

Inhaler counselling steps

Shake, exhale fully, actuate during a slow deep breath, hold about ten seconds, and rinse the mouth after corticosteroid inhalers to prevent candidiasis.

Medication reconciliation

Comparing a patient's pre-admission medicines with current orders at admission, transfer, and discharge to detect omissions, duplications, and dose errors.

Marketing authorization

Regulatory approval to market a medicine after review of quality, safety, and efficacy data. It precedes lawful manufacture, import, and sale.

Controlled drug records

Narcotic and psychotropic medicines require special prescribing, secure storage, and transaction records kept for the period set by national regulation.

Pharmacist licensure

Legal permission to practice pharmacy, granted after recognized qualification and registration. Dispensing without a valid license is prohibited.

ICER

Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio = (Cost_new − Cost_old) / (Effect_new − Effect_old). A negative ICER with better effect means the new therapy dominates.

EOQ formula

Economic order quantity = √(2DS/H), where D is annual demand, S ordering cost, and H annual holding cost per unit. It minimizes total ordering and holding costs.

Cold chain

Validated storage and transport, typically 2–8 °C, for vaccines and biologics. Continuous temperature monitoring and documented excursion handling preserve potency.

Type B adverse reaction

An idiosyncratic, unpredictable reaction not explained by the drug's known pharmacology, such as penicillin anaphylaxis. It is often serious and unrelated to dose.

Naranjo scale

A structured ten-item questionnaire scoring the probability that a drug caused an adverse event, classifying causality as definite, probable, possible, or doubtful.

Paracetamol antidote

N-acetylcysteine replenishes glutathione and detoxifies the reactive metabolite NAPQI. It is most effective when given early after paracetamol overdose.