Medications
Core concepts
Candidates must distinguish generic name, brand name, active ingredient, dosage form, route, and release mechanism. Learn common therapeutic classes and stems (e.g., -olol beta blockers, -pril ACE inhibitors, -statin HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, -sartan ARBs) and match them to monitored risks: blood pressure, heart rate, renal function, bleeding, hypoglycemia. Understand bioavailability and bioequivalence; an AB-rated generic is generally substitutable, but not every same-ingredient product is interchangeable.
Traps
Questions often swap therapeutic class with pharmacologic effect, or ask about a sound-alike/look-alike pair. Watch narrow therapeutic index drugs (warfarin, levothyroxine, digoxin, phenytoin) and modified-release products. Metoprolol tartrate is immediate-release; metoprolol succinate is extended-release-same base drug, different product. Also separate adverse effect from allergy and interaction from contraindication.
Worked example
A prescription is written for “Synthroid 50 mcg po daily.” The shelf has levothyroxine 50 mcg. Levothyroxine is the generic active ingredient, but levothyroxine is narrow therapeutic index and brand-to-generic switches may require prescriber approval and monitoring. Do not auto-substitute just because the ingredient matches; verify the order, product, and state substitution rules.
Rule of thumb
Same active ingredient ≠ automatically interchangeable. Check dose form, release mechanism, bioequivalence rating, and patient-specific monitoring.