PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician (PTCE)Patient Safety and Quality AssuranceHard
A pharmacy technician is reviewing a patient's medication profile and notices that the patient is prescribed both a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and an antacid. The patient's chart indicates recurring symptoms of GERD. What potential issue should the technician be MOST concerned about in terms of medication effectiveness?
- AReduced absorption of the PPI due to antacid interference.
- BIncreased risk of kidney stones due to altered pH.
- CIncreased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding with concurrent use.
- DEnhanced absorption of the PPI leading to toxicity.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Reduced absorption of the PPI due to antacid interference.
Many PPIs are enteric-coated to protect them from stomach acid and ensure they are absorbed in the small intestine. Antacids raise the gastric pH, which can prematurely dissolve the enteric coating of a PPI, leading to its degradation in the stomach and significantly reducing its bioavailability and effectiveness. This is a common and important drug interaction.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. While altered pH can affect some drug-related issues, this is not the primary concern for this specific interaction.
- C. While some GI medications can affect bleeding risk, this specific interaction between a PPI and antacid does not primarily increase GI bleeding directly through their interaction mechanism.
- D. Antacids typically reduce, not enhance, the absorption of PPIs, especially those with enteric coatings.
PPI-Antacid Interaction
Antacids can reduce the effectiveness of many proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) by prematurely dissolving their enteric coating.
- PPIs often have enteric coatings.
- Antacids increase gastric pH.
- Reduced PPI absorption means less therapeutic effect.
Memory trick: Antacids Block PPI's Power, Don't Take Them in the Same Hour!