PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician (PTCE)Order Entry and ProcessingMedium
A patient brings in a prescription for "Lisinopril 10 mg #30, Sig: 1 po qd." The pharmacy only has Lisinopril 20 mg tablets in stock. What is the appropriate action for the pharmacy technician to take?
- ADispense 30 tablets of Lisinopril 20 mg and tell the patient to take it as prescribed.
- BCall the prescriber to clarify if a 20 mg tablet can be used and if the dose should be cut.
- CInform the patient that the pharmacy does not have the medication and they need to go elsewhere.
- DDispense 15 tablets of Lisinopril 20 mg with instructions to take half a tablet daily.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Call the prescriber to clarify if a 20 mg tablet can be used and if the dose should be cut.
A pharmacy technician should never make clinical decisions or alter a prescription without prescriber authorization. The appropriate action is to contact the prescriber to confirm if the 20 mg strength can be substituted and how the dosing should be adjusted.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Dispensing a higher strength without authorization is a medication error.
- C. While an option, it's not the first course of action; attempting to resolve the issue with the prescriber is preferred.
- D. This involves a clinical decision (changing strength and dose) which a technician cannot make.
Prescription Clarification Protocol
The standard procedure for pharmacy staff to follow when encountering ambiguities, discrepancies, or issues with a prescription that prevent it from being filled as written.
- Technicians cannot make clinical judgments or alter prescriptions.
- Any changes require prescriber authorization.
- Documentation of communication is essential.
Memory trick: When in doubt, Call the Doctor Out!