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Impossible Drug Salts Trivia Quiz

Some drugs appear as "standalone" molecules (like finasteride or clozapine), but many have salt components. Note that the term "salt" in this quiz is used in the pharmacy sense, not in the strict chemistry sense. All questions use U.S. terminology.

A multiple-choice quiz by celicadriver. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
celicadriver

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
363,179

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
961

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Controlled substances: Which of these salts belongs with the drug hydrocodone? Hint

Sulfate

Bitartrate

Hydrochloride

Fumarate

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Question 2 of 10

2. Anticoagulants: What is the correct generic name for the brand name drug Pradaxa? Hint

Dabigatran sodium succinate

Dabigatran fosamil besylate

Dabigatran etexilate mesylate

Dabigatran etixilate medoxomil

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Antibiotics: Which of the following pairs of salts matches the drug base doxycycline? Hint

Maleate and acetonide

Hydrobromide and propionate

Hyclate and monohydrate

Acetate and gluconate

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Question 4 of 10

4. Immunosuppressants: What drug takes mofetil as its salt? Hint

Cyclosporine

Tacrolimus

Mycophenolate

Everolimus

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Question 5 of 10

5. Cardiovascular system agents: Referring to therapeutic compounds available on the market, the isosorbide base matches which of the following salts? Hint

Mononitrate and dinitrate

Dinitrate and trinitrate

Mononitrate only

Tetranitrate only

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Question 6 of 10

6. Common salts: About a zillion drugs take hydrochloride as their salt, but which of these does NOT? Hint

Vancomycin injection

Clindamycin injection

Labetalol tablets

Chlordiazepozide capsules

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Question 7 of 10

7. Odd one out: Three of these drug molecules do not have salts attached to them. Which one DOES have one or more additional components as part of its generic name? Hint

Lubiprostone

Armodafinil

Esomeprazole

Eptifibitide

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Antihyperlipidemic agents: Of the following pairs of drugs, which BOTH take calcium as a salt? Hint

Atorvastatin and pravastatin

Pravastatin and simvastatin

Atorvastatin and rosuvastatin

Lovastatin and rosuvastatin

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Compounded molecules: Identify the drug whose compounded molecule can also be used in a solution to treat severe metabolic acidosis. Hint

Piroxicam

Meloxicam

Ketorolac

Etodolac

10. Respiratory medications: The potency of some drugs (e.g. calcium, zinc, erythromycin) may be expressed as the weight of the drug base or as the weight of the drug and its salt combined. Albuterol 0.083% nebulizer solution (expressed as a percentage of albuterol base) is equivalent to what strength of albuterol sulfate (in terms of milligrams in milliliters)? Hint

4.15 mg/3 mL

3 mg/3 mL

2.5 mg/0.5 mL

4.15 mg/mL

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Controlled substances: Which of these salts belongs with the drug hydrocodone?

Answer: Bitartrate

Another drug that takes the bitartrate salt is norepinephrine (brand name Levophed).

Hydrocodone preparations are on the Drug Enforcement Administration's schedule III of controlled substances. Since it may not be sold in the United States unless it is combined with another ingredient, hydrocodone usually appears with chlorpheniramine (as hydrocodone polistirex), acetaminophen, or homatropine.

2. Anticoagulants: What is the correct generic name for the brand name drug Pradaxa?

Answer: Dabigatran etexilate mesylate

Pradaxa was introduced to the U.S. market in 2010. Its advantages over traditional anticoagulants include a greatly reduced interaction profile, simplified dosing (with regard to strength), and less frequent (if any) follow-up blood testing.

3. Antibiotics: Which of the following pairs of salts matches the drug base doxycycline?

Answer: Hyclate and monohydrate

Usually -- but not always -- doxycycline monohydrate and doxycycline hyclate are equally effective at treating certain infections. Doxycycline is a member of the tetracycline family of antibiotics, a group of drugs that can be harmful if taken after the beyond-use date has passed.

4. Immunosuppressants: What drug takes mofetil as its salt?

Answer: Mycophenolate

Mycophenolate mofetil is available as 250 mg capsules, 500 mg tablets, vials of powder for the preparation of intravenous solutions, and powder for oral suspension. Pharmacy workers who reconstitute the powder for oral suspension will experience an endothermic reaction: the process of combining and shaking the water with the drug absorbs heat, and the bottle turns cold in the preparer's hand.

5. Cardiovascular system agents: Referring to therapeutic compounds available on the market, the isosorbide base matches which of the following salts?

Answer: Mononitrate and dinitrate

Isosorbide mononitrate and isosorbide dinitrate are available as immediate- and extended-release tablets; isosorbide dinitrate also comes as a sublingual tablet. Like their cousin nitroglycerin (in all of its various dosage forms), isosorbide nitrates are involved in the treatment of angina pectoris.

6. Common salts: About a zillion drugs take hydrochloride as their salt, but which of these does NOT?

Answer: Clindamycin injection

Clindamycin hydrochloride is the formulation for oral capsules, but clindamycin phosphate refers to the injectable solution, as well as most of the topical clindamycin preparations. Clindamycin palmitate hydrochloride describes the granules for oral solution.

7. Odd one out: Three of these drug molecules do not have salts attached to them. Which one DOES have one or more additional components as part of its generic name?

Answer: Esomeprazole

Esomeprazole magnesium trihydrate (brand name Nexium, the "Purple Pill") is a proton pump inhibitor indicated for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. The trihydrate group also appears with the antibiotic drugs ampicillin and amoxicillin.

8. Antihyperlipidemic agents: Of the following pairs of drugs, which BOTH take calcium as a salt?

Answer: Atorvastatin and rosuvastatin

Common brand names for these cholesterol-lowering agents are as follows: atorvastatin calcium = Lipitor, lovastatin = Mevacor, pravastatin sodium = Pravachol, rosuvastatin calcium = Crestor, simvastatin = Zocor.

9. Compounded molecules: Identify the drug whose compounded molecule can also be used in a solution to treat severe metabolic acidosis.

Answer: Ketorolac

Ketorolac injectable solution is the only one among the four nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs given as answer choices that comes with a compounded molecule. Ketorolac tromethamine is available as 15 mg/mL, 30 mg/mL, and 60 mg/2 mL solutions for injection. Tromethamine injectable solution is marketed under the trade name Tham.

Answer: 3 mg/3 mL

We may calculate from the figures given in the question and the correct answer that each mL contains 170 mcg of sulfate, but when reading the product label more closely, we find that the percentage has been rounded: 2.5 mg/3 mL albuterol base is actually 0.083333...%, so the sulfate works out to be 166.666... mcg/mL

Albuterol, known in some parts of the world as salbutamol, is available as a metered dose inhaler, a solution for use in nebulizers, an oral syrup, and an extended-release tablet.

Source: Author celicadriver

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor WesleyCrusher before going online.
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