Difficulty: Easy

Average Score: 84%

A pharmacy technician receives a prescription for levetiracetam 500 mg once a day for pneumonia. The technician should alert the pharmacist because:

Rationale

The prescription appears to contain a look-alike/sound-alike error.

When a pharmacy technician encounters a prescription that seems inappropriate or potentially dangerous, such as prescribing an antiepileptic medication like levetiracetam for pneumonia, it raises concerns about a look-alike/sound-alike error. These errors can lead to serious consequences if not caught and corrected promptly.

B (levetiracetam requires special handling) YOUR ANSWER

While some medications do require special handling due to stability or safety concerns, this statement does not directly relate to the issue of a look-alike/sound-alike error in the prescription for levetiracetam.

C (the prescription exceeds the maximum recommended daily dose) YOUR ANSWER

The issue with this prescription lies more in the inappropriate use of levetiracetam for pneumonia rather than the dosage exceeding recommendations. Therefore, the concern is not primarily about exceeding the maximum dose.

D (levetiracetam is subject to a REMS program) YOUR ANSWER

REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) programs are implemented for certain medications with specific safety concerns. While important for monitoring and ensuring safe use, the presence of a REMS program does not directly address the potential look-alike/sound-alike error in this prescription.

Conclusion

In this scenario, the key concern is the appropriateness of prescribing levetiracetam for pneumonia, indicating a potential look-alike/sound-alike error. Alerting the pharmacist allows for a thorough review and verification of the prescription to ensure the patient receives the correct and safe medication for their condition.

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