PTCB Practice Test

PTCB Medications Practice Questions

Medications makes up 18 of every 50 questions on a Tigertest PTCB practice test. Here are 10 of the 72 questions on it, each with the answer and the reason.

Updated 2026-11-10 by the Tigertest team. Weighted to the PTCB PTCE content outline effective January 2026. Federal law only; state rules vary.

1. 1. Which brand name corresponds to the generic cholesterol-lowering drug atorvastatin?

   • A.Pravachol
   • B.Lipitor
   • C.Zocor
   • D.Crestor

   Answer: B. Atorvastatin is Lipitor, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin). Zocor is simvastatin, Crestor is rosuvastatin, and Pravachol is pravastatin: all statins, but different drugs.

2. 2. A technician receives a prescription for Zestril 10 mg daily. Which generic name and drug class belong on the label?

   • A.Losartan, angiotensin receptor blocker
   • B.Lisinopril, angiotensin receptor blocker
   • C.Lisinopril, beta blocker
   • D.Lisinopril, ACE inhibitor

   Answer: D. Zestril (also Prinivil) is lisinopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; the -pril suffix marks ACE inhibitors. Losartan (Cozaar) is an ARB, recognized by the -sartan suffix.

3. 3. Which brand name matches metoprolol succinate, the once-daily extended-release beta blocker?

   • A.Toprol XL
   • B.Coreg CR
   • C.Lopressor
   • D.Tenormin

   Answer: A. Metoprolol succinate ER is Toprol XL. Lopressor is metoprolol tartrate, the immediate-release salt usually given twice daily, so the two are not interchangeable; Tenormin is atenolol and Coreg CR is carvedilol.

4. 4. A prescription reads Lasix 40 mg po every morning. Which generic name and drug class are correct?

   • A.Spironolactone, potassium-sparing diuretic
   • B.Hydrochlorothiazide, thiazide diuretic
   • C.Furosemide, loop diuretic
   • D.Furosemide, thiazide diuretic

   Answer: C. Lasix is furosemide, a loop diuretic that acts on the loop of Henle. Hydrochlorothiazide is the common thiazide diuretic, and spironolactone (Aldactone) is potassium-sparing.

5. 5. Which generic proton pump inhibitor is sold under the brand name Protonix?

   • A.Famotidine
   • B.Omeprazole
   • C.Pantoprazole
   • D.Dexlansoprazole

   Answer: C. Protonix is pantoprazole. Omeprazole (Prilosec) and dexlansoprazole (Dexilant) are other PPIs, while famotidine (Pepcid) is an H2 blocker, not a PPI.

6. 6. A technician receives a prescription for Zoloft 50 mg daily. Which generic name and drug class apply?

   • A.Sertraline, SSRI
   • B.Escitalopram, SSRI
   • C.Sertraline, SNRI
   • D.Venlafaxine, SNRI

   Answer: A. Zoloft is sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Escitalopram is Lexapro (also an SSRI), and venlafaxine (Effexor XR) is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.

7. 7. Which of the following commonly dispensed drugs is a benzodiazepine?

   • A.Zolpidem (Ambien)
   • B.Buspirone
   • C.Hydroxyzine (Vistaril)
   • D.Lorazepam (Ativan)

   Answer: D. Lorazepam is a CIV benzodiazepine, recognized by the -azepam or -azolam suffix. Zolpidem is also CIV and acts at the same receptor, but it is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic; buspirone and hydroxyzine are non-controlled anxiolytics.

8. 8. Azithromycin, often dispensed as a five-day Z-Pak, belongs to which antibiotic class?

   • A.Cephalosporin
   • B.Macrolide
   • C.Fluoroquinolone
   • D.Tetracycline

   Answer: B. Azithromycin (Zithromax) is a macrolide, like clarithromycin and erythromycin. Fluoroquinolones end in -floxacin, tetracyclines in -cycline, and cephalosporins usually begin with cef- or ceph-.

9. 9. Eliquis, prescribed to prevent stroke in atrial fibrillation, is the brand name of which drug?

   • A.Dabigatran
   • B.Apixaban
   • C.Clopidogrel
   • D.Rivaroxaban

   Answer: B. Eliquis is apixaban, a factor Xa inhibitor. Rivaroxaban is Xarelto (also factor Xa) and dabigatran is Pradaxa, while clopidogrel (Plavix) is an antiplatelet, not an anticoagulant.

10. 10. Januvia (sitagliptin), taken once daily for type 2 diabetes, belongs to which drug class?

    • A.Thiazolidinedione
    • B.Biguanide
    • C.SGLT2 inhibitor
    • D.DPP-4 inhibitor

    Answer: D. Sitagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, recognized by the -gliptin suffix. Metformin is the biguanide, pioglitazone is a thiazolidinedione, and SGLT2 inhibitors end in -gliflozin (empagliflozin, Jardiance).