Combination drugs[horizontal ellipsis]do you know what they contain? Match the names in Section I with the ingredients in Section II.
SECTION I
___ 1. Cortisporin-TC (Monarch)
___ 2. Women's Tylenol (McNeil Consumer)
___ 3. Lopressor HCT (Novartis)
___ 4. Symbyax (Lilly)
___ 5. Pramosone (Ferndale)
SECTION II
a. metoprolol tartrate, 50 or 100 mg; hydrochlorothiazide, 25 or 50 mg
Indicated to treat hypertension, this combination contains metoprolol, a selective beta1-blocker, and hydrochlorothiazide, a thiazide diuretic. Tell your patient to take her daily dose in the morning so she won't have to urinate overnight.
b. olanzapine, 6 or 12 mg; fluoxetine HCl, 25 or 50 mg
This combination containing the psychotropic agents olanzapine and fluoxetine is indicated to treat depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder. Warn your patient that missing doses or stopping the medication abruptly could result in severe problems such as confusion, anxiety, and electric shock sensations.
c. hydrocortisone acetate, 1%, 2.5%; pramoxine HCl, 1%
Prescribed to relieve inflammation and pruritus, this combination contains the corticosteroid hydrocortisone and a topical anesthetic, pramoxine, in cream, ointment, or lotion. Instruct your patient to apply only a thin layer to his skin.
d. acetaminophen, 500 mg; pamabrom, 25 mg
Used to relieve menstrual symptoms, this over-the-counter combination contains the nonopioid analgesic acetaminophen and a mild diuretic, pamabrom. Warn your patient that taking acetaminophen and consuming three or more alcoholic beverages per day may increase the risk of liver damage.
e. each mL contains: hydrocortisone acetate, 10 mg; neomycin sulfate, 3.3 mg; colistin sulfate, 3 mg; thonzonium bromide, 0.5 mg
This eardrop is typically used to treat otitis externa in children. Hydrocortisone relieves inflammation and pruritus, neomycin and colistin are antibiotics, and thonzonium bromide enables dispersion and penetration of the suspension into the tissue. Instruct parents to warm the container in their hands before administering the drops.
Marcy Portnoff Gever is an independent pharmacist consultant and educator in Ringoes, N.J.
ANSWERS: 1e, 2d, 3a, 4b, 5c.