Pharmacy PEBC Practice Exam

YZ is a patient who presents to the pharmacy for a refill of atenolol 50 mg tablets. The profile shows one refill remaining. A 90-day supply of 90 tablets was dispensed and billed to his insurance plan 60 days ago. YZ tells the pharmacist that he is currently taking atenolol 50 mg twice daily, as directed by his physician. Checking the original prescription determines that YZ was prescribed atenolol 50 mg daily. What is the most appropriate initial pharmacist response?

1. Fill the prescription early and charge YZ the full amount.

2. Contact YZ’s prescriber to request authorization for an early refill.

3. Contact YZ’s prescriber to clarify the dose and the early refill.

4. Offer to advance YZ with a supply of tablets and bill his insurance in 30 days.

The correct answer is: Contact YZ’s prescriber to clarify the dose and the early refill.

YZ's prescription for atenolol 50 mg daily does not align with his current use of 50 mg twice daily, indicating a potential misinterpretation or adjustment by the patient or prescriber. In this situation, it is important for the pharmacist to contact the prescriber to clarify the intended dose and discuss the need for an early refill. A) Filling the prescription early and charging the full amount may violate insurance and medication supply policies. B) Contacting the prescriber for an early refill may not address the underlying issue of incorrect dosing. D) Offering an advance supply and billing insurance in 30 days may not adequately address the concern of incorrect dosing.