Washington Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence MPJE Practice Exam

Under what conditions is therapeutic substitution allowed?

1. At the discretion of the pharmacist

2. With prior authorization

3. Only for over-the-counter drugs

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: With prior authorization

Therapeutic substitution is the process in which a pharmacist replaces a prescribed drug with an alternative drug that is expected to have the same therapeutic effect on the patient. In most cases, this can only be done with the approval or authorization of the prescribing healthcare provider. Therefore, option B is the correct answer as it states that therapeutic substitution is allowed with prior authorization. Option A is incorrect because it implies that the pharmacist has full discretion to make this decision, which is not the case. Option C is incorrect because therapeutic substitution can also occur with prescription drugs, not just over-the-counter drugs. Option D is incorrect because, as stated earlier, therapeutic substitution can be allowed under certain conditions, such as with prior authorization.