A patient who is taking OTC proton pump inhibitors was recently placed on an oral antifungal for a fungal infection. After a week, the patient reported that the fungal infection has not improved. Which antifungal medication was the patient taking?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Intraconazole. Proton pump inhibitors increase gastric pH, affecting the absorption of drugs requiring an acidic environment for absorption, like intraconazole. Fluconazole (A) is not affected by gastric pH. Caspofungin (B) is not orally absorbed. Amphotericin B (D) is not affected by gastric pH but is not commonly used orally.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Antibiotics (amoxicillin and clarithromycin). Peptic ulcer disease is often caused by Helicobacter pylori infection, which can be effectively treated with antibiotics such as amoxicillin and clarithromycin. Opioids (A) can lead to constipation but are not directly associated with peptic ulcers. Corticosteroids (B) can worsen peptic ulcer disease by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. Hormonal therapy (D) is not typically associated with peptic ulcers. Antibiotics directly target the underlying cause of peptic ulcers, making them the most appropriate treatment strategy.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Pharmacology. Pharmacology is the study of how drugs interact with the body to produce a specific effect. It encompasses the study of drug actions, mechanisms, and therapeutic uses. Pharmacotherapeutics (A) focuses on the use of drugs to treat diseases. Pharmacokinetics (C) is the study of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion in the body. Pharmacodynamics (D) is the study of the biochemical and physiological effects of drugs on the body. Therefore, pharmacology is the most appropriate term for the study of how drugs influence the body as it encompasses all aspects of drug action.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Losartan is different from other ARBs because it undergoes hepatic metabolism to form an active metabolite, which contributes significantly to its pharmacological effects. This active metabolite, known as E-3174, has a longer half-life compared to Losartan itself, making its duration of action more sustained. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because Losartan does not have the shortest half-life, does not have a small volume of distribution, and is primarily metabolized by the liver rather than being renally eliminated.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Antibiotics (amoxicillin and clarithromycin). Peptic ulcer disease is commonly caused by Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which can be treated with a combination of antibiotics such as amoxicillin and clarithromycin. Corticosteroids (choice A) and hormonal therapy (choice B) are not typically associated with treating the underlying cause of peptic ulcers. Opioids (choice D) can actually exacerbate peptic ulcer disease by increasing gastric acid secretion. Therefore, choice C is the most appropriate treatment strategy for peptic ulcer disease due to its ability to target and eliminate the bacterial infection causing the ulcers.