Question 87

A pharmacy computer system should generate an alert if a pharmacy technician tries to process Janumet and Eliquis for the same patient.

Janumet and Eliquis should not be used together due to potential drug interactions that can increase the risk of bleeding. The pharmacy computer system must alert the technician to prevent adverse effects.

A) Janumet and Eliquis

This option is correct because Janumet, which contains metformin and sitagliptin, can interact with Eliquis (apixaban), an anticoagulant. The combination may significantly increase the risk of bleeding and other complications, necessitating an alert from the pharmacy computer system.

B) Lasix and Crestor

This option is incorrect as there is no significant interaction between Lasix (furosemide), a diuretic, and Crestor (rosuvastatin), a cholesterol-lowering medication. They can generally be prescribed together without raising safety concerns that would require an alert.

C) Pepcid and Claritin

This option is incorrect because Pepcid (famotidine), an acid reducer, and Claritin (loratadine), an antihistamine, do not have known interactions that would necessitate an alert. Both medications can be safely used together.

D) Cortef and Premarin

This option is incorrect as Cortef (hydrocortisone) and Premarin (conjugated estrogens) are often prescribed together for various conditions, and there are no significant interactions between them that would trigger an alert from the computer system.

Conclusion

The pharmacy computer system must generate an alert for the combination of Janumet and Eliquis due to the increased risk of bleeding associated with their concurrent use. Other options either do not present significant interaction risks or are commonly prescribed together, thereby not warranting an alert. Thus, Option A is the correct choice reflecting the necessary precautionary measures in medication management.