Question 1

Therapeutic duplication exists between aripiprazole and olanzapine.

Therapeutic duplication occurs when two medications within the same class are prescribed for a patient, which can increase the risk of adverse effects without providing additional therapeutic benefit. In this case, both aripiprazole and olanzapine are atypical antipsychotics used to treat similar psychiatric conditions, thereby qualifying as a therapeutic duplication.

A) aripiprazole and omeprazole.

This option is incorrect because aripiprazole is an atypical antipsychotic, whereas omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor used to treat gastric acid-related disorders. These drugs belong to different therapeutic classes and do not overlap in their uses or mechanisms of action.

B) aripiprazole and olanzapine.

This option is correct as both aripiprazole and olanzapine are atypical antipsychotics that serve similar purposes in managing psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Prescribing both simultaneously can lead to therapeutic duplication, which may heighten the risk of side effects without providing additional benefits.

C) amiodarone and metformin.

This option is incorrect because amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic medication used to treat heart rhythm disorders, while metformin is an oral hypoglycemic agent used to manage type 2 diabetes. These medications do not have overlapping indications and are not considered therapeutically duplicative.

D) amiodarone and buspirone.

This option is also incorrect as amiodarone and buspirone serve different therapeutic purposes. Amiodarone is utilized for cardiac arrhythmias, whereas buspirone is an anxiolytic for treating anxiety disorders. There is no therapeutic duplication between these two medications.

Conclusion

The correct answer, aripiprazole and olanzapine, represents a clear case of therapeutic duplication due to both being atypical antipsychotics with overlapping uses. In contrast, the other options involve medications from different classes or with different therapeutic indications, thereby ruling them out as instances of duplication. It is essential to avoid therapeutic duplication to minimize the risk of adverse effects and promote safe medication practices.