Question 43

Cetirizine and loratadine may be considered duplication therapy.

Duplication therapy occurs when two medications in the same class are prescribed, which may lead to unnecessary side effects and increased costs. Cetirizine and loratadine are both antihistamines used to treat allergic symptoms, making their concurrent use an example of duplication therapy.

A) Hydralazine and loratadine

Hydralazine is an antihypertensive medication, while loratadine is an antihistamine. Since these two drugs belong to different classes and serve distinct therapeutic purposes, their use together does not represent duplication therapy.

B) Cetirizine and loratadine

Both cetirizine and loratadine are second-generation antihistamines that treat allergies. Prescribing both simultaneously can lead to duplication therapy, as they have similar mechanisms of action and target the same symptoms.

C) Famotidine and cetirizine

Famotidine is an H2 antagonist used to treat gastrointestinal issues, while cetirizine is an antihistamine. These medications serve different therapeutic roles, and therefore, using them together does not constitute duplication therapy.

D) Hydralazine and famotidine

Hydralazine is used for managing hypertension and famotidine for gastric acid reduction. Since they belong to different drug classes and address different health concerns, their concurrent use does not result in duplication therapy.

Conclusion

Cetirizine and loratadine are both antihistamines, making their combined use an example of duplication therapy, which can lead to unnecessary side effects. The other options involve medications from different classes, which do not overlap in their therapeutic effects, thus ruling them out as examples of duplication therapy.