Ceylon Medical College Council Pharmacists' Examination (External) - November 2018 MCQ Paper:
�� Exam Overview
● Date: 17.11.2018
● Time: 9.00 a.m. – 12 noon
● Duration: 3 hours (suggested: 110 minutes for MCQ, 70 minutes for SEQ)
● Instructions: Answer all 50 multiple-choice questions.
✅ Sample of Extracted Questions (1–5)
1. True or False: Storage Recommendations
● A. Bisacodyl suppositories should be stored between 2–8℃. ✅ True
● B. Vitamin A and D capsules should be stored away from light. ❌ False
● C. Amoxicillin capsules should be stored below 25℃. ✅
● D. Heparin injection should be stored between 2–8℃. ✅ True
● E. Tetanus toxoid is recommended to be stored in the freezer. ❌ False
2. Advice: “Dissolve in water or take with water”
● A. Ketoprofen capsules ❌
● B. Aluminium hydroxide tablets ✅
● C. Doxycycline dispersible tablets ✅
● D. Aspirin tablets ❌
● E. Metformin tablets ✅
3. True or False: Pharmaceutical Preparations
● A. Whitfield’s ointment contains boric acid ✅
● B. Mandl’s paint contains potassium iodide ✅
● C. Lassar’s paste contains benzoic acid ✅
● D. Anhydrous lanolin can absorb up to 30% moisture ✅
● E. Coal tar solution contains ethanol 96% ✅
4. True or False: Surgical Materials
● A. Catgut is a sterile product ✅
● B. Catgut is prepared from sheep intestine ✅
● C. Absorbable sutures have to be removed post-operatively ❌
● D. Plaster of Paris bandage contains calcium sulphate ✅
● E. Paraffin gauze dressing is used in the treatment of burns ✅
5. True or False: Solubility of Drugs
● A. Iodine is soluble in potassium iodide solution ✅
● B. Vitamin A is soluble in corn oil ✅
● C. Crystalline powder is more soluble than powder form ❌
● D. Temperature does not influence solubility ❌
● E. “Partly soluble” means 1g dissolves in 100–1000 mL ✅
Ceylon Medical College Council Pharmacists' Examination (External) – November 2018.
✅ Questions 6–10
6. True or False: Disintegration Test for Tablets
● A. Disintegration test is the time taken for a tablet to break down into small particles ✅
● B. Soluble aspirin tablets disintegrate within 3 minutes ✅
● C. Film-coated tablets should disintegrate within 30 minutes ✅
● D. Disintegration test is applicable for sustained-release tablets ❌
● E. Enteric-coated tablets should disintegrate within 90 minutes ✅
7. Raw Materials and Their Properties
● A. Calamine – astringent ✅
● B. Charcoal – adsorbent ✅
● C. Coal tar – antipruritic ✅
● D. Starch – absorbent ✅
● E. Camphor – counterirritant ✅
8. Tablet Excipients and Their Properties
● A. Lactose – diluent ✅
● B. Water – binder ✅
● C. Magnesium carbonate – adsorbing agent ✅
● D. Magnesium stearate – lubricant ✅
● E. Sodium starch glycolate – disintegrant ✅
9. Emulsifying Agents in Pharmaceutical Preparations
● A. Beeswax ❌
● B. Anhydrous lanolin ✅
● C. Soft soap ✅
● D. Cholesterol ✅
● E. Purified talc ❌
10. Drugs and Dispensing Instructions
● A. Chlorpromazine tablets – may cause contact sensitization ❌
● B. Glyceryl trinitrate tablets – discard after 4 weeks of opening ✅
● C. Rifampicin tablets – stop taking if urine turns red ❌
● D. Chloroquine tablets – take with meals ✅
● E. Griseofulvin tablets – take on an empty stomach ✅
✅ Questions 11–20
11. True or False: Pharmaceutical Preparations
● A. Gargles contain a high percentage of glycerol ❌
● B. Potassium permanganate is recommended for broken skin ❌
● C. Throat paint contains a high proportion of glycerol ✅
● D. Surgical spirit does not contain water ✅
● E. Goularid’s lotion contains aluminium acetate ✅
12. True or False: Emulsions
● A. It is possible to include two incompatible ingredients ✅
● B. The aqueous phase is easily flavoured ✅
● C. The oily sensation is not removed ❌
● D. Storage conditions may not affect stability ❌
● E. They are homogeneous preparations ❌
13. True or False: Community Pharmacy
● A. A quarantine area is necessary to avoid cross-mixing of stocks ✅
● B. Clinical thermometers can be used to check pharmacy temperature ❌
● C. Medicines should be stocked to avoid slow-moving accumulation ✅
● D. Records need not be maintained for expired medicines ❌
● E. Disposal of medicines must adhere to Consumer Affairs Authority Act ❌
14. Factors Affecting Rate of Dissolution
● A. Particle size ✅
● B. Area available for molecular migration ✅
● C. Polymorphism ✅
● D. Temperature ✅
● E. Concentration difference across boundary layer ✅
15. True or False: Tablet Binders
● A. Starch ✅
● B. Mannitol ❌
● C. Polyvinyl pyrrolidone ✅
● D. Calcium carbonate ❌
● E. Liquid paraffin ❌
16. Physicochemical Factors Affecting Nasal Absorption
● A. Solubility ✅
● B. Specific gravity ✅
● C. Particle size ✅
● D. Ionisation ✅
● E. Aroma ❌
17. True or False: Drug–Packaging Interactions
● A. Insulin in glass container ❌
● B. Phenol in low-density polymer ❌
● C. Alkaline citrate in Pyrex glass ❌
● D. Thyroxine in amber glass ✅
● E. Benzhexol in glass container ❌
18. NMRA Responsibilities
● A. Registration ✅
● B. Licensing ✅
● C. Manufacture ✅
● D. Importation ✅
● E. Transportation ❌
19. Drugs Susceptible to Oxidation
● A. Steroid tablets ❌
● B. Polyunsaturated fatty acids ✅
● C. Phenothiazine ✅
● D. Ascorbic acid tablets ✅
● E. Vitamin A preparations ✅
20. True or False: Alkaloids
● A. Composed of glycones and aglycones ❌
● B. Vincristine is an alkaloid ✅
● C. Contain heterocyclic sulfur ❌
● D. Galactose is part of alkaloid structure ❌
● E. They are primary metabolites ❌
21. True or False: Reproductive Physiology
● A. Distal ends of Fallopian tubes are open to abdominal cavity ✅
● B. Sperm count in 1 mL of semen is about 3 million ❌
● C. Ovulation occurs between day 2–9 of cycle ❌
● D. Prostate gland stores excess spermatozoa ❌
● E. Mithuri tablet contains estradiol and norethisterone ✅
22. True or False: Amoxicillin
● A. Low bioavailability with meals ✅
● B. Combined with clavulanic acid to destroy β-lactamase ✅
● C. Suitable for patients with IgE-mediated penicillin allergy ❌
● D. Reconstituted suspension stable for 2 weeks ❌
● E. Effective for viral pharyngitis ❌
23. True or False: Antibiotics
● A. Doxycycline contraindicated in children <12 years ✅
● B. Erythromycin is safe in penicillin allergy ✅
● C. Clarithromycin effective against Mycoplasma pneumoniae ✅
● D. Azithromycin has shorter half-life than clarithromycin ❌
● E. Gentamicin may cause deafness ✅
24. True or False: Tuberculosis Treatment
● A. Isoniazid kills metabolically active bacilli ✅
● B. Pyrazinamide causes optic neuritis ❌
● C. Isoniazid and rifampicin given for 6 months ✅
● D. Ethambutol contraindicated in children <6 years ❌
● E. Rifampicin causes harmless reddish urine ✅
25. True or False: Scabies Treatment
● A. Permethrin is effective ✅
● B. Only affected family members need treatment ❌
● C. Benzyl benzoate not for children <2 years ✅
● D. Crotamiton helps with post-treatment itch ✅
● E. Permethrin should be applied only to burrows ❌
26. Antimicrobials and Adverse Effects
● A. Nalidixic acid – bulging fontanelle in infants ✅
● B. Sildenafil – optic neuropathy ❌
● C. Doxycycline – oesophageal ulceration ✅
● D. Ciprofloxacin – tendon damage ✅
● E. Clindamycin – antibiotic-associated colitis ✅
27. Antimicrobials to Avoid in Pregnancy
● A. Cephalosporins ❌
● B. Penicillins ❌
● C. Quinolones ✅
● D. Tetracyclines ✅
● E. Macrolides ❌
28. High Oral Bioavailability
● A. Azithromycin ✅
● B. Ciprofloxacin ✅
● C. Erythromycin ❌
● D. Amoxicillin ✅
● E. Gentamicin ❌
29. Dispensing Advice
● A. Doxycycline – take upright with full glass of water ✅
● B. Clarithromycin – take every 24 hours ❌
● C. Ethambutol – report vision changes ✅
● D. Artemether–Lumefantrine – take with milk ✅
● E. Primaquine – tea-colored urine is harmless ❌
30. Pinworm (Enterobius) Treatment
● A. Mebendazole 100 mg single dose for all household ❌
● B. Mebendazole 100 mg BID for 3 days ✅
● C. Wash bedding, towels, clothes in hot water ✅
● D. Keep child home from school for 2 weeks ❌
● E. Scrub fingernails in morning ✅
31. Anaphylaxis Management in a 14-Year-Old Girl
● A. IM adrenaline 1:1000, 0.5 mL to mid-anterolateral thigh ✅
● B. IM hydrocortisone ❌
● C. IV adrenaline within 15 minutes ❌
● D. Supine position with legs elevated ✅
● E. Walking to vehicle for hospital transport ❌
32. Medicines That May Cause Warfarin Toxicity (via CYP450)
● A. Rifampicin ✅
● B. Carbamazepine ✅
● C. Cefuroxime ❌
● D. Erythromycin ✅
● E. Ciprofloxacin ✅
33. Approved Indications for Beta-Blockers
● A. Open-angle glaucoma ✅
● B. Tremor and tachycardia in thyrotoxicosis ✅
● C. Heart block ❌
● D. Acute heart failure ❌
● E. Stable angina ✅
34. Medicines That Reduce Mortality in Heart Failure
● A. Digoxin ❌
● B. Furosemide ❌
● C. Enalapril ✅
● D. Spironolactone ✅
● E. Carvedilol ✅
35. Medicines and Recognized Adverse Effects
● A. ACE inhibitors – first dose hypotension ✅
● B. Spironolactone – hypokalaemia ❌
● C. Nifedipine – constipation ✅
● D. Glyceryl trinitrate – throbbing headache ✅
● E. Prazosin – postural hypotension ✅
36. Oral Antidiabetic Drugs
● A. Metformin stimulates insulin secretion ❌
● B. Sulphonylureas preferable for obese type 2 diabetics ❌
● C. Biphasic insulins = soluble + isophane ✅
● D. Acarbose inhibits alpha-glucosidase ✅
● E. Gliptins inhibit DPP-4 ✅
37. Antiemetics and Indications
● A. Ondansetron – chemotherapy-induced vomiting ✅
● B. Metoclopramide – migraine-induced vomiting ✅
● C. Hyoscine hydrobromide – motion sickness ✅
● D. Domperidone – vomiting in children ✅
● E. Promethazine – opioid-induced nausea ❌
38. Drugs Used in Bronchial Asthma
● A. Short-acting β2 agonists – acute asthma ✅
● B. Inhaled steroids – reduce airway inflammation ✅
● C. Antihistamines – bronchodilator properties ✅
● D. Salmeterol – long-acting β2 agonist ✅
● E. Ipratropium bromide – leukotriene receptor antagonist ❌
39. Inhaler Devices in Asthma
● A. MDI delivers ~80% of dose to airways ❌
● B. Spacer reduces oropharyngeal steroid deposition ✅
● C. Dry powder inhalers for children <5 years ❌
● D. Spacers cleaned weekly with dry cloth ❌
● E. Nebulizers convert salbutamol to aerosol ✅
40. Medicines That Increase Risk of Congenital Malformations
● A. Lithium ✅
● B. Sodium valproate ✅
● C. Inhaled steroids ❌
● D. Thalidomide ✅
● E. Cefotaxime ❌
41. Paracetamol vs. Aspirin
● A. Paracetamol lacks antiplatelet properties ✅
● B. Paracetamol lacks potent anti-inflammatory action ✅
● C. Paracetamol is safe as antipyretic in dengue ✅
● D. Paracetamol does not cause gastric ulceration ✅
● E. Paracetamol has no analgesic action ❌
42. Factors That Increase Heart Rate
● A. Fever ✅
● B. Digitalis ❌
● C. Beta-receptor stimulators ✅
● D. Calcium channel blockers ❌
● E. Atropine ✅
43. Hormones and Their Functions
● A. Prolactin – milk synthesis ✅
● B. Oxytocin – uterine contraction ✅
● C. Vasopressin – increases urine production ❌
● D. Aldosterone – decreases sodium reabsorption ❌
● E. Renin – decreases blood pressure ❌
44. Plasma Glucose Elevation
● A. Methotrexate ❌
● B. Dexamethasone ✅
● C. Glucagon ✅
● D. Sympathetic stimulation ✅
● E. Exercise ❌
45. Muscles and Their Actions
● A. Biceps – flexes elbow ✅
● B. Lateral rectus – elevates eyeball ❌
● C. Psoas major – flexes hip ✅
● D. Sternomastoids – flex neck ✅
● E. Masseters – open mouth ❌
46. Valves Between Atria and Ventricles
● A. Aortic valve ❌
● B. Pulmonary valve ❌
● C. Tricuspid valve ✅
● D. Bicuspid (mitral) valve ✅
● E. All the above ❌
47. True or False: Nutrition & Absorption
● A. Iron better absorbed from green vegetables ❌
● B. Green vegetables rich in B12 ❌
● C. Stomach secretes intrinsic factor ✅
● D. B12 absorbed in stomach and duodenum ✅
● E. B12 is water-soluble ✅
48. Diuretics That Lower Plasma Potassium
● A. Furosemide ✅
● B. Spironolactone ❌
● C. Hydrochlorothiazide ✅
● D. Amiloride ❌
● E. Indapamide ✅
49. Potassium-Containing IV Fluids
● A. Normal saline ❌
● B. Dextrose 5% ❌
● C. Hartmann’s solution ✅
● D. Darrow’s solution ✅
● E. Ringer’s solution ✅
50. True or False: Normal Physiology
● A. Daily urine volume ~2.5 L ✅
● B. Urine color due to bilirubin ❌
● C. Tidal volume at rest ~200 mL ❌
● D. Albumin produced only by liver ✅
● E. Erythropoietin produced only by kidney ✅
Asthma Drugs – True or False?
Statement | True/False | Explanation |
Salbutamol has side effects related to the heart | ✅ True | It can cause palpitations, tachycardia due to β1 receptor stimulation (less selective at higher doses). |
Salbutamol is recommended for management of acute asthma | ✅ True | It is a first-line short-acting β2 agonist for acute bronchospasm. |
Terbutaline is an anticholinergic drug | ❌ False | It is a β2-agonist like salbutamol, not anticholinergic. |
Ipratropium has sympathomimetic effects | ❌ False | It's an anticholinergic bronchodilator, not sympathomimetic. |
Beclomethasone has potent bronchodilator properties | ❌ False | It’s an inhaled corticosteroid with anti-inflammatory, not bronchodilatory, action. |
�� GI Drug Facts – True or False?
Statement | True/False | Explanation |
Long term ranitidine therapy is effective in preventing recurrence of peptic ulcers | ❌ False | Ranitidine has reduced efficacy compared to PPIs and was withdrawn in many countries due to safety concerns. |
Omeprazole is effective in preventing NSAID-associated peptic ulcers | ✅ True | It's a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that suppresses acid production effectively. |
Omeprazole has acid neutralizing properties | ❌ False | It inhibits acid secretion rather than neutralizing existing acid. |
Antacids have a narrow therapeutic index | ❌ False | Antacids generally have a wide therapeutic index and are relatively safe. |
Bisacodyl is a bulk laxative | ❌ False | It’s a stimulant laxative, not a bulk-forming agent. |
�� Antibiotics – True or False?
Statement | True/False | Explanation |
Amoxicillin is not recommended for patients giving a history of penicillin allergy | ✅ True | It is a penicillin derivative and can trigger allergic reactions. |
Cephalosporins act by inhibiting protein synthesis in microbes | ❌ False | They inhibit cell wall synthesis, not protein synthesis. |
Cefalexin is contraindicated during pregnancy | ❌ False | It’s generally safe in pregnancy (Category B). |
Clarithromycin causes less GI side effects than erythromycin | ✅ True | Better tolerated due to improved pharmacokinetics. |
Azithromycin belongs to the aminoglycoside family | ❌ False | It’s a macrolide, not an aminoglycoside. |
�� Antifungals & Antivirals – True or False?
Statement | True/False | Explanation |
Candida infection responds to nystatin | ✅ True | Nystatin is effective for mucocutaneous candidiasis. |
Topical miconazole is effective against tinea versicolor (aluhan / alahu themal) | ✅ True | Miconazole is active against dermatophytes and yeasts like Malassezia. |
Terbinafine has efficacy against ringworm | ✅ True | It inhibits squalene epoxidase → effective for dermatophyte infections. |
Acyclovir is available for topical use against herpes zoster infection | ✅ True | Topical forms exist, though systemic treatment is preferred. |
Antiviral drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy | ❌ False | Some antivirals (e.g., acyclovir) can be used if needed; benefits outweigh risks. |
�� Diabetes Therapy – True or False?
Statement | True/False | Explanation |
Metformin is known to commonly cause hypoglycemia | ❌ False | It rarely causes hypoglycemia unless combined with sulfonylureas or insulin. |
Glibenclamide has a long half-life compared to tolbutamide | ✅ True | Glibenclamide’s longer half-life increases hypoglycemia risk. |
Hypoglycemia is a known side effect of glibenclamide | ✅ True | It stimulates insulin secretion → can cause prolonged hypoglycemia. |
Most insulin now available in the market are highly purified insulins | ✅ True | Modern insulins are recombinant human or analog insulins — highly purified. |
Most insulin now available in the market are of animal origin | ❌ False | Animal-sourced insulin is now rarely used; human insulin dominates the market. |
�� Antibiotics Continued – True or False?
Statement | True/False | Explanation |
Metronidazole is a drug with a lot of gastrointestinal side effects | ✅ True | Nausea, metallic taste, and diarrhea are common. |
Ciprofloxacin has efficacy against salmonella | ✅ True | Effective, especially for typhoid fever and invasive Salmonella infections. |
Ofloxacin is not recommended for the management of UTIs during pregnancy | ✅ True | Fluoroquinolones are generally avoided due to potential cartilage toxicity. |
Co-trimoxazole is safe for use in patients with a history of allergy to sulfa drugs | ❌ False | It's contraindicated; it contains sulfamethoxazole. |
Nitrofurantoin is not recommended for children below 3 months | ✅ True | Risk of hemolytic anemia due to immature enzyme systems. |
