Pharmacy PEBC Practice Exam

What does "therapeutic equivalence" mean?

1. Two drugs have different dosage forms

2. Two drugs produce different clinical effects

3. Two drugs have the same clinical effect and safety profile in the same dosage forms

4. Two drugs are manufactured by the same company

The correct answer is: Two drugs have the same clinical effect and safety profile in the same dosage forms

Therapeutic equivalence refers to the relationship between two drugs that have the same clinical effect and safety profile when administered in the same dosage forms. This means that patients can expect the same therapeutic outcomes from either drug with similar safety considerations, allowing for interchangeable use in treatment without compromising the quality of care. When considering the other options, the idea that two drugs having different dosage forms does not necessarily indicate therapeutic equivalence, as the form of a drug can impact its absorption, distribution, and overall clinical effectiveness. Similarly, two drugs that produce different clinical effects cannot be deemed therapeutically equivalent since they serve different needs and target different conditions. Lastly, the fact that two drugs are manufactured by the same company does not provide any guarantee of equivalence in terms of efficacy or safety, as they could still have different active ingredients or formulations. Therefore, the accurate understanding of therapeutic equivalence hinges on the same clinical effect and safety profile, confirming the correctness of the proposed answer.