Learning Objectives
After completing this continuing education activity, pharmacists will be able to
| • EXPLAIN the common mechanisms of bacterial resistance and their impact on antibiotic efficacy |
| • RECOGNIZE the importance of early and effective management of resistant bacterial infections. |
| • IDENTIFY first- and second-line treatment options for VRE. |
After completing this continuing education activity, pharmacy technicians will be able to
| • DESCRIBE proper storage, reconstitution, and other considerations for antibiotics used for resistant infections |
| • IDENTIFY strategies to prevent dispensing errors when handling antibiotics and increase awareness of high-risk medications |
| • RECOGNIZE common dosing of antibiotics used for resistant bacterial infections |
Release Date:
Release Date: June 13, 2025
Expiration Date: June 13, 2028
Course Fee
Pharmacists:
Free until 7/31/2025,
then $7
Pharmacy Technicians:
Free until 7/31/2025,
then $4
There is no grant funding for this CE activity
ACPE UANs
Pharmacist: 0009-9999-25-08-H01-P
Pharmacy Technician: 0009-9999-25-008-H01-T
Session Codes
Pharmacist: 25UC08-TXJ88
Pharmacy Technician: 25UC08-PJK42
Accreditation Hours
0.5 hours of CE
Accreditation Statements
| The University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. Statements of credit for the online activity ACPE UAN 0009-9999-25-008-H01-P/T will be awarded when the post test and evaluation have been completed and passed with a 70% or better. Your CE credits will be uploaded to your CPE monitor profile within 2 weeks of completion of the program. |  |
Disclosure of Discussions of Off-label and Investigational Drug Use
The material presented here does not necessarily reflect the views of The University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy or its co-sponsor affiliates. These materials may discuss uses and dosages for therapeutic products, processes, procedures and inferred diagnoses that have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. A qualified health care professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product discussed. All readers and continuing education participants should verify all information and data before treating patients or employing any therapies described in this continuing education activity.
Faculty
Constance Chan, PharmD
PGY-2, Ambulatory Care Pharmacist
UConn Health Center
Farmington, CT
Kaitlyn Elliott, PharmD
Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator
UConn Health Center
Farmington, CT
Braylee Wardwell, PharmD
PGY-2, Ambulatory Care Pharmacist
UConn Health Center
Farmington, CT
Faculty Disclosure
In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) Criteria for Quality and Interpretive Guidelines, The University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy requires that faculty disclose any relationship that the faculty may have with commercial entities whose products or services may be mentioned in the activity.
Drs. Chan, Elliott and Wardwell and have no relationships with ineligible companies and therefore have nothing to disclose.
CONTENT
Content
Download PDF of Handouts
Pharmacist Post Test (for viewing only)
Carbidopa-Levodopa: Revving Up Relief – Choose Your Formula! Pharmacist Test
Learning Objectives: Pharmacists
• Describe the role of carbidopa-levodopa in Parkinson’s disease and the use of different carbidopa-levodopa formulations
• Recognize the differences between each carbidopa-levodopa formulation
• Discuss the appropriate patient who may benefit from transitioning to a different formulation of carbidopa-levodopa
Knowledge Questions
1. What is the primary role of carbidopa-levodopa in the management of Parkinson's disease?
a. Carbidopa and levodopa directly increase dopamine production in the brain
b. Levodopa converts to dopamine in the brain, and carbidopa prevents its breakdown
c. Carbidopa and levodopa work by inhibiting the breakdown of dopamine in the brain
2. Which of the following factors can lead to reduced efficacy of carbidopa-levodopa in treating Parkinson’s disease?
a. Decreased dopamine receptors in advanced disease stages
b. Increased carbidopa leading to less peripheral conversion of levodopa
c. Lowering the carbidopa-to-levodopa ratio to reduce side effects
3. How does the formulation of carbidopa-levodopa controlled-release differ from the immediate-release version?
a. It increases peak dopamine levels in the brain
b. It reduces the amount of carbidopa needed to enhance levodopa absorption
c. It provides a slower, more continuous release of levodopa
4. What is a key difference between carbidopa-levodopa IR and foscarbidopa-foslevodopa?
a. Carbidopa-levodopa IR causes peaks and troughs of levodopa, foscarbidopa-foslevodopa is formulated to give more consistent levodopa
b. Carbidopa-levodopa IR is dosed once daily, while foscarbidopa-foslevodopa is dosed multiple times daily
c. Carbidopa-levodopa IR is dosed using levodopa concentration levels, foscarbidopa-foslevodopa is dosed using carbidopa concentration levels
5. Which of the following is a reason why we should consider switching a patient’s carbidopa-levodopa IR to carbidopa-levodopa ER (Crexont)?
a. Patient is not experiencing “off” time
b. Patient is experiencing “off” time ≥2.5 hours
c. Patient is experiencing “on” time ≥2.5 hours
6. AL is a 55-year-old with Parkinson’s disease. He takes carbidopa-levodopa IR 25mg/100mg two tablets four times daily. He has a hard time with his current number of pills and breakthrough symptoms between doses. Which of the following alternative dose of carbidopa-levodopa would be appropriate for AL?
a. Carbidopa-levodopa ER (Crexont) 420mg three times daily
b. Carbidopa-levodopa ER (Rytary) 195mg twice daily
c. Foscarbidopa-foslevodopa (Vyalev) 0.27mg/hr
Pharmacy Technician Post Test (for viewing only)
Carbidopa-Levodopa: Revving Up Relief – Choose Your Formula! Technician Test
Learning Objectives: Technicians
• DESCRIBE the functions of the carbidopa-levodopa and how it aids in treatment for patients with Parkinson’s disease
• LIST different forms of carbidopa-levodopa
• IDENTIFY when to refer patients with questions about Parkinson’s disease to a pharmacist
Knowledge Questions
1. What is the primary role of carbidopa-levodopa in the management of Parkinson's disease?
a. Carbidopa and levodopa directly increase dopamine production in the brain
b. Levodopa converts to dopamine in the brain, and carbidopa prevents its breakdown
c. Carbidopa and levodopa work by inhibiting the breakdown of dopamine in the brain
2. Which of the following factors can lead to reduced efficacy of carbidopa-levodopa in treating Parkinson’s disease?
a. Decreased dopamine receptors in advanced disease stages
b. Increased carbidopa leading to less peripheral conversion of levodopa
c. Lowering the carbidopa-to-levodopa ratio to reduce side effects
3. How does the formulation of carbidopa-levodopa in Sinemet CR differ from the immediate-release version?
a. It increases peak dopamine levels in the brain
b. It reduces the amount of carbidopa needed to enhance levodopa absorption
c. It provides a slower, more continuous release of levodopa
4. Which of the following are approved dosage forms of carbidopa-levodopa?
a. Sublingual tablets and extended-release capsules
b. Intravenous infusion and immediate-release tablets
c. Extended-release capsules and subcutaneous infusion
5. Which of the following is a reason a patient may discuss with a pharmacist about switching from carbidopa-levodopa IR to carbidopa-levodopa ER (Crexont)?
a. Patient is not experiencing “off” time
b. Patient is experiencing “off” time >2.5 hours
c. Patient is experiencing “on” time >2.5 hours
6. Which of the following patients should be sent to pharmacist counsel window?
a. Patient with questions about drug interactions between CD-LD IR and antibiotics
b. Patient with questions about cost of CD-LD ER (Crexont) with their new insurance
c. Patients with questions about putting their PD medications on automatic refill