NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) Practice Exam

What do preservatives in medication do?

1. Speed up microorganism growth

2. Change the medication's color

3. Provide a pleasant flavor

4. Slow or prevent microorganism growth

The correct answer is: Slow or prevent microorganism growth

Preservatives in medication act as stabilizers to slow or prevent microorganism growth. This is important because bacteria or other microorganisms can contaminate medication and cause it to spoil or become harmful to consume. Option A is incorrect because preservatives do the opposite by inhibiting microorganism growth. Option B and C are incorrect because these changes are not the main purpose of preservatives. It is important to note that preservatives may also have other functions, such as maintaining the potency or shelf life of the medication, but the main purpose is to prevent microbial growth.