Respiratory drugs: stepwise asthma therapy: practice question

A Pharmacology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pharmacology · Respiratory drugs: stepwise asthma therapy

Sample item

A 30-year-old man with asthma has daytime symptoms three times a week using salbutamol as needed. Which step best improves control and reduces exacerbation risk, per current guidance?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Add a low-dose inhaled corticosteroid, ideally combined with formoterol as reliever

Asthma guidelines now stress controller therapy with an inhaled corticosteroid, as inflammation drives disease, and a combined ICS-formoterol reliever lowers exacerbations. Oral steroids are for acute severe episodes and LABA alone is unsafe.

Option by option

  • A. Switch to regular oral theophylline

    Theophylline is a weaker, narrow-index option.

  • B. Start regular oral prednisolone

    Regular oral steroids carry heavy systemic toxicity.

  • C. Add a low-dose inhaled corticosteroid, ideally combined with formoterol as reliever (correct)

    Correct. Low-dose ICS (with formoterol) is the recommended step up.

  • D. Add a LABA alone

    LABA monotherapy increases risk.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is C, Add a low-dose inhaled corticosteroid, ideally combined with formoterol as reliever. Asthma guidelines now stress controller therapy with an inhaled corticosteroid, as inflammation drives disease, and a combined ICS-formoterol reliever lowers exacerbations.

Why is "Switch to regular oral theophylline" not the answer?

Theophylline is a weaker, narrow-index option.

Why is "Start regular oral prednisolone" not the answer?

Regular oral steroids carry heavy systemic toxicity.

Why is "Add a LABA alone" not the answer?

LABA monotherapy increases risk.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Respiratory drugs: stepwise asthma therapy in Pharmacology. Oral steroids are for acute severe episodes and LABA alone is unsafe.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Respiratory drugs: stepwise asthma therapy?

Learn drugs as classes, then the exception in each class that an examiner would pick. Then use the flashcards and the other Pharmacology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.