Antitubercular drugs: BPaLM regimen: 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 · Antitubercular drugs: BPaLM regimen

Sample item

Under current programme guidance, a patient with rifampicin-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis with fluoroquinolone-susceptible disease is eligible for a six-month all-oral regimen. Which drugs make up BPaLM?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid and moxifloxacin

BPaLM combines bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid and moxifloxacin for six months in eligible rifampicin-resistant TB. Linezolid toxicities include myelosuppression and neuropathy, and injectable agents have been removed from the preferred regimens.

Option by option

  • A. Bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid and moxifloxacin (correct)

    Correct. This is the BPaLM combination.

  • B. Streptomycin, cycloserine, ethionamide and PAS

    These are older second-line drugs.

  • C. Bedaquiline, kanamycin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide

    Kanamycin injectables are no longer used in this regimen.

  • D. Isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol

    That is the first-line regimen for drug-sensitive TB.

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.

More Pharmacology questions

Questions about this Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is A, Bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid and moxifloxacin. BPaLM combines bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid and moxifloxacin for six months in eligible rifampicin-resistant TB.

Why is "Streptomycin, cycloserine, ethionamide and PAS" not the answer?

These are older second-line drugs.

Why is "Bedaquiline, kanamycin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide" not the answer?

Kanamycin injectables are no longer used in this regimen.

Why is "Isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol" not the answer?

That is the first-line regimen for drug-sensitive TB.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antitubercular drugs: BPaLM regimen in Pharmacology. Linezolid toxicities include myelosuppression and neuropathy, and injectable agents have been removed from the preferred regimens.

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 Antitubercular drugs: BPaLM regimen?

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.