Plat Flashcards
As part of a lunchtime teaching session on asthma at your GP practice. You are running through the signs of an asthma attack. Which of the following would NOT be a sign of an acute severe asthma attack?
PEF of 33-50%
Unable to complete one sentence
PEF >50-75%
Respiratory rate of >25/min
Heart rate of 120 beats/min
PEF >50-75%
This is not a sign of an acute severe asthma attack. Instead, it indicates moderate asthma exacerbation rather than a severe attack.
Signs of an acute severe asthma attack (as per BTS/SIGN guidelines):
✅ PEF 33-50% of best or predicted
✅ Unable to complete sentences in one breath
✅ Respiratory rate >25/min
✅ Heart rate ≥110 beats/min
Inhaled corticosteroids are a cause of oral candidiasis and there are ways to prevent this. Which of the following would be the most appropriate advice?
Advise her to rinse her mouth after using her corticosteroid inhaler
Use her inhaler after food
Advise her to rinse her mouth before using her corticosteroid inhaler
Advise her to take the doses every other day to reduce the risk of candidiasis
Use her inhaler 30 mins before food
Advise her to rinse her mouth after using her corticosteroid inhaler
Mr X, a regular patient of yours comes into the pharmacy and during a general conversation with him he mentions how he thinks his new inhaler is not really helping him because when he uses it he doesn’t think he receives a dose and so has not been using it for the past week. You take him into the consultation room, to show him how to improve his inhaler technique. What would be the most appropriate technique for using Fostair nexthaler?
Inhale fast and deep
Inhale slow and steady
Inhale into the nexthaler
Shaking the nexthaler after use
Breathing into the nexthaler before use
DPI- Inhale deep + Fast
What is the target level for satisfactory bronchodilation with theophylline?
10-20mcg/L
15-20mcg/L
5-10mcg/L
2-5mcg/L
4-12mcg/L
10-20 mcg/L
A patient comes in enquiring about nicotine replacement patches as he is considering stopping smoking as he is aware of how harmful smoking is and does not want it to also impact his family. As he is a regular patient you are aware that he takes medication for asthma and he has severe asthma. You gain consent to check his PMR to see if he is on any certain medications and if it would interact. You find that amongst his inhalers he also takes theophylline. Which of the following would be the most appropriate advice to provide the patient?
Refer him to his GP as his theophylline dose would need decreasing if he is considering stopping smoking
Advise him on the range of nicotine patches available
Refuse the sale as he is not old enough to buy nicotine patches
Refer him to his GP as his theophylline dose would need increasing if he is considering stopping smoking
Advise him to stop taking theophylline whilst on nicotine patches.
Refer him to his GP as his theophylline dose would need decreasing if he is considering stopping smoking.
Why?
Smoking induces CYP1A2, an enzyme that increases the metabolism of theophylline, leading to lower drug levels in smokers.
If the patient stops smoking, CYP1A2 activity reduces, causing theophylline levels to increase, which can lead to toxicity (nausea, vomiting, arrhythmias, seizures).
To prevent toxicity, theophylline dose should be reduced upon smoking cessation, which requires GP supervision and monitoring of theophylline levels.
You are working as a locum in a regular store on a hot, sunny day. You are aware the pollen count has been high over the past few days. A young lady comes in and explains she is on her lunch break at work but is finding it hard to concentrate at work today as she is constantly sneezing, her eyes have been watering all day and her nose has been leaking. She has forgotten her antihistamines at home because she does not take them every day and does not remember the name of them. She asks if you can recommend something for hayfever?
Loratadine
Chlorphenamine
Diphenhydramine
Beconase nasal spray
Optrex hayfever eye drops
Loratadine is a non-drowsy second-generation antihistamine, making it ideal for someone who is at work and needs to concentrate.
It provides all-day relief from sneezing, watery eyes, and a runny nose.
Since she doesn’t take antihistamines daily, it’s a convenient once-daily dose.
You are providing the flu vaccination service and a young gentleman aged 25 years old has come in for a flu jab. He has not previously had one before. You ask him to fill out a form and explain about the flu jab and counsel him appropriately. You administer the flu jab and ask him to sit outside for 10 minutes to ensure he is okay and no reaction follows. You go back into the dispensary to check prescriptions which are calling back. A few minutes later, he approaches the counter and explains he is finding it hard to breathe, he has gone pale and his face is swelling. You decide to administer an epipen as you believe he is having an allergic reaction from the flu jab. Which dose is most appropriate to administer?
150mcg
100mcg
300mcg
200mcg
500mcg
500mcg?
Which of the following electrolyte imbalance occurs with beta blockers and concomitant administration of theophylline?
Hyperkalaemia
Hypokalaemia
Hypernatraemia
Hyponatraemia
Hypercalcaemia
Hypokalaemia
A lady comes in to enquire about the flu jab this season as she is keen to get one this year. She asks what age she has to be for her to get it on the NHS?
50 years old
64 years old
65 years old
70 years old
75 years old
50
COPD is an irreversible condition and Mr S has been managing his COPD for a while now. He is currently taking a short acting beta agonist, he has stopped smoking for about a year now but is feeling more breathless then usual over the past couple of weeks. What would be the most appropriate next step for Mr S?
LABA + LAMA
SAMA
LAMA
Prednisolone
LABA, LAMA, ICS
LABA + LAMA
You are working at the GP practice, and you urgently get called to reception. There is a young lady who appears to be breathless, wheezing, short of breath. One of the receptionists explains she is an asthmatic and suspects she is having an asthma attack. The patient pulls out a blue inhaler and she starts using it. What would be the most appropriate number of puffs for the patient to take before calling an ambulance?
2
4
5
10
20
10
The standard emergency treatment for an asthma attack is:
1️⃣ Take 1 puff of the reliever inhaler (usually blue, e.g. salbutamol) every 30-60 seconds, up to a maximum of 10 puffs.
2️⃣ Call 999 if symptoms do not improve after 10 puffs or if the patient is getting worse.
3️⃣ While waiting for emergency help, the patient can continue taking 10 puffs every 10-15 minutes if needed.
A COPD patient is prescribed a rescue pack of antibiotics for her to keep at home. Which of the following antibiotics would be most appropriate to prescribe?
Prednisolone
Amoxicillin
Cefelaxin
Methylprednisolone
Flucloxacillin
Amox
A mother comes into the pharmacy, explaining her child who is 3 years old has got chickenpox which is bothering him as he is constantly touching his face and is feeling uncomfortable, and itchy everywhere. She asks if there is anything you can recommend. What would be the most appropriate antihistamine?
Chlorphenamine oral solution
Cetirizine
Fexofenadine
Acrivastine
Loratidine
Chlorphenamine oral sol
A patient is being assessed for their risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The QRISK2 scale is being used to assess the risk. Which of the following is a factor in the QRISK 2 calculator?
Smoking status
Thyroid disease
Respiratory disease
Pregnant or breastfeeding
Alcohol consumption
Smoking
Amlodipine is an example of a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker. Which of the following is a common side effect of calcium channel blockers?
Flushing
Cold hands and feet
Fatigue
Hypotension
Sleep disturbances
Flushing
Which of the following is a caution for initiating a patient on clozapine?
Agranulocytosis
Uncontrolled epilepsy
History of neutropenia
Bone marrow disorders
Severe CNS depression
Agranulocytosis
Mrs P has recently been diagnosed with schizophrenia but has tried most antipsychotic drugs and has not worked therefore it is decided to initiate her on clozapine and for her to be part of the clozapine monitoring service. Which of the following would be appropriate to monitor initially?
Leucocytes and differential blood counts
Potassium levels
Calcium levels
Red blood cell count
Oxygen saturation
Leucocytes and differential blood counts
Which of the following drugs is most likely to cause weight gain?
Risperidone
Olanzapine
Quetiapine
Lithium
Sodium valporate
Olazapine
Parkinson disease is a neurodegenerative disease, which is managed by a range of medications depending on how quality of life is affected. Which of the following Parkinson drugs is most likely to cause fibrotic reactions?
Bromocriptine
Co-careldopa
Entacopone
Tolcapone
Selligiline
Bromocriptine is an ergot-derived dopamine agonist.
Ergot-derived dopamine agonists (e.g. bromocriptine, cabergoline, pergolide) have been associated with fibrotic reactions, including:
Pulmonary fibrosis
Retroperitoneal fibrosis
Cardiac valve fibrosis
Regular monitoring (e.g. echocardiograms, lung function tests) is required if used long-term.
A 30 year old woman comes in to collect her prescription. This is a new medication for her, she explains when you hand out the medication. She has been prescribed Mirtazapine 15mg at night. What would be the most appropriate counselling point?
Advise her to report any fever, sore throat, or signs of infection when taking mirtazapine.
No specific counselling is required
Advise her to take her tablet with orange juice
Advise her to take it 30 mins before bed
Advise her of diarrhoea developing which is an uncommon side effect and should stop taking the medication.
Mirtazapine can rarely cause agranulocytosis, a serious condition where white blood cell levels drop, increasing the risk of infections.
Symptoms such as fever, sore throat, or persistent infections should be reported immediately to a doctor.
What would be the maximum dose of sertraline that can be prescribed?
150mg
50mg
100mg
200mg
125mg
200mg
Which of the following antidepressants are associated with a higher risk of withdrawal effects?
Sertraline
Mirtazapine
Venlafaxine
Fluoxetine
Moclobencamide
Venlafaxine (an SNRI) has a short half-life, meaning the drug leaves the body quickly, increasing the risk of withdrawal symptoms if stopped abruptly.
Patient Z is a regular customer for the past 10 years who you know very well. He comes in looking down as he has been prescribed another medication as his depression has been getting worse and his previous medication is not working which he has stopped as requested by the doctor so he is able to take the new one that is prescribed which is Moclobemide. The doctor mentioned something about alcohol but he forgot and he knows he will be drinking this weekend as it is his daughter’s birthday. What would be the most appropriate advice?
Advise patient Z to not drink any alcohol because there is an interaction with his new medication
He is fine to drink alcohol and should drink the recommended amount which is 20 pints a week
He is fine to drink alcohol and should drink the recommended amount which is 14 pints a week spread across 3 days
No advice is necessary
Advise the patient he can drink low alcohol drinks
Advise patient Z to not drink any alcohol because there is an interaction with his new medication.”
Why?
Moclobemide is a reversible MAOI (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor).
Alcohol can increase the risk of side effects, such as:
Increased drowsiness & dizziness
Worsening depression symptoms
Increased blood pressure (hypertensive crisis) if combined with certain alcoholic drinks like red wine or beer (which contain tyramine
Co-codamol can be supplied over the counter for a maximum of duration of how many days?
14 days
7 days
2 days
3 days
5 days
3 days