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Acute asthma oral steroid — GPhC CRA MCQ

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EasyRespiratory TherapeuticsAcute asthma oral steroidGPhC CRA

A patient discharged after an asthma attack presents a prescription for prednisolone 40 mg once daily for five days. They ask whether it must be tapered. What would you advise the patient?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: C — Take the short course as prescribed without routine tapering

Short courses of oral corticosteroids for asthma exacerbations usually do not require tapering. Completing the course and having an asthma review are key counselling points. In this scenario, the correct option is take the short course as prescribed without routine tapering. The other options are plausible but do not address the key clinical, legal or safety issue as directly. This aligns with UK pharmacy practice guidance cited in the reference field.

Reference: BNF; NICE CKS