American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Study for the ABIM Certification Exam. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, with hints and explanations for each. Get ready to succeed!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What should be the first step in the treatment regimen for asthma if a patient requires a rescue inhaler?

SABA PRN
Medium dose IG + LABA
High dose IG + LABA
Low dose IG

The correct answer is: SABA PRN

The first step in treating asthma for a patient who requires a rescue inhaler is to use a short-acting beta-agonist (SABA) as needed. SABAs, such as albuterol, act quickly to alleviate acute symptoms of asthma by providing rapid bronchodilation. They are designed to be used as needed for immediate relief of asthma symptoms or exacerbations. Patients who rely on a rescue inhaler typically experience intermittent symptoms, indicating that their asthma may not yet require a daily maintenance therapy. Therefore, initiating treatment with a SABA allows for effective symptom control without prematurely escalating into more complex treatment regimens that involve inhaled corticosteroids (IG) or long-acting beta-agonists (LABA). Other options, such as medium or high-dose inhaled corticosteroids combined with LABA, involve a step-up in treatment intensity that is not warranted in the initial management for those who predominantly need quick relief since this suggests a more chronic, persistent form of asthma that requires closer monitoring and management. Starting with these higher-level therapies would be inappropriate for patients whose symptoms can be effectively managed with a SABA alone.