NAPLEX Exam Dumps : North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination

Add salmeterol to the current regimen. This patient had mild persistent asthma but was using his albuterol daily, which indicates that a step up in therapy is warranted. The preferred first line treatment regimen for moderate persistent asthma are low to medium dose inhaled corticosteroids plus a long acting beta2 agonist, as well as a short acting beta2 agonist as needed. A is incorrect. Ciclesonide is an inhaled corticosteroid. The patient in the case is already using fluticasone, so adding ciclesonide would be therapeutic duplication. C is incorrect. Long-acting beta2 agonists should only be used as adjunctive therapy in patients who are currently receiving but not adequately controlled on an inhaled corticosteroid. These medications should not be used as monotherapy, due to an increased risk of asthma related deaths. D is incorrect. Cromolyn prevents the release of vasoactive mediators from mast cell and is primarily used for exercise-induced asthma, it is not indicated as an alternative agent in patients with moderate persistent asthma. E is incorrect. Ipratropium is a short-acting anticholinergic, which is often used in COPD or in asthma exacerbations. It is not indicated for maintenance treatment of moderate persistent asthma.

Lifelong Vitamin B12 supplementation. Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) deficiency generally presents in patients as fatigue, diarrhea and headaches but can also be the cause of cognitive changes (difficulty concentrating, even mild dementia). Pernicious anemia is a macrocytic anemia, therefore laboratory findings indicate an increased mean corpuscular volume (MCV), with a decreased hemoglobin. A positive Schilling test indicates that the B12 deficiency is due to a lack of intrinsic factor. Lifelong cyanocobalamin supplementation (either orally or via injections) is needed to treat pernicious anemia. A is incorrect. Folic acid deficiency anemia is another common type of macrocytic anemia. However, cognitive deficits are not typically seen with folic acid deficiency. Furthermore, a schilling test would be negative and the methylmalonic acid (MMA) would be normal, rather than elevated. C is incorrect. Iron deficiency anemia causes a microcytic anemia, characterized by a decreased MCV. D is incorrect. A Coomb’s test is used to detect autoimmune hemolysis that may be suspected in patients with normocytic anemia (anemia with an MCV in the normal range). E is incorrect. Corticosteroids and iron supplementation are indicated as treatment in hemolytic anemia.

It is reasonable to add triglyceride-lowering medications such as fibrates or niacin to prevent pancreatitis in those with triglyceride levels >500 mg/dL, which applies to this patient as his TG level is 640 mg/dL . C. is wrong because gemfibrozil should not be initiated in patients on statin therapy because of an increased risk for muscle symptoms and rhabdomyolysis. Fenofibrate may be considered concomitantly with a low- or moderate- intensity statin when triglycerides are above 500 mg/dL,2, however he is on a high intensity statin therapy. For niacin, the IR dose should start at 100 mg TID2 and niacin does not lower triglyceride levels as much as fibrate do.4 Fenofibrates are dose adjusted for renal function lower than 60 mL/min to 54 mg/mL, so this dose is appropriate for this patient because of his renal function being above 60 mL/min. The best option is fenofibrate 162 mg daily, but this needs to be monitored for any symptoms of muscle pain exhibited by the patient, especially as the patient is at a higher risk due to being a diabetic. Fish oil is not a first line agent to treat hypertriglyceridemia.