In COPD, a rescue pack includes six tablets immediate dose and six tablets every morning for 7 days; which drug is this rescue pack primarily predicated on?

In COPD, a rescue pack includes six tablets immediate dose and six tablets every morning for 7 days; which drug is this rescue pack primarily predicated on?

• A. Dexamethasone
• B. Prednisolone
• C. Methylprednisolone
• D. Hydrocortisone

Answer: (B)

Systemic corticosteroids are used in COPD exacerbations to quickly reduce airway inflammation and shorten recovery time. The commonly recommended oral regimen is about 30 mg of prednisone/prednisolone daily for around a week. Packaging a rescue pack with six tablets to give the initial 30 mg dose, followed by daily morning doses of the same total amount, fits neatly with this 30 mg-per-day short course. Prednisolone is chosen because it is a short-acting glucocorticoid available in 5 mg tablets, making a straightforward 30 mg initial dose and a simple daily dosing plan. Other steroids listed—dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, and hydrocortisone—are less aligned with the standard outpatient COPD rescue pack format or have different dosing schemes, making prednisolone the best fit for this regimen.

Systemic corticosteroids are used in COPD exacerbations to quickly reduce airway inflammation and shorten recovery time. The commonly recommended oral regimen is about 30 mg of prednisone/prednisolone daily for around a week. Packaging a rescue pack with six tablets to give the initial 30 mg dose, followed by daily morning doses of the same total amount, fits neatly with this 30 mg-per-day short course. Prednisolone is chosen because it is a short-acting glucocorticoid available in 5 mg tablets, making a straightforward 30 mg initial dose and a simple daily dosing plan. Other steroids listed—dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, and hydrocortisone—are less aligned with the standard outpatient COPD rescue pack format or have different dosing schemes, making prednisolone the best fit for this regimen.