A 31-year-old woman, gravida 1, attends the GP at 12 weeks of gestation. She has well-controlled asthma on beclometasone 200 mcg twice daily and salbu...

Question

A 31-year-old woman, gravida 1, attends the GP at 12 weeks of gestation. She has well-controlled asthma on beclometasone 200 mcg twice daily and salbutamol as needed. She reports stopping her beclometasone inhaler 2 weeks ago because a friend told her corticosteroids are harmful in pregnancy. She has since had increased wheeze and nocturnal cough. Which is the single most appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Restart beclometasone and reassure her that inhaled corticosteroids are safe in pregnancy and that poorly controlled asthma poses greater risks

Answer

Confirm her decision to stop and prescribe oral montelukast instead

Answer

Prescribe a short course of oral prednisolone and withhold inhaled steroids

Answer

Advise that all asthma medications should be avoided in the first trimester

Answer

Switch to a higher dose of salbutamol alone

uk-drcog MCQ (SBA): Asthma Inhaler Cessation in Pregnancy