THE FAMILY ACTUAL EXAM GUIDE | 250+
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS AND
RATIONALE 2026/2027 UPDATED FOR
GUARANTEED PASS | ALREADY GRADED A+
BRAND NEW ALERT!!
Question 1:
A 65-year-old African American male with hypertension is started on
lisinopril 10mg daily. Two weeks later, he reports a dry, persistent cough.
What is the most appropriate next step?
A. Continue lisinopril – the cough will resolve
B. Switch to losartan
C. Add a beta-blocker to suppress the cough
D. Switch to amlodipine
Rationale: Correct answer: B. ACE inhibitors cause dry cough in 5-
20% due to bradykinin accumulation. ARBs (losartan) have much
lower cough incidence and are the preferred switch. Amlodipine (D)
is also an option but ARBs are more direct substitutes.
Question 2:
A 72-year-old with HFrEF (EF 35%) is on lisinopril, carvedilol, and
furosemide. Which medication would provide additional mortality
benefit if added?
,
A. Spironolactone
B. Digoxin
C. Hydralazine
D. Nitroglycerin patch
Rationale: Correct answer: A. Spironolactone (MRA) reduces
mortality in HFrEF (RALES trial). Digoxin (B) reduces
hospitalizations but not mortality. Hydralazine/nitrate (C) only for
African Americans on optimal therapy. Nitroglycerin patch (D) no
mortality benefit.
Question 3:
A patient with asthma is using albuterol 3-4 times daily and has
nighttime awakenings from wheezing twice per week. PEFR is 65%
predicted. According to GINA guidelines, what is the most appropriate
next step?
A. Add low-dose ICS (fluticasone)
B. Add LABA (salmeterol) as monotherapy
C. Increase albuterol to 2 puffs every 4 hours
D. Add oral prednisone daily
Rationale: Correct answer: A. Uncontrolled asthma (SABA use
>2x/week, night symptoms, PEFR <80%) requires adding low-dose
ICS. LABA monotherapy (B) is dangerous (increased asthma death).
Oral prednisone daily (D) is for severe refractory disease.
,
Question 4:
A 28-year-old pregnant woman at 32 weeks gestation has BP 155/95
mmHg. Which antihypertensive is CONTRAINDICATED?
A. Labetalol
B. Nifedipine
C. Methyldopa
D. Lisinopril
Rationale: Correct answer: D. ACE inhibitors (lisinopril) and ARBs
are teratogenic (fetotoxic – renal agenesis, oligohydramnios, IUGR)
and contraindicated in pregnancy. Labetalol, nifedipine, and
methyldopa are safe and first-line.
Question 5:
A 58-year-old with type 2 diabetes and CKD stage 3b (GFR 40 mL/min)
has HbA1c 7.5% on metformin 1000mg BID and glipizide 10mg BID.
Which medication would provide cardiovascular and renal benefit
regardless of glucose control?
A. Sitagliptin
B. Empagliflozin
C. Pioglitazone
D. Insulin glargine
Rationale: Correct answer: B. SGLT2 inhibitors (empagliflozin,
dapagliflozin) reduce CV events and slow CKD progression
independent of glycemic effect. Sitagliptin (A) has neutral CV
,
effects. Pioglitazone (C) causes fluid retention. Insulin (D) no CV
protection.
Question 6:
A patient is prescribed warfarin for atrial fibrillation. Which medication
would INCREASE the INR and bleeding risk when added?
A. Rifampin
B. Phenytoin
C. Carbamazepine
D. Amiodarone
Rationale: Correct answer: D. Amiodarone inhibits CYP2C9 and
CYP3A4, increasing warfarin levels and INR (often requiring 30-
50% warfarin dose reduction). Rifampin (A), phenytoin (B), and
carbamazepine (C) are inducers that DECREASE warfarin effect.
Question 7:
A 32-year-old with schizophrenia is started on clozapine after failing two
other antipsychotics. Which monitoring test is REQUIRED by the
REMS program?
A. CBC with differential (ANC)
B. EKG
C. TSH
D. Fasting glucose