Common Registration Assessment, Part 1

Budesonide Turbohaler daily doses and inhaler supply for the GPhC assessment

Three original practice questions, with the working shown. Read the stated prescription or plan before calculating.

Published 13 November 2026. Independent revision material, not GPhC questions, not for patient care.

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The manufacturer's UK product information for Pulmicort Turbohaler (budesonide) states that adults usually take 200 to 1,600 micrograms daily in divided doses, with 200 to 800 micrograms daily in less severe cases.

The same information also describes once-daily dosing for some patients, with the dose always reduced to the minimum needed to maintain good asthma control.

The Turbohaler comes in different strengths per actuation: the 400 microgram device contains 50 actuations and the 100 microgram device contains 200 actuations. The NHS budesonide inhalers page explains how these inhalers are used.

Each question fixes the values needed for its arithmetic. Convert micrograms to actuations of the stated device strength before counting days of supply. All prescriptions and patients here are fictional; these are revision materials, not for patient care.

The method

  1. Convert the prescribed daily micrograms into actuations of the stated device strength.
  2. Split divided doses (for example twice daily) into per-dose actuations.
  3. Divide the device's actuation count by the daily use for the days covered.
  4. Check the daily total stays within the printed 200 to 1,600 microgram adult range.

Three practice questions

Work each one on paper first, then open the answer. All patients and prescriptions are fictional.

Question 1

A fictional adult is prescribed budesonide 400 micrograms twice daily using the 400 microgram Turbohaler (50 actuations). How many actuations is each dose, and how many days does one device cover?

Show the answer

Answer: One actuation per dose; 25 days

Working: 400 micrograms from a 400 microgram device is one actuation. Twice daily is two actuations a day, and 50 / 2 = 25 days.

Question 2

A fictional adult is prescribed budesonide 800 micrograms daily in divided doses using the 100 microgram Turbohaler (200 actuations). How many actuations per day is that, and how many days does one device cover?

Show the answer

Answer: Eight actuations a day; 25 days

Working: 800 / 100 = 8 actuations daily, and 200 / 8 = 25 days.

Question 3

A fictional adult on 400 micrograms twice daily with the 400 microgram Turbohaler is prescribed a 28-day supply. How many actuations does the supply need, and how many devices must be dispensed?

Show the answer

Answer: 56 actuations; two devices

Working: Two actuations a day for 28 days is 2 x 28 = 56 actuations. One device holds 50, so 56 - 50 = 6 actuations remain, and a second device is needed.

eMC SmPC: Pulmicort Turbohaler 400

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/1386/smpc

Where marks are lost

  • Mixing up actuation counts between device strengths: 50 for the 400 microgram device and 200 for the 100 microgram device.
  • Assuming one device always covers a month without dividing its actuation count by daily use.
  • Exceeding the printed adult ceiling of 1,600 micrograms daily.

Frequently asked questions

Are these official assessment questions?

No. They are original revision exercises, not official GPhC questions and not for patient care.

Does this calculation decide a real dose?

No. Follow the stated prescription in the exercise. Real dosing follows the prescriber and the product information for the named product.

How should I check the answer?

Divide the daily micrograms by the device strength for actuations per day, then divide the device's actuation count by that daily use.

Sources

The questions above are original and use fictional patients and prescriptions. PreRegExamPrep is not affiliated with or endorsed by the General Pharmaceutical Council.

Practise until the method is automatic

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More calculation topics

See also the formula sheet, the eight sample questions and the approved calculator page.