Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Practice Exam

Which medication is typically avoided in treating gallstones in the gallbladder?

1. Heparin

2. Steroids

3. Antibiotics

4. Oral contraceptives

The correct answer is: Antibiotics

The medication that is typically avoided in treating gallstones in the gallbladder is antibiotics. While antibiotics are important for treating infections, they do not directly address the underlying condition of gallstones. Gallstones are comprised of solid particles in the gallbladder that can cause pain, inflammation, or complications, but antibiotics do not dissolve or remove the stones themselves. In the absence of infection, using antibiotics could introduce unnecessary medication without providing therapeutic benefit for the gallstones specifically. Instead, management of gallstones usually involves lifestyle modifications, medical therapy specifically aimed at dissolution of stones, or surgical approaches like cholecystectomy when necessary. Other medications mentioned, such as heparin, steroids, or oral contraceptives, while they may have interactions or considerations in specific patient populations, are not typically associated with direct treatment of gallstones.