NEET-PG 2023 - Pharmacology Practice Questions

Q: A patient comes to the casualty with organophosphate poisoning. He was started on atropine infusion and pralidoxime. After 2 hours, the patient had a sudden rise in temperature. What is the most likely cause of the fever?

Fever due to atropine toxicity.. ***Fever due to atropine toxicity.*** - **Atropine** blocks muscarinic receptors, leading to inhibition of **sweat glands** and subsequent rise in body temperature (hyperthermia), especially with high doses or prolonged infusion. - Given the patient is receiving an **atropine infusion** and developed fever, **atropine toxicity** is a primary concern. *Side effect of pralidoxime.* - While pralidoxime can cause side effects like dizziness, blurred vision, or tachycardia, **fever is not a typical side effect** of pralidoxime. - Pralidoxime works by **regenerating acetylcholinesterase** [2, 3] and does not directly interfere with thermoregulation in a way that would cause fever. *Result of organophosphate poisoning.* - **Organophosphate poisoning** typically causes **hypothermia** due to excessive cholinergic stimulation leading to peripheral vasodilation and increased sweating [1]. - **Fever** is not a direct result of the acute phase of organophosphate poisoning itself, but rather a complication of treatment or other factors. *Unrelated or unknown cause.* - While possible, it's less likely to be "unrelated or unknown" when a clear pharmacological explanation (**atropine toxicity**) exists for fever in the context of the patient's treatment. - It would be important to first rule out known causes related to the ongoing treatment before attributing it to an unknown cause.

Q: Which of the following is NOT a side effect of amiodarone?

Tachycardia. ***Tachycardia*** - **Amiodarone** is an antiarrhythmic drug primarily used to treat and prevent **tachyarrhythmias**, meaning it generally slows down heart rate and is not associated with causing tachycardia. - Its main effect is to prolong the **refractory period** in myocardial cells, which helps to stabilize abnormal heart rhythms, rather than inducing them. *Pulmonary fibrosis* - **Amiodarone** is well-known for its potential to cause **pulmonary toxicity**, including **interstitial lung disease** and **pulmonary fibrosis**, which can be severe and even fatal. - This side effect is thought to be dose-dependent and can manifest as shortness of breath and cough, requiring careful monitoring. *Corneal microdeposits* - **Corneal microdeposits**, often described as **whorl keratopathy** or **cornea verticillata**, are a very common and usually benign side effect of **amiodarone**. - These deposits typically do not affect vision but can cause blurred vision or halos around lights in some patients. *Photosensitivity* - **Photosensitivity** is a common dermatological side effect of **amiodarone**, leading to an exaggerated sunburn reaction or a grayish-blue skin discoloration in sun-exposed areas. - Patients are advised to use **sunscreen** and protective clothing while on **amiodarone** to minimize this risk.

Question 1

A female patient presents to the emergency department with severe restlessness, palpitations,    and tremors. She is a known case of bronchial asthma. On examination, the neck looks    swollen. Blood pressure is elevated, and tachycardia is noted. ECG shows atrial fibrillation.    Which of the following drugs is used for immediate management in this patient?

Accepted Answer

Esmolol

Answer

Diltiazem

Answer

Propranolol

Answer

Propylthiouracil

Question 2

A patient comes to the casualty with organophosphate poisoning. He was started on atropine infusion and pralidoxime. After 2 hours, the patient had a sudden rise in temperature. What is the most likely cause of the fever?

Accepted Answer

Fever due to atropine toxicity.

Answer

Side effect of pralidoxime.

Answer

Result of organophosphate poisoning.

Answer

Unrelated or unknown cause.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a side effect of amiodarone?

Accepted Answer

Tachycardia

Answer

Corneal microdeposits

Answer

Photosensitivity

Answer

Pulmonary fibrosis

NEET-PG 2023 — Pharmacology