Autonomic: dobutamine: practice question

A Pharmacology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pharmacology · Autonomic: dobutamine

Sample item

A patient cannot exercise for a cardiac stress test. Which catecholamine, a selective beta-1 agonist, is infused to induce stress during echocardiography?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Dobutamine

Dobutamine mainly stimulates cardiac beta-1 receptors, increasing contractility and heart rate with modest vascular effect. It is used in acute heart failure and cardiogenic shock and as a pharmacological stress agent.

Option by option

  • A. Dobutamine (correct)

    Correct. Dobutamine is relatively beta-1 selective and increases myocardial work.

  • B. Phenylephrine

    Phenylephrine is a pure alpha-1 agonist with little inotropy.

  • C. Noradrenaline

    Noradrenaline mainly vasoconstricts through alpha-1.

  • D. Isoprenaline

    Isoprenaline is non-selective and strongly vasodilates through beta-2.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Pharmacology questions

Questions about this Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is A, Dobutamine. Dobutamine mainly stimulates cardiac beta-1 receptors, increasing contractility and heart rate with modest vascular effect.

Why is "Phenylephrine" not the answer?

Phenylephrine is a pure alpha-1 agonist with little inotropy.

Why is "Noradrenaline" not the answer?

Noradrenaline mainly vasoconstricts through alpha-1.

Why is "Isoprenaline" not the answer?

Isoprenaline is non-selective and strongly vasodilates through beta-2.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Autonomic: dobutamine in Pharmacology. It is used in acute heart failure and cardiogenic shock and as a pharmacological stress agent.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Autonomic: dobutamine?

Learn drugs as classes, then the exception in each class that an examiner would pick. Then use the flashcards and the other Pharmacology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.