Autacoids: sumatriptan: 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 · Autacoids: sumatriptan

Sample item

Which patient should not be given sumatriptan for an acute migraine attack?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. A man with ischaemic heart disease

Sumatriptan is a 5-HT1B/1D agonist and constricts coronary and cerebral vessels, so it is contraindicated in coronary artery disease, uncontrolled hypertension and hemiplegic or basilar migraine. It aborts attacks and is not used for prophylaxis.

Option by option

  • A. A man with ischaemic heart disease (correct)

    Correct. Vasoconstriction is dangerous in ischaemic heart disease.

  • B. A woman who has had migraine for ten years

    Duration of illness is not a contraindication.

  • C. A man with migraine without aura

    Migraine without aura is an indication.

  • D. A woman with migraine and nausea

    Nausea alone is not a contraindication.

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.

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Questions about this Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is A, A man with ischaemic heart disease. Sumatriptan is a 5-HT1B/1D agonist and constricts coronary and cerebral vessels, so it is contraindicated in coronary artery disease, uncontrolled hypertension and hemiplegic or basilar migraine.

Why is "A woman who has had migraine for ten years" not the answer?

Duration of illness is not a contraindication.

Why is "A man with migraine without aura" not the answer?

Migraine without aura is an indication.

Why is "A woman with migraine and nausea" not the answer?

Nausea alone is not a contraindication.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Autacoids: sumatriptan in Pharmacology. It aborts attacks and is not used for prophylaxis.

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 Autacoids: sumatriptan?

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.