Neuro drugs: ergotamine toxicity: 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 · Neuro drugs: ergotamine toxicity

Sample item

A woman with chronic migraine taking ergotamine daily presents with cold, painful, pulseless feet and paraesthesias. What is the diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Ergotism from peripheral vasospasm

Ergotamine is a potent alpha agonist and serotonin partial agonist causing sustained arterial vasoconstriction, and overuse leads to ergotism with ischaemia and gangrene. It is contraindicated in vascular disease, pregnancy and with CYP3A4 inhibitors.

Option by option

  • A. Ergotism from peripheral vasospasm (correct)

    Correct. Ergot overuse causes vasospastic ischaemia.

  • B. Raynaud disease

    The temporal link to ergotamine points to a drug cause.

  • C. Deep vein thrombosis

    DVT presents with swelling.

  • D. Diabetic neuropathy

    Neuropathy would not explain absent pulses.

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, Ergotism from peripheral vasospasm. Ergotamine is a potent alpha agonist and serotonin partial agonist causing sustained arterial vasoconstriction, and overuse leads to ergotism with ischaemia and gangrene.

Why is "Raynaud disease" not the answer?

The temporal link to ergotamine points to a drug cause.

Why is "Deep vein thrombosis" not the answer?

DVT presents with swelling.

Why is "Diabetic neuropathy" not the answer?

Neuropathy would not explain absent pulses.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuro drugs: ergotamine toxicity in Pharmacology. It is contraindicated in vascular disease, pregnancy and with CYP3A4 inhibitors.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Neuro drugs: ergotamine toxicity?

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.