Antimalarials: chemoprophylaxis: 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 · Antimalarials: chemoprophylaxis

Sample item

A traveller to a mefloquine-resistant region has a history of depression and seeks malaria prophylaxis. Which drug should be avoided, and which is an alternative?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Avoid mefloquine, which causes neuropsychiatric effects; doxycycline or atovaquone-proguanil can be used

Mefloquine can cause vivid dreams, anxiety, depression and psychosis, and is avoided in psychiatric disorders and seizure history. Doxycycline daily and atovaquone-proguanil are alternatives, while doxycycline is avoided in pregnancy and children below eight.

Option by option

  • A. Avoid mefloquine, which causes neuropsychiatric effects; doxycycline or atovaquone-proguanil can be used (correct)

    Correct. Avoid mefloquine in psychiatric history.

  • B. Avoid doxycycline; use mefloquine

    Mefloquine is the drug to avoid.

  • C. No drug should be avoided

    Mefloquine is relatively contraindicated here.

  • D. Avoid atovaquone-proguanil; use chloroquine

    Atovaquone-proguanil is suitable.

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, Avoid mefloquine, which causes neuropsychiatric effects; doxycycline or atovaquone-proguanil can be used. Mefloquine can cause vivid dreams, anxiety, depression and psychosis, and is avoided in psychiatric disorders and seizure history.

Why is "Avoid doxycycline; use mefloquine" not the answer?

Mefloquine is the drug to avoid.

Why is "No drug should be avoided" not the answer?

Mefloquine is relatively contraindicated here.

Why is "Avoid atovaquone-proguanil; use chloroquine" not the answer?

Atovaquone-proguanil is suitable.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antimalarials: chemoprophylaxis in Pharmacology. Doxycycline daily and atovaquone-proguanil are alternatives, while doxycycline is avoided in pregnancy and children below eight.

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 Antimalarials: chemoprophylaxis?

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.