Gastrointestinal drugs: 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 · Gastrointestinal drugs

Sample item

What is the antiemetic mechanism of ondansetron?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. 5-HT3 receptor antagonism

Ondansetron blocks 5-HT3 receptors in vagal afferents and central emetic pathways, reducing nausea and vomiting from several causes.

Option by option

  • A. Muscarinic receptor stimulation

    Muscarinic stimulation would not be antiemetic.

  • B. 5-HT3 receptor antagonism (correct)

    Correct: 5-HT3 blockade is ondansetron's action.

  • C. Proton-pump inhibition

    PPIs reduce gastric acid.

  • D. D2 receptor agonism

    D2 antagonism describes other antiemetics.

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 B, 5-HT3 receptor antagonism. Ondansetron blocks 5-HT3 receptors in vagal afferents and central emetic pathways, reducing nausea and vomiting from several causes.

Why is "Muscarinic receptor stimulation" not the answer?

Muscarinic stimulation would not be antiemetic.

Why is "Proton-pump inhibition" not the answer?

PPIs reduce gastric acid.

Why is "D2 receptor agonism" not the answer?

D2 antagonism describes other antiemetics.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Gastrointestinal drugs in Pharmacology. The correct option holds because: Correct: 5-HT3 blockade is ondansetron's action.

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 Gastrointestinal drugs?

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.