Cardiovascular drugs: 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.

Try it

Pharmacology · Cardiovascular drugs: toxicity

Sample item

A patient who overdosed on propranolol is bradycardic and hypotensive, and does not respond to atropine. Which drug is most appropriate?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Glucagon

Glucagon acts through its own Gs-coupled receptor to raise cyclic AMP in the myocardium, bypassing the blocked beta-receptors, and increases heart rate and contractility. High-dose insulin, calcium and vasopressors are other options in severe beta-blocker poisoning.

Option by option

  • A. Physostigmine

    Physostigmine reverses anticholinergic poisoning and would worsen bradycardia.

  • B. Naloxone

    Naloxone reverses opioid effects and does not help in beta-blocker poisoning.

  • C. Flumazenil

    Flumazenil reverses benzodiazepines.

  • D. Glucagon (correct)

    Correct. Glucagon raises myocardial cAMP independently of beta-receptors.

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 D, Glucagon. Glucagon acts through its own Gs-coupled receptor to raise cyclic AMP in the myocardium, bypassing the blocked beta-receptors, and increases heart rate and contractility.

Why is "Physostigmine" not the answer?

Physostigmine reverses anticholinergic poisoning and would worsen bradycardia.

Why is "Naloxone" not the answer?

Naloxone reverses opioid effects and does not help in beta-blocker poisoning.

Why is "Flumazenil" not the answer?

Flumazenil reverses benzodiazepines.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Cardiovascular drugs: toxicity in Pharmacology. High-dose insulin, calcium and vasopressors are other options in severe beta-blocker poisoning.

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 Cardiovascular drugs: 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.