Chemotherapy: procarbazine reactions: 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 · Chemotherapy: procarbazine reactions

Sample item

A man on MOPP chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma drinks alcohol at a party and develops flushing, headache and vomiting. Another day, after eating aged cheese, he has a severe headache with hypertension. Which component of the regimen explains both events?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Procarbazine

Procarbazine has a disulfiram-like effect with alcohol and is a weak monoamine oxidase inhibitor, so tyramine-rich foods can provoke hypertensive reactions. Patients are advised to avoid alcohol and tyramine-rich foods and some sympathomimetics. The other components do not inhibit these enzymes.

Option by option

  • A. Prednisolone

    Prednisolone causes hyperglycaemia and fluid retention and has no such interaction.

  • B. Procarbazine (correct)

    Correct. This drug causes a disulfiram-like reaction and weak MAO inhibition.

  • C. Mechlorethamine

    Mechlorethamine is an alkylating agent that causes vesicant injury and marrow suppression.

  • D. Vincristine

    Vincristine causes neuropathy and constipation.

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, Procarbazine. Procarbazine has a disulfiram-like effect with alcohol and is a weak monoamine oxidase inhibitor, so tyramine-rich foods can provoke hypertensive reactions.

Why is "Prednisolone" not the answer?

Prednisolone causes hyperglycaemia and fluid retention and has no such interaction.

Why is "Mechlorethamine" not the answer?

Mechlorethamine is an alkylating agent that causes vesicant injury and marrow suppression.

Why is "Vincristine" not the answer?

Vincristine causes neuropathy and constipation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chemotherapy: procarbazine reactions in Pharmacology. Patients are advised to avoid alcohol and tyramine-rich foods and some sympathomimetics. The other components do not inhibit these enzymes.

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 Chemotherapy: procarbazine reactions?

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.