Drugs in pregnancy: nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: 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 · Drugs in pregnancy: nausea and vomiting of pregnancy

Sample item

A woman at 8 weeks of gestation has persistent nausea and vomiting that has not improved with dietary changes. Which combination is a widely used first-line drug treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Doxylamine with pyridoxine

Pyridoxine with the antihistamine doxylamine is a first-line pharmacological treatment for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy with good safety data in organogenesis. Other antiemetics are second line when it fails. Intravenous fluids and thiamine are used in hyperemesis.

Option by option

  • A. Ondansetron with dexamethasone

    Ondansetron with dexamethasone is not first line in early pregnancy, and the steroid is avoided in the first trimester.

  • B. Doxylamine with pyridoxine (correct)

    Correct. This combination is first-line drug therapy with a good safety record.

  • C. Metoclopramide with domperidone

    Metoclopramide and domperidone are both dopamine antagonists and are not a first-line combination.

  • D. Prochlorperazine with promethazine

    Combining two phenothiazine-type drugs increases sedation and extrapyramidal effects.

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 B, Doxylamine with pyridoxine. Pyridoxine with the antihistamine doxylamine is a first-line pharmacological treatment for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy with good safety data in organogenesis.

Why is "Ondansetron with dexamethasone" not the answer?

Ondansetron with dexamethasone is not first line in early pregnancy, and the steroid is avoided in the first trimester.

Why is "Metoclopramide with domperidone" not the answer?

Metoclopramide and domperidone are both dopamine antagonists and are not a first-line combination.

Why is "Prochlorperazine with promethazine" not the answer?

Combining two phenothiazine-type drugs increases sedation and extrapyramidal effects.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Drugs in pregnancy: nausea and vomiting of pregnancy in Pharmacology. Other antiemetics are second line when it fails. Intravenous fluids and thiamine are used in hyperemesis.

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 Drugs in pregnancy: nausea and vomiting of pregnancy?

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.