Emergency 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 · Emergency drugs

Sample item

A patient develops stridor, wheeze and hypotension minutes after an injection. What is the first-line drug and route?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Intramuscular adrenaline

Anaphylaxis is treated first with intramuscular adrenaline in the anterolateral thigh. Antihistamines and steroids are only adjuncts and do not reverse airway obstruction or shock.

Option by option

  • A. Oral chlorpheniramine

    Oral drugs are far too slow and unreliable in shock.

  • B. Intramuscular adrenaline (correct)

    Correct. Give it early; it can be repeated.

  • C. Intravenous hydrocortisone

    Steroids act slowly and do not treat the emergency.

  • D. Nebulised salbutamol

    Salbutamol helps bronchospasm but not hypotension or airway oedema.

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, Intramuscular adrenaline. Anaphylaxis is treated first with intramuscular adrenaline in the anterolateral thigh.

Why is "Oral chlorpheniramine" not the answer?

Oral drugs are far too slow and unreliable in shock.

Why is "Intravenous hydrocortisone" not the answer?

Steroids act slowly and do not treat the emergency.

Why is "Nebulised salbutamol" not the answer?

Salbutamol helps bronchospasm but not hypotension or airway oedema.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Emergency drugs in Pharmacology. Antihistamines and steroids are only adjuncts and do not reverse airway obstruction or shock.

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 Emergency 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.