General anaesthetics: 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 · General anaesthetics

Sample item

During surgery under halothane and succinylcholine, a patient develops muscle rigidity, rising end-tidal carbon dioxide, tachycardia and a rapidly rising temperature. Which drug is the specific treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Dantrolene

This is malignant hyperthermia, triggered by volatile anaesthetics and succinylcholine in susceptible people with ryanodine receptor defects. Dantrolene blocks the ryanodine receptor and stops calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Option by option

  • A. Paracetamol

    Paracetamol acts on hypothalamic set-point and is ineffective against this muscle-driven heat production.

  • B. Cyproheptadine

    Cyproheptadine is used in serotonin syndrome and does not stop calcium release in muscle.

  • C. Bromocriptine

    Bromocriptine is used in neuroleptic malignant syndrome, which follows dopamine antagonist use.

  • D. Dantrolene (correct)

    Correct. It blocks sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium release and is the specific antidote.

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 D, Dantrolene. This is malignant hyperthermia, triggered by volatile anaesthetics and succinylcholine in susceptible people with ryanodine receptor defects.

Why is "Paracetamol" not the answer?

Paracetamol acts on hypothalamic set-point and is ineffective against this muscle-driven heat production.

Why is "Cyproheptadine" not the answer?

Cyproheptadine is used in serotonin syndrome and does not stop calcium release in muscle.

Why is "Bromocriptine" not the answer?

Bromocriptine is used in neuroleptic malignant syndrome, which follows dopamine antagonist use.

What concept does this question test?

It tests General anaesthetics in Pharmacology. Dantrolene blocks the ryanodine receptor and stops calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

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 General anaesthetics?

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.