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Question 481
Pharmacology → General
Classification
Question
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A patient treated with a dopamine receptor-blocking antipsychotic develops motor adverse effects. Which group consists entirely of extrapyramidal complications associated with this drug class?
Question Stem
Select the single best answer.
Options
A
Parkinsonism, acute muscular dystonia, akathisia and tardive dyskinesia
B
Dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision and urinary retention
C
Tachycardia, neonatal irritability, galactorrhoea and constipation
D
Sedation, nightmares, depression and bronchoconstriction
E
Nausea, vomiting, flushing and hypotension
Explanation
Dopamine receptor-blocking antipsychotics can produce extrapyramidal adverse effects including Parkinsonism, acute muscular dystonias, akathisia, malignant neuroleptic syndrome and tardive dyskinesia.
Option Validity
B) Dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision and urinary retention are anticholinergic effects rather than an exclusively extrapyramidal group.
C) This combines adverse effects associated with tricyclic antidepressants rather than an extrapyramidal syndrome group.
D) Sedation, nightmares and depression can occur with propranolol, while bronchoconstriction reflects beta-2 blockade.
E) This does not represent the characteristic extrapyramidal adverse-effect spectrum of antipsychotic drugs.
Further Reading
Saxena R. Textbook for MRCOG-1. Chapter 12: Pharmacology. Antipsychotic Drugs, p.345.