Antileprotic drugs: clofazimine: 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 · Antileprotic drugs: clofazimine

Sample item

A leprosy patient on multibacillary multidrug therapy complains of dark discolouration of the skin and ichthyosis. Which drug is responsible?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Clofazimine

Clofazimine is a lipophilic riminophenazine dye that accumulates in tissues, giving reddish-brown skin pigmentation, dryness and discolouration of body fluids. Dapsone may cause haemolysis, particularly in G6PD deficiency, and methaemoglobinaemia.

Option by option

  • A. Prednisolone

    Prednisolone does not cause this pigmentation.

  • B. Rifampicin

    Rifampicin causes orange secretions.

  • C. Dapsone

    Dapsone causes haemolysis and methaemoglobinaemia.

  • D. Clofazimine (correct)

    Correct. Clofazimine causes pigmentation.

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, Clofazimine. Clofazimine is a lipophilic riminophenazine dye that accumulates in tissues, giving reddish-brown skin pigmentation, dryness and discolouration of body fluids.

Why is "Prednisolone" not the answer?

Prednisolone does not cause this pigmentation.

Why is "Rifampicin" not the answer?

Rifampicin causes orange secretions.

Why is "Dapsone" not the answer?

Dapsone causes haemolysis and methaemoglobinaemia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antileprotic drugs: clofazimine in Pharmacology. Dapsone may cause haemolysis, particularly in G6PD deficiency, and methaemoglobinaemia.

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 Antileprotic drugs: clofazimine?

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.