Drugs in pregnancy: drugs during lactation: 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: drugs during lactation

Sample item

A breastfeeding mother with a tension headache and fever needs a drug. Which of these is considered acceptable during lactation?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Paracetamol

Paracetamol passes into milk in very small amounts and is regarded as compatible with breastfeeding. Cytotoxic drugs such as methotrexate are avoided, ergotamine can cause infant vomiting, diarrhoea and suppress lactation, and amiodarone's iodine content and long half-life can affect the infant's thyroid.

Option by option

  • A. Ergotamine

    Ergotamine causes ergotism in the infant and suppresses prolactin.

  • B. Methotrexate

    Methotrexate is cytotoxic and is avoided during lactation.

  • C. Amiodarone

    Amiodarone accumulates and its iodine can cause neonatal thyroid dysfunction.

  • D. Paracetamol (correct)

    Correct. Paracetamol appears in milk in trivial amounts and is compatible with breastfeeding.

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, Paracetamol. Paracetamol passes into milk in very small amounts and is regarded as compatible with breastfeeding.

Why is "Ergotamine" not the answer?

Ergotamine causes ergotism in the infant and suppresses prolactin.

Why is "Methotrexate" not the answer?

Methotrexate is cytotoxic and is avoided during lactation.

Why is "Amiodarone" not the answer?

Amiodarone accumulates and its iodine can cause neonatal thyroid dysfunction.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Drugs in pregnancy: drugs during lactation in Pharmacology. Cytotoxic drugs such as methotrexate are avoided, ergotamine can cause infant vomiting, diarrhoea and suppress lactation, and amiodarone's iodine content and long half-life can affect the infant's thyroid.

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: drugs during lactation?

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.