Adrenergic 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 · Adrenergic drugs

Sample item

An elderly man with benign prostatic hyperplasia needs an alpha-blocker with minimal effect on blood pressure. Which drug is the most suitable?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Tamsulosin

Tamsulosin selectively blocks alpha-1A and 1D receptors that predominate in the prostate and bladder neck, so postural hypotension is less than with non-selective alpha-1 blockers. It can cause retrograde ejaculation.

Option by option

  • A. Tamsulosin (correct)

    Uroselective alpha-1A blockade relaxes prostatic smooth muscle with little vascular effect.

  • B. Doxazosin

    Doxazosin blocks vascular alpha-1B receptors too and can cause postural hypotension.

  • C. Phenoxybenzamine

    Phenoxybenzamine is a non-selective irreversible blocker with marked hypotension and is not used for prostatic symptoms.

  • D. Clonidine

    Clonidine is a central alpha-2 agonist for hypertension and not a prostatic treatment.

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 A, Tamsulosin. Tamsulosin selectively blocks alpha-1A and 1D receptors that predominate in the prostate and bladder neck, so postural hypotension is less than with non-selective alpha-1 blockers.

Why is "Doxazosin" not the answer?

Doxazosin blocks vascular alpha-1B receptors too and can cause postural hypotension.

Why is "Phenoxybenzamine" not the answer?

Phenoxybenzamine is a non-selective irreversible blocker with marked hypotension and is not used for prostatic symptoms.

Why is "Clonidine" not the answer?

Clonidine is a central alpha-2 agonist for hypertension and not a prostatic treatment.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Adrenergic drugs in Pharmacology. It can cause retrograde ejaculation.

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 Adrenergic 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.