Pharmacology · single question
Which vasoconstrictor is contraindicated (or should be used with the most caution) in a patient with hyperthyroidism?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Epinephrine
Patients with uncontrolled or poorly controlled hyperthyroidism have an exaggerated sensitivity to circulating catecholamines, and dental local anesthesia textbooks specifically caution against (or limit) the use of epinephrine-containing local anesthetics in this population due to the risk of triggering a thyrotoxic/cardiovascular crisis. (Amitriptyline isn't itself a vasoconstrictor — it's a tricyclic antidepressant whose interaction concern with vasoconstrictors is a separate topic.)