Pharmacology · single question
Which vasoconstrictor produces the greatest pressor effect and is generally most problematic in cardiovascular/thyroid-compromised patients?
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Correct answer: C. Norepinephrine
- A. Epinephrine has mixed α/β activity; cardiac dosing is limited but it is widely used cautiously.
- B. Levonordefrin is a weaker amine with predominantly α activity, less potent than norepinephrine.
- C. Correct. Norepinephrine is a nearly pure α-agonist that causes intense vasoconstriction and marked rise in blood pressure with reflex bradycardia, making it the most hazardous and essentially obsolete in dental cartridges. (Note: vasoconstrictor caution classically applies to hyperthyroidism.)