Combined AIIMS - 2020 (Jodhpur, Bhopal, Patna, Raipur)
Pharmacology
Easy
The side effects of Tri-cyclic antidepressants (TCA) drugs are:
Appeared in: Combined AIIMS - 2020 (Jodhpur, Bhopal, Patna, Raipur)
Explanation
- Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are well-known for causing anticholinergic side effects by blocking muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.
- This blockade leads to decreased salivation (dry mouth), paralysis of the ciliary muscle of the eye (blurred vision), and reduced gastrointestinal motility (constipation).
- Since dry mouth, blurred vision, and constipation are all established side effects of TCAs, the most comprehensive and correct option is 'All of these'.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: This option is a correct side effect, but it is not the only one listed. Choosing this option alone would be incomplete.
- Option B: Similar to dry mouth, blurred vision is a valid side effect, but not the only one. The answer is incomplete.
- Option C: Constipation is a common anticholinergic side effect of TCAs, but it is not the only one presented in the options. The answer is incomplete.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Pharmacology of Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) and their side effects as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
- Patient education is a key nursing responsibility when administering TCAs. Nurses must teach patients how to manage common side effects like dry mouth (sugar-free lozenges), constipation (high-fiber diet), and blurred vision (safety precautions).
- Monitoring for and managing orthostatic hypotension is critical to prevent falls, especially in the elderly. Teach patients to rise slowly from a sitting or lying position.
- TCAs have a narrow therapeutic index and can be lethal in overdose, primarily due to cardiac arrhythmias. This makes them less of a first-line choice compared to SSRIs, especially for patients with a high suicide risk.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the core subject of the question, which is the side effects of a specific drug class: Tri-cyclic antidepressants (TCAs).
- Recall the major pharmacological properties of TCAs. The most prominent are their anticholinergic, antihistaminic, and anti-adrenergic effects.
- Evaluate each of the first three options (A, B, C) based on your knowledge. Is 'Dry mouth' a side effect? Yes (anticholinergic). Is 'Blurred vision' a side effect? Yes (anticholinergic). Is 'Constipation' a side effect? Yes (anticholinergic).
- Recognize that when multiple individual options are correct and an 'All of these' option is available, it is the most likely correct answer.
- Confirm that all individual options are indeed correct before selecting 'All of these' to ensure accuracy.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Pharmacology of Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) and their side effects.
- Stem keywords: Tri-cyclic antidepressants, TCA, side effects
- Lead-in keywords: are
- Negative lead-in flag: false
Question ID
Q09S4XIjm-ixeex_sLGdqp
Reference Book
E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) pp. 2024-2026, 2025-2027
E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 10251-10253
Practise the full Combined AIIMS - 2020 (Jodhpur, Bhopal, Patna, Raipur)
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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