Question:medium
Which of the following is not a prokinetic agent?
Which of the following is not a prokinetic agent?
Show Hint
One of these is actually a stimulant laxative group, not a gut motility enhancer.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- Dopamine antagonist
- 5-HT4 agonist
- Macrolides
- Diphenylmethane
Show Solution
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Clinical pearl: Remember the four prokinetic classes by mechanism, then spot the odd one out.
1. D2 (dopamine) antagonists: metoclopramide, domperidone, itopride.
2. 5-HT4 agonists: cisapride, mosapride, prucalopride.
3. Motilin agonists: macrolides like erythromycin (low-dose, used to speed gastric emptying in gastroparesis).
4. Cholinesterase-related: itopride also has anti-AChE action.
Diphenylmethane is the chemical class of stimulant (irritant) purgatives such as bisacodyl and phenolphthalein. These trigger colonic secretion and peristalsis as laxatives, so they are not prokinetics. Hence diphenylmethane is the correct answer for the drug that is NOT a prokinetic.
Ref: K. D. Tripathi, 7th Edition, GIT drugs chapter.
1. D2 (dopamine) antagonists: metoclopramide, domperidone, itopride.
2. 5-HT4 agonists: cisapride, mosapride, prucalopride.
3. Motilin agonists: macrolides like erythromycin (low-dose, used to speed gastric emptying in gastroparesis).
4. Cholinesterase-related: itopride also has anti-AChE action.
Diphenylmethane is the chemical class of stimulant (irritant) purgatives such as bisacodyl and phenolphthalein. These trigger colonic secretion and peristalsis as laxatives, so they are not prokinetics. Hence diphenylmethane is the correct answer for the drug that is NOT a prokinetic.
Ref: K. D. Tripathi, 7th Edition, GIT drugs chapter.
Was this answer helpful?
0
