Table 3. Medications contraindicated in patients with known or suspected PHEO/PGL.
| Drug class | Relevant clinical uses |
|---|---|
| β-Adrenergic blockers1 | May be used to treat conditions that result from catecholamine excess (e.g. hypertension, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, panic attacks, migraine, tachycardia and cardiac dysrhythmias) |
| Dopamine D2 receptor antagonists | Control of nausea, vomiting, psychosis, hot flashes and for tranquilizing effect |
| Tricyclic antidepressants | Treatment of insomnia, neuropathic pain, nocturnal enuresis in children, headaches, depression (rarely) |
| Other antidepressants (serotonin and NE reuptake inhibitors) | Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, antiobesity agents |
| Monoamine oxidase inhibitors | Non-selective agents rarely used as antidepressants (due to “cheese effect”). |
| Sympathomimetics1 | Control of low blood pressure during surgical anesthesia; decongestants; antiobesity agents |
| Chemotherapeutic agents1 | Antineoplastic actions; treatment of malignant pheochromocytoma |
| Opiate analgesics1 | Induction of surgical anesthesia |
| Neuromuscular blocking agents1 | Induction of surgical anesthesia |
| Peptide and steroid hormones1 | Diagnostic testing |
1
These drugs have therapeutic or diagnostic use in pheochromocytoma, but usually only alter pretreatment with appropriate antihypertensives (e.g. α-adrenoceptor blockers).