Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Jan 15.
Published in final edited form as: Curr Probl Cancer. 2014 Jan 15;38(1):7–41. doi: 10.1016/j.currproblcancer.2014.01.001

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).