Cardiovascular: trimetazidine: practice question

A Pharmacology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pharmacology · Cardiovascular: trimetazidine

Sample item

Trimetazidine is added for a patient with chronic stable angina whose heart rate and blood pressure are already low. How does it act?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Inhibits fatty acid beta-oxidation, shifting myocardium to more oxygen-efficient glucose use

Trimetazidine inhibits 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase and so partially inhibits fatty acid oxidation, improving ATP yield per oxygen consumed without haemodynamic effects. Ivabradine, by contrast, lowers heart rate via the funny current.

Option by option

  • A. Inhibits fatty acid beta-oxidation, shifting myocardium to more oxygen-efficient glucose use (correct)

    Correct. It is a metabolic modulator.

  • B. Blocks cardiac sodium channels

    Sodium channel blockade is a feature of ranolazine's late current action, not trimetazidine.

  • C. Reduces heart rate through the funny current

    Funny current inhibition is the action of ivabradine.

  • D. Dilates coronary arteries via nitric oxide

    Nitrate-like vasodilation describes nitrates and nicorandil.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Pharmacology questions

Questions about this Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is A, Inhibits fatty acid beta-oxidation, shifting myocardium to more oxygen-efficient glucose use. Trimetazidine inhibits 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase and so partially inhibits fatty acid oxidation, improving ATP yield per oxygen consumed without haemodynamic effects.

Why is "Blocks cardiac sodium channels" not the answer?

Sodium channel blockade is a feature of ranolazine's late current action, not trimetazidine.

Why is "Reduces heart rate through the funny current" not the answer?

Funny current inhibition is the action of ivabradine.

Why is "Dilates coronary arteries via nitric oxide" not the answer?

Nitrate-like vasodilation describes nitrates and nicorandil.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Cardiovascular: trimetazidine in Pharmacology. Ivabradine, by contrast, lowers heart rate via the funny current.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Cardiovascular: trimetazidine?

Learn drugs as classes, then the exception in each class that an examiner would pick. Then use the flashcards and the other Pharmacology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.