Antidepressants: SNRIs: 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 · Antidepressants: SNRIs

Sample item

A patient with depression and diabetic peripheral neuropathy is given an antidepressant that inhibits serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake and can raise blood pressure. Which drug is this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Duloxetine

Duloxetine and venlafaxine are SNRIs, with efficacy in neuropathic pain, and dose-related hypertension from noradrenaline reuptake inhibition. Citalopram is a pure SSRI.

Option by option

  • A. Imipramine

    Imipramine is a tricyclic, not termed an SNRI, with major anticholinergic effects.

  • B. Duloxetine (correct)

    Correct. Duloxetine is an SNRI used for neuropathic pain.

  • C. Citalopram

    Citalopram is selective for serotonin.

  • D. Trazodone

    Trazodone is a serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor, not an SNRI.

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 B, Duloxetine. Duloxetine and venlafaxine are SNRIs, with efficacy in neuropathic pain, and dose-related hypertension from noradrenaline reuptake inhibition.

Why is "Imipramine" not the answer?

Imipramine is a tricyclic, not termed an SNRI, with major anticholinergic effects.

Why is "Citalopram" not the answer?

Citalopram is selective for serotonin.

Why is "Trazodone" not the answer?

Trazodone is a serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor, not an SNRI.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antidepressants: SNRIs in Pharmacology. Citalopram is a pure SSRI.

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 Antidepressants: SNRIs?

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.