Antidepressants: venlafaxine: practice question

A Psychiatry 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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Psychiatry · Antidepressants: venlafaxine

Sample item

A patient on a high dose of venlafaxine develops sustained hypertension. This is explained by:

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Noradrenaline reuptake inhibition at higher doses

Venlafaxine is mainly serotonergic at low dose, but at doses above about 150 mg per day noradrenergic reuptake inhibition produces dose-related sustained diastolic hypertension. Blood pressure monitoring is advised.

Option by option

  • A. Noradrenaline reuptake inhibition at higher doses (correct)

    Correct. Noradrenergic effect at high doses raises blood pressure.

  • B. Dopamine agonism

    Venlafaxine lacks direct dopamine agonism.

  • C. Alpha-2 blockade

    Alpha-2 blockade is the mechanism of mirtazapine.

  • D. MAO inhibition

    Venlafaxine does not inhibit MAO.

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.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is A, Noradrenaline reuptake inhibition at higher doses. Venlafaxine is mainly serotonergic at low dose, but at doses above about 150 mg per day noradrenergic reuptake inhibition produces dose-related sustained diastolic hypertension.

Why is "Dopamine agonism" not the answer?

Venlafaxine lacks direct dopamine agonism.

Why is "Alpha-2 blockade" not the answer?

Alpha-2 blockade is the mechanism of mirtazapine.

Why is "MAO inhibition" not the answer?

Venlafaxine does not inhibit MAO.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antidepressants: venlafaxine in Psychiatry. Blood pressure monitoring is advised.

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: venlafaxine?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry 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.