[khanar]

A 42 year old female with major clinical depression is being treated with Nefazodone Hydrochloride. In which this drug is helpful in the management of depression?
A- Increases norepinephrine release from nerve endings
B- GABA agonist
C- 5-HT and NE reuptake inhibitor with some effects on 5-HT2 receptors
D- Alpha adrenergic blocker
E- Beta adrenergic blocker

 

[wahaha007]

I think C!

Nefazodone hydrochloride is a synthetically derived phenylpiperazine antidepressant. The mechanism of action of nefazodone, as with other antidepressants, is unknown. Preclinical studies have shown that nefazodone inhibits neuronal uptake of serotonin and norepinephrine.

 

[khanar]

What!

Do they really ask about such a rare drug

This is really scary

 

[lee-usmle]

You can still get it

Do they really ask about such a rare drug
This is really scary

No they don't ask about rare drugs in the exam. But, the trick here is that you can answer the question even if you haven't ever heard of Nefazodone before.

This is because your basic knowledge should tell you that boosting GABA which is an inhibitory neurotransmitter is not a good idea in a CNS "Depressed" patient.

Also, you should note that alpha and beta should not play a major role when it comes to antidepressants.

The two options left is A and C.
You should at least remember that most of the new generation of antidepressants are not only targeting NE but also serotonin 5-HT.

So you are going to be left with option C by process of elimination and active thinking without the need to really know what Nefazodone is about.

By the way this is the kind of loads of questions that you'll see in Step 1. You need to use your basic facts to solve out seemingly strange names and issues.