Anxiolytics: buspirone: 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 · Anxiolytics: buspirone

Sample item

A patient with generalised anxiety disorder and a history of alcohol misuse wants an anxiolytic without sedation or dependence. Which drug is a partial agonist at 5-HT1A receptors?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Buspirone

Buspirone is a 5-HT1A partial agonist anxiolytic with no sedation, muscle relaxant effect or abuse potential, but it takes one to two weeks to act and is not useful for acute panic.

Option by option

  • A. Alprazolam

    Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine with dependence potential.

  • B. Diazepam

    Diazepam is a benzodiazepine.

  • C. Phenobarbitone

    Phenobarbitone is a sedative with dependence risk.

  • D. Buspirone (correct)

    Correct. Buspirone is non-sedating with low dependence risk.

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 Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is D, Buspirone. Buspirone is a 5-HT1A partial agonist anxiolytic with no sedation, muscle relaxant effect or abuse potential, but it takes one to two weeks to act and is not useful for acute panic.

Why is "Alprazolam" not the answer?

Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine with dependence potential.

Why is "Diazepam" not the answer?

Diazepam is a benzodiazepine.

Why is "Phenobarbitone" not the answer?

Phenobarbitone is a sedative with dependence risk.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Anxiolytics: buspirone in Pharmacology. The correct option holds because: Correct. Buspirone is non-sedating with low dependence risk.

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 Anxiolytics: buspirone?

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.