Targeting 5-HT2A receptors is a pharmacologic action typical of which type of agents?

• A. Antagonists
• B. Agonists
• C. Partial agonists
• D. Inverse agonists

Answer: (A)

Targeting 5-HT2A receptors is a pharmacologic action typical of antagonists. Blocking these receptors prevents serotonin from activating the receptor, which reduces the downstream signaling that can contribute to psychosis and helps rebalance brain dopamine signaling in key pathways. This is a common mechanism for many antipsychotic drugs. In contrast, an agonist would activate the receptor (as seen with psychedelic compounds), a partial agonist would activate it to a lesser extent, and an inverse agonist would suppress any constitutive activity of the receptor. So the action most characteristic of targeting 5-HT2A receptors is antagonism.