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D116 WGU advanced pharmacology Study Guide
Questions with Answers (100% Correct Answers)
Neuropharmacology Answer: Studies how drugs influence the nervous
system to modify behavior, cognition, and physiological function.
Molecular Neuropharmacology Answer: Interactions at receptor and
signaling level.
Behavioral Neuropharmacology Answer: How drugs affect behavior and
mental states.
Acetylcholine (ACh) Answer: Major neurotransmitter involved in
memory, attention, and autonomic regulation.
Dopamine (DA) Answer: Major neurotransmitter involved in reward,
motivation, and motor control.
Serotonin (5-HT) Answer: Major neurotransmitter involved in mood,
sleep, pain, and gastrointestinal function.
Norepinephrine (NE) Answer: Major neurotransmitter involved in
arousal, stress, attention, and blood pressure.
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GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) Answer: Major neurotransmitter providing
inhibitory tone and seizure control.
Glutamate Answer: Major neurotransmitter involved in learning,
memory, and excitotoxicity.
Cholinergic Drugs Answer: Drugs that affect acetylcholine receptors,
including agonists, anticholinesterases, and anticholinergics.
Dopaminergic Agents Answer: Drugs that target dopamine pathways,
including agonists, reuptake inhibitors, and antagonists.
Serotonergic Agents Answer: Drugs that affect serotonin levels,
including SSRIs, SNRIs, and various agonists and antagonists.
GABAergic Agents Answer: Drugs that enhance GABA activity, including
GABA-A agonists and GABA analogs.
Glutamatergic Modulators Answer: Drugs that modulate glutamate
activity, including NMDA antagonists and AMPA modulators.
Parkinson's Disease Answer: Characterized by decreased dopamine in
the substantia nigra, treated with levodopa and dopamine agonists.
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Alzheimer's Disease Answer: Characterized by decreased acetylcholine
and amyloid & tau accumulation, treated with cholinesterase inhibitors.
Epilepsy Answer: Characterized by excess neuronal firing, treated with
GABA enhancers and sodium channel blockers.
Depression Answer: Characterized by decreased monoamines (5-HT,
NE, DA), treated with SSRIs and SNRIs.
Anxiety Answer: Characterized by a hyperactive limbic system, treated
with SSRIs and benzodiazepines.
Schizophrenia Answer: Characterized by increased dopamine in the
mesolimbic pathway, treated with D2 antagonists.
Migraine Answer: Characterized by vascular and serotonin
dysregulation, treated with triptans and beta blockers.
Multiple Sclerosis Answer: Characterized by autoimmune
demyelination, treated with immunomodulators and steroids.
Antipsychotics Answer: Watch for extrapyramidal symptoms, QT
prolongation, and increased prolactin.
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SSRIs/SNRIs Answer: Watch for sexual dysfunction and serotonin
syndrome.
MAOIs Answer: Watch for hypertensive crisis when consuming tyramine
foods.
Anticholinergics Answer: Watch for dry mouth, urinary retention, and
confusion, especially in the elderly.
Levodopa Answer: Watch for dyskinesias and hallucinations.
Benzodiazepines Answer: Watch for dependence, withdrawal, and
sedation.
BALSA Answer: Mnemonic for Parkinson's: Bromocriptine, Amantadine,
Levodopa, Selegiline, Antimuscarinics
BAD TRIP Answer: Mnemonic for serotonin syndrome: Benzos,
Agitation, Diaphoresis, Tachycardia, Reflexes ↑, Incoordination, Pyrexia
Direct Muscarinic Agonists Answer: Drugs that bind directly to
muscarinic receptors and activate them.
Pilocarpine Answer: Used for glaucoma and xerostomia (dry mouth).
© 2025 All rights reserved
D116 WGU advanced pharmacology Study Guide
Questions with Answers (100% Correct Answers)
Neuropharmacology Answer: Studies how drugs influence the nervous
system to modify behavior, cognition, and physiological function.
Molecular Neuropharmacology Answer: Interactions at receptor and
signaling level.
Behavioral Neuropharmacology Answer: How drugs affect behavior and
mental states.
Acetylcholine (ACh) Answer: Major neurotransmitter involved in
memory, attention, and autonomic regulation.
Dopamine (DA) Answer: Major neurotransmitter involved in reward,
motivation, and motor control.
Serotonin (5-HT) Answer: Major neurotransmitter involved in mood,
sleep, pain, and gastrointestinal function.
Norepinephrine (NE) Answer: Major neurotransmitter involved in
arousal, stress, attention, and blood pressure.
© 2025 All rights reserved
,2
GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) Answer: Major neurotransmitter providing
inhibitory tone and seizure control.
Glutamate Answer: Major neurotransmitter involved in learning,
memory, and excitotoxicity.
Cholinergic Drugs Answer: Drugs that affect acetylcholine receptors,
including agonists, anticholinesterases, and anticholinergics.
Dopaminergic Agents Answer: Drugs that target dopamine pathways,
including agonists, reuptake inhibitors, and antagonists.
Serotonergic Agents Answer: Drugs that affect serotonin levels,
including SSRIs, SNRIs, and various agonists and antagonists.
GABAergic Agents Answer: Drugs that enhance GABA activity, including
GABA-A agonists and GABA analogs.
Glutamatergic Modulators Answer: Drugs that modulate glutamate
activity, including NMDA antagonists and AMPA modulators.
Parkinson's Disease Answer: Characterized by decreased dopamine in
the substantia nigra, treated with levodopa and dopamine agonists.
© 2025 All rights reserved
,3
Alzheimer's Disease Answer: Characterized by decreased acetylcholine
and amyloid & tau accumulation, treated with cholinesterase inhibitors.
Epilepsy Answer: Characterized by excess neuronal firing, treated with
GABA enhancers and sodium channel blockers.
Depression Answer: Characterized by decreased monoamines (5-HT,
NE, DA), treated with SSRIs and SNRIs.
Anxiety Answer: Characterized by a hyperactive limbic system, treated
with SSRIs and benzodiazepines.
Schizophrenia Answer: Characterized by increased dopamine in the
mesolimbic pathway, treated with D2 antagonists.
Migraine Answer: Characterized by vascular and serotonin
dysregulation, treated with triptans and beta blockers.
Multiple Sclerosis Answer: Characterized by autoimmune
demyelination, treated with immunomodulators and steroids.
Antipsychotics Answer: Watch for extrapyramidal symptoms, QT
prolongation, and increased prolactin.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 4
SSRIs/SNRIs Answer: Watch for sexual dysfunction and serotonin
syndrome.
MAOIs Answer: Watch for hypertensive crisis when consuming tyramine
foods.
Anticholinergics Answer: Watch for dry mouth, urinary retention, and
confusion, especially in the elderly.
Levodopa Answer: Watch for dyskinesias and hallucinations.
Benzodiazepines Answer: Watch for dependence, withdrawal, and
sedation.
BALSA Answer: Mnemonic for Parkinson's: Bromocriptine, Amantadine,
Levodopa, Selegiline, Antimuscarinics
BAD TRIP Answer: Mnemonic for serotonin syndrome: Benzos,
Agitation, Diaphoresis, Tachycardia, Reflexes ↑, Incoordination, Pyrexia
Direct Muscarinic Agonists Answer: Drugs that bind directly to
muscarinic receptors and activate them.
Pilocarpine Answer: Used for glaucoma and xerostomia (dry mouth).
© 2025 All rights reserved
