WALDEN NURS 6630 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY MIDTERM STUDY PRACTICE EXAM 2026

WALDEN NURS 6630 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY MIDTERM STUDY PRACTICE EXAM 2026 Serotonin regulates - -Mood, emotion, feeding, and reproductive behavior This class of antidepressants binds to presynaptic SERT and inhibits them from reuptake of serotonin to increase levels in the synaptic cleft to bind with postsysnaptic 5HT2 receptors - -SSRIs First line therapy for MDD due to milder side effect profiles - -SSRIs Six Common SSRIs - -citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, paroxetine Onset of therapeutic benefit from SSRIs - -4-6 weeks In addition to MDD, SSRIs also treat - -Chronic Anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and eating disorders (bulimia) Five Common side effects of SSRIs include - -Anxiety, insomnia, GI distress, sexual dysfunction (ED), SIADH Severe side effect of SSRIs in children/adolescents under age 25 years old - -suicidal ideation Life threatening adverse effect of SSRIs, especially when used in combination with other serotonergic drugs (SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs, etc.) - -Serotonin Syndrome Excess accumulation of serotonin resulting in overstimulation of the nervous system - Serotonin Syndrome Seven symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome - -Flushing, hyperthermia, agitation, muscle rigidity, seizure, coma, HYPERreflexia The treatment for serotonin syndrome - -Cyproheptadine (5-HT2 receptor antagonist) Cyproheptadine treats serotonin syndrome by - -blocking 5-HT2 receptors (serotonin antagonist) When SSRIs or SNRIs are stopped abruptly, common symptoms of withdrawal include - -Irritability, headaches, and insomnia Walden 6630 Walden 6630 Medicine specific side effect of citalopram - -Prolonged QT interval (normal=0.4.-0.44 seconds) This SSRI is pregnancy category D due to associations with congenital heart defects - Paroxetine All SSRIs but paroxetine (D) are pregnancy category - -C Three SSRIs that are inhibitors of Cytochrome P450 enzymes - -fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and paroxetine Five common SNRIs include - -duloxetine, venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine, milnacipran, levomilnacipran This antidepressant class of medications works by binding to presynaptic SERT and NET to inhibit them from reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine to increase their levels in the synaptic cleft - -SNRIs In addition to MDD SNRIs treat - -Anxiety and neuropathic pain (peripheral neuropathy) Medication specific indications of duloxetine: - -urinary incontinence and Fibromyalgia Medication specific indications of venlafaxine: - -social anxiety, panic disorders, PTSD, OCD, postmenopausal hot flashes Six common side effects of SNRIs include: - -Insomnia, nausea, sexual dysfunction, hypertension, sweating, headaches Severe side effect of SNRIs in children/adolescents under age 25 years old: - -suicidal ideation Life threatening adverse effect of SNRIs, especially when used in combination with other serotonergic drugs: - -Serotonin Syndrome This SNRI is an inhibitor of Cytochrome P450 enzymes: - -venlafaxine This SNRI is hepatotoxic: - -duloxetine MAOIs increase the levels of: - -Serotonin, Norepinephrine, and Dopamine Norepinephrine regulates: - -alertness and focus Dopamine regulates: - -cognitive function, motivation, and awakeness Walden 6630 Walden 6630 In the synaptic cleft, Monoamine Oxidase A breaks down: - -Serotonin, Norepinephrine, and Dopamine In the synaptic cleft, Monoamine Oxidase B breaks down: - -Dopamine MAOIs are especially effective in: - -Atypical depression (mood responds to positive events and symptoms include increased appetite, weight gain, sleepiness, and fatigue) Non-selective MAOIs inhibit enzymes: - -MAO-A and MAO-B Selective MAOIs only inhibit the enzyme: - -MAO-B Three non-selective MAOIs: - -isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine Non-selective MAOIs increase the levels of these neurotransmitters: - -Serotonin, Norepinephrine, Dopamine These three non-selective MAOIs bind irreversibly to MAO enzymes to permanently block their function: - -isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine Two selective MAOIs: - -selegeline, rasagiline Selective MAOIs increase the level of this neurotransmitter: - -Dopamine These selective MAOIs are more commonly prescribed to treat Parkinson's Disease (a neurodegenerative disorder that effects the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra region of the brain): - -selegeline, rasagiline Adverse effects of MAOIs include: - -Serotonin syndrome and hypertensive crisis Before starting another antidepressant MAOIs should be stopped for at least: - -Two weeks (to allow for the body to replace MAO enzymes so that serotonin syndrome does not occur) Five main symptoms of hypertensive crisis: - -hyperthermia, hypertension, tachycardia, arrhythmias, agitation Hypertensive crisis commonly occurs when people taking MAOIs consume foods or drinks high in: - -tyramine (cheese, wine, beer, cured/smoked meats) Foods and drinks rich in tyramine: - -cheese, wine, beer, cured/smoked meats When uninhibited, these two enzymes are responsible for breaking down tyrami