NURS 660 Maryville Exam 2 Psych Pharm
Questions and Correct Answers Graded A+
2026 Update
H1 blockade causes? - ANSWERS sedation and weight gain
M1 blockade causes? - ANSWERS anticholinergic side effects (dry mouth,
blurred vision, urinary retention, constipation)
Alpha 1 blockade causes? - ANSWERS ortho hypotension, dizziness
Voltage-sensitive sodium channel blockade side effects? - ANSWERS coma,
seizures, card. arrhythmias, card. arrest, death, OD RISK
Amitriptyline can also be used for? - ANSWERS can help w/ neuropathic type
pain
Nortriptyline dosing? - ANSWERS 50-150mg. At least 12 hours post dose lab
draw
TCA OD toxicity can cause? - ANSWERS wide QRS > 100ms - give bicarb and
supportive care
Tertiary TCAs block? - ANSWERS blocks more serotonin than NE
,secondary TCA block? - ANSWERS blocks more NE than Serotonin
Tertiary TCA metabolism? - ANSWERS Liver makes more secondary and has a
more anticholinergic effect
How do you transition from SSRI/SNRI to MAOI? - ANSWERS Depends on half
life - wait 5 half lives (5-7 days) and start MAOI - except prozac (wait 5 weeks!!)
How do you transition from MAOI to SSRI/SNRI? - ANSWERS wait 2 weeks and
then start
body needs to make more MAO
WASHOUT period
History questions for determining bipolar dx? - ANSWERS Suicide?
mood disorder?
psych hospitalizations?
anyone take Li or mood stabliizers, antidepress, antipsych?
ECT?
Collateral history information for bipolar? - ANSWERS Information gathered
from friends/family about behaviors
Hypothalamus controls? - ANSWERS Sleep and appetite
, Prefrontal cortex controls? - ANSWERS Cognition:
psychomotor fatigue
concentration (interest/pleasure)
guilt, suicidal, worthlessness,
mood
Amygdala controls? - ANSWERS guilt, suicidal, worthless, mood
Neucleus Accumbens controls? - ANSWERS pleasure, fatigue, anxiety
Depression & Remission : least difficult symptoms to control? - ANSWERS
depressed mood
SI
psychomotor retardation
Depression & Remission : most difficult (common) symptoms to control? -
ANSWERS Residual symptoms: insomnia, fatigue, pain
Reduced Positive Affect of depression is? - ANSWERS DA and NE dysfunction
-mood, loss of happiness, loss of interest/pleasure, loss of energy, decreased
alertness, decreased self-confidence
YOU NEED TO INCREASE DA AND NE
Increased Negative Affect of depression is? - ANSWERS NE and 5HT
dysfunction
Questions and Correct Answers Graded A+
2026 Update
H1 blockade causes? - ANSWERS sedation and weight gain
M1 blockade causes? - ANSWERS anticholinergic side effects (dry mouth,
blurred vision, urinary retention, constipation)
Alpha 1 blockade causes? - ANSWERS ortho hypotension, dizziness
Voltage-sensitive sodium channel blockade side effects? - ANSWERS coma,
seizures, card. arrhythmias, card. arrest, death, OD RISK
Amitriptyline can also be used for? - ANSWERS can help w/ neuropathic type
pain
Nortriptyline dosing? - ANSWERS 50-150mg. At least 12 hours post dose lab
draw
TCA OD toxicity can cause? - ANSWERS wide QRS > 100ms - give bicarb and
supportive care
Tertiary TCAs block? - ANSWERS blocks more serotonin than NE
,secondary TCA block? - ANSWERS blocks more NE than Serotonin
Tertiary TCA metabolism? - ANSWERS Liver makes more secondary and has a
more anticholinergic effect
How do you transition from SSRI/SNRI to MAOI? - ANSWERS Depends on half
life - wait 5 half lives (5-7 days) and start MAOI - except prozac (wait 5 weeks!!)
How do you transition from MAOI to SSRI/SNRI? - ANSWERS wait 2 weeks and
then start
body needs to make more MAO
WASHOUT period
History questions for determining bipolar dx? - ANSWERS Suicide?
mood disorder?
psych hospitalizations?
anyone take Li or mood stabliizers, antidepress, antipsych?
ECT?
Collateral history information for bipolar? - ANSWERS Information gathered
from friends/family about behaviors
Hypothalamus controls? - ANSWERS Sleep and appetite
, Prefrontal cortex controls? - ANSWERS Cognition:
psychomotor fatigue
concentration (interest/pleasure)
guilt, suicidal, worthlessness,
mood
Amygdala controls? - ANSWERS guilt, suicidal, worthless, mood
Neucleus Accumbens controls? - ANSWERS pleasure, fatigue, anxiety
Depression & Remission : least difficult symptoms to control? - ANSWERS
depressed mood
SI
psychomotor retardation
Depression & Remission : most difficult (common) symptoms to control? -
ANSWERS Residual symptoms: insomnia, fatigue, pain
Reduced Positive Affect of depression is? - ANSWERS DA and NE dysfunction
-mood, loss of happiness, loss of interest/pleasure, loss of energy, decreased
alertness, decreased self-confidence
YOU NEED TO INCREASE DA AND NE
Increased Negative Affect of depression is? - ANSWERS NE and 5HT
dysfunction