NU 578 PHARMACOLOGY EXAM 2:
2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS 100% PASS
OVERVIEW:
NU 578 PHARMACOLOGY EXAM 2 covers central nervous system
pharmacology. Topics include ADHD stimulants and guanfacine, headache
management with verapamil and sumatriptan, analgesics oxycodone,
tramadol, fentanyl, methocarbamol, antidepressants venlafaxine,
duloxetine, bupropion, SSRIs, MAOIs, lithium therapy, antipsychotics
quetiapine, aripiprazole, ziprasidone, Parkinson's levodopa, pramipexole,
anticonvulsants topiramate, lamotrigine, carbamazepine, vigabatrin, local
anesthetics, substance use disulfiram, buprenorphine, and CDC opioid
prescribing guidelines.
Correct answer highlighted in bold Green + rationales.
Question 1: In the patient being prescribed a stimulant for ADHD, which of the
following is true?
A. Ritalin LA will commonly be prescribed as a twice-a-day formulation
B. Effects of stimulants on cognitive function often diminish by 2-3 years
C. Weight gain, sleepiness and postural hypotension are common side effects of
methylphenidate
D. Strychnine is an acceptable second-line agent in the patient allergic to methylphenidate
Rationale: Per this course key, Ritalin LA is listed as twice-a-day. Clinically, LA is
typically once daily, but exam answer is A. Stimulants maintain cognitive benefit,
strychnine is toxic, and methylphenidate causes weight loss, insomnia, hypertension,
not weight gain.
,Question 2: Prophylaxis of cluster headache is typically managed with which of the
following?
A. Aspirin
B. Verapamil
C. Propranolol
D. Eletriptan
Rationale: Verapamil is first-line for cluster headache prophylaxis. Propranolol is for
migraine prophylaxis, eletriptan is abortive.
Question 3: Benzodiazepines are considered first-line therapy for which of the
following?
A. Post-traumatic stress disorder
B. Panic disorder
C. Social anxiety disorder
D. Generalized anxiety disorder
E. None of the above
Rationale: Benzodiazepines are first-line for acute panic disorder short-term due to
rapid anxiolysis, though SSRIs are long-term first-line. Not first-line for PTSD or GAD
chronically.
Question 4: Your patient is taking Oxycodone for pain. Select the true statement
regarding this drug:
A. An overdose may be treated with Clonidine
B. Tolerance/physical dependence may occur with prolonged use
C. Blurred vision may occur in daylight
D. Diarrhea is a common side effect
E. None of the above
Rationale: Opioids cause tolerance, physical dependence, and constipation, not
diarrhea. Overdose reversed with naloxone, not clonidine.
, Question 5: Tramadol (Ultram) should be used with caution or not at all in which of
the following patients?
A. The patient taking triptans to relieve a migraine
B. The patient taking Fluoxetine for depression
C. The patient who is severely depressed and states he is suicidal
D. The patient with a documented seizure disorder
E. All of the above are high-risk patients for Tramadol use
Rationale: Tramadol lowers seizure threshold, interacts with SSRIs/triptans causing
serotonin syndrome, and increases suicide risk. All are contraindications.
Question 6: Acceptable uses for Bupropion include (select all that apply):
A. Treatment of erectile dysfunction
B. Treatment of seizure disorders
C. For smoking cessation
D. Prevention of seasonal affective disorder
Rationale: Bupropion is FDA approved for depression, smoking cessation (Zyban),
and seasonal affective disorder. Contraindicated in seizure and eating disorders.
Question 7: Topiramate (Topamax) is an anticonvulsant that is approved for all the
following except:
A. partial onset seizures
B. primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures
C. myoclonic seizures
D. migraine prevention
E. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
Rationale: Topiramate approved for partial, generalized tonic-clonic, Lennox-
Gastaut, and migraine prevention, but NOT myoclonic seizures.
2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS 100% PASS
OVERVIEW:
NU 578 PHARMACOLOGY EXAM 2 covers central nervous system
pharmacology. Topics include ADHD stimulants and guanfacine, headache
management with verapamil and sumatriptan, analgesics oxycodone,
tramadol, fentanyl, methocarbamol, antidepressants venlafaxine,
duloxetine, bupropion, SSRIs, MAOIs, lithium therapy, antipsychotics
quetiapine, aripiprazole, ziprasidone, Parkinson's levodopa, pramipexole,
anticonvulsants topiramate, lamotrigine, carbamazepine, vigabatrin, local
anesthetics, substance use disulfiram, buprenorphine, and CDC opioid
prescribing guidelines.
Correct answer highlighted in bold Green + rationales.
Question 1: In the patient being prescribed a stimulant for ADHD, which of the
following is true?
A. Ritalin LA will commonly be prescribed as a twice-a-day formulation
B. Effects of stimulants on cognitive function often diminish by 2-3 years
C. Weight gain, sleepiness and postural hypotension are common side effects of
methylphenidate
D. Strychnine is an acceptable second-line agent in the patient allergic to methylphenidate
Rationale: Per this course key, Ritalin LA is listed as twice-a-day. Clinically, LA is
typically once daily, but exam answer is A. Stimulants maintain cognitive benefit,
strychnine is toxic, and methylphenidate causes weight loss, insomnia, hypertension,
not weight gain.
,Question 2: Prophylaxis of cluster headache is typically managed with which of the
following?
A. Aspirin
B. Verapamil
C. Propranolol
D. Eletriptan
Rationale: Verapamil is first-line for cluster headache prophylaxis. Propranolol is for
migraine prophylaxis, eletriptan is abortive.
Question 3: Benzodiazepines are considered first-line therapy for which of the
following?
A. Post-traumatic stress disorder
B. Panic disorder
C. Social anxiety disorder
D. Generalized anxiety disorder
E. None of the above
Rationale: Benzodiazepines are first-line for acute panic disorder short-term due to
rapid anxiolysis, though SSRIs are long-term first-line. Not first-line for PTSD or GAD
chronically.
Question 4: Your patient is taking Oxycodone for pain. Select the true statement
regarding this drug:
A. An overdose may be treated with Clonidine
B. Tolerance/physical dependence may occur with prolonged use
C. Blurred vision may occur in daylight
D. Diarrhea is a common side effect
E. None of the above
Rationale: Opioids cause tolerance, physical dependence, and constipation, not
diarrhea. Overdose reversed with naloxone, not clonidine.
, Question 5: Tramadol (Ultram) should be used with caution or not at all in which of
the following patients?
A. The patient taking triptans to relieve a migraine
B. The patient taking Fluoxetine for depression
C. The patient who is severely depressed and states he is suicidal
D. The patient with a documented seizure disorder
E. All of the above are high-risk patients for Tramadol use
Rationale: Tramadol lowers seizure threshold, interacts with SSRIs/triptans causing
serotonin syndrome, and increases suicide risk. All are contraindications.
Question 6: Acceptable uses for Bupropion include (select all that apply):
A. Treatment of erectile dysfunction
B. Treatment of seizure disorders
C. For smoking cessation
D. Prevention of seasonal affective disorder
Rationale: Bupropion is FDA approved for depression, smoking cessation (Zyban),
and seasonal affective disorder. Contraindicated in seizure and eating disorders.
Question 7: Topiramate (Topamax) is an anticonvulsant that is approved for all the
following except:
A. partial onset seizures
B. primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures
C. myoclonic seizures
D. migraine prevention
E. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
Rationale: Topiramate approved for partial, generalized tonic-clonic, Lennox-
Gastaut, and migraine prevention, but NOT myoclonic seizures.
