NURS 615 EXAM 2 ACTUAL TEST
QUESTIONS AND EXPERT REVIEWED
SOLUTIONS
●● How often should carbamazepine lab values be monitored? What
labs?
Answer: CBC q 3-4 months
●● What anti-seizure med auto induces metabolism?
Answer: Carbamazepine
●● What medication decreases the production of RBCs, WBCs, and
platelets?
Answer: Carbamazepine
●● What is carbamazepine half-life?
Answer: Single dose: 30 hours
Multiple dose: 15 hours
●● What is a great risk of seizure potential while taking anti-seizure
medications?
Answer: Stopping the medication abruptly.
,●● What type of medication is topiramate (Topamax)?
Answer: Anti-seizure med
●● What does topiramate cause?
Answer: Electrolyte imbalance -- hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis
●● What are adverse effects of topiramate?
Answer: Weight loss, high temperature, and inability to sweat
●● What medication affects Lamictal?
Answer: OCPs decrease the effects of this drug, so the dose must be
doubled
●● Can valproate (Depakote) be used during pregnancy?
Answer: It is a known teratogen. If needed, must be used after 1st
trimester.
●● What must be ruled out in patients before starting an anti-depressant?
Answer: hypothyroidism
●● Anti-depressant that is to be used with caution in cardiac patients due
to behaving like class 1 anti-arrythmics?
, Answer: TCAs
●● TCA side effects are mainly of what type?
Answer: Anti-cholinergic
●● What is a first-line antidepressant in children?
Answer: fluoxetine (Prozac)
●● How do you discontinue an SSRI?
Answer: Taper by reducing the dose by 50% for 3-4 days
●● When are MAOIs effective?
Answer: In atypical depression or Parkinson's
●● Why are MAOIs reserved for last line of treatment?
Answer: Lethal drug interactions and food interactions
●● How long before starting a new antidepressant after MAOIs?
Answer: At least 2 weeks to clear it from system
●● What are high tyramine foods and when are they contraindicated?
Answer: Fermented foods; aged cheese, wine alcohol
QUESTIONS AND EXPERT REVIEWED
SOLUTIONS
●● How often should carbamazepine lab values be monitored? What
labs?
Answer: CBC q 3-4 months
●● What anti-seizure med auto induces metabolism?
Answer: Carbamazepine
●● What medication decreases the production of RBCs, WBCs, and
platelets?
Answer: Carbamazepine
●● What is carbamazepine half-life?
Answer: Single dose: 30 hours
Multiple dose: 15 hours
●● What is a great risk of seizure potential while taking anti-seizure
medications?
Answer: Stopping the medication abruptly.
,●● What type of medication is topiramate (Topamax)?
Answer: Anti-seizure med
●● What does topiramate cause?
Answer: Electrolyte imbalance -- hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis
●● What are adverse effects of topiramate?
Answer: Weight loss, high temperature, and inability to sweat
●● What medication affects Lamictal?
Answer: OCPs decrease the effects of this drug, so the dose must be
doubled
●● Can valproate (Depakote) be used during pregnancy?
Answer: It is a known teratogen. If needed, must be used after 1st
trimester.
●● What must be ruled out in patients before starting an anti-depressant?
Answer: hypothyroidism
●● Anti-depressant that is to be used with caution in cardiac patients due
to behaving like class 1 anti-arrythmics?
, Answer: TCAs
●● TCA side effects are mainly of what type?
Answer: Anti-cholinergic
●● What is a first-line antidepressant in children?
Answer: fluoxetine (Prozac)
●● How do you discontinue an SSRI?
Answer: Taper by reducing the dose by 50% for 3-4 days
●● When are MAOIs effective?
Answer: In atypical depression or Parkinson's
●● Why are MAOIs reserved for last line of treatment?
Answer: Lethal drug interactions and food interactions
●● How long before starting a new antidepressant after MAOIs?
Answer: At least 2 weeks to clear it from system
●● What are high tyramine foods and when are they contraindicated?
Answer: Fermented foods; aged cheese, wine alcohol
