WGU D116 ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY
STUDY GUIDE EXAM WITH ACTUAL
CORRECT QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
DETAILED ANSWERS| CURRENTLY TESTING
VERSION | ALREADY GRADED
A+|NEWEST|EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED PASS
Neuropharmacology
Studies how drugs influence the nervous system to modify behavior, cognition, and
physiological function.
Molecular Neuropharmacology
Interactions at receptor and signaling level.
Behavioral Neuropharmacology
How drugs affect behavior and mental states.
Acetylcholine (ACh)
Major neurotransmitter involved in memory, attention, and autonomic regulation.
Dopamine (DA)
Major neurotransmitter involved in reward, motivation, and motor control.
Serotonin (5-HT)
Major neurotransmitter involved in mood, sleep, pain, and gastrointestinal function.
Norepinephrine (NE)
Major neurotransmitter involved in arousal, stress, attention, and blood pressure.
GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid)
Major neurotransmitter providing inhibitory tone and seizure control.
Glutamate
Major neurotransmitter involved in learning, memory, and excitotoxicity.
Cholinergic Drugs
1|Page
,Drugs that affect acetylcholine receptors, including agonists, anticholinesterases, and
anticholinergics.
Dopaminergic Agents
Drugs that target dopamine pathways, including agonists, reuptake inhibitors, and
antagonists.
Serotonergic Agents
Drugs that affect serotonin levels, including SSRIs, SNRIs, and various agonists and
antagonists.
GABAergic Agents
Drugs that enhance GABA activity, including GABA-A agonists and GABA analogs.
Glutamatergic Modulators
Drugs that modulate glutamate activity, including NMDA antagonists and AMPA
modulators.
Parkinson's Disease
Characterized by decreased dopamine in the substantia nigra, treated with levodopa
and dopamine agonists.
Alzheimer's Disease
Characterized by decreased acetylcholine and amyloid & tau accumulation, treated
with cholinesterase inhibitors.
Epilepsy
Characterized by excess neuronal firing, treated with GABA enhancers and sodium
channel blockers.
Depression
Characterized by decreased monoamines (5-HT, NE, DA), treated with SSRIs and SNRIs.
Anxiety
Characterized by a hyperactive limbic system, treated with SSRIs and benzodiazepines.
Schizophrenia
Characterized by increased dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway, treated with D2
antagonists.
Migraine
2|Page
,Characterized by vascular and serotonin dysregulation, treated with triptans and beta
blockers.
Multiple Sclerosis
Characterized by autoimmune demyelination, treated with immunomodulators and
steroids.
Antipsychotics
Watch for extrapyramidal symptoms, QT prolongation, and increased prolactin.
SSRIs/SNRIs
Watch for sexual dysfunction and serotonin syndrome.
MAOIs
Watch for hypertensive crisis when consuming tyramine foods.
Anticholinergics
Watch for dry mouth, urinary retention, and confusion, especially in the elderly.
Levodopa
Watch for dyskinesias and hallucinations.
Benzodiazepines
Watch for dependence, withdrawal, and sedation.
BALSA
Mnemonic for Parkinson's: Bromocriptine, Amantadine, Levodopa, Selegiline,
Antimuscarinics
BAD TRIP
Mnemonic for serotonin syndrome: Benzos, Agitation, Diaphoresis, Tachycardia,
Reflexes ↑, Incoordination, Pyrexia
Direct Muscarinic Agonists
Drugs that bind directly to muscarinic receptors and activate them.
Pilocarpine
Used for glaucoma and xerostomia (dry mouth).
Bethanechol
Used for urinary retention and postoperative ileus.
3|Page
, Carbachol
Used for glaucoma (rarely used).
Methacholine
Used as a diagnostic test for bronchial hyperreactivity.
Cevimeline
Used for xerostomia in Sjögren's syndrome.
Muscarine
Found in some poisonous mushrooms (not used clinically).
Indirect Muscarinic Agonists
Cholinesterase Inhibitors that inhibit acetylcholinesterase, increasing endogenous
acetylcholine levels.
Neostigmine
Used for myasthenia gravis and postoperative ileus.
Physostigmine
Used for anticholinergic toxicity (e.g., atropine overdose).
Donepezil
Used for Alzheimer's disease.
Rivastigmine
Used for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's dementia.
Pyridostigmine
Used for myasthenia gravis.
Edrophonium
Historically used in diagnosis of myasthenia gravis.
Key Muscarinic Effects
SLUDGE-M: Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Diarrhea, Gastrointestinal motility,
Emesis, Miosis (pupil constriction), bradycardia, bronchoconstriction.
Anticholinergic Drugs
Medications that block the action of acetylcholine (ACh) at muscarinic receptors.
Mechanism of Action of Anticholinergics
4|Page
STUDY GUIDE EXAM WITH ACTUAL
CORRECT QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
DETAILED ANSWERS| CURRENTLY TESTING
VERSION | ALREADY GRADED
A+|NEWEST|EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED PASS
Neuropharmacology
Studies how drugs influence the nervous system to modify behavior, cognition, and
physiological function.
Molecular Neuropharmacology
Interactions at receptor and signaling level.
Behavioral Neuropharmacology
How drugs affect behavior and mental states.
Acetylcholine (ACh)
Major neurotransmitter involved in memory, attention, and autonomic regulation.
Dopamine (DA)
Major neurotransmitter involved in reward, motivation, and motor control.
Serotonin (5-HT)
Major neurotransmitter involved in mood, sleep, pain, and gastrointestinal function.
Norepinephrine (NE)
Major neurotransmitter involved in arousal, stress, attention, and blood pressure.
GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid)
Major neurotransmitter providing inhibitory tone and seizure control.
Glutamate
Major neurotransmitter involved in learning, memory, and excitotoxicity.
Cholinergic Drugs
1|Page
,Drugs that affect acetylcholine receptors, including agonists, anticholinesterases, and
anticholinergics.
Dopaminergic Agents
Drugs that target dopamine pathways, including agonists, reuptake inhibitors, and
antagonists.
Serotonergic Agents
Drugs that affect serotonin levels, including SSRIs, SNRIs, and various agonists and
antagonists.
GABAergic Agents
Drugs that enhance GABA activity, including GABA-A agonists and GABA analogs.
Glutamatergic Modulators
Drugs that modulate glutamate activity, including NMDA antagonists and AMPA
modulators.
Parkinson's Disease
Characterized by decreased dopamine in the substantia nigra, treated with levodopa
and dopamine agonists.
Alzheimer's Disease
Characterized by decreased acetylcholine and amyloid & tau accumulation, treated
with cholinesterase inhibitors.
Epilepsy
Characterized by excess neuronal firing, treated with GABA enhancers and sodium
channel blockers.
Depression
Characterized by decreased monoamines (5-HT, NE, DA), treated with SSRIs and SNRIs.
Anxiety
Characterized by a hyperactive limbic system, treated with SSRIs and benzodiazepines.
Schizophrenia
Characterized by increased dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway, treated with D2
antagonists.
Migraine
2|Page
,Characterized by vascular and serotonin dysregulation, treated with triptans and beta
blockers.
Multiple Sclerosis
Characterized by autoimmune demyelination, treated with immunomodulators and
steroids.
Antipsychotics
Watch for extrapyramidal symptoms, QT prolongation, and increased prolactin.
SSRIs/SNRIs
Watch for sexual dysfunction and serotonin syndrome.
MAOIs
Watch for hypertensive crisis when consuming tyramine foods.
Anticholinergics
Watch for dry mouth, urinary retention, and confusion, especially in the elderly.
Levodopa
Watch for dyskinesias and hallucinations.
Benzodiazepines
Watch for dependence, withdrawal, and sedation.
BALSA
Mnemonic for Parkinson's: Bromocriptine, Amantadine, Levodopa, Selegiline,
Antimuscarinics
BAD TRIP
Mnemonic for serotonin syndrome: Benzos, Agitation, Diaphoresis, Tachycardia,
Reflexes ↑, Incoordination, Pyrexia
Direct Muscarinic Agonists
Drugs that bind directly to muscarinic receptors and activate them.
Pilocarpine
Used for glaucoma and xerostomia (dry mouth).
Bethanechol
Used for urinary retention and postoperative ileus.
3|Page
, Carbachol
Used for glaucoma (rarely used).
Methacholine
Used as a diagnostic test for bronchial hyperreactivity.
Cevimeline
Used for xerostomia in Sjögren's syndrome.
Muscarine
Found in some poisonous mushrooms (not used clinically).
Indirect Muscarinic Agonists
Cholinesterase Inhibitors that inhibit acetylcholinesterase, increasing endogenous
acetylcholine levels.
Neostigmine
Used for myasthenia gravis and postoperative ileus.
Physostigmine
Used for anticholinergic toxicity (e.g., atropine overdose).
Donepezil
Used for Alzheimer's disease.
Rivastigmine
Used for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's dementia.
Pyridostigmine
Used for myasthenia gravis.
Edrophonium
Historically used in diagnosis of myasthenia gravis.
Key Muscarinic Effects
SLUDGE-M: Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Diarrhea, Gastrointestinal motility,
Emesis, Miosis (pupil constriction), bradycardia, bronchoconstriction.
Anticholinergic Drugs
Medications that block the action of acetylcholine (ACh) at muscarinic receptors.
Mechanism of Action of Anticholinergics
4|Page
