NURS6630 ///NURS 6630
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY MIDTERM
EXAM Walden University [ACTUAL
EXAM] LATEST VERSION
[QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS] WITH
PRACTICE EXAM DETAILED AND
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS-
LATEST UPDATE 2025 GRADED A
Six Common SSRIs - CORRECT ANSWER citalopram, escitalopram,
fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, paroxetine
Onset of therapeutic benefit from SSRIs - CORRECT ANSWER 4-6 weeks
In addition to MDD, SSRIs also treat - CORRECT ANSWER Chronic Anxiety,
PTSD, OCD, and eating disorders (bulimia)
Five Common side effects of SSRIs include - CORRECT ANSWER Anxiety,
insomnia, GI distress, sexual dysfunction (ED), SIADH
Severe side effect of SSRIs in children/adolescents under age 25 years old -
CORRECT ANSWER suicidal ideation
Life threatening adverse effect of SSRIs, especially when used in combination
with other serotonergic drugs (SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs, etc.) - CORRECT
ANSWER Serotonin Syndrome
Excess accumulation of serotonin resulting in overstimulation of the nervous
system - CORRECT ANSWER Serotonin Syndrome
Seven symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome - CORRECT ANSWER Flushing,
hyperthermia, agitation, muscle rigidity, seizure, coma, HYPERreflexia
,The treatment for serotonin syndrome - CORRECT ANSWER Cyproheptadine
(5-HT2 receptor antagonist)
Cyproheptadine treats serotonin syndrome by - CORRECT ANSWER
blocking 5-HT2 receptors (serotonin antagonist)
When SSRIs or SNRIs are stopped abruptly, common symptoms of withdrawal
include - CORRECT ANSWER Irritability, headaches, and insomnia
Medicine specific side effect of citalopram - CORRECT ANSWER Prolonged
QT interval (normal=0.4.-0.44 seconds)
This SSRI is pregnancy category D due to associations with congenital heart
defects - CORRECT ANSWER Paroxetine
All SSRIs but paroxetine (D) are pregnancy category - CORRECT ANSWER C
Three SSRIs that are inhibitors of Cytochrome P450 enzymes - CORRECT
ANSWER fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and paroxetine
Five common SNRIs include - CORRECT ANSWER 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 - CORRECT ANSWER SNRIs
In addition to MDD SNRIs treat - CORRECT ANSWER Anxiety and
neuropathic pain (peripheral neuropathy)
Medication specific indications of duloxetine: - CORRECT ANSWER urinary
incontinence and Fibromyalgia
Medication specific indications of venlafaxine: - CORRECT ANSWER social
anxiety, panic disorders, PTSD, OCD, postmenopausal hot flashes
Six common side effects of SNRIs include: - CORRECT ANSWER Insomnia,
nausea, sexual dysfunction, hypertension, sweating, headaches
Severe side effect of SNRIs in children/adolescents under age 25 years old: -
CORRECT ANSWER suicidal ideation
,Life threatening adverse effect of SNRIs, especially when used in combination
with other serotonergic drugs: - CORRECT ANSWER Serotonin Syndrome
This SNRI is an inhibitor of Cytochrome P450 enzymes: - CORRECT ANSWER
venlafaxine
This SNRI is hepatotoxic: - CORRECT ANSWER duloxetine
MAOIs increase the levels of: - CORRECT ANSWER Serotonin,
Norepinephrine, and Dopamine
Norepinephrine regulates: - CORRECT ANSWER alertness and focus
Dopamine regulates: - CORRECT ANSWER cognitive function, motivation,
and awakeness
In the synaptic cleft, Monoamine Oxidase A breaks down: - CORRECT
ANSWER Serotonin, Norepinephrine, and Dopamine
In the synaptic cleft, Monoamine Oxidase B breaks down: - CORRECT
ANSWER Dopamine
MAOIs are especially effective in: - CORRECT ANSWER Atypical depression
(mood responds to positive events and symptoms include increased appetite,
weight gain, sleepiness, and fatigue)
Non-selective MAOIs inhibit enzymes: - CORRECT ANSWER MAO-A and
MAO-B
Selective MAOIs only inhibit the enzyme: - CORRECT ANSWER MAO-B
Three non-selective MAOIs: - CORRECT ANSWER isocarboxazid, phenelzine,
tranylcypromine
Non-selective MAOIs increase the levels of these neurotransmitters: - CORRECT
ANSWER Serotonin, Norepinephrine, Dopamine
These three non-selective MAOIs bind irreversibly to MAO enzymes to
permanently block their function: - CORRECT ANSWER isocarboxazid,
phenelzine, tranylcypromine
Two selective MAOIs: - CORRECT ANSWER selegeline, rasagiline
, Selective MAOIs increase the level of this neurotransmitter: - CORRECT
ANSWER 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): - CORRECT ANSWER selegeline,
rasagiline
Adverse effects of MAOIs include: - CORRECT ANSWER Serotonin
syndrome and hypertensive crisis
Before starting another antidepressant MAOIs should be stopped for at least: -
CORRECT ANSWER Two weeks (to allow for the body to replace MAO
enzymes so that serotonin syndrome does not occur)
Five main symptoms of hypertensive crisis: - CORRECT ANSWER
hyperthermia, hypertension, tachycardia, arrhythmias, agitation
Hypertensive crisis commonly occurs when people taking MAOIs consume foods
or drinks high in: - CORRECT ANSWER tyramine (cheese, wine, beer,
cured/smoked meats)
Foods and drinks rich in tyramine: - CORRECT ANSWER cheese, wine, beer,
cured/smoked meats
When uninhibited, these two enzymes are responsible for breaking down
tyramine: - CORRECT ANSWER MAO-A and MAO-B
When tyramine is not broken down, it increases the release of this
neurotransmitter, which causes hypertensive crisis: - CORRECT ANSWER
Norepinephrine
Due to its action as an adrenergic antagonist this drug is the treatment of
hypertensive crisis: - CORRECT ANSWER Phentolamine
TCAs are subdivided into these two groups: - CORRECT ANSWER Tertiary
TCAs and Secondary TCAs
Three Tertiary TCAs: - CORRECT ANSWER amitriptyline, imipramine,
clomipramine
Two Secondary TCAs: - CORRECT ANSWER desipramine, nortriptyline
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY MIDTERM
EXAM Walden University [ACTUAL
EXAM] LATEST VERSION
[QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS] WITH
PRACTICE EXAM DETAILED AND
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS-
LATEST UPDATE 2025 GRADED A
Six Common SSRIs - CORRECT ANSWER citalopram, escitalopram,
fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, paroxetine
Onset of therapeutic benefit from SSRIs - CORRECT ANSWER 4-6 weeks
In addition to MDD, SSRIs also treat - CORRECT ANSWER Chronic Anxiety,
PTSD, OCD, and eating disorders (bulimia)
Five Common side effects of SSRIs include - CORRECT ANSWER Anxiety,
insomnia, GI distress, sexual dysfunction (ED), SIADH
Severe side effect of SSRIs in children/adolescents under age 25 years old -
CORRECT ANSWER suicidal ideation
Life threatening adverse effect of SSRIs, especially when used in combination
with other serotonergic drugs (SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs, etc.) - CORRECT
ANSWER Serotonin Syndrome
Excess accumulation of serotonin resulting in overstimulation of the nervous
system - CORRECT ANSWER Serotonin Syndrome
Seven symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome - CORRECT ANSWER Flushing,
hyperthermia, agitation, muscle rigidity, seizure, coma, HYPERreflexia
,The treatment for serotonin syndrome - CORRECT ANSWER Cyproheptadine
(5-HT2 receptor antagonist)
Cyproheptadine treats serotonin syndrome by - CORRECT ANSWER
blocking 5-HT2 receptors (serotonin antagonist)
When SSRIs or SNRIs are stopped abruptly, common symptoms of withdrawal
include - CORRECT ANSWER Irritability, headaches, and insomnia
Medicine specific side effect of citalopram - CORRECT ANSWER Prolonged
QT interval (normal=0.4.-0.44 seconds)
This SSRI is pregnancy category D due to associations with congenital heart
defects - CORRECT ANSWER Paroxetine
All SSRIs but paroxetine (D) are pregnancy category - CORRECT ANSWER C
Three SSRIs that are inhibitors of Cytochrome P450 enzymes - CORRECT
ANSWER fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and paroxetine
Five common SNRIs include - CORRECT ANSWER 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 - CORRECT ANSWER SNRIs
In addition to MDD SNRIs treat - CORRECT ANSWER Anxiety and
neuropathic pain (peripheral neuropathy)
Medication specific indications of duloxetine: - CORRECT ANSWER urinary
incontinence and Fibromyalgia
Medication specific indications of venlafaxine: - CORRECT ANSWER social
anxiety, panic disorders, PTSD, OCD, postmenopausal hot flashes
Six common side effects of SNRIs include: - CORRECT ANSWER Insomnia,
nausea, sexual dysfunction, hypertension, sweating, headaches
Severe side effect of SNRIs in children/adolescents under age 25 years old: -
CORRECT ANSWER suicidal ideation
,Life threatening adverse effect of SNRIs, especially when used in combination
with other serotonergic drugs: - CORRECT ANSWER Serotonin Syndrome
This SNRI is an inhibitor of Cytochrome P450 enzymes: - CORRECT ANSWER
venlafaxine
This SNRI is hepatotoxic: - CORRECT ANSWER duloxetine
MAOIs increase the levels of: - CORRECT ANSWER Serotonin,
Norepinephrine, and Dopamine
Norepinephrine regulates: - CORRECT ANSWER alertness and focus
Dopamine regulates: - CORRECT ANSWER cognitive function, motivation,
and awakeness
In the synaptic cleft, Monoamine Oxidase A breaks down: - CORRECT
ANSWER Serotonin, Norepinephrine, and Dopamine
In the synaptic cleft, Monoamine Oxidase B breaks down: - CORRECT
ANSWER Dopamine
MAOIs are especially effective in: - CORRECT ANSWER Atypical depression
(mood responds to positive events and symptoms include increased appetite,
weight gain, sleepiness, and fatigue)
Non-selective MAOIs inhibit enzymes: - CORRECT ANSWER MAO-A and
MAO-B
Selective MAOIs only inhibit the enzyme: - CORRECT ANSWER MAO-B
Three non-selective MAOIs: - CORRECT ANSWER isocarboxazid, phenelzine,
tranylcypromine
Non-selective MAOIs increase the levels of these neurotransmitters: - CORRECT
ANSWER Serotonin, Norepinephrine, Dopamine
These three non-selective MAOIs bind irreversibly to MAO enzymes to
permanently block their function: - CORRECT ANSWER isocarboxazid,
phenelzine, tranylcypromine
Two selective MAOIs: - CORRECT ANSWER selegeline, rasagiline
, Selective MAOIs increase the level of this neurotransmitter: - CORRECT
ANSWER 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): - CORRECT ANSWER selegeline,
rasagiline
Adverse effects of MAOIs include: - CORRECT ANSWER Serotonin
syndrome and hypertensive crisis
Before starting another antidepressant MAOIs should be stopped for at least: -
CORRECT ANSWER Two weeks (to allow for the body to replace MAO
enzymes so that serotonin syndrome does not occur)
Five main symptoms of hypertensive crisis: - CORRECT ANSWER
hyperthermia, hypertension, tachycardia, arrhythmias, agitation
Hypertensive crisis commonly occurs when people taking MAOIs consume foods
or drinks high in: - CORRECT ANSWER tyramine (cheese, wine, beer,
cured/smoked meats)
Foods and drinks rich in tyramine: - CORRECT ANSWER cheese, wine, beer,
cured/smoked meats
When uninhibited, these two enzymes are responsible for breaking down
tyramine: - CORRECT ANSWER MAO-A and MAO-B
When tyramine is not broken down, it increases the release of this
neurotransmitter, which causes hypertensive crisis: - CORRECT ANSWER
Norepinephrine
Due to its action as an adrenergic antagonist this drug is the treatment of
hypertensive crisis: - CORRECT ANSWER Phentolamine
TCAs are subdivided into these two groups: - CORRECT ANSWER Tertiary
TCAs and Secondary TCAs
Three Tertiary TCAs: - CORRECT ANSWER amitriptyline, imipramine,
clomipramine
Two Secondary TCAs: - CORRECT ANSWER desipramine, nortriptyline
