NURS 6521
Advanced Pharmacology Final Exam Practice
Questions with Correct Verified Answers Top
Graded 2025
Escitalopram may cause serious, potentially fatal reactions when used with
_______________. (select all that apply) -Correct Answers ✔-Duloxetine,
amitriptilyne, sertraline, St. John's Wort
Mixing two serotonin agents can cause serotonin syndrome.
The therapeutic effects of imipramine develop over _____________. -Correct
Answers ✔-Several weeks
The FDA-approved indications for fluoxetine include: (select all that apply) -
Correct Answers ✔-Obsessive compulsive disorder, major depressive disorder,
bulimia nervosa
Taking food with buspirone alters absorption. -Correct Answers ✔-False
May be taken with food to minimize gastric irritation
Venlafaxine is extensively metabolized on first pass through the ___________. -
Correct Answers ✔-Liver
Signs and symptoms of lithium toxicity include: (select all that apply) -Correct
Answers ✔-Slurred speech, drowsiness
Valproate acid has FDA-approved indications for: (select all that apply) -Correct
Answers ✔-Acute mania, simple and complex absence seizures, prevention of
migraine headaches
NURS 6521
,NURS 6521
Atomoxetine selectively ____________ the presynaptic reuptake of norepinephrine
resulting in a(n) ________________ attention span. -Correct Answers ✔-Inhibits,
improved
Phenelzine does not need to be discontinued several days before elective surgery
that requires anesthesia. -Correct Answers ✔-False
Bupropion can be used for smoking cessation. -Correct Answers ✔-True
Methylphenidate is not effective for narcoleptic patients. -Correct Answers ✔-
False
Clozapine may cause: (select all that apply) -Correct Answers ✔-Syncope,
orthostatic hypotension, cardiac arrest
Causes bradycardia which could lead to syncope and cardiac arrest
Administering risperidone with levodopa is contraindicated. -Correct Answers ✔-
True
It decreases the effects of levodopa
The ___________ form of ziprasidone is frequently used for control of acutely
agitated patients. -Correct Answers ✔-Intramuscular (IM)
Anticonvulsants are frequently used as mood stabilizers for the treatment of mania
and bipolar spectrum disorders because they: -Correct Answers ✔-Reduce synaptic
kindling
A patient was started on fluoxetine for depression 3 days ago. She now complains
that it "doesn't help" and refuses to take it. Understanding the
psychopharmacology, the nurse's best first action is to: -Correct Answers ✔-
NURS 6521
,NURS 6521
Discuss with the patient that these types of medications often take several weeks
before seeing the results.
Which of the following is a common side effect of both first- and second-
generation antipsychotic drugs? (select all that apply) -Correct Answers ✔-
Extrapyramidal side effects such as pseudo-parkinsonism or acute dystonia,
neuroleptic malignant syndrome, excessive sedation
A male patient who is taking the second-generation antipsychotic reports to the
nurse that he has observed a clear fluid leaking from his right nipple for the past
month. The nurse's best initial intervention is: -Correct Answers ✔-Inform the
patient that this could be a side effect of the medication
The physician discusses the appropriateness of prescribing a
serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) for a patient. Which of the
following medications are in this category? -Correct Answers ✔-Venlafaxine and
duloxetine
A patient has been prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for
depression. The nurse should counsel the patient about which of the following
possible side effects, among others? -Correct Answers ✔-Fever, sweating,
agitation, rapid heartbeat
A nurse counsels a patient who has been prescribed a monoamine oxidase inhibitor
(MAOI) to treat depression to avoid foods containing tyramine. Which of the
following foods should the patient avoid? (select all that apply) -Correct Answers
✔-Yogurt, tofu, pepperoni
A patient with severe kidney disease is started on lithium by a new resident. As the
nurse on duty your best initial response would be to: -Correct Answers ✔-Contact
the resident to remind him that the client has kidney disease and lithium is
contraindicated
NURS 6521
, NURS 6521
Which of the following is generally true of medications used to treat anxiety
disorders? -Correct Answers ✔-Just as with depression, the most common
medications prescribed are serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective
norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
For which one of the following types of drugs is the consumption of grapefruit
juice contraindicated? -Correct Answers ✔-Second-generation antipsychotics
Psychopharmaceutical agents are prescribed for individuals with substance use
disorders for all of the following reasons except: -Correct Answers ✔-To elevate
the patient's mood in a manner comparable to the action of the misused substance
A patient has been prescribed disulfiram. The nurse would most appropriately
counsel the patient about which of the following? -Correct Answers ✔-A toxic
reaction if alcohol is consumed
When a patient is prescribed risperidone for schizoaffective disorder, the nurse
must alert the patient to the potential for neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Which
of the following would be accurate information to give the patient? -Correct
Answers ✔-Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is potentially fatal. It usually occurs
during the first 2 weeks after starting an antipsychotic drug or increasing the dose
and is characterized by high fever, muscle stiffness, paranoia, sweating, and large
changes in blood pressure.
A client with depression is taking phenelzine. The nurse advises the client to avoid
consuming which foods while taking the medication -Correct Answers ✔-Yogurt
Methylphenidate is a CNS stimulant and is the drug of choice for individuals with
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The desired effects of
methylphenidate may be noted as: -Correct Answers ✔-Increased attention span
and concentration
The risk of experiencing serotonin syndrome when selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs) are given with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as
NURS 6521
Advanced Pharmacology Final Exam Practice
Questions with Correct Verified Answers Top
Graded 2025
Escitalopram may cause serious, potentially fatal reactions when used with
_______________. (select all that apply) -Correct Answers ✔-Duloxetine,
amitriptilyne, sertraline, St. John's Wort
Mixing two serotonin agents can cause serotonin syndrome.
The therapeutic effects of imipramine develop over _____________. -Correct
Answers ✔-Several weeks
The FDA-approved indications for fluoxetine include: (select all that apply) -
Correct Answers ✔-Obsessive compulsive disorder, major depressive disorder,
bulimia nervosa
Taking food with buspirone alters absorption. -Correct Answers ✔-False
May be taken with food to minimize gastric irritation
Venlafaxine is extensively metabolized on first pass through the ___________. -
Correct Answers ✔-Liver
Signs and symptoms of lithium toxicity include: (select all that apply) -Correct
Answers ✔-Slurred speech, drowsiness
Valproate acid has FDA-approved indications for: (select all that apply) -Correct
Answers ✔-Acute mania, simple and complex absence seizures, prevention of
migraine headaches
NURS 6521
,NURS 6521
Atomoxetine selectively ____________ the presynaptic reuptake of norepinephrine
resulting in a(n) ________________ attention span. -Correct Answers ✔-Inhibits,
improved
Phenelzine does not need to be discontinued several days before elective surgery
that requires anesthesia. -Correct Answers ✔-False
Bupropion can be used for smoking cessation. -Correct Answers ✔-True
Methylphenidate is not effective for narcoleptic patients. -Correct Answers ✔-
False
Clozapine may cause: (select all that apply) -Correct Answers ✔-Syncope,
orthostatic hypotension, cardiac arrest
Causes bradycardia which could lead to syncope and cardiac arrest
Administering risperidone with levodopa is contraindicated. -Correct Answers ✔-
True
It decreases the effects of levodopa
The ___________ form of ziprasidone is frequently used for control of acutely
agitated patients. -Correct Answers ✔-Intramuscular (IM)
Anticonvulsants are frequently used as mood stabilizers for the treatment of mania
and bipolar spectrum disorders because they: -Correct Answers ✔-Reduce synaptic
kindling
A patient was started on fluoxetine for depression 3 days ago. She now complains
that it "doesn't help" and refuses to take it. Understanding the
psychopharmacology, the nurse's best first action is to: -Correct Answers ✔-
NURS 6521
,NURS 6521
Discuss with the patient that these types of medications often take several weeks
before seeing the results.
Which of the following is a common side effect of both first- and second-
generation antipsychotic drugs? (select all that apply) -Correct Answers ✔-
Extrapyramidal side effects such as pseudo-parkinsonism or acute dystonia,
neuroleptic malignant syndrome, excessive sedation
A male patient who is taking the second-generation antipsychotic reports to the
nurse that he has observed a clear fluid leaking from his right nipple for the past
month. The nurse's best initial intervention is: -Correct Answers ✔-Inform the
patient that this could be a side effect of the medication
The physician discusses the appropriateness of prescribing a
serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) for a patient. Which of the
following medications are in this category? -Correct Answers ✔-Venlafaxine and
duloxetine
A patient has been prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for
depression. The nurse should counsel the patient about which of the following
possible side effects, among others? -Correct Answers ✔-Fever, sweating,
agitation, rapid heartbeat
A nurse counsels a patient who has been prescribed a monoamine oxidase inhibitor
(MAOI) to treat depression to avoid foods containing tyramine. Which of the
following foods should the patient avoid? (select all that apply) -Correct Answers
✔-Yogurt, tofu, pepperoni
A patient with severe kidney disease is started on lithium by a new resident. As the
nurse on duty your best initial response would be to: -Correct Answers ✔-Contact
the resident to remind him that the client has kidney disease and lithium is
contraindicated
NURS 6521
, NURS 6521
Which of the following is generally true of medications used to treat anxiety
disorders? -Correct Answers ✔-Just as with depression, the most common
medications prescribed are serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective
norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
For which one of the following types of drugs is the consumption of grapefruit
juice contraindicated? -Correct Answers ✔-Second-generation antipsychotics
Psychopharmaceutical agents are prescribed for individuals with substance use
disorders for all of the following reasons except: -Correct Answers ✔-To elevate
the patient's mood in a manner comparable to the action of the misused substance
A patient has been prescribed disulfiram. The nurse would most appropriately
counsel the patient about which of the following? -Correct Answers ✔-A toxic
reaction if alcohol is consumed
When a patient is prescribed risperidone for schizoaffective disorder, the nurse
must alert the patient to the potential for neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Which
of the following would be accurate information to give the patient? -Correct
Answers ✔-Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is potentially fatal. It usually occurs
during the first 2 weeks after starting an antipsychotic drug or increasing the dose
and is characterized by high fever, muscle stiffness, paranoia, sweating, and large
changes in blood pressure.
A client with depression is taking phenelzine. The nurse advises the client to avoid
consuming which foods while taking the medication -Correct Answers ✔-Yogurt
Methylphenidate is a CNS stimulant and is the drug of choice for individuals with
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The desired effects of
methylphenidate may be noted as: -Correct Answers ✔-Increased attention span
and concentration
The risk of experiencing serotonin syndrome when selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs) are given with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as
NURS 6521
