NR 546 Advanced Pharmacology 2026 | Verified Study Questions & Correct Answers A+

STUDY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
FOR NR 546



Prefrontal Cortex Symptoms of MDD - CORRECT ANSWER-Concentration
Mental Fatigue
Mood

PFC & Amygdala Symptoms of MDD - CORRECT ANSWER-Guilt
Suicidality
Worthlessness

Striatum Symptoms of MDD - CORRECT ANSWER-Physical fatigue

Nucleus Accumbens Symptoms of MDD - CORRECT ANSWER-Pleasure interests

Hypothalamus Symptoms of MDD - CORRECT ANSWER-Sleep
Appetite

Thalamus & Hypothalamus Symptoms of Mania - CORRECT ANSWER-Decreased
sleep/arousal

Striatum Symptoms of .Mania .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Motor/agitation

Prefrontal .cortex .(PFC) .Symptoms .of .Mania .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Risk-taking
.Talkative/pressured .speech


Nucleus .Accumbens .& .PFC .Symptoms .of .Mania .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Racing
.thoughts, .grandiosity


PFC .& .Amygdala .Symptoms .of .Mania .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Mood

Medication .Management .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-SSRI-Selective .Serotonin .Reuptake
.Inhibitors
*Inhibit .5 .HT .reuptake
SNRI-Serotonin .Norepinephrine .Reuptake .Inhibitors
*inhibit .5-HT .reuptake
*inhibit .NE .reuptake .(increase .energy, .focus)

,*increase .DA .in .prefrontal .cortex .(increase
.cognition) .NDRI-Norepinephrine .Dopamine
.Reuptake .inhibitors
*inhibit .DA .reuptake .(increase .alertness, .motivation)
*inhibit .NE .reuptake .(increase .energy)
SARI-Serotonin .Antagonist .Reuptake .Inhibitors

Selective .Serotonin .Reuptake .Inhibitors .(SSRIs): .Most .adverse .effects .will .subside
.after .4-5 .days .once .the .body .adjusts .to .increased .serotonin .levels. .- .CORRECT
.ANSWER- .diarrhea
headache
.weight
.gain
sexual .side .effects

Serotonin .Norepinephrine .Reuptake .Inhibitors .(SNRIs): .Medications .should .not .be
.abruptly .stopped .to .avoid .discontinuation .symptoms. .NE .effects .of .the .medication
.may .increase .anxiety .in .some .clients. .Report .worsening .anxiety .to .the .provider. .-
.CORRECT .ANSWER-elevated .blood .pressure
anxiety
.insomnia
.constipation


Norepinephrine .Dopamine .Reuptake .Inhibitors .(NDRI): .Take .medication .in .the .morning.
.Stop .taking .medication .if .seizures .occur. .Stop .taking .medication .if .anxiety .is .noted. .-
CORRECT .ANSWER-agitation
.headache
dry .mouth
.constipation
.weight .loss


escitalopram .(Lexapro) .SSRI .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-no .known .drug .interactions
.best .tolerated .SSRI
27-32 .hour .half-life .good .for .forgetful .prone .clients
.least .CYP .reactions
Substrate .for .3A4

citalopram .(Celexa) .SSRI .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-mild .antihistamine .effects; .Half-
Life: .23-45 .hours
Weak .Inhibitor .of .2D6

fluoxetine .(Prozac) .SSRI .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-longest .half-life
Use .caution .in .patients .with .comorbid .anxiety .due .to .risk .for .activation .and .panic
.attacks .Half-Life: .2-3 .days .parent, .2 .week .metabolite
Inhibits .2D6 .and .3A4

paroxetine .(Paxil) .SSRI .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-also .treats .social .anxiety .and .insomnia
.associated .with .weight .gain

,will .experience .withdrawal .with .missed .dose .or .abrupt
.stop .Half-Life: .24 .hours
Inhibits .2D6

fluvoxamine .(Luvox) .SSRI .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-treats .anxious .depression .smokers
.require .an .increased .dose
Half-Life: .9-28 .hours
.Inhibits .3A4, .2C9, .1A2


sertraline .(Zoloft) .SSRI .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-also .treats .social .anxiety .and
.hypersomnolence
Half-Life: .22-36 .hour .parent; .62-104 .hour .metabolite
.Inhibits .2D6 .and .3A4 .weakly .at .low .doses


venlafaxine .(Effexor) .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-treats .both .depression .and
.anxiety .disorders, .ensure .trial .of .higher .dose .before .switching .to .a .different
.medication .Half-life: .Parent .drug .3-7 .hour; .metabolite .has .9-13 .hour


duloxetine .(Cymbalta) .SNRI .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-effective .for .atypical .pain .at
.higher .doses; .appropriate .for .clients .who .present .with .somatic .symptoms .of
.depression; .effective .for .atypical .pain, .such .as .fibromyalgia .and .diabetic .neuropathy
Half-Life: .12 .hours
.Inhibitor .of .2D6


bupropion .(Wellbutrin) .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-NDRI .may .improve .energy, .alertness,
.and .motivation; .not .first-line .treatment .for .anxiety; .contraindicated .in .clients .with .a
.history .of .seizures
Avoid .in .patients .with .comorbid .anxiety
Half-Life: .Parent .10-14 .hours; .Metabolite .20-27 .hours
.Inhibits .2D6


Serotonin .Antagonist .and .Reuptake .Inhibitors .(SARIs) .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-SARIs
.potently .block .5-HT2A .and .5HT .2C .receptors, .which .allow .more .5-HT .to .interact .at
.postsynaptic .5-HT1A .sites. .Serotonin .blockade .and .reuptake .inhibition .is .present .at
.higher .doses.


Trazodone .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-The .most .common .SARI, .also .blocks
.histaminergic .and .α-adrenergic .receptors.
Half-Life: .3-6 .hours

Serotonin .Antagonist .and .Reuptake .Inhibitors .(SARIs) .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Common
.Adverse .Effects
· sedation
· drowsiness
· blurred .vision
· constipation

, · dry .mouth
Serious .Adverse .Effect
.priapism


Serotonin .norepinephrine .receptor .agonist, .alpha2 .receptor .agonist .-
.CORRECT .ANSWER-Mirtazapine


Serotonin .multimodal .(SMM)/serotonin .partial .agonist .reuptake .inhibitor .(SPARI) .-
.CORRECT .ANSWER-Vilazodone .(Viibryd)
· Inhibits .serotonin .reuptake .with .partial .5HT1A .agonism
Appropriate .for .depression/comorbid .anxiety, .its .action .is .similar .to .a .combination .of
.SSRI .and .buspirone


Serotonin .multimodal .(SMM) .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Vortioxetine .(Trintellix)
· Acts .as .SSRI .plus .5HT1A .partial .agonism
· Improves .depression-related .cognition

Tricyclic .antidepressants .(TCAs) .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Tricyclic .antidepressants
.(TCAs) .possess .both .SRI .and .NRI .properties, .but .they .also .block .other .receptors,
.including .α1-adrenergic, .histamine-1, .and .muscarinic .cholinergic .receptors. .TCAs .are
.not .used .first-line .because .of .the .high .incidence .of .adverse .effects .and .the .risk .of
.potential .overdose .and .death .due .to .overdose


Tricyclic .antidepressants .(TCAs) .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Drugs:
· amitriptyline .(Elavil)
· desipramine .(Norpramin)
· doxepin .(Sinequan)
· imipramine .(Tofranil)
· nortriptyline .(Pamelor)

Tricyclic .antidepressants .(TCAs) .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Common .adverse .effects .of
.TCAs
Alpha-1 .adrenergic .effects-Orthostatic .hypotension
.Histamine .effects-Sedation
Histamine .effects-Weight .gain
.Anticholinergic .effects-Blurred .vision
.Anticholinergic .effects-Urinary .retention
.Anticholinergic .effects-Constipation
.Anticholinergic .effects-Dry .mouth


MAOIs .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Last .choice .medication .class .for .depression .due .to .the
.many .potential, .serious .side .effects. .MAOIs .have .specific .dietary .restrictions .that .when
.ignored, .may .be .very .uncomfortable .or .very .serious .for .clients.


MAOIs .- .CORRECT .ANSWER-Drugs:
· phenelzine .(Nardil)