PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY MIDTERM
EXAM ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
Serotonin regulates - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Mood, emotion, feeding, and reproductive
behavior
This class of antidepressants binds to presynaptic SERT and inhibits them from reuptake of
serotonin to increase levels in the synaptic cleft to bind with postsysnaptic 5HT2 receptors -
CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅SSRIs
First line therapy for MDD due to milder side effect profiles - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅SSRIs
Six Common SSRIs - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine,
fluvoxamine, sertraline, paroxetine
Onset of therapeutic benefit from SSRIs - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅4-6 weeks
In addition to MDD, SSRIs also treat - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Chronic Anxiety, PTSD,
OCD, and eating disorders (bulimia)
Five Common side effects of SSRIs include - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Anxiety,
insomnia, GI distress, sexual dysfunction (ED), SIADH
Severe side effect of SSRIs in children/adolescents under age 25 years old - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅suicidal ideation
Life threatening adverse effect of SSRIs, especially when used in combination with other
serotonergic drugs (SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs, etc.) - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Serotonin
Syndrome
,Excess accumulation of serotonin resulting in overstimulation of the nervous system -
CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Serotonin Syndrome
Seven symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Flushing,
hyperthermia, agitation, muscle rigidity, seizure, coma, HYPERreflexia
The treatment for serotonin syndrome - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Cyproheptadine (5-HT2
receptor antagonist)
Cyproheptadine treats serotonin syndrome by - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅blocking 5-HT2
receptors (serotonin antagonist)
When SSRIs or SNRIs are stopped abruptly, common symptoms of withdrawal include -
CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Irritability, headaches, and insomnia
Medicine specific side effect of citalopram - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Prolonged QT
interval (normal=0.4.-0.44 seconds)
This SSRI is pregnancy category D due to associations with congenital heart defects -
CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Paroxetine
All SSRIs but paroxetine (D) are pregnancy category - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅C
Three SSRIs that are inhibitors of Cytochrome P450 enzymes - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and paroxetine
Five common SNRIs include - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅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 ANSWERS✅✅SNRIs
, In addition to MDD SNRIs treat - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Anxiety and neuropathic pain
(peripheral neuropathy)
Medication specific indications of duloxetine: - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅urinary
incontinence and Fibromyalgia
Medication specific indications of venlafaxine: - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅social anxiety,
panic disorders, PTSD, OCD, postmenopausal hot flashes
Six common side effects of SNRIs include: - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Insomnia, nausea,
sexual dysfunction, hypertension, sweating, headaches
Severe side effect of SNRIs in children/adolescents under age 25 years old: - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅suicidal ideation
Life threatening adverse effect of SNRIs, especially when used in combination with other
serotonergic drugs: - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Serotonin Syndrome
This SNRI is an inhibitor of Cytochrome P450 enzymes: - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅venlafaxine
This SNRI is hepatotoxic: - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅duloxetine
MAOIs increase the levels of: - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Serotonin, Norepinephrine, and
Dopamine
Norepinephrine regulates: - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅alertness and focus
Dopamine regulates: - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅cognitive function, motivation, and
awakeness