Written by students who passed Immediately available after payment Read online or as PDF Wrong document? Swap it for free 4.6 TrustPilot
logo-home
Document preview thumbnail
Preview 4 out of 134 pages
Exam (elaborations)

NR 546 – Advanced Pharmacology in Nursing Practice Exam Review Questions and Study Guide

Document preview thumbnail
Preview 4 out of 134 pages

The material focuses on major drug classifications, mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, adverse effects, and safe prescribing principles. It is intended to strengthen clinical decision-making and prepare students for graduate-level pharmacology assessments.

Content preview

NR546
Final Exam
Questions and
Answers,
Verified
RATED A+.

,Pharmacologic Treatment of Bipolar Disorder Lithium
Anticonvulsants
Second generation antipsychotics
Unipolar depression major depressive disorder (MDD)
one of the most common mental disorders
-Approximately 7.1% of adults in the U.S. had episode in last year, prevalence highest (13.1%)
among individuals aged 18-25

S/S
-depressed mood
-loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities
-irritability
-withdrawal
-problems with sleep, eating, energy, concentration, or self-worth
-severe depression: may experience thoughts of suicide or psychotic symptoms.
Bipolar disorder (BD) Chronic condition characterized by extreme fluctuations in mood, energy,
and ability to function
-Moods may be manic, hypomanic, or depressed and may include mixed mood or psychotic
features
-many have only experienced only one manic episode in their lifetime
-Mood fluctuations may be separated by periods of high stability or may cycle rapidly
-diagnosed when a client has one or more episodes of mania or hypomania with a history of one
or more major depressive episodes
-high risk for suicide
mania characterized by a persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood. Related symptoms
may include inflated self-esteem, increased goal-directed activity or energy, including
grandiosity, decreased need for sleep, excessive talkativeness, racing thoughts, flight of ideas
(FOI), distractibility, psychomotor agitation, and a propensity to be involved in high-risk
activities. Mania leads to significant functional impairment and may include psychotic features
or necessitate hospitalization
Bipolar Type I: requires at least one episode of mania for at least one week (or any
duration if hospitalization due to symptoms is required)
Bipolar Type II: diagnosis requires a current or past hypomanic episode and a current or
past major depressive episode. Symptoms last for at least 4 days but fewer than seven.
-Hypomanic symptoms are not of sufficient duration or severity to cause significant functional
impairment, psychosis, or hospitalization.
-Anger and irritability are common.
-Clients often enjoy the elevation of mood and are reluctant to report these symptoms, making
bipolar more difficult to diagnose if the client presents in the depression phase.
Cyclothymia: involves the chronic presentation of hypomanic and depressive symptoms that do
not meet the diagnostic criteria for a major depressive or manic/hypomanic episode.
If bipolar depression is mistaken for MDD: antidepressant therapy may precipitate a manic
episode or induce rapid-cycling bipolar depression
-may contribute to the increased incidence of death by suicide in children and adults younger
than 25

,Antidepressants are used cautiously in clients with bipolar disorder and never as
________________. monotherapy
-Antidepressants should be combined with a mood stabilizer to prevent the onset of a hypomanic
or manic episode
DA, NE Dysfunction causes what mood related symptoms Decreased positive affect:
depressed mood
loss of joy
lack of interest
loss of energy
decreased alertness
decreased self-confidence
appetite changes
5HT, NE Dysfunction causes what mood related symptoms Increased negative affect:
depressed mood
guilt
fear/anxiety
hostility
irritability
loneliness
appetite changes
monoamine hypothesis of depression -depression occurs as a result of a deficiency of one or all
three monoamine transmitters
• serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine
-while mania may result from an excess
Medication Management for Depression, First-Line Treatment: • Selective Serotonin
Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
• Norepinephrine Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (NDRI)
• Serotonin Antagonist and Reuptake Inhibitors (SARIs)
SSRI's Mechanism of action
• inhibit 5-HT reuptake
Adverse effects
-diarrhea
-headache
-weight gain
-sexual side effects
SNRI's Mechanism of action
• inhibit 5-HT reuptake
• inhibit NE reuptake (increase energy, focus)
• increase DA in prefrontal cortex (increase cognition)
Adverse effects
-elevated blood pressure
-anxiety
-insomnia
-constipation
NDRI's Mechanism of action

, • inhibit DA reuptake (increase alertness, motivation)
• inhibit NE reuptake (increase energy)
Adverse effects
-agitation
-headache
-dry mouth
-constipation
-weight loss
SSRI Prescribing Pearls: med with mild antihistamine effects citalopram (Celexa)
SSRI Prescribing Pearls: med with no known drug interactions escitalopram (Lexapro)
SSRI Prescribing Pearls: med with longest half-life fluoxetine (Prozac)
SSRI Prescribing Pearls: med that also treats social anxiety and insomnia paroxetine (Paxil)
SSRI Prescribing Pearls: med that treats anxious depression; smokers require an increased dose
fluvoxamine (Luvox)
SSRI Prescribing Pearls: med that also treats social anxiety and hypersomnolence sertraline
(Zoloft)
venlafaxine (Effexor) INDICATION
-Depression
-GAD
-Social anxiety disorder
-Panic disorder

Mechanism of Action
-SNRI (dual serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor), Boosts neurotransmitters
serotonin, norepinephrine/noradrenaline, and dopamine.

TESTS
-Check bp before initiating tx & regularly during tx

Starting Dose
-Initial 37.5 mg daily (extended-release) or 25-50 mg divided into 2-3 doses (immediate-release)

Adverse Effects
-H/A, nervousness, insomnia, sedation, nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, sexual dysfunction,
asthenia, sweating, SIADH, hyponatremia, increase BP

PEARLS
-treats both depression and anxiety disorders, ensure trial of higher dose before switching to a
different medication
-preferred treatments for treatment-resistant depression
desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) INDICATION
-MDD

Mechanism of Action
-SNRI (dual serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor), Boosts neurotransmitters
serotonin, norepinephrine/noradrenaline, and dopamine

Document information

Uploaded on
May 28, 2026
Number of pages
134
Written in
2025/2026
Type
Exam (elaborations)
Contains
Questions & answers
$11.49

Wrong document? Swap it for free Within 14 days of purchase and before downloading, you can choose a different document. You can simply spend the amount again.
Written by students who passed
Immediately available after payment
Read online or as PDF

Sold
2405
Followers
1
Items
300
Last sold
4 hours ago



Why students choose Stuvia

Created by fellow students, verified by reviews

Quality you can trust: written by students who passed their tests and reviewed by others who've used these notes.

Didn't get what you expected? Choose another document

No worries! You can instantly pick a different document that better fits what you're looking for.

Pay as you like, start learning right away

No subscription, no commitments. Pay the way you're used to via credit card and download your PDF document instantly.

Student with book image

“Bought, downloaded, and aced it. It really can be that simple.”

Alisha Student

Working on your references?

Create accurate citations in APA, MLA and Harvard with our free citation generator.

Working on your references?

Frequently asked questions