NSG 5240 WEEK 8 LATEST MEDICAL 2026 STUDY
Based on the search results, NSG 5240 (Advanced
Pathophysiology/Pharmacology) Week 8 content typically covers neurologic
disorders, endocrine disorders, and advanced pharmacology including drugs for
Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, migraines, and pain management . Below is a
comprehensive practice exam for Week 8 content.
Part 1: Parkinson's Disease Pharmacology (Questions 1-15)
1. A patient with Parkinson's disease who takes carbidopa/levodopa reports
periods of lost drug effect lasting from minutes to several hours with no
relationship to the timing of drug administration. What is the most appropriate
course of action?
A) Increase the levodopa dose
B) Prescribe a COMT inhibitor such as entacapone
C) Discontinue carbidopa/levodopa and start amantadine
D) Add a benzodiazepine
Answer: B) Prescribe a COMT inhibitor such as entacapone
Rationale: "Wearing-off" phenomena (random loss of drug effect) in Parkinson's
disease is managed by adding a COMT inhibitor (entacapone), which prolongs the
half-life of levodopa by inhibiting its peripheral metabolism. This provides more
consistent dopamine levels .
2. Which medication is used to treat Parkinson's disease by increasing the
release of dopamine from presynaptic neurons?
A) Carbidopa
B) Entacapone
,C) Amantadine
D) Benztropine
Answer: C) Amantadine
Rationale: Amantadine has multiple mechanisms including increasing dopamine
release from presynaptic neurons, blocking NMDA receptors, and having
anticholinergic effects. It is particularly useful for dyskinesias in advanced
Parkinson's disease .
3. What is the primary mechanism of action of levodopa in the treatment of
Parkinson's disease?
A) It inhibits the breakdown of dopamine
B) It blocks acetylcholine receptors
C) It replaces dopamine in the brain
D) It stimulates dopamine release
Answer: C) It replaces dopamine in the brain
Rationale: Levodopa is a precursor to dopamine that crosses the blood-brain
barrier and is converted to dopamine by aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase. It
directly replaces the dopamine deficient in Parkinson's disease .
4. Which drug is used to enhance the effects of levodopa by inhibiting its
peripheral breakdown?
A) Entacapone
B) Carbidopa
C) Amantadine
D) Pramipexole
Answer: B) Carbidopa
, Rationale: Carbidopa inhibits peripheral dopa-decarboxylase, preventing the
conversion of levodopa to dopamine outside the brain. This reduces peripheral side
effects (nausea, vomiting) and allows more levodopa to reach the brain .
5. Which of the following medications is used to treat Parkinson's disease by
inhibiting the enzyme COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase)?
A) Selegiline
B) Pramipexole
C) Entacapone
D) Trihexyphenidyl
Answer: C) Entacapone
Rationale: Entacapone is a COMT inhibitor that prolongs the duration of action of
levodopa by blocking its breakdown. It is used as adjunctive therapy in patients
with wearing-off phenomena .
6. A patient with Parkinson's disease is prescribed apomorphine but develops
medication-related nausea and vomiting. Which drug will most effectively
manage these side effects?
A) Ondansetron
B) Metoclopramide
C) Trimethobenzamide
D) Prochlorperazine
Answer: C) Trimethobenzamide
Rationale: Trimethobenzamide is an antiemetic that does not cross the blood-brain
barrier significantly and does not worsen Parkinson's symptoms. Dopamine
antagonists (metoclopramide, prochlorperazine) can worsen Parkinson's and
should be avoided .
Based on the search results, NSG 5240 (Advanced
Pathophysiology/Pharmacology) Week 8 content typically covers neurologic
disorders, endocrine disorders, and advanced pharmacology including drugs for
Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, migraines, and pain management . Below is a
comprehensive practice exam for Week 8 content.
Part 1: Parkinson's Disease Pharmacology (Questions 1-15)
1. A patient with Parkinson's disease who takes carbidopa/levodopa reports
periods of lost drug effect lasting from minutes to several hours with no
relationship to the timing of drug administration. What is the most appropriate
course of action?
A) Increase the levodopa dose
B) Prescribe a COMT inhibitor such as entacapone
C) Discontinue carbidopa/levodopa and start amantadine
D) Add a benzodiazepine
Answer: B) Prescribe a COMT inhibitor such as entacapone
Rationale: "Wearing-off" phenomena (random loss of drug effect) in Parkinson's
disease is managed by adding a COMT inhibitor (entacapone), which prolongs the
half-life of levodopa by inhibiting its peripheral metabolism. This provides more
consistent dopamine levels .
2. Which medication is used to treat Parkinson's disease by increasing the
release of dopamine from presynaptic neurons?
A) Carbidopa
B) Entacapone
,C) Amantadine
D) Benztropine
Answer: C) Amantadine
Rationale: Amantadine has multiple mechanisms including increasing dopamine
release from presynaptic neurons, blocking NMDA receptors, and having
anticholinergic effects. It is particularly useful for dyskinesias in advanced
Parkinson's disease .
3. What is the primary mechanism of action of levodopa in the treatment of
Parkinson's disease?
A) It inhibits the breakdown of dopamine
B) It blocks acetylcholine receptors
C) It replaces dopamine in the brain
D) It stimulates dopamine release
Answer: C) It replaces dopamine in the brain
Rationale: Levodopa is a precursor to dopamine that crosses the blood-brain
barrier and is converted to dopamine by aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase. It
directly replaces the dopamine deficient in Parkinson's disease .
4. Which drug is used to enhance the effects of levodopa by inhibiting its
peripheral breakdown?
A) Entacapone
B) Carbidopa
C) Amantadine
D) Pramipexole
Answer: B) Carbidopa
, Rationale: Carbidopa inhibits peripheral dopa-decarboxylase, preventing the
conversion of levodopa to dopamine outside the brain. This reduces peripheral side
effects (nausea, vomiting) and allows more levodopa to reach the brain .
5. Which of the following medications is used to treat Parkinson's disease by
inhibiting the enzyme COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase)?
A) Selegiline
B) Pramipexole
C) Entacapone
D) Trihexyphenidyl
Answer: C) Entacapone
Rationale: Entacapone is a COMT inhibitor that prolongs the duration of action of
levodopa by blocking its breakdown. It is used as adjunctive therapy in patients
with wearing-off phenomena .
6. A patient with Parkinson's disease is prescribed apomorphine but develops
medication-related nausea and vomiting. Which drug will most effectively
manage these side effects?
A) Ondansetron
B) Metoclopramide
C) Trimethobenzamide
D) Prochlorperazine
Answer: C) Trimethobenzamide
Rationale: Trimethobenzamide is an antiemetic that does not cross the blood-brain
barrier significantly and does not worsen Parkinson's symptoms. Dopamine
antagonists (metoclopramide, prochlorperazine) can worsen Parkinson's and
should be avoided .
