NURS 6630 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
MIDTERM 2026 HIGH-YIELD REVIEW OF
NEUROTRANSMITTERS AND DRUG
MECHANISMS STUDY GUIDE
◉ 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.
Answer: SSRIs
◉ First line therapy for MDD due to milder side effect profiles.
Answer: SSRIs
◉ Six Common SSRIs.
Answer: citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine,
sertraline, paroxetine
◉ Onset of therapeutic benefit from SSRIs.
Answer: 4-6 weeks
◉ In addition to MDD, SSRIs also treat.
Answer: Chronic Anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and eating disorders (bulimia)
,◉ Five Common side effects of SSRIs include.
Answer: Anxiety, insomnia, GI distress, sexual dysfunction (ED),
SIADH
◉ Severe side effect of SSRIs in children/adolescents under age 25
years old.
Answer: suicidal ideation
◉ Life threatening adverse effect of SSRIs, especially when used in
combination with other serotonergic drugs (SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs,
etc.).
Answer: Serotonin Syndrome
◉ Excess accumulation of serotonin resulting in overstimulation of
the nervous system.
Answer: Serotonin Syndrome
◉ Seven symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome.
Answer: Flushing, hyperthermia, agitation, muscle rigidity, seizure,
coma, HYPERreflexia
◉ The treatment for serotonin syndrome.
,Answer: Cyproheptadine (5-HT2 receptor antagonist)
◉ Cyproheptadine treats serotonin syndrome by.
Answer: blocking 5-HT2 receptors (serotonin antagonist)
◉ When SSRIs or SNRIs are stopped abruptly, common symptoms of
withdrawal include.
Answer: Irritability, headaches, and insomnia
◉ Medicine specific side effect of citalopram.
Answer: Prolonged QT interval (normal=0.4.-0.44 seconds)
◉ This SSRI is pregnancy category D due to associations with
congenital heart defects.
Answer: Paroxetine
◉ All SSRIs but paroxetine (D) are pregnancy category.
Answer: C
◉ Three SSRIs that are inhibitors of Cytochrome P450 enzymes.
Answer: fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and paroxetine
, ◉ Five common SNRIs include.
Answer: 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.
Answer: SNRIs
◉ In addition to MDD SNRIs treat.
Answer: Anxiety and neuropathic pain (peripheral neuropathy)
◉ Medication specific indications of duloxetine:.
Answer: urinary incontinence and Fibromyalgia
◉ Medication specific indications of venlafaxine:.
Answer: social anxiety, panic disorders, PTSD, OCD, postmenopausal
hot flashes
◉ Six common side effects of SNRIs include:.
Answer: Insomnia, nausea, sexual dysfunction, hypertension,
sweating, headaches
MIDTERM 2026 HIGH-YIELD REVIEW OF
NEUROTRANSMITTERS AND DRUG
MECHANISMS STUDY GUIDE
◉ 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.
Answer: SSRIs
◉ First line therapy for MDD due to milder side effect profiles.
Answer: SSRIs
◉ Six Common SSRIs.
Answer: citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine,
sertraline, paroxetine
◉ Onset of therapeutic benefit from SSRIs.
Answer: 4-6 weeks
◉ In addition to MDD, SSRIs also treat.
Answer: Chronic Anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and eating disorders (bulimia)
,◉ Five Common side effects of SSRIs include.
Answer: Anxiety, insomnia, GI distress, sexual dysfunction (ED),
SIADH
◉ Severe side effect of SSRIs in children/adolescents under age 25
years old.
Answer: suicidal ideation
◉ Life threatening adverse effect of SSRIs, especially when used in
combination with other serotonergic drugs (SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs,
etc.).
Answer: Serotonin Syndrome
◉ Excess accumulation of serotonin resulting in overstimulation of
the nervous system.
Answer: Serotonin Syndrome
◉ Seven symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome.
Answer: Flushing, hyperthermia, agitation, muscle rigidity, seizure,
coma, HYPERreflexia
◉ The treatment for serotonin syndrome.
,Answer: Cyproheptadine (5-HT2 receptor antagonist)
◉ Cyproheptadine treats serotonin syndrome by.
Answer: blocking 5-HT2 receptors (serotonin antagonist)
◉ When SSRIs or SNRIs are stopped abruptly, common symptoms of
withdrawal include.
Answer: Irritability, headaches, and insomnia
◉ Medicine specific side effect of citalopram.
Answer: Prolonged QT interval (normal=0.4.-0.44 seconds)
◉ This SSRI is pregnancy category D due to associations with
congenital heart defects.
Answer: Paroxetine
◉ All SSRIs but paroxetine (D) are pregnancy category.
Answer: C
◉ Three SSRIs that are inhibitors of Cytochrome P450 enzymes.
Answer: fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and paroxetine
, ◉ Five common SNRIs include.
Answer: 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.
Answer: SNRIs
◉ In addition to MDD SNRIs treat.
Answer: Anxiety and neuropathic pain (peripheral neuropathy)
◉ Medication specific indications of duloxetine:.
Answer: urinary incontinence and Fibromyalgia
◉ Medication specific indications of venlafaxine:.
Answer: social anxiety, panic disorders, PTSD, OCD, postmenopausal
hot flashes
◉ Six common side effects of SNRIs include:.
Answer: Insomnia, nausea, sexual dysfunction, hypertension,
sweating, headaches
