NR 546 Final PRACTICE EXAM Psychopharmacology
1. A. Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine: MAOIs (monoamine oxidase in-
hibitors) affect which neurotransmitters?
A. Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine
B. Serotonin, GABA, Glutamate
C. Acetylcholine, Dopamine, Norepinephrine
D. Dopamine, GABA, Acetylcholine
2. A. SSRI: Which of the following is considered first line treatment for depression?
A. SSRI
B. FGA
C. SNRI
D. MAOI
3. C. Escitalopram: When treating a patient for major depression disorder which
medication would the PMHNP consider first?
A. Depakote
B. Selegiline
C. Escitalopram
D. Isocarboxazid
4. C. Fluoxetine: Which of the following medication should be considered for a
patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder who reports "always forgetting to
take my pills"?
A. Mirtazapine
B. Fluvoxamine
C. Fluoxetine
D. Carbemazepine
5. B. Lamotrigine: Which of the following medication has a black box warning of a
life-threatening skin rash?
A. Lithium
B. Lamotrigine
C. Lurasidone
D. Lorazepam
6. D. Escitalopram: Which medication is considered the best tolerated SSRI?
A. Venlafaxine
B. Bupropion
, NR 546 Final PRACTICE EXAM Psychopharmacology
C. Setraline
D. Escitalopram
7. A. Increase Setraline dose: During a 4 week follow up appointment, Rashida,
who is prescribed Sertraline 25mg qAM reports slight improvement in depression
symptoms and tolerating medication well. Which of the following should the PMHNP
do?
A. Increase Setraline dose
B. Switch to an SNRI
C. Switch to a different SSRI
D. Add Trazodone qHS for sleep.
8. C. Paroxetine: Which medication should be avoided for the 66 year patient
diagnosed with major depressive disorder and anxiety with a reported fall 3 months
ago?
A. Citalopram
B. Setraline
C. Paroxetine
D. Aripiprazole
9. B. "Most side effects subside after 4-5 days. Your body is getting adjusted
to the increased serotonin levels".: A patient reports upset stomach and diarrhea
3 days after taking new prescription of sertraline. Which of the following is the most
appropriate response from the PMHNP?
A. "Start doubling the dose of sertraline and your symptoms will begin to ease up".
B. "Most side effects subside after 4-5 days. Your body is getting adjusted to the
increased serotonin levels".
C. "Stop taking it immediately and go to the local emergency department".
D. "You must take Sertraline with food, otherwise you will continue to experience GI
symptoms".
10. B. "It can take up to 6 weeks before you notice improvements of depres-
sive symptoms".: During a 2 week follow up appointment, the patient reports no
improvement in depressive symptoms with escitalopram. Which of the following
statement made by the PMHNP is correct?
A. "Let's discontinue escitalopram and start you on something stronger".
B. "It can take up to 6 weeks before you notice improvements of depressive symp-
toms".
, NR 546 Final PRACTICE EXAM Psychopharmacology
C. "I am going to prescibe Trazodone. Take it at night to help you sleep".
D. "Start taking two pills at a time".
11. A. serotonin and norepinephrine: Duloxetine effects which two neurotransmit-
ters?
A. serotonin and norepinephrine
B. serotonin and dopamine
C. norepinephrine and GABA
D. glutamate and acetylcholine
12. B. mirtazpine: Awura, a 70 year old patient diagnosed with major depressive
disorder reports a recent 40 pound weight loss within the last 3 months. Which
medication should the PMHNP consider adding to her medication regimen?
A. quetiapine
B. mirtazpine
C. valproic acid
D. paroxetine
13. C. Immunosuppression: Which of the following symptoms is NOT an adverse
effect associated with the acute use of opioids?
A. Sedation
B. Respiratory depression
C. Immunosuppression
D. Itching
14. D. QTc prolongation: When dosing citalopram for Lynee, a 72 year old patient,
the PMHNP understands to dose at 1/2 dose due to the increased risk of
A. delirium
B. polypharmacy
C. falls
D. QTc prolongation
15. D. SSRI: Which of the following medication class is approved for first line treat-
ment for OCD?
A. Atypical antipsychotics
B. Benzodiazepines
C. MAOI
D. SSRI
1. A. Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine: MAOIs (monoamine oxidase in-
hibitors) affect which neurotransmitters?
A. Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine
B. Serotonin, GABA, Glutamate
C. Acetylcholine, Dopamine, Norepinephrine
D. Dopamine, GABA, Acetylcholine
2. A. SSRI: Which of the following is considered first line treatment for depression?
A. SSRI
B. FGA
C. SNRI
D. MAOI
3. C. Escitalopram: When treating a patient for major depression disorder which
medication would the PMHNP consider first?
A. Depakote
B. Selegiline
C. Escitalopram
D. Isocarboxazid
4. C. Fluoxetine: Which of the following medication should be considered for a
patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder who reports "always forgetting to
take my pills"?
A. Mirtazapine
B. Fluvoxamine
C. Fluoxetine
D. Carbemazepine
5. B. Lamotrigine: Which of the following medication has a black box warning of a
life-threatening skin rash?
A. Lithium
B. Lamotrigine
C. Lurasidone
D. Lorazepam
6. D. Escitalopram: Which medication is considered the best tolerated SSRI?
A. Venlafaxine
B. Bupropion
, NR 546 Final PRACTICE EXAM Psychopharmacology
C. Setraline
D. Escitalopram
7. A. Increase Setraline dose: During a 4 week follow up appointment, Rashida,
who is prescribed Sertraline 25mg qAM reports slight improvement in depression
symptoms and tolerating medication well. Which of the following should the PMHNP
do?
A. Increase Setraline dose
B. Switch to an SNRI
C. Switch to a different SSRI
D. Add Trazodone qHS for sleep.
8. C. Paroxetine: Which medication should be avoided for the 66 year patient
diagnosed with major depressive disorder and anxiety with a reported fall 3 months
ago?
A. Citalopram
B. Setraline
C. Paroxetine
D. Aripiprazole
9. B. "Most side effects subside after 4-5 days. Your body is getting adjusted
to the increased serotonin levels".: A patient reports upset stomach and diarrhea
3 days after taking new prescription of sertraline. Which of the following is the most
appropriate response from the PMHNP?
A. "Start doubling the dose of sertraline and your symptoms will begin to ease up".
B. "Most side effects subside after 4-5 days. Your body is getting adjusted to the
increased serotonin levels".
C. "Stop taking it immediately and go to the local emergency department".
D. "You must take Sertraline with food, otherwise you will continue to experience GI
symptoms".
10. B. "It can take up to 6 weeks before you notice improvements of depres-
sive symptoms".: During a 2 week follow up appointment, the patient reports no
improvement in depressive symptoms with escitalopram. Which of the following
statement made by the PMHNP is correct?
A. "Let's discontinue escitalopram and start you on something stronger".
B. "It can take up to 6 weeks before you notice improvements of depressive symp-
toms".
, NR 546 Final PRACTICE EXAM Psychopharmacology
C. "I am going to prescibe Trazodone. Take it at night to help you sleep".
D. "Start taking two pills at a time".
11. A. serotonin and norepinephrine: Duloxetine effects which two neurotransmit-
ters?
A. serotonin and norepinephrine
B. serotonin and dopamine
C. norepinephrine and GABA
D. glutamate and acetylcholine
12. B. mirtazpine: Awura, a 70 year old patient diagnosed with major depressive
disorder reports a recent 40 pound weight loss within the last 3 months. Which
medication should the PMHNP consider adding to her medication regimen?
A. quetiapine
B. mirtazpine
C. valproic acid
D. paroxetine
13. C. Immunosuppression: Which of the following symptoms is NOT an adverse
effect associated with the acute use of opioids?
A. Sedation
B. Respiratory depression
C. Immunosuppression
D. Itching
14. D. QTc prolongation: When dosing citalopram for Lynee, a 72 year old patient,
the PMHNP understands to dose at 1/2 dose due to the increased risk of
A. delirium
B. polypharmacy
C. falls
D. QTc prolongation
15. D. SSRI: Which of the following medication class is approved for first line treat-
ment for OCD?
A. Atypical antipsychotics
B. Benzodiazepines
C. MAOI
D. SSRI
