NR566 ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY
FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
§ When to use/prescribe ✅✅ANSW-Indicated only when used with levodopa
Increases levodopa available for uptake in the brain
· Parkinson Disease
o Bromocriptine
§ How to manage side effects ✅✅ANSW-Side effects are dose-dependent, decrease dose to
decrease side effects
· Parkinson Disease
o Use of levodopa/carbidopa in treatment/diagnosis ✅✅ANSW-First line drug
o What are sleep attacks associated with related to PD treatment? ✅✅ANSW-Patients should
also be aware that
pramipexole
ropinirole
rotigotine
apomorphine
can cause sleep attacks. If a sleep attack occurs, patients should avoid potentially hazardous
activities (e.g., driving) until these attacks have been adequately managed.
· Seizure Disorders
o Phenytoin
§ Common side effects and associated patient teaching
§ Use with oral contraceptives and associated patient teaching
o How to monitor antiepileptic drugs for effectiveness
o Which anticonvulsant would be given for someone with epilepsy needing adjunctive therapy for
partial seizures with or without secondary generalization? ✅✅ANSW-Phenytoin:
, -Side Effects; Nystagmus, sedation, ataxia, diplopia, and cognitive impairment, Gingival hyperplasia
-Use with BC: phenytoin or Dilantin can reduce the effects of oral contraceptive pills. And because
avoiding pregnancy is desirable when taking phenytoin, patients should be advised to increase the
dose of oral contraceptives or use an alternative method of birth control.
Effectiveness: if seizures stop, dose is effective, if not, increase
Adjunctive therapy: Gabapentin
· Dementia
o Memantine
What to do when someone has an elevated creatinine clearance ✅✅ANSW-Dosage adjustment is
required for patients with renal impairment having creatinine clearance of less than 30 mL/min.
Reduce dosage in patients with moderate renal impairment and discontinue in patients with severe
renal impairment
· Panic Disorder
o First-line treatment options as noted in course textbook
§ Be familiar with drug class and examples ✅✅ANSW-Two modalities may be employed: drug
therapy and CBT.
SSRIs: Paroxetine
SNRIs: Venlafaxine
tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs): clomipramine
MAOIs: Phenelzine
· Performance Anxiety
o First-line treatment options as noted in course textbook
§ Be familiar with drug class and examples ✅✅ANSW-Propranolol (Inderal) and other β blockers
can benefit patients with performance anxiety.
· General Anxiety Disorder
o First-line treatment options as noted in course textbook ✅✅ANSW-Paroxetine (selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitor [SSRI])
Venlafaxine (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor [SNRI])
(Nonbenzodiazepine-Nonbarbiturate)
FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
§ When to use/prescribe ✅✅ANSW-Indicated only when used with levodopa
Increases levodopa available for uptake in the brain
· Parkinson Disease
o Bromocriptine
§ How to manage side effects ✅✅ANSW-Side effects are dose-dependent, decrease dose to
decrease side effects
· Parkinson Disease
o Use of levodopa/carbidopa in treatment/diagnosis ✅✅ANSW-First line drug
o What are sleep attacks associated with related to PD treatment? ✅✅ANSW-Patients should
also be aware that
pramipexole
ropinirole
rotigotine
apomorphine
can cause sleep attacks. If a sleep attack occurs, patients should avoid potentially hazardous
activities (e.g., driving) until these attacks have been adequately managed.
· Seizure Disorders
o Phenytoin
§ Common side effects and associated patient teaching
§ Use with oral contraceptives and associated patient teaching
o How to monitor antiepileptic drugs for effectiveness
o Which anticonvulsant would be given for someone with epilepsy needing adjunctive therapy for
partial seizures with or without secondary generalization? ✅✅ANSW-Phenytoin:
, -Side Effects; Nystagmus, sedation, ataxia, diplopia, and cognitive impairment, Gingival hyperplasia
-Use with BC: phenytoin or Dilantin can reduce the effects of oral contraceptive pills. And because
avoiding pregnancy is desirable when taking phenytoin, patients should be advised to increase the
dose of oral contraceptives or use an alternative method of birth control.
Effectiveness: if seizures stop, dose is effective, if not, increase
Adjunctive therapy: Gabapentin
· Dementia
o Memantine
What to do when someone has an elevated creatinine clearance ✅✅ANSW-Dosage adjustment is
required for patients with renal impairment having creatinine clearance of less than 30 mL/min.
Reduce dosage in patients with moderate renal impairment and discontinue in patients with severe
renal impairment
· Panic Disorder
o First-line treatment options as noted in course textbook
§ Be familiar with drug class and examples ✅✅ANSW-Two modalities may be employed: drug
therapy and CBT.
SSRIs: Paroxetine
SNRIs: Venlafaxine
tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs): clomipramine
MAOIs: Phenelzine
· Performance Anxiety
o First-line treatment options as noted in course textbook
§ Be familiar with drug class and examples ✅✅ANSW-Propranolol (Inderal) and other β blockers
can benefit patients with performance anxiety.
· General Anxiety Disorder
o First-line treatment options as noted in course textbook ✅✅ANSW-Paroxetine (selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitor [SSRI])
Venlafaxine (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor [SNRI])
(Nonbenzodiazepine-Nonbarbiturate)
