Antidepressants (10 Questions)
1. Which class of antidepressants works primarily by
inhibiting serotonin reuptake?
A. Tricyclic antidepressants
B. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
C. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
D. Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
Answer: C. SSRIs
Rationale: SSRIs block the serotonin transporter,
increasing serotonin levels in the synaptic cleft
(Wikipedia).
2. Which SNRI is also approved for chronic
neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia?
A. Venlafaxine
B. Duloxetine
C. Desvenlafaxine
D. Atomoxetine
Answer: B. Duloxetine
Rationale: Duloxetine inhibits reuptake of both serotonin
and norepinephrine and is FDA-approved for fibromyalgia
and neuropathic pain (Wikipedia).
3. A major risk of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) is:
A. Sexual dysfunction
B. Hypertensive crisis with tyramine
C. Anticholinergic effects and cardiotoxicity
D. Weight loss
,Answer: C. Anticholinergic effects and cardiotoxicity
Rationale: TCAs block multiple receptors (histaminic,
cholinergic), leading to dry mouth, urinary retention, and
cardiotoxic arrhythmias (Wikipedia).
4. Which MAOI requires strict tyramine dietary
restriction to prevent hypertensive crisis?
A. Phenelzine
B. Selegiline patch
C. Bupropion
D. Vortioxetine
Answer: A. Phenelzine
Rationale: Non-selective MAOIs like phenelzine inhibit
MAO-A and MAO-B in the gut, increasing tyramine and
risk of hypertensive crisis (CEUfast).
5. Which agent is a “serotonin modulator and
stimulator” with partial 5-HT1A agonism?
A. Vilazodone
B. Trazodone
C. Mirtazapine
D. Nefazodone
Answer: A. Vilazodone
Rationale: Vilazodone acts as an SSRI, 5-HT1A partial
agonist, and 5-HT3 antagonist (Wikipedia).
6. SSRIs are often preferred over TCAs because they:
A. Have no sexual side effects
B. Are safer in overdose
, C. Do not interact with other drugs
D. Require less frequent dosing
Answer: B. Are safer in overdose
Rationale: SSRIs have a wider therapeutic index and
lower lethality in overdose compared to TCAs (OpenStax).
7. Which antidepressant is least likely to cause sexual
dysfunction?
A. Paroxetine
B. Sertraline
C. Bupropion
D. Fluoxetine
Answer: C. Bupropion
Rationale: Bupropion’s dopaminergic and noradrenergic
activity leads to lower rates of sexual side effects
(Nurseslabs).
8. A patient on an SSRI develops serotonin syndrome.
Which symptom is most specific?
A. Diaphoresis
B. Hyperreflexia with clonus
C. Tachycardia
D. Fever
Answer: B. Hyperreflexia with clonus
Rationale: Neuromuscular hyperactivity (clonus) is
characteristic of serotonin syndrome (CEUfast).
9. Duloxetine is contraindicated in patients with:
1. Which class of antidepressants works primarily by
inhibiting serotonin reuptake?
A. Tricyclic antidepressants
B. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
C. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
D. Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
Answer: C. SSRIs
Rationale: SSRIs block the serotonin transporter,
increasing serotonin levels in the synaptic cleft
(Wikipedia).
2. Which SNRI is also approved for chronic
neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia?
A. Venlafaxine
B. Duloxetine
C. Desvenlafaxine
D. Atomoxetine
Answer: B. Duloxetine
Rationale: Duloxetine inhibits reuptake of both serotonin
and norepinephrine and is FDA-approved for fibromyalgia
and neuropathic pain (Wikipedia).
3. A major risk of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) is:
A. Sexual dysfunction
B. Hypertensive crisis with tyramine
C. Anticholinergic effects and cardiotoxicity
D. Weight loss
,Answer: C. Anticholinergic effects and cardiotoxicity
Rationale: TCAs block multiple receptors (histaminic,
cholinergic), leading to dry mouth, urinary retention, and
cardiotoxic arrhythmias (Wikipedia).
4. Which MAOI requires strict tyramine dietary
restriction to prevent hypertensive crisis?
A. Phenelzine
B. Selegiline patch
C. Bupropion
D. Vortioxetine
Answer: A. Phenelzine
Rationale: Non-selective MAOIs like phenelzine inhibit
MAO-A and MAO-B in the gut, increasing tyramine and
risk of hypertensive crisis (CEUfast).
5. Which agent is a “serotonin modulator and
stimulator” with partial 5-HT1A agonism?
A. Vilazodone
B. Trazodone
C. Mirtazapine
D. Nefazodone
Answer: A. Vilazodone
Rationale: Vilazodone acts as an SSRI, 5-HT1A partial
agonist, and 5-HT3 antagonist (Wikipedia).
6. SSRIs are often preferred over TCAs because they:
A. Have no sexual side effects
B. Are safer in overdose
, C. Do not interact with other drugs
D. Require less frequent dosing
Answer: B. Are safer in overdose
Rationale: SSRIs have a wider therapeutic index and
lower lethality in overdose compared to TCAs (OpenStax).
7. Which antidepressant is least likely to cause sexual
dysfunction?
A. Paroxetine
B. Sertraline
C. Bupropion
D. Fluoxetine
Answer: C. Bupropion
Rationale: Bupropion’s dopaminergic and noradrenergic
activity leads to lower rates of sexual side effects
(Nurseslabs).
8. A patient on an SSRI develops serotonin syndrome.
Which symptom is most specific?
A. Diaphoresis
B. Hyperreflexia with clonus
C. Tachycardia
D. Fever
Answer: B. Hyperreflexia with clonus
Rationale: Neuromuscular hyperactivity (clonus) is
characteristic of serotonin syndrome (CEUfast).
9. Duloxetine is contraindicated in patients with:
