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WALDEN 6630 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
MIDTERM 2025 UPDATED ACTUAL EXAM WITH
CORRECT SOLUTIONS.
Serotonin regulates - correct answer- Mood, emotion, feeding,
and reproductive behavior
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 -
correct answer- SSRIs
First line therapy for MDD due to milder side effect profiles -
correct answer- SSRIs
Six Common SSRIs - correct answer- citalopram, escitalopram,
fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, paroxetine
Onset of therapeutic benefit from SSRIs - correct answer- 4-6
weeks
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In addition to MDD, SSRIs also treat - correct answer- Chronic
Anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and eating disorders (bulimia)
Five Common side effects of SSRIs include - correct answer-
Anxiety, insomnia, GI distress, sexual dysfunction (ED), SIADH
Severe side effect of SSRIs in children/adolescents under age
25 years old - correct answer- suicidal ideation
Life threatening adverse effect of SSRIs, especially when used
in combination with other serotonergic drugs (SNRIs, TCAs,
MAOIs, etc.) - correct answer- Serotonin Syndrome
Excess accumulation of serotonin resulting in overstimulation of
the nervous system - correct answer- Serotonin Syndrome
Seven symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome - correct answer-
Flushing, hyperthermia, agitation, muscle rigidity, seizure,
coma, HYPERreflexia
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The treatment for serotonin syndrome - correct answer-
Cyproheptadine (5-HT2 receptor antagonist)
Cyproheptadine treats serotonin syndrome by - correct answer-
blocking 5-HT2 receptors (serotonin antagonist)
When SSRIs or SNRIs are stopped abruptly, common
symptoms of withdrawal include - correct answer- Irritability,
headaches, and insomnia
Medicine specific side effect of citalopram - correct answer-
Prolonged QT interval (normal=0.4.-0.44 seconds)
This SSRI is pregnancy category D due to associations with
congenital heart defects - correct answer- Paroxetine
All SSRIs but paroxetine (D) are pregnancy category - correct
answer- C
Three SSRIs that are inhibitors of Cytochrome P450 enzymes -
correct answer- fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and paroxetine
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Five common SNRIs include - correct 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 - correct answer- SNRIs
In addition to MDD SNRIs treat - correct answer- Anxiety and
neuropathic pain (peripheral neuropathy)
Medication specific indications of duloxetine: - correct answer-
urinary incontinence and Fibromyalgia
Medication specific indications of venlafaxine: - correct answer-
social anxiety, panic disorders, PTSD, OCD, postmenopausal
hot flashes
Six common side effects of SNRIs include: - correct answer-
Insomnia, nausea, sexual dysfunction, hypertension, sweating,
headaches
WALDEN 6630 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
MIDTERM 2025 UPDATED ACTUAL EXAM WITH
CORRECT SOLUTIONS.
Serotonin regulates - correct answer- Mood, emotion, feeding,
and reproductive behavior
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 -
correct answer- SSRIs
First line therapy for MDD due to milder side effect profiles -
correct answer- SSRIs
Six Common SSRIs - correct answer- citalopram, escitalopram,
fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, paroxetine
Onset of therapeutic benefit from SSRIs - correct answer- 4-6
weeks
,2 | Page
In addition to MDD, SSRIs also treat - correct answer- Chronic
Anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and eating disorders (bulimia)
Five Common side effects of SSRIs include - correct answer-
Anxiety, insomnia, GI distress, sexual dysfunction (ED), SIADH
Severe side effect of SSRIs in children/adolescents under age
25 years old - correct answer- suicidal ideation
Life threatening adverse effect of SSRIs, especially when used
in combination with other serotonergic drugs (SNRIs, TCAs,
MAOIs, etc.) - correct answer- Serotonin Syndrome
Excess accumulation of serotonin resulting in overstimulation of
the nervous system - correct answer- Serotonin Syndrome
Seven symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome - correct answer-
Flushing, hyperthermia, agitation, muscle rigidity, seizure,
coma, HYPERreflexia
,3 | Page
The treatment for serotonin syndrome - correct answer-
Cyproheptadine (5-HT2 receptor antagonist)
Cyproheptadine treats serotonin syndrome by - correct answer-
blocking 5-HT2 receptors (serotonin antagonist)
When SSRIs or SNRIs are stopped abruptly, common
symptoms of withdrawal include - correct answer- Irritability,
headaches, and insomnia
Medicine specific side effect of citalopram - correct answer-
Prolonged QT interval (normal=0.4.-0.44 seconds)
This SSRI is pregnancy category D due to associations with
congenital heart defects - correct answer- Paroxetine
All SSRIs but paroxetine (D) are pregnancy category - correct
answer- C
Three SSRIs that are inhibitors of Cytochrome P450 enzymes -
correct answer- fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and paroxetine
, 4 | Page
Five common SNRIs include - correct 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 - correct answer- SNRIs
In addition to MDD SNRIs treat - correct answer- Anxiety and
neuropathic pain (peripheral neuropathy)
Medication specific indications of duloxetine: - correct answer-
urinary incontinence and Fibromyalgia
Medication specific indications of venlafaxine: - correct answer-
social anxiety, panic disorders, PTSD, OCD, postmenopausal
hot flashes
Six common side effects of SNRIs include: - correct answer-
Insomnia, nausea, sexual dysfunction, hypertension, sweating,
headaches
