NURS 660 / NURS660 Exam 4 (Latest ):
Psychopharmacology and Advanced Mental Health
NEWEST 2025 ACTUAL EXAM NEWEST 2025
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+-
Maryville
What pathway is responsible for the reward response? - : answers :mesolimbic
- VTA to NA
what is the action of alcohol in the VTA? what receptors does it act on? - : answers :acts on
mu receptors- releases endogenous opioids
acts on VSCCs- inhibits glutamate release
enhances GABA release
how does acute alcohol use affect medications? - : answers :increases liver enzymes, which
increases rate of metabolism
how does chronic use of alcohol effect medications? - : answers :causes liver damage which
impairs metabolism
How does naltrexone work? - : answers :By blocking opioid receptors
,this blocks the reward of drinking
dont use in liver patients
How does acamprosate work? - : answers :works on GABA and glutamate pathway and is
very effective in maintaining abstinence in dependent drinkers even in severe cases
dont use in renal patients
How does Disulfiram (Antabuse) work? - : answers :if someone drinks, causes build up of
acetyldehyde in system which causes very unpleasant effects of alcohol
what is an important consideration when prescribing naltrexone? - : answers :patient must
be completely free of opioids
can be given IM
what effect do hallucinogenics have on 5ht2a receptors? - : answers :agonism
How does nicotine work? - : answers :It Directly Stimulate Dopaminergic Neurons heading to
the Nucleus Accumbens.
long term stimulation of receptors leads to desensitization- where no longer react to nicotine
as receptors resensitize, they initiate craving and withdrawal
receptors will upregulate to compensate, which can increase cravings further
, What SSRI should be avoided in pregnancy? - : answers :Paxil
- cardiac and congenital abnormalities
what 3 medications carry risk of congenital malformation to fetus? - : answers :lithium,
carbamazepine, valproate
what medication carries risk of neurotube defects? - : answers :valproate
if you are going to taper off paroxetine (paxil) what must you remember? - : answers :taper
slowly
if a patient is taking paxil while pregnant, what additional test should be ordered? - : answers
:ultrasound to monitor for fetal malformations
what factors could affect drug absoprtion and distribution in the elderly? - : answers
:increased total body fat, decreased lea muscle, decreased total body water, decreased GI
motility
what might affect drug metabolism in the elderly? - : answers :decreased hepatic mass,
decreased hepatic flow
- results in reduced first-pass metabolism
what factors might impair elimination of medications in the elderly? - : answers :decreased
cardiac output, decreased flow to kidneys, decreased renal clearance
- increased elimination half life
Psychopharmacology and Advanced Mental Health
NEWEST 2025 ACTUAL EXAM NEWEST 2025
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+-
Maryville
What pathway is responsible for the reward response? - : answers :mesolimbic
- VTA to NA
what is the action of alcohol in the VTA? what receptors does it act on? - : answers :acts on
mu receptors- releases endogenous opioids
acts on VSCCs- inhibits glutamate release
enhances GABA release
how does acute alcohol use affect medications? - : answers :increases liver enzymes, which
increases rate of metabolism
how does chronic use of alcohol effect medications? - : answers :causes liver damage which
impairs metabolism
How does naltrexone work? - : answers :By blocking opioid receptors
,this blocks the reward of drinking
dont use in liver patients
How does acamprosate work? - : answers :works on GABA and glutamate pathway and is
very effective in maintaining abstinence in dependent drinkers even in severe cases
dont use in renal patients
How does Disulfiram (Antabuse) work? - : answers :if someone drinks, causes build up of
acetyldehyde in system which causes very unpleasant effects of alcohol
what is an important consideration when prescribing naltrexone? - : answers :patient must
be completely free of opioids
can be given IM
what effect do hallucinogenics have on 5ht2a receptors? - : answers :agonism
How does nicotine work? - : answers :It Directly Stimulate Dopaminergic Neurons heading to
the Nucleus Accumbens.
long term stimulation of receptors leads to desensitization- where no longer react to nicotine
as receptors resensitize, they initiate craving and withdrawal
receptors will upregulate to compensate, which can increase cravings further
, What SSRI should be avoided in pregnancy? - : answers :Paxil
- cardiac and congenital abnormalities
what 3 medications carry risk of congenital malformation to fetus? - : answers :lithium,
carbamazepine, valproate
what medication carries risk of neurotube defects? - : answers :valproate
if you are going to taper off paroxetine (paxil) what must you remember? - : answers :taper
slowly
if a patient is taking paxil while pregnant, what additional test should be ordered? - : answers
:ultrasound to monitor for fetal malformations
what factors could affect drug absoprtion and distribution in the elderly? - : answers
:increased total body fat, decreased lea muscle, decreased total body water, decreased GI
motility
what might affect drug metabolism in the elderly? - : answers :decreased hepatic mass,
decreased hepatic flow
- results in reduced first-pass metabolism
what factors might impair elimination of medications in the elderly? - : answers :decreased
cardiac output, decreased flow to kidneys, decreased renal clearance
- increased elimination half life
