ANCC PMHNP CERTIFICATION Pdf Study Guide
REVIEW Exam Questions and Verified Answers
2026
Action primarily to increase serotonin levels in CNS by inhibiting their reuptake:
SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
Elevate serotonin and norepinephrine levels primarily by inhibiting their reuptake
SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)
Elevate serotonin and norepinephrine levels primarily by inhibiting MAO, the
enzyme that destroys neurotransmitters SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Monoamine
Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) SELECTED ANSWER 👀>>
Inhibit dual reuptake; action very selective on neurotransmitters; elevate
serotonin and norepinephrine levels by inhibiting their reuptake.
Norepinephrine Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (NDRIs) SELECTED ANSWER 👀>>
Inhibit dual reuptake; action very selective on neurotransmitters; elevate
dopamine and norepinephrine levels by inhibiting their reuptake.
Serotonin Agonist and Reuptake Inhibitors (SARIs) SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Dual
action; agonist of serotonin 5HT-2 receptors; action very selective on
neurotransmitters; elevates serotonin levels by inhibiting serotonin reuptake
,SSRIs side effects SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Most common side effects of this
class: gi upset, sexual dysfunction, nervousness, headache and dry mouth
Name the six SSRIs SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Luvox, Paxil
(Pexeva), Zoloft.
Which is safer in overdose, Paxil or Nortriptyline? SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Paxil.
SSRIs are safer in overdose than TCAs.
SSRI's are also effective for treatment of panic disorder, OCD, bulimia, GAD social
phobia and SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> PTSD and premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Which SSRI has long half-life? SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Prozac
Two SSRIs have potential for teratogenic effects, name them. SELECTED ANSWER
👀>> Paxil and Zoloft
This SSRI has a black box warning for liver toxicity. SELECTED ANSWER 👀>>
Luvox
GI upset, sexual dysfunction, nervousness, headache and dry mouth are common
side effects associated with... SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> SSRIs
Second line drugs for treatment of MDD: SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Tricyclic
Antidepressants (TCAs)
, The side effect profile for TCAs SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Dirty side-effect profile
Dirty side effect profile contributes to SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Poor patient
compliance
Anticholinergic dirty side effects associated with TCA's: SELECTED ANSWER 👀>>
Dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, memory problems. Caused due to
muscarinic receptor blockade.
Antiadrenergic dirty side effects associated with TCAs: SELECTED ANSWER 👀>>
Orthostatic hypotension (from alpha 1 receptor blockade)
Antihistaminergic dirty side effects associated with TCAs: SELECTED ANSWER
👀>> Sedation and weight gain from histamine receptor blockade
Cardiac side effects associated with TCAs: SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> EKG changes
and cardiac dysrythmias
TCAs are inexpensive and.... SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Available in generic form
TCAs tend to "slow down" the gut, so SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Are good for
patients with gi problems
Lethal dose of TCA's SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> 1000 mg or more (usually equal to
a week's supply of an average dose).
REVIEW Exam Questions and Verified Answers
2026
Action primarily to increase serotonin levels in CNS by inhibiting their reuptake:
SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
Elevate serotonin and norepinephrine levels primarily by inhibiting their reuptake
SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)
Elevate serotonin and norepinephrine levels primarily by inhibiting MAO, the
enzyme that destroys neurotransmitters SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Monoamine
Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) SELECTED ANSWER 👀>>
Inhibit dual reuptake; action very selective on neurotransmitters; elevate
serotonin and norepinephrine levels by inhibiting their reuptake.
Norepinephrine Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (NDRIs) SELECTED ANSWER 👀>>
Inhibit dual reuptake; action very selective on neurotransmitters; elevate
dopamine and norepinephrine levels by inhibiting their reuptake.
Serotonin Agonist and Reuptake Inhibitors (SARIs) SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Dual
action; agonist of serotonin 5HT-2 receptors; action very selective on
neurotransmitters; elevates serotonin levels by inhibiting serotonin reuptake
,SSRIs side effects SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Most common side effects of this
class: gi upset, sexual dysfunction, nervousness, headache and dry mouth
Name the six SSRIs SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Luvox, Paxil
(Pexeva), Zoloft.
Which is safer in overdose, Paxil or Nortriptyline? SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Paxil.
SSRIs are safer in overdose than TCAs.
SSRI's are also effective for treatment of panic disorder, OCD, bulimia, GAD social
phobia and SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> PTSD and premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Which SSRI has long half-life? SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Prozac
Two SSRIs have potential for teratogenic effects, name them. SELECTED ANSWER
👀>> Paxil and Zoloft
This SSRI has a black box warning for liver toxicity. SELECTED ANSWER 👀>>
Luvox
GI upset, sexual dysfunction, nervousness, headache and dry mouth are common
side effects associated with... SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> SSRIs
Second line drugs for treatment of MDD: SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Tricyclic
Antidepressants (TCAs)
, The side effect profile for TCAs SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Dirty side-effect profile
Dirty side effect profile contributes to SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Poor patient
compliance
Anticholinergic dirty side effects associated with TCA's: SELECTED ANSWER 👀>>
Dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, memory problems. Caused due to
muscarinic receptor blockade.
Antiadrenergic dirty side effects associated with TCAs: SELECTED ANSWER 👀>>
Orthostatic hypotension (from alpha 1 receptor blockade)
Antihistaminergic dirty side effects associated with TCAs: SELECTED ANSWER
👀>> Sedation and weight gain from histamine receptor blockade
Cardiac side effects associated with TCAs: SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> EKG changes
and cardiac dysrythmias
TCAs are inexpensive and.... SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Available in generic form
TCAs tend to "slow down" the gut, so SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> Are good for
patients with gi problems
Lethal dose of TCA's SELECTED ANSWER 👀>> 1000 mg or more (usually equal to
a week's supply of an average dose).
