NU 641 Advanced Clinical Pharmacology Exam 3 Questions and
Answers and Explanations | Latest - Regis
1. Which of the following monitoring parameters is essential for a patient
starting Lithium for Bipolar Disorder?
A. PT and INR
B. AST and ALT
C. Serum creatinine and TSH
D. Serum Amylase
Answer: C
Explanation: Lithium is renally excreted and can cause hypothyroidism; therefore,
baseline and periodic monitoring of renal function and thyroid-stimulating hormone is
mandatory.
2. A patient taking Phenytoin (Dilantin) should be educated on which common
side effect?
A. Gingival hyperplasia
B. Excessive hair loss
C. Weight gain
D. Urinary retention
Answer: A
,Explanation: Gingival hyperplasia (overgrowth of gum tissue) is a well-known side effect
of long-term phenytoin therapy.
3. When switching a patient from Fluoxetine (Prozac) to a Monoamine Oxidase
Inhibitor (MAOI), how long must the ‘washout’ period be?
A. 7 days
B. 14 days
C. 24 hours
D. 5 weeks
Answer: D
Explanation: Due to the long half-life of fluoxetine and its active metabolite, a 5-week
washout period is required to prevent serotonin syndrome when starting an MAOI.
4. What is the mechanism of action of Donepezil (Aricept) used in Alzheimer’s
disease?
A. NMDA receptor antagonist
B. Dopamine agonist
C. Serotonin reuptake inhibitor
D. Reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
Answer: D
Explanation: Donepezil works by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, thereby
increasing the availability of acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft.
,5. A patient with a history of Ischemic Heart Disease presents with a migraine.
Which medication is contraindicated for acute treatment?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Naproxen
C. Metoclopramide
D. Sumatriptan
Answer: D
Explanation: Triptans cause vasoconstriction and are contraindicated in patients with
coronary artery disease, history of MI, or uncontrolled hypertension.
6. Which laboratory value must be monitored weekly for the first 6 months
when a patient is prescribed Clozapine?
A. Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC)
B. Serum glucose
C. Liver function tests
D. Platelet count
Answer: A
Explanation: Clozapine carries a black box warning for agranulocytosis, requiring strict
ANC monitoring via the Clozapine REMS program.
, 7. A patient is prescribed Levodopa-Carbidopa for Parkinson’s disease. What is
the purpose of adding Carbidopa?
A. To cross the blood-brain barrier and increase dopamine directly
B. To treat the nausea caused by dopamine
C. To inhibit peripheral decarboxylation of levodopa
D. To act as a dopamine antagonist
Answer: C
Explanation: Carbidopa inhibits the enzyme DOPA decarboxylase in the periphery,
preventing the conversion of levodopa to dopamine before it reaches the brain.
8. Which medication is considered first-line for the treatment of Status
Epilepticus?
A. Oral Valproic acid
B. Intramuscular Phenobarbital
C. Intravenous Lorazepam
D. Oral Ethosuximide
Answer: C
Explanation: Benzodiazepines, specifically IV lorazepam, are the first-line treatment to
rapidly terminate seizure activity in status epilepticus.
Answers and Explanations | Latest - Regis
1. Which of the following monitoring parameters is essential for a patient
starting Lithium for Bipolar Disorder?
A. PT and INR
B. AST and ALT
C. Serum creatinine and TSH
D. Serum Amylase
Answer: C
Explanation: Lithium is renally excreted and can cause hypothyroidism; therefore,
baseline and periodic monitoring of renal function and thyroid-stimulating hormone is
mandatory.
2. A patient taking Phenytoin (Dilantin) should be educated on which common
side effect?
A. Gingival hyperplasia
B. Excessive hair loss
C. Weight gain
D. Urinary retention
Answer: A
,Explanation: Gingival hyperplasia (overgrowth of gum tissue) is a well-known side effect
of long-term phenytoin therapy.
3. When switching a patient from Fluoxetine (Prozac) to a Monoamine Oxidase
Inhibitor (MAOI), how long must the ‘washout’ period be?
A. 7 days
B. 14 days
C. 24 hours
D. 5 weeks
Answer: D
Explanation: Due to the long half-life of fluoxetine and its active metabolite, a 5-week
washout period is required to prevent serotonin syndrome when starting an MAOI.
4. What is the mechanism of action of Donepezil (Aricept) used in Alzheimer’s
disease?
A. NMDA receptor antagonist
B. Dopamine agonist
C. Serotonin reuptake inhibitor
D. Reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
Answer: D
Explanation: Donepezil works by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, thereby
increasing the availability of acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft.
,5. A patient with a history of Ischemic Heart Disease presents with a migraine.
Which medication is contraindicated for acute treatment?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Naproxen
C. Metoclopramide
D. Sumatriptan
Answer: D
Explanation: Triptans cause vasoconstriction and are contraindicated in patients with
coronary artery disease, history of MI, or uncontrolled hypertension.
6. Which laboratory value must be monitored weekly for the first 6 months
when a patient is prescribed Clozapine?
A. Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC)
B. Serum glucose
C. Liver function tests
D. Platelet count
Answer: A
Explanation: Clozapine carries a black box warning for agranulocytosis, requiring strict
ANC monitoring via the Clozapine REMS program.
, 7. A patient is prescribed Levodopa-Carbidopa for Parkinson’s disease. What is
the purpose of adding Carbidopa?
A. To cross the blood-brain barrier and increase dopamine directly
B. To treat the nausea caused by dopamine
C. To inhibit peripheral decarboxylation of levodopa
D. To act as a dopamine antagonist
Answer: C
Explanation: Carbidopa inhibits the enzyme DOPA decarboxylase in the periphery,
preventing the conversion of levodopa to dopamine before it reaches the brain.
8. Which medication is considered first-line for the treatment of Status
Epilepticus?
A. Oral Valproic acid
B. Intramuscular Phenobarbital
C. Intravenous Lorazepam
D. Oral Ethosuximide
Answer: C
Explanation: Benzodiazepines, specifically IV lorazepam, are the first-line treatment to
rapidly terminate seizure activity in status epilepticus.
