Pharm 101 Exam 3 Questions and Answers Latest Update 2025
What are the most common reasons to use a medically approved stimulant? - Answers Treating ADHD in
children, narcolepsy, and the reversal of respiratory distress
Do stimulants cause tolerance? - Answers Stimulants can cause dependence or tolerance.
Name the more common side effects of methylphenidate. - Answers Anorexia, dry mouth, nausea,
vomiting, dizziness, insomnia
Should a patient take methylphenidate with caffeine? - Answers No; because a high plasma level of
caffeine could be fatal
At what time of the day should a patient take methylphenidate? - Answers Patient's should
methylphenidate in the morning after consuming a meal
Should methylphenidate be discontinued abruptly? - Answers No; because it may cause withdrawal
symptoms
What is the primary ingredient of most OTC sleep aids? - Answers diphenhydramine
What are the most common side effects and adverse reactions of sedative-hypnotics? - Answers
"Hangover," REM rebound (vivid dreams and nightmares), dependence, tolerance, excessive depression,
and respiratory depression
What are short-acting barbiturates used for? - Answers Normally used for procedure sedation
What are intermediate-acting barbiturates used for? - Answers Normally used as sleep sustainers
What are long-acting barbiturates used for? - Answers Normally used to control seizures in epilepsy
What are benzodiazepines used for? - Answers Short-term treatment of anxiety, insomnia, and alcohol
withdrawal
Why are alcohol and narcotics contraindicated with barbiturates and benzodiazepines? - Answers
Because they may cause extra sedation and respiratory depression
How does grapefruit affect alprazolam? - Answers It increases alprazolam levels in the body
What is the recommended amount of time to regularly take benzodiazepines for sedation purposes? -
Answers 3-4 weeks
What is anterograde amnesia? - Answers An impaired ability to recall events that occur after dosing
What is the antidote for a benzodiazepine overdose? - Answers Flumazenil (a benzodiazepine
antagonist)
What does the neurotransmitter GABA do? - Answers Helps regulate anxiety
, What can result from a decreased level of GABA? - Answers Anxiety disorders
What does the neurotransmitter serotonin do? - Answers It is associated with arousal and general
activity level of the CNS. It helps regulate sleep, wakefulness, and mood.
What can a decrease in serotonin level cause? - Answers Depressive disorder
What does neurotransmitter dopamine do? - Answers It is involved in the regulation of cognition,
emotional response, and motivation.
What can a decreased level of dopamine cause? - Answers Depressive disorder, Parkinson disease
What can an increased level of dopamine cause? - Answers Schizophrenia
What does the neurotransmitter norepinephrine do? - Answers It is associated with control of arousal,
attention, vigilance, mood, affect, activation of the sympathetic nervous system, and anxiety
What are considered positive symptoms of schizophrenia? - Answers Exaggeration of normal function,
incoherent speech, hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia
What are considered negative symptoms of schizophrenia> - Answers A decrease or loss in function and
motivation. A simplicity of speech, blunted affect, inertia, poor self-care, and social withdrawal are
apparent
What are considered cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia? - Answers Disorganized thinking, memory
difficulty, and decreased ability to focus attention
How do antipsychotics work? - Answers Block the action of dopamine in the brain
Which category of antipsychotics most effectively decreases positive schizophrenia symptoms? -
Answers Typical antipsychotics
Which category of antipsychotics most effectively decreases positive AND negative schizophrenia
symptoms? - Answers Atypical antipsychotics
Which type of antipsychotics are used as first line therapy for psychosis? - Answers Atypical
antipsychotics because they have a lesser chance of causing EPS
What is pseudo parkinsonism? - Answers Resembles symptoms of Parkinson's (shuffling gait, masked
expression, tremors, slowed speech)
What is akathisia? - Answers Restlessness, trouble standing still
What is tardive dyskinesia? - Answers A serious adverse reaction that includes rolling of the tongue,
sucking/smacking of the lips, involuntary chewing movements, and protrusion of the tongue
What is acute dystonia? - Answers Involuntary facial grimacing; upward eye movement; muscle spasms
of the tongue, face, neck, and back; and laryngeal spasms
What are the most common reasons to use a medically approved stimulant? - Answers Treating ADHD in
children, narcolepsy, and the reversal of respiratory distress
Do stimulants cause tolerance? - Answers Stimulants can cause dependence or tolerance.
Name the more common side effects of methylphenidate. - Answers Anorexia, dry mouth, nausea,
vomiting, dizziness, insomnia
Should a patient take methylphenidate with caffeine? - Answers No; because a high plasma level of
caffeine could be fatal
At what time of the day should a patient take methylphenidate? - Answers Patient's should
methylphenidate in the morning after consuming a meal
Should methylphenidate be discontinued abruptly? - Answers No; because it may cause withdrawal
symptoms
What is the primary ingredient of most OTC sleep aids? - Answers diphenhydramine
What are the most common side effects and adverse reactions of sedative-hypnotics? - Answers
"Hangover," REM rebound (vivid dreams and nightmares), dependence, tolerance, excessive depression,
and respiratory depression
What are short-acting barbiturates used for? - Answers Normally used for procedure sedation
What are intermediate-acting barbiturates used for? - Answers Normally used as sleep sustainers
What are long-acting barbiturates used for? - Answers Normally used to control seizures in epilepsy
What are benzodiazepines used for? - Answers Short-term treatment of anxiety, insomnia, and alcohol
withdrawal
Why are alcohol and narcotics contraindicated with barbiturates and benzodiazepines? - Answers
Because they may cause extra sedation and respiratory depression
How does grapefruit affect alprazolam? - Answers It increases alprazolam levels in the body
What is the recommended amount of time to regularly take benzodiazepines for sedation purposes? -
Answers 3-4 weeks
What is anterograde amnesia? - Answers An impaired ability to recall events that occur after dosing
What is the antidote for a benzodiazepine overdose? - Answers Flumazenil (a benzodiazepine
antagonist)
What does the neurotransmitter GABA do? - Answers Helps regulate anxiety
, What can result from a decreased level of GABA? - Answers Anxiety disorders
What does the neurotransmitter serotonin do? - Answers It is associated with arousal and general
activity level of the CNS. It helps regulate sleep, wakefulness, and mood.
What can a decrease in serotonin level cause? - Answers Depressive disorder
What does neurotransmitter dopamine do? - Answers It is involved in the regulation of cognition,
emotional response, and motivation.
What can a decreased level of dopamine cause? - Answers Depressive disorder, Parkinson disease
What can an increased level of dopamine cause? - Answers Schizophrenia
What does the neurotransmitter norepinephrine do? - Answers It is associated with control of arousal,
attention, vigilance, mood, affect, activation of the sympathetic nervous system, and anxiety
What are considered positive symptoms of schizophrenia? - Answers Exaggeration of normal function,
incoherent speech, hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia
What are considered negative symptoms of schizophrenia> - Answers A decrease or loss in function and
motivation. A simplicity of speech, blunted affect, inertia, poor self-care, and social withdrawal are
apparent
What are considered cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia? - Answers Disorganized thinking, memory
difficulty, and decreased ability to focus attention
How do antipsychotics work? - Answers Block the action of dopamine in the brain
Which category of antipsychotics most effectively decreases positive schizophrenia symptoms? -
Answers Typical antipsychotics
Which category of antipsychotics most effectively decreases positive AND negative schizophrenia
symptoms? - Answers Atypical antipsychotics
Which type of antipsychotics are used as first line therapy for psychosis? - Answers Atypical
antipsychotics because they have a lesser chance of causing EPS
What is pseudo parkinsonism? - Answers Resembles symptoms of Parkinson's (shuffling gait, masked
expression, tremors, slowed speech)
What is akathisia? - Answers Restlessness, trouble standing still
What is tardive dyskinesia? - Answers A serious adverse reaction that includes rolling of the tongue,
sucking/smacking of the lips, involuntary chewing movements, and protrusion of the tongue
What is acute dystonia? - Answers Involuntary facial grimacing; upward eye movement; muscle spasms
of the tongue, face, neck, and back; and laryngeal spasms
