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NU 578 STUDY GUIDE TEST 2 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS| ACE
YOUR GRADES.
Medical application of cns drugs - correct answer -pain relief,
suppression of seizures, production of anesthesia, treatment for
psychiatric disorders
Non-medical application of cns drugs - correct answer -stimulant,
depressant, euphoriant, and other mind altering abilities
Blood brain barrier - correct answer -protective: impedes entry of
drugs into the brain
Prohibitive: can also block entry of medications into the brain (that
might be of benefit)
What can cross the blood brain barrier? - correct answer -lipid
soluble agents and drugs that are able to pass via specific
transport systems.
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What cannot pass the blood brain barrier? - correct answer -
protein bound drugs or highly ionized drugs
Is the blood brain barrier fully developed and birth? - correct
answer -no
What are the consequences of an underdeveloped blood brain
barrier? - correct answer -infants are much more sensitive to cns
agents than older kids or adults
How do cns drugs produce therapeutic effects? - correct answer -
at this point, plausible hypothesis' based on sufficient data is what
we have to go by.
Prolonged exposure to cns drugs cause _______ _______ in the
brain - correct answer -adaptive changes. Can produce altered
therapeutic effects.
Increased therapeutic effects - correct answer -certain anti-
psychotics and antidepressants gain therapeutic effects after the
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brain has had the chance to modify itself due to prolonged
exposure to the drug. Delayed beneficial responses.
Decreased side effects - correct answer -intensity of side effects
decrease as cns drugs are taken chronically.
Example of decreased cns side effects - correct answer -
phenobarbital produces sedation during initial treatment. Over
time, sedation declines while full seizure protection is retained.
Tolerance - correct answer -decreased response occurring in the
course of prolonged drug use
Physical dependence - correct answer -a state in which abrupt
discontinuation of the drug will precipitate withdrawal syndrome.
What happens with physical dependence? - correct answer -the
brain has now adapted to the prolonged use of the drug and now
requires it to function normally. Must wean drug to give the brain a
chance to "un adapt", or reverse the adaptation.
NU 578 STUDY GUIDE TEST 2 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS| ACE
YOUR GRADES.
Medical application of cns drugs - correct answer -pain relief,
suppression of seizures, production of anesthesia, treatment for
psychiatric disorders
Non-medical application of cns drugs - correct answer -stimulant,
depressant, euphoriant, and other mind altering abilities
Blood brain barrier - correct answer -protective: impedes entry of
drugs into the brain
Prohibitive: can also block entry of medications into the brain (that
might be of benefit)
What can cross the blood brain barrier? - correct answer -lipid
soluble agents and drugs that are able to pass via specific
transport systems.
, Page | 2
What cannot pass the blood brain barrier? - correct answer -
protein bound drugs or highly ionized drugs
Is the blood brain barrier fully developed and birth? - correct
answer -no
What are the consequences of an underdeveloped blood brain
barrier? - correct answer -infants are much more sensitive to cns
agents than older kids or adults
How do cns drugs produce therapeutic effects? - correct answer -
at this point, plausible hypothesis' based on sufficient data is what
we have to go by.
Prolonged exposure to cns drugs cause _______ _______ in the
brain - correct answer -adaptive changes. Can produce altered
therapeutic effects.
Increased therapeutic effects - correct answer -certain anti-
psychotics and antidepressants gain therapeutic effects after the
, Page | 3
brain has had the chance to modify itself due to prolonged
exposure to the drug. Delayed beneficial responses.
Decreased side effects - correct answer -intensity of side effects
decrease as cns drugs are taken chronically.
Example of decreased cns side effects - correct answer -
phenobarbital produces sedation during initial treatment. Over
time, sedation declines while full seizure protection is retained.
Tolerance - correct answer -decreased response occurring in the
course of prolonged drug use
Physical dependence - correct answer -a state in which abrupt
discontinuation of the drug will precipitate withdrawal syndrome.
What happens with physical dependence? - correct answer -the
brain has now adapted to the prolonged use of the drug and now
requires it to function normally. Must wean drug to give the brain a
chance to "un adapt", or reverse the adaptation.
