ATI Pharmacology Week 8: Psychiatric Medications 2026
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
1. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for
fluoxetine. Which of the following statements should the nurse include?
A. You may experience increased salivation while taking this medication.
B. This medication can take 1 to 4 weeks to reach its full therapeutic effect.
C. You should stop taking the medication as soon as your mood improves.
D. Take this medication at bedtime to prevent daytime drowsiness.
Answer: B
Rationale: Fluoxetine is an SSRI that typically takes several weeks (usually 1 to 4) to
achieve full therapeutic benefits. It is usually taken in the morning to prevent insomnia.
2. A client is being treated for lithium toxicity. Which of the following lithium
levels would the nurse expect to see for a client experiencing severe toxicity?
A. 0.8 mEq/L
B. 2.5 mEq/L
C. 1.4 mEq/L
D. 1.2 mEq/L
Answer: B
Rationale: Lithium levels above 1.5 mEq/L indicate toxicity, and levels greater than 2.0 to
2.5 mEq/L are considered severe toxicity requiring immediate intervention, such as
hemodialysis.
,3. A nurse is caring for a client who is taking phenelzine. The nurse should
instruct the client to avoid which of the following foods?
A. Cottage cheese
B. Grilled chicken
C. Pepperoni pizza
D. Fresh apples
Answer: C
Rationale: Phenelzine is an MAOI. Clients taking MAOIs must avoid foods high in tyramine,
such as aged meats (pepperoni), aged cheeses, and fermented products, to prevent a
hypertensive crisis.
4. A client starting clozapine requires frequent monitoring of which laboratory
value?
A. Platelet count
B. Serum potassium
C. White blood cell (WBC) count
D. Creatinine clearance
Answer: C
Rationale: Clozapine can cause agranulocytosis, a life-threatening decrease in WBCs.
Therefore, weekly WBC monitoring is mandatory, especially during the first 6 months of
treatment.
5. Which medication is considered the antidote for benzodiazepine overdose?
A. Naloxone
B. Flumazenil
C. Acetylcysteine
D. Protamine sulfate
Answer: B
, Rationale: Flumazenil is a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist used to reverse the
sedative effects of benzodiazepines.
6. A nurse is assessing a client taking amitriptyline. Which of the following
findings should the nurse identify as an anticholinergic effect?
A. Diarrhea
B. Bradycardia
C. Excessive tearing
D. Urinary retention
Answer: D
Rationale: Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) with significant anticholinergic
side effects, including dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, and constipation.
7. A client taking an SSRI and an MAOI is at high risk for which of the following
life-threatening conditions?
A. Agranulocytosis
B. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
C. Tardive dyskinesia
D. Serotonin syndrome
Answer: D
Rationale: Combining SSRIs and MAOIs can cause excessive serotonin accumulation,
leading to serotonin syndrome, characterized by mental status changes, tremors, and
hyperreflexia.
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
1. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for
fluoxetine. Which of the following statements should the nurse include?
A. You may experience increased salivation while taking this medication.
B. This medication can take 1 to 4 weeks to reach its full therapeutic effect.
C. You should stop taking the medication as soon as your mood improves.
D. Take this medication at bedtime to prevent daytime drowsiness.
Answer: B
Rationale: Fluoxetine is an SSRI that typically takes several weeks (usually 1 to 4) to
achieve full therapeutic benefits. It is usually taken in the morning to prevent insomnia.
2. A client is being treated for lithium toxicity. Which of the following lithium
levels would the nurse expect to see for a client experiencing severe toxicity?
A. 0.8 mEq/L
B. 2.5 mEq/L
C. 1.4 mEq/L
D. 1.2 mEq/L
Answer: B
Rationale: Lithium levels above 1.5 mEq/L indicate toxicity, and levels greater than 2.0 to
2.5 mEq/L are considered severe toxicity requiring immediate intervention, such as
hemodialysis.
,3. A nurse is caring for a client who is taking phenelzine. The nurse should
instruct the client to avoid which of the following foods?
A. Cottage cheese
B. Grilled chicken
C. Pepperoni pizza
D. Fresh apples
Answer: C
Rationale: Phenelzine is an MAOI. Clients taking MAOIs must avoid foods high in tyramine,
such as aged meats (pepperoni), aged cheeses, and fermented products, to prevent a
hypertensive crisis.
4. A client starting clozapine requires frequent monitoring of which laboratory
value?
A. Platelet count
B. Serum potassium
C. White blood cell (WBC) count
D. Creatinine clearance
Answer: C
Rationale: Clozapine can cause agranulocytosis, a life-threatening decrease in WBCs.
Therefore, weekly WBC monitoring is mandatory, especially during the first 6 months of
treatment.
5. Which medication is considered the antidote for benzodiazepine overdose?
A. Naloxone
B. Flumazenil
C. Acetylcysteine
D. Protamine sulfate
Answer: B
, Rationale: Flumazenil is a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist used to reverse the
sedative effects of benzodiazepines.
6. A nurse is assessing a client taking amitriptyline. Which of the following
findings should the nurse identify as an anticholinergic effect?
A. Diarrhea
B. Bradycardia
C. Excessive tearing
D. Urinary retention
Answer: D
Rationale: Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) with significant anticholinergic
side effects, including dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, and constipation.
7. A client taking an SSRI and an MAOI is at high risk for which of the following
life-threatening conditions?
A. Agranulocytosis
B. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
C. Tardive dyskinesia
D. Serotonin syndrome
Answer: D
Rationale: Combining SSRIs and MAOIs can cause excessive serotonin accumulation,
leading to serotonin syndrome, characterized by mental status changes, tremors, and
hyperreflexia.
