NURS 5359 Exam 2 Review Questions and 100% Correct
Answers 2026 Latest - UT Tyler
**1.** When switching from phenelzine (MAOI) to sertraline (SSRI), what is
the minimum washout period required?
a) 7 days
b) 14 days
c) 3 weeks
d) 5 weeks
**Answer: b**
**2.** A patient is switching from fluoxetine to tranylcypromine (MAOI).
What washout period is required?
a) 14 days
b) 3 weeks
c) 5 weeks
d) 6 weeks
**Answer: c**
**3.** What is the primary reason for the extended washout period when
switching from fluoxetine to an MAOI?
a) Fluoxetine's high protein binding
b) Long half-life of fluoxetine and its metabolite norfluoxetine
c) Risk of hepatotoxicity
d) Potential for QT prolongation
**Answer: b**
**4.** When switching between two MAOIs (e.g., phenelzine to
tranylcypromine), what washout period is required?
a) 7 days
b) 10 days
c) 14 days
d) 21 days
**Answer: c**
**5.** Which of the following is the most dangerous consequence of
overlapping MAOIs with SSRIs?
a) Hypertensive crisis
b) Serotonin syndrome
c) Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
d) Stevens-Johnson syndrome
NURS 5359 Exam 2
,**Answer: b**
**6.** A patient on paroxetine wants to switch to phenelzine. After stopping
paroxetine, when can the MAOI be started?
a) 7 days
b) 14 days
c) 21 days
d) 5 weeks
**Answer: b**
**7.** What symptom would you expect to see FIRST in serotonin syndrome
during an MAOI transition?
a) Hyperthermia
b) Agitation
c) Muscle rigidity
d) Bradycardia
**Answer: b**
**8.** During the washout period when switching from MAOI to SSRI,
patients should be monitored for:
a) Hypertensive crisis
b) Withdrawal symptoms and depressive relapse
c) Hepatotoxicity
d) Cardiac arrhythmias
**Answer: b**
**9.** When counseling a patient switching from MAOI to another
antidepressant, which dietary restriction timeline should you provide?
a) No dietary restrictions needed during washout
b) Continue tyramine restrictions for 14 days after stopping MAOI
c) Continue tyramine restrictions for 7 days after stopping MAOI
d) Dietary restrictions only apply while taking MAOI
**Answer: b**
**10.** Which medication combination would pose the HIGHEST risk for a
fatal interaction?
a) Sertraline + buspirone
b) Phenelzine + fluoxetine (same day)
c) Bupropion + lamotrigine
d) Lithium + quetiapine
**Answer: b**
**11.** A patient accidentally took their new SSRI 10 days after stopping
their MAOI. What should be your immediate action?
a) Continue both medications
b) Stop the SSRI immediately and monitor for serotonin syndrome
NURS 5359 Exam 2
,c) Reduce SSRI dose by half
d) Add cyproheptadine prophylactically
**Answer: b**
**12.** When switching from venlafaxine (SNRI) to phenelzine (MAOI),
what washout period is required?
a) 7 days
b) 14 days
c) 21 days
d) 5 weeks
**Answer: b**
**13.** Which scenario represents the safest MAOI transition?
a) Stop MAOI today, start SSRI in 10 days
b) Stop MAOI today, start SSRI in 14 days
c) Overlap MAOI and SSRI for 3 days
d) Cross-taper over 1 week
**Answer: b**
**14.** A patient on phenelzine develops severe headache, neck stiffness,
and diaphoresis. What is the most likely cause?
a) Serotonin syndrome
b) Hypertensive crisis from tyramine
c) MAOI withdrawal
d) Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
**Answer: b**
**15.** When starting a new SSRI after MAOI washout, what starting dose
approach is recommended?
a) Standard full dose
b) Lower than usual starting dose
c) Higher than usual starting dose
d) Dose doesn't matter after proper washout
**Answer: b**
**16.** Which antidepressant requires the LONGEST washout period before
starting an MAOI?
a) Sertraline
b) Citalopram
c) Fluoxetine
d) Paroxetine
**Answer: c**
**17.** During MAOI to SSRI transition, patients should seek immediate
medical care for:
a) Mild nausea
NURS 5359 Exam 2
, b) Sleep disturbances
c) Severe headache with neck stiffness
d) Dry mouth
**Answer: c**
**18.** The mechanism behind dangerous MAOI-SSRI interactions involves:
a) Excessive dopamine
b) Excessive serotonin accumulation
c) GABA depletion
d) Cholinergic excess
**Answer: b**
**19.** When switching from amitriptyline (TCA) to phenelzine (MAOI),
what washout is needed?
a) 7 days
b) 14 days
c) 21 days
d) No washout needed
**Answer: b**
**20.** A patient asks why they can't just reduce their MAOI dose while
starting an SSRI. Your best response is:
a) "Dose reduction is acceptable with careful monitoring"
b) "Even small amounts of MAOI can cause dangerous interactions"
c) "We can try a very low SSRI dose first"
d) "Cross-tapering is preferred over washout periods"
**Answer: b**
**21.** Which over-the-counter medication should be strictly avoided during
MAOI washout periods?
a) Acetaminophen
b) Ibuprofen
c) Dextromethorphan (cough suppressant)
d) Calcium carbonate
**Answer: c**
**22.** The reason for avoiding mirtazapine overlap with MAOIs is:
a) Both cause weight gain
b) Risk of serotonin syndrome
c) Both cause sedation
d) Risk of hypertensive crisis
**Answer: b**
**23.** When educating patients about MAOI transitions, which point is
most critical?
a) Expect some mild side effects
NURS 5359 Exam 2
Answers 2026 Latest - UT Tyler
**1.** When switching from phenelzine (MAOI) to sertraline (SSRI), what is
the minimum washout period required?
a) 7 days
b) 14 days
c) 3 weeks
d) 5 weeks
**Answer: b**
**2.** A patient is switching from fluoxetine to tranylcypromine (MAOI).
What washout period is required?
a) 14 days
b) 3 weeks
c) 5 weeks
d) 6 weeks
**Answer: c**
**3.** What is the primary reason for the extended washout period when
switching from fluoxetine to an MAOI?
a) Fluoxetine's high protein binding
b) Long half-life of fluoxetine and its metabolite norfluoxetine
c) Risk of hepatotoxicity
d) Potential for QT prolongation
**Answer: b**
**4.** When switching between two MAOIs (e.g., phenelzine to
tranylcypromine), what washout period is required?
a) 7 days
b) 10 days
c) 14 days
d) 21 days
**Answer: c**
**5.** Which of the following is the most dangerous consequence of
overlapping MAOIs with SSRIs?
a) Hypertensive crisis
b) Serotonin syndrome
c) Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
d) Stevens-Johnson syndrome
NURS 5359 Exam 2
,**Answer: b**
**6.** A patient on paroxetine wants to switch to phenelzine. After stopping
paroxetine, when can the MAOI be started?
a) 7 days
b) 14 days
c) 21 days
d) 5 weeks
**Answer: b**
**7.** What symptom would you expect to see FIRST in serotonin syndrome
during an MAOI transition?
a) Hyperthermia
b) Agitation
c) Muscle rigidity
d) Bradycardia
**Answer: b**
**8.** During the washout period when switching from MAOI to SSRI,
patients should be monitored for:
a) Hypertensive crisis
b) Withdrawal symptoms and depressive relapse
c) Hepatotoxicity
d) Cardiac arrhythmias
**Answer: b**
**9.** When counseling a patient switching from MAOI to another
antidepressant, which dietary restriction timeline should you provide?
a) No dietary restrictions needed during washout
b) Continue tyramine restrictions for 14 days after stopping MAOI
c) Continue tyramine restrictions for 7 days after stopping MAOI
d) Dietary restrictions only apply while taking MAOI
**Answer: b**
**10.** Which medication combination would pose the HIGHEST risk for a
fatal interaction?
a) Sertraline + buspirone
b) Phenelzine + fluoxetine (same day)
c) Bupropion + lamotrigine
d) Lithium + quetiapine
**Answer: b**
**11.** A patient accidentally took their new SSRI 10 days after stopping
their MAOI. What should be your immediate action?
a) Continue both medications
b) Stop the SSRI immediately and monitor for serotonin syndrome
NURS 5359 Exam 2
,c) Reduce SSRI dose by half
d) Add cyproheptadine prophylactically
**Answer: b**
**12.** When switching from venlafaxine (SNRI) to phenelzine (MAOI),
what washout period is required?
a) 7 days
b) 14 days
c) 21 days
d) 5 weeks
**Answer: b**
**13.** Which scenario represents the safest MAOI transition?
a) Stop MAOI today, start SSRI in 10 days
b) Stop MAOI today, start SSRI in 14 days
c) Overlap MAOI and SSRI for 3 days
d) Cross-taper over 1 week
**Answer: b**
**14.** A patient on phenelzine develops severe headache, neck stiffness,
and diaphoresis. What is the most likely cause?
a) Serotonin syndrome
b) Hypertensive crisis from tyramine
c) MAOI withdrawal
d) Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
**Answer: b**
**15.** When starting a new SSRI after MAOI washout, what starting dose
approach is recommended?
a) Standard full dose
b) Lower than usual starting dose
c) Higher than usual starting dose
d) Dose doesn't matter after proper washout
**Answer: b**
**16.** Which antidepressant requires the LONGEST washout period before
starting an MAOI?
a) Sertraline
b) Citalopram
c) Fluoxetine
d) Paroxetine
**Answer: c**
**17.** During MAOI to SSRI transition, patients should seek immediate
medical care for:
a) Mild nausea
NURS 5359 Exam 2
, b) Sleep disturbances
c) Severe headache with neck stiffness
d) Dry mouth
**Answer: c**
**18.** The mechanism behind dangerous MAOI-SSRI interactions involves:
a) Excessive dopamine
b) Excessive serotonin accumulation
c) GABA depletion
d) Cholinergic excess
**Answer: b**
**19.** When switching from amitriptyline (TCA) to phenelzine (MAOI),
what washout is needed?
a) 7 days
b) 14 days
c) 21 days
d) No washout needed
**Answer: b**
**20.** A patient asks why they can't just reduce their MAOI dose while
starting an SSRI. Your best response is:
a) "Dose reduction is acceptable with careful monitoring"
b) "Even small amounts of MAOI can cause dangerous interactions"
c) "We can try a very low SSRI dose first"
d) "Cross-tapering is preferred over washout periods"
**Answer: b**
**21.** Which over-the-counter medication should be strictly avoided during
MAOI washout periods?
a) Acetaminophen
b) Ibuprofen
c) Dextromethorphan (cough suppressant)
d) Calcium carbonate
**Answer: c**
**22.** The reason for avoiding mirtazapine overlap with MAOIs is:
a) Both cause weight gain
b) Risk of serotonin syndrome
c) Both cause sedation
d) Risk of hypertensive crisis
**Answer: b**
**23.** When educating patients about MAOI transitions, which point is
most critical?
a) Expect some mild side effects
NURS 5359 Exam 2
