MN 553 EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GUARANTEED TO PASS
▶ Clinical use for TCAs. Answer: Nocturnal enuresis
Intractable pain
Anxiety disorders.
▶ Pharmacodynamics of TCAs. Answer: Act on neurotransmitters
serotonin and norepinephrine and histamine and acetylchoine
▶ Pharmacokinetics of TCAs. Answer: Fairly long half life of 6-18 hours
Liver metabolism strong CYP2D6
▶ What should the treatment for depression always include. Answer:
Referral for psychological therapy
▶ Treatment for pediatric depression. Answer: Fluoxetine (Prozac)
▶ Why are MAOIs avoided. Answer: Low safety margin
Not a first line drug
Many drug-drug , food- drug interactions
▶ SSRI pharmacodynamics. Answer: Selective inhibitory effects on
presynaptic serotonin reuptake
▶ SSRI pharmacokinetics. Answer: Slow absorption
,Half-life 26 hours
Extensive first pass metabolism
▶ Fluoxetine half life. Answer: 1-3 days
▶ Fluoxetine first metabolite. Answer: 4-16 days
▶ SSRI ADRs. Answer: CNS
GI
Sexual dysfunction
Serotonin syndrome
▶ SSRI patient education. Answer: Pregnancy category B, C, or D
Withdrawal symptoms if abruptly discontinued
Avoid St. johns wort
▶ SSRI monitoring. Answer: Never give more than 4 weeks on first
prescription
Monitor target symptoms
▶ SNRI clinical uses. Answer: Major depressive disorder
GAD
Neuropathy
Pain
Fibromyalgia
▶ True or false
It is safe to use SNRIs in children. Answer: False
, Not approved by the FDA for use in children
▶ What drug class is considered atypical antidepressants. Answer: SNRIs
▶ Pharmacodynamics of SNRIs. Answer: Inhibit reuptake of both
norepinephrine and serotonin
Avoid St. John's wort
▶ Pharmacokinetics of bupropion and mirtazapine. Answer: Both
extensively metabolized via CYP2D6
▶ Contraindications for bupropion. Answer: Contraindicated in seizure
disorders
▶ What medications are considered typical antipsychotics. Answer:
Phenothiazine: chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine, perphenazine,
prochlorperazine, thioridazine, trifluoperazine
Nonphenothiazines: haloperidol (Haldol), chlorprothixene, molindone
pimozide, thiothixene
▶ Examples of atypical antipsychotics. Answer: Aripiprazole (Abilify)
Clozapine (Clozaril)
Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
Olanzapine-fluoxetine:
Symbyax
Paliperidone (Invega)
Quetiapine (Seroquel)
Risperidone (Risperdal)
Ziprasidone (Geodon)
COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GUARANTEED TO PASS
▶ Clinical use for TCAs. Answer: Nocturnal enuresis
Intractable pain
Anxiety disorders.
▶ Pharmacodynamics of TCAs. Answer: Act on neurotransmitters
serotonin and norepinephrine and histamine and acetylchoine
▶ Pharmacokinetics of TCAs. Answer: Fairly long half life of 6-18 hours
Liver metabolism strong CYP2D6
▶ What should the treatment for depression always include. Answer:
Referral for psychological therapy
▶ Treatment for pediatric depression. Answer: Fluoxetine (Prozac)
▶ Why are MAOIs avoided. Answer: Low safety margin
Not a first line drug
Many drug-drug , food- drug interactions
▶ SSRI pharmacodynamics. Answer: Selective inhibitory effects on
presynaptic serotonin reuptake
▶ SSRI pharmacokinetics. Answer: Slow absorption
,Half-life 26 hours
Extensive first pass metabolism
▶ Fluoxetine half life. Answer: 1-3 days
▶ Fluoxetine first metabolite. Answer: 4-16 days
▶ SSRI ADRs. Answer: CNS
GI
Sexual dysfunction
Serotonin syndrome
▶ SSRI patient education. Answer: Pregnancy category B, C, or D
Withdrawal symptoms if abruptly discontinued
Avoid St. johns wort
▶ SSRI monitoring. Answer: Never give more than 4 weeks on first
prescription
Monitor target symptoms
▶ SNRI clinical uses. Answer: Major depressive disorder
GAD
Neuropathy
Pain
Fibromyalgia
▶ True or false
It is safe to use SNRIs in children. Answer: False
, Not approved by the FDA for use in children
▶ What drug class is considered atypical antidepressants. Answer: SNRIs
▶ Pharmacodynamics of SNRIs. Answer: Inhibit reuptake of both
norepinephrine and serotonin
Avoid St. John's wort
▶ Pharmacokinetics of bupropion and mirtazapine. Answer: Both
extensively metabolized via CYP2D6
▶ Contraindications for bupropion. Answer: Contraindicated in seizure
disorders
▶ What medications are considered typical antipsychotics. Answer:
Phenothiazine: chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine, perphenazine,
prochlorperazine, thioridazine, trifluoperazine
Nonphenothiazines: haloperidol (Haldol), chlorprothixene, molindone
pimozide, thiothixene
▶ Examples of atypical antipsychotics. Answer: Aripiprazole (Abilify)
Clozapine (Clozaril)
Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
Olanzapine-fluoxetine:
Symbyax
Paliperidone (Invega)
Quetiapine (Seroquel)
Risperidone (Risperdal)
Ziprasidone (Geodon)
