ATI CMS PHARMACOLOGY PROCTORED
COMPREHENSIVE SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GUARANTEED TO PASS
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: Tricyclic
Antidepressants. Answer: Amitriptyline: Depression, neuropathic
pain
- C: MI, Seizure disorder, CAS, diabetes, liver/kidney/respiratory
disorders
- AE: Anticholinergic effects, sedation, decreased seizure threshold
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: MAOIs. Answer:
Phenelzine: Depression
- C: pregnancy, tyramine-rich foods (hypertensive crisis)
- AE: CNS stimulation, orthostatic hypotension, hypertensive crisis
- NC: May take more than 2 weeks to feel effects, avoid hard cheeses,
chocolate, red wine, processed meats, etc.
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: Mood Stabilizers.
Answer: Lithium carbonate: Bipolar disorder
- C: pregnancy, thyroid disease, renal issues
- AE: GI upset, fine hand tremors, polyuria, weight gain, renal
toxicity, gioter & hypothyroidism, lithium toxicity
, - NC: Maintenance level range between 0.6-1.2, stress adequate fluid
intake to avoid dehydration
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: Other Mood
Stabilizers. Answer: Carbamazepine, Valproic acid, Lamotrigine:
Bipolar disorder
- C: Pregnancy, liver issues, bone marrow suppression
(carbamazepine)
- AE: Carb - CAN effects, leukopenia, skin disorders, hepatotoxicity
Lamo - stevens-johnson syndrome, skin rash
Val. Acid - GI upset, hepatotoxicity
- NC: Monitor plasma levels and therapeutic levels, avoid alcohol
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: Antipsychotics (first
gen). Answer: Chlorpromazine, Haloperidol - acute & chronic
psychotic disorders
- C: Older patients with dementia, glaucoma, heart disorders
- AE: Dystonia, parkinsonism, akathisia
- NC: AIMS, 2-4 weeks for therapeutic effects
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: Antipsychotics
(second gen). Answer: Risperidone, Clozapine: schizophrenia
- C: Dementia, cardiovascular disease, seizure disorder, diabetes
- AE: EPS, prolactin-elevation, galactorrhea, gynecomastia
,- NC: Avoid eating and drinking 10 mins after dose
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: CNS stimulants.
Answer: Methylphenidate: ADHD, Conduct Disorder, Narcolepsy
- C: pregnancy, substance abuse, hypertension, psychosis, anxiety
- AE: Decreased appetite, withdrawal, toxicity, cardiovascular effects
- NC: Swallow whole, high potential for abuse
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: Cholinesterase
inhibitors. Answer: Neostigmine, Donepezil: Myasthenia gravis
(Neostigmine), Alzheimers (Donepezil)
- C: GI and renal obstruction, bradycardia, hypotension,
succinylcholine
- AE: Cholinergic crisis, excessive muscarinic stimulation
- NC: Slows the progression and improves ADL's, is not a cure!
Monitor for toxicity.
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: Anti-parkinsons.
Answer: Carbidopa/levodopa: Parkinsons
- AE: Orthostatic hypotension, nausea & vomiting, drowsiness
- NC: Increases ADL's is not a cure
, ◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: Antiepileptics.
Answer: Phentynoin, Lamotrigine, Levitiracetam, Topiramate:
Seizures
- C: Pregnancy/lactation
- AE: Skin rash (lamotrigine), CNS effects, toxicity, hepatotoxicity,
drowsiness/sedation
- NC: Monitor therapeutic levels, caution due to sedative effects, do
not discontinue abruptly.
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: Centrally Acting
Muscle Relaxants. Answer: Baclofen, Cyclobenzaprine: Treats muscle
spasms
- C: Pregnancy/lactation
- AE: CNS depression, hepatotoxicity, anticholinergic effects,
seizures
- NC: Do not stop taking medication abruptly, avoid other CNS
depressants, avoid driving, take with food to avoid GI upset.
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: Muscarinic Agonists.
Answer: Bethanechol: Urinary Retention
- C: urinary or GI obstruction, asthma, peptic ulcer disease, bladder
weakness
- AE: abdominal cramps, diarrhea, sweating, tearing, bradycardia,
hypotension
COMPREHENSIVE SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GUARANTEED TO PASS
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: Tricyclic
Antidepressants. Answer: Amitriptyline: Depression, neuropathic
pain
- C: MI, Seizure disorder, CAS, diabetes, liver/kidney/respiratory
disorders
- AE: Anticholinergic effects, sedation, decreased seizure threshold
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: MAOIs. Answer:
Phenelzine: Depression
- C: pregnancy, tyramine-rich foods (hypertensive crisis)
- AE: CNS stimulation, orthostatic hypotension, hypertensive crisis
- NC: May take more than 2 weeks to feel effects, avoid hard cheeses,
chocolate, red wine, processed meats, etc.
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: Mood Stabilizers.
Answer: Lithium carbonate: Bipolar disorder
- C: pregnancy, thyroid disease, renal issues
- AE: GI upset, fine hand tremors, polyuria, weight gain, renal
toxicity, gioter & hypothyroidism, lithium toxicity
, - NC: Maintenance level range between 0.6-1.2, stress adequate fluid
intake to avoid dehydration
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: Other Mood
Stabilizers. Answer: Carbamazepine, Valproic acid, Lamotrigine:
Bipolar disorder
- C: Pregnancy, liver issues, bone marrow suppression
(carbamazepine)
- AE: Carb - CAN effects, leukopenia, skin disorders, hepatotoxicity
Lamo - stevens-johnson syndrome, skin rash
Val. Acid - GI upset, hepatotoxicity
- NC: Monitor plasma levels and therapeutic levels, avoid alcohol
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: Antipsychotics (first
gen). Answer: Chlorpromazine, Haloperidol - acute & chronic
psychotic disorders
- C: Older patients with dementia, glaucoma, heart disorders
- AE: Dystonia, parkinsonism, akathisia
- NC: AIMS, 2-4 weeks for therapeutic effects
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: Antipsychotics
(second gen). Answer: Risperidone, Clozapine: schizophrenia
- C: Dementia, cardiovascular disease, seizure disorder, diabetes
- AE: EPS, prolactin-elevation, galactorrhea, gynecomastia
,- NC: Avoid eating and drinking 10 mins after dose
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: CNS stimulants.
Answer: Methylphenidate: ADHD, Conduct Disorder, Narcolepsy
- C: pregnancy, substance abuse, hypertension, psychosis, anxiety
- AE: Decreased appetite, withdrawal, toxicity, cardiovascular effects
- NC: Swallow whole, high potential for abuse
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: Cholinesterase
inhibitors. Answer: Neostigmine, Donepezil: Myasthenia gravis
(Neostigmine), Alzheimers (Donepezil)
- C: GI and renal obstruction, bradycardia, hypotension,
succinylcholine
- AE: Cholinergic crisis, excessive muscarinic stimulation
- NC: Slows the progression and improves ADL's, is not a cure!
Monitor for toxicity.
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: Anti-parkinsons.
Answer: Carbidopa/levodopa: Parkinsons
- AE: Orthostatic hypotension, nausea & vomiting, drowsiness
- NC: Increases ADL's is not a cure
, ◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: Antiepileptics.
Answer: Phentynoin, Lamotrigine, Levitiracetam, Topiramate:
Seizures
- C: Pregnancy/lactation
- AE: Skin rash (lamotrigine), CNS effects, toxicity, hepatotoxicity,
drowsiness/sedation
- NC: Monitor therapeutic levels, caution due to sedative effects, do
not discontinue abruptly.
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: Centrally Acting
Muscle Relaxants. Answer: Baclofen, Cyclobenzaprine: Treats muscle
spasms
- C: Pregnancy/lactation
- AE: CNS depression, hepatotoxicity, anticholinergic effects,
seizures
- NC: Do not stop taking medication abruptly, avoid other CNS
depressants, avoid driving, take with food to avoid GI upset.
◉ Medications Affecting the Nervous System: Muscarinic Agonists.
Answer: Bethanechol: Urinary Retention
- C: urinary or GI obstruction, asthma, peptic ulcer disease, bladder
weakness
- AE: abdominal cramps, diarrhea, sweating, tearing, bradycardia,
hypotension
