NR546 Final Psychopharmacology Exam
Question and Answer (2026) | A+ Verified |
Latest Exam Prep
• What is a key prescribing consideration for antidepressants in bipolar disorder? -
✓✓Antidepressants should not be given as monotherapy; they must be combined
with a mood stabilizer to avoid inducing mania.
• What should be monitored when prescribing SNRIs to breastfeeding patients? -
✓✓Infant irritability.
• What factors should be considered when prescribing antidepressants? -✓✓Client
preference, prior treatment response, anticipated adverse effects, comorbidities,
half-life, interactions, and cost.
• What should be done if the initial antidepressant does not work? -✓✓First,
increase the dose; if that fails, switch to a different drug in the same class, then try
a drug in a different class, and possibly add a second medication.
• What is the recommended dose adjustment for older patients taking citalopram
and escitalopram? -✓✓They should receive half the usual dose.
• Which SSRI has the least CYP interactions? -✓✓Escitalopram (Lexapro).
• Which SSRI is considered good for forgetful patients? -✓✓Fluoxetine, due to its
2-3 day half-life.
• What is the longest-acting antidepressant? -✓✓Fluoxetine, with a half-life of 1-2
weeks.
• What is discontinuation syndrome and which medication is more likely to cause
it? -✓✓Discontinuation syndrome occurs when stopping an antidepressant, and
paroxetine is more likely to cause it.
• Which antidepressant is safe during nursing and pregnancy? -✓✓Sertraline.
, • What is serotonin syndrome? -✓✓A condition that occurs when two serotonergic
drugs are used together, leading to symptoms such as mental status changes,
autonomic instability, neuromuscular symptoms, seizures, and gastrointestinal
symptoms.
• What is the treatment for serotonin syndrome? -✓✓Stop the medication, provide
supportive care, and use benzodiazepines.
• What is the black box warning for MAOIs? -✓✓They carry a warning for
suicidal ideation in children, adolescents, and young adults.
• What is the half-life of MAOIs? -✓✓2-4 hours.
• What is the black box warning for SSRIs? -✓✓They carry a warning for suicidal
tendencies.
• What are MAOIs and what do they inhibit? -✓✓MAOIs (monoamine oxidase
inhibitors) are antidepressants that inhibit the enzyme that deactivates dopamine,
norepinephrine, and serotonin.
• What can happen if MAOIs are taken with tyramine-containing foods? -✓✓They
can cause a hypertensive crisis.
• What can increase lithium levels? -✓✓Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.
• What can decrease lithium levels? -✓✓Caffeine and mania.
• What is the role of L-Methylfolate in depression treatment? -✓✓It is necessary
for the synthesis of monoamines and is a bioavailable form of folate that enters the
brain.
• What are the recommendations for using paroxetine during pregnancy? -
✓✓Paroxetine is contraindicated due to the risk of congenital defects, including
atrial septal defects.
• What should be monitored when SNRIs are prescribed to breastfeeding mothers?
-✓✓Infant irritability.
Question and Answer (2026) | A+ Verified |
Latest Exam Prep
• What is a key prescribing consideration for antidepressants in bipolar disorder? -
✓✓Antidepressants should not be given as monotherapy; they must be combined
with a mood stabilizer to avoid inducing mania.
• What should be monitored when prescribing SNRIs to breastfeeding patients? -
✓✓Infant irritability.
• What factors should be considered when prescribing antidepressants? -✓✓Client
preference, prior treatment response, anticipated adverse effects, comorbidities,
half-life, interactions, and cost.
• What should be done if the initial antidepressant does not work? -✓✓First,
increase the dose; if that fails, switch to a different drug in the same class, then try
a drug in a different class, and possibly add a second medication.
• What is the recommended dose adjustment for older patients taking citalopram
and escitalopram? -✓✓They should receive half the usual dose.
• Which SSRI has the least CYP interactions? -✓✓Escitalopram (Lexapro).
• Which SSRI is considered good for forgetful patients? -✓✓Fluoxetine, due to its
2-3 day half-life.
• What is the longest-acting antidepressant? -✓✓Fluoxetine, with a half-life of 1-2
weeks.
• What is discontinuation syndrome and which medication is more likely to cause
it? -✓✓Discontinuation syndrome occurs when stopping an antidepressant, and
paroxetine is more likely to cause it.
• Which antidepressant is safe during nursing and pregnancy? -✓✓Sertraline.
, • What is serotonin syndrome? -✓✓A condition that occurs when two serotonergic
drugs are used together, leading to symptoms such as mental status changes,
autonomic instability, neuromuscular symptoms, seizures, and gastrointestinal
symptoms.
• What is the treatment for serotonin syndrome? -✓✓Stop the medication, provide
supportive care, and use benzodiazepines.
• What is the black box warning for MAOIs? -✓✓They carry a warning for
suicidal ideation in children, adolescents, and young adults.
• What is the half-life of MAOIs? -✓✓2-4 hours.
• What is the black box warning for SSRIs? -✓✓They carry a warning for suicidal
tendencies.
• What are MAOIs and what do they inhibit? -✓✓MAOIs (monoamine oxidase
inhibitors) are antidepressants that inhibit the enzyme that deactivates dopamine,
norepinephrine, and serotonin.
• What can happen if MAOIs are taken with tyramine-containing foods? -✓✓They
can cause a hypertensive crisis.
• What can increase lithium levels? -✓✓Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.
• What can decrease lithium levels? -✓✓Caffeine and mania.
• What is the role of L-Methylfolate in depression treatment? -✓✓It is necessary
for the synthesis of monoamines and is a bioavailable form of folate that enters the
brain.
• What are the recommendations for using paroxetine during pregnancy? -
✓✓Paroxetine is contraindicated due to the risk of congenital defects, including
atrial septal defects.
• What should be monitored when SNRIs are prescribed to breastfeeding mothers?
-✓✓Infant irritability.
