NR 546 FINAL PRACTICE EXAM PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (LATEST 2026)
MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) affect which neurotransmitters?
A. Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine
B. Serotonin, GABA, Glutamate
C. Acetylcholine, Dopamine, Norepinephrine
D. Dopamine, GABA, Acetylcholine
A. Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine
Which of the following is considered first line treatment for depression?
A. SSRI
B. FGA
C. SNRI
D. MAOI
A. SSRI
When treating a patient for major depression disorder which medication would the
PMHNP consider first?
A. Depakote
B. Selegiline
C. Escitalopram
D. Isocarboxazid
C. Escitalopram
Which of the following medication should be considered for a patient diagnosed with
major depressive disorder who reports "always forgetting to take my pills"?
A. Mirtazapine
B. Fluvoxamine
C. Fluoxetine
D. Carbemazepine
C. Fluoxetine
Which of the following medication has a black box warning of a life-threatening skin
rash?
A. Lithium
B. Lamotrigine
C. Lurasidone
D. Lorazepam
B. Lamotrigine
Which medication is considered the best tolerated SSRI?
A. Venlafaxine
,B. Bupropion
C. Setraline
D. Escitalopram
D. Escitalopram
During a 4 week follow up appointment, Rashida, who is prescribed Sertraline 25mg
qAM reports slight improvement in depression symptoms and tolerating medication well.
Which of the following should the PMHNP do?
A. Increase Setraline dose
B. Switch to an SNRI
C. Switch to a different SSRI
D. Add Trazodone qHS for sleep.
A. Increase Setraline dose
Which medication should be avoided for the 66 year patient diagnosed with major
depressive disorder and anxiety with a reported fall 3 months ago?
A. Citalopram
B. Setraline
C. Paroxetine
D. Aripiprazole
C. Paroxetine
A patient reports upset stomach and diarrhea 3 days after taking new prescription of
sertraline. Which of the following is the most appropriate response from the PMHNP?
A. "Start doubling the dose of sertraline and your symptoms will begin to ease up".
B. "Most side effects subside after 4-5 days. Your body is getting adjusted to the
increased serotonin levels".
C. "Stop taking it immediately and go to the local emergency department".
D. "You must take Sertraline with food, otherwise you will continue to experience GI
symptoms".
B. "Most side effects subside after 4-5 days. Your body is getting adjusted to the
increased serotonin levels".
During a 2 week follow up appointment, the patient reports no improvement in
depressive symptoms with escitalopram. Which of the following statement made by the
PMHNP is correct?
A. "Let's discontinue escitalopram and start you on something stronger".
B. "It can take up to 6 weeks before you notice improvements of depressive symptoms".
C. "I am going to prescibe Trazodone. Take it at night to help you sleep".
D. "Start taking two pills at a time".
B. "It can take up to 6 weeks before you notice improvements of depressive symptoms".
Duloxetine effects which two neurotransmitters?
A. serotonin and norepinephrine
B. serotonin and dopamine
, C. norepinephrine and GABA
D. glutamate and acetylcholine
A. serotonin and norepinephrine
Awura, a 70 year old patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder reports a recent
40 pound weight loss within the last 3 months. Which medication should the PMHNP
consider adding to her medication regimen?
A. quetiapine
B. mirtazpine
C. valproic acid
D. paroxetine
B. mirtazpine
Which of the following symptoms is NOT an adverse effect associated with the acute
use of opioids?
A. Sedation
B. Respiratory depression
C. Immunosuppression
D. Itching
C. Immunosuppression
When dosing citalopram for Lynee, a 72 year old patient, the PMHNP understands to
dose at 1/2 dose due to the increased risk of
A. delirium
B. polypharmacy
C. falls
D. QTc prolongation
D. QTc prolongation
Which of the following medication class is approved for first line treatment for OCD?
A. Atypical antipsychotics
B. Benzodiazepines
C. MAOI
D. SSRI
D. SSRI
Which SSRI has a mild antihistamine effect?
A. Paroxetine
B. Fluoxetine
C. Citalopram
D. Sertraline
C. Citalopram
Which medication should the PMHNP prescribe for a patient diagnosed with major
depressive disorder but takes multiple medications for other chronic conditions?
A. Sertraline
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (LATEST 2026)
MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) affect which neurotransmitters?
A. Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine
B. Serotonin, GABA, Glutamate
C. Acetylcholine, Dopamine, Norepinephrine
D. Dopamine, GABA, Acetylcholine
A. Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine
Which of the following is considered first line treatment for depression?
A. SSRI
B. FGA
C. SNRI
D. MAOI
A. SSRI
When treating a patient for major depression disorder which medication would the
PMHNP consider first?
A. Depakote
B. Selegiline
C. Escitalopram
D. Isocarboxazid
C. Escitalopram
Which of the following medication should be considered for a patient diagnosed with
major depressive disorder who reports "always forgetting to take my pills"?
A. Mirtazapine
B. Fluvoxamine
C. Fluoxetine
D. Carbemazepine
C. Fluoxetine
Which of the following medication has a black box warning of a life-threatening skin
rash?
A. Lithium
B. Lamotrigine
C. Lurasidone
D. Lorazepam
B. Lamotrigine
Which medication is considered the best tolerated SSRI?
A. Venlafaxine
,B. Bupropion
C. Setraline
D. Escitalopram
D. Escitalopram
During a 4 week follow up appointment, Rashida, who is prescribed Sertraline 25mg
qAM reports slight improvement in depression symptoms and tolerating medication well.
Which of the following should the PMHNP do?
A. Increase Setraline dose
B. Switch to an SNRI
C. Switch to a different SSRI
D. Add Trazodone qHS for sleep.
A. Increase Setraline dose
Which medication should be avoided for the 66 year patient diagnosed with major
depressive disorder and anxiety with a reported fall 3 months ago?
A. Citalopram
B. Setraline
C. Paroxetine
D. Aripiprazole
C. Paroxetine
A patient reports upset stomach and diarrhea 3 days after taking new prescription of
sertraline. Which of the following is the most appropriate response from the PMHNP?
A. "Start doubling the dose of sertraline and your symptoms will begin to ease up".
B. "Most side effects subside after 4-5 days. Your body is getting adjusted to the
increased serotonin levels".
C. "Stop taking it immediately and go to the local emergency department".
D. "You must take Sertraline with food, otherwise you will continue to experience GI
symptoms".
B. "Most side effects subside after 4-5 days. Your body is getting adjusted to the
increased serotonin levels".
During a 2 week follow up appointment, the patient reports no improvement in
depressive symptoms with escitalopram. Which of the following statement made by the
PMHNP is correct?
A. "Let's discontinue escitalopram and start you on something stronger".
B. "It can take up to 6 weeks before you notice improvements of depressive symptoms".
C. "I am going to prescibe Trazodone. Take it at night to help you sleep".
D. "Start taking two pills at a time".
B. "It can take up to 6 weeks before you notice improvements of depressive symptoms".
Duloxetine effects which two neurotransmitters?
A. serotonin and norepinephrine
B. serotonin and dopamine
, C. norepinephrine and GABA
D. glutamate and acetylcholine
A. serotonin and norepinephrine
Awura, a 70 year old patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder reports a recent
40 pound weight loss within the last 3 months. Which medication should the PMHNP
consider adding to her medication regimen?
A. quetiapine
B. mirtazpine
C. valproic acid
D. paroxetine
B. mirtazpine
Which of the following symptoms is NOT an adverse effect associated with the acute
use of opioids?
A. Sedation
B. Respiratory depression
C. Immunosuppression
D. Itching
C. Immunosuppression
When dosing citalopram for Lynee, a 72 year old patient, the PMHNP understands to
dose at 1/2 dose due to the increased risk of
A. delirium
B. polypharmacy
C. falls
D. QTc prolongation
D. QTc prolongation
Which of the following medication class is approved for first line treatment for OCD?
A. Atypical antipsychotics
B. Benzodiazepines
C. MAOI
D. SSRI
D. SSRI
Which SSRI has a mild antihistamine effect?
A. Paroxetine
B. Fluoxetine
C. Citalopram
D. Sertraline
C. Citalopram
Which medication should the PMHNP prescribe for a patient diagnosed with major
depressive disorder but takes multiple medications for other chronic conditions?
A. Sertraline
