PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY FOR THE PSYCHIATRIC
MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER ACTUAL
MIDTERM EXAM REAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS (CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS)
LATEST UPDATED VERSION |RATED A+ GUARANTEED
PASS.
Dantrolene Therapeutic use / MOA - ANSWER: Muscle relaxant (adverse effect:
muscle weakness)
Think "lean" as muscles relax
Peripherally acting (think distal)
Used to treat malignant hyperthermia
Dante's Inferno
Dantrolene adverse effects - ANSWER: Adverse effects
3 D's
Drowsiness, Dizziness, Diarrhea
Avoid alcohol/CNS depressants
Can cause Liver toxicity
Dantrolene Administration & client education - ANSWER: Administered via IV push or
PO
Dantrolene Contraindications/precautions/interactions - ANSWER: Caution CNS
depressant meds, alcohol and calcium channel blockers (can cause cardiac
dysrhythmias
Lidocaine Therapeutic use / MOA - ANSWER: Local anesthesia (can be topical)
Labor - used for epidural or spinal anesthesia
Blocks the influx of Na through Na channels preventing depolarization
Lidocaine Adverse effects - ANSWER: Lightheadedness (can cause hypotension when
used for spinal anesth.)
Too much can cause CNS stimulation (lidocaine - sugar cane - sugar rush)
Restlessness, irritability, tremors, confusion, convulsions
After CNS stimulation resolves, CNS depressant effects occur causing risk for resp.
Arrest
Lidocaine Administration & client education - ANSWER: Avoid administering in eyes
or broken skin
Use correct concentration and form
, Lidocaine Contraindications/precautions/Interactions - ANSWER: Clients with
bradycardia, heart block can experience cardiac arrest upon administration
Beta blockers, cimetidine and quinidine can increase blood levels of lidocaine
Midazolam (Versed) Therapeutic use / MOA - ANSWER: General anesthetic/ benzo or
sedative
Enhances inhibitory effects of GABA
Used to provide sedation and induce amnesia
Midazolam (Versed) Adverse effects - ANSWER: Can cause CNS depressant effects,
anterograde amnesia (memory loss), and cardiac/respiratory arrest
Midazolam (Versed) Administration & client education - ANSWER: IM, IV or PO
Give by IV bolus and titrate with additional doses for desired depth of sedation
Midazolam (Versed) Contraindications/precautions/interactions - ANSWER: Caution
those with neuromuscular, cardiac, pulmonary or renal disorders
Pregnancy/delivery/lactation
Enhances CNS depressant effect of other CNS depressants
Methohexital (Brevital) Therapeutic use / MOA - ANSWER: Used for general
anesthesia, causes CNS depression
Hypotension/resp. Depression
Atorvastatin Therapeutic use / MOA - ANSWER: Lowers the bad and increases the
good cholesterol
Lower LDL, VLDL, and triglycerides. Increases HDL.
First line for hypercholesterolemia
Atorvastatin Adverse effects - ANSWER: Cataracts, rash, memory loss, HA, GI upset
Myopathy (muscle pain) occurs in 5-10% of pt
Can progress to rhabdomyolysis
Hepatotoxicity occurs in 2% of pts taking statin for 1+ years
Atorvastatin Administration & client education - ANSWER: PO in the evening w/ or
w/out food
Report muscle pain, report liver dysfunction (abd pain, jaundice, fatigue)
Check liver enzymes (baseline and periodic LFTs)
Atorvastatin Contraindications/precautions - ANSWER: Pregnancy, lactation, active
liver disease, children <8
Atorvastatin Interactions - ANSWER: Fibrates (increased risk for myopathy of liver
toxicity
Grapefruit juice
Erythromycin
Azole drugs ( CYP3A4 inhibitors can increase statin blood levels)