NSG 542: PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
1) What is the mechanism of action of benzodiazepines for seizures? -- Answer ✔✔
They act as an anxiolytic.
2) What are the methods used to reverse the cardiotoxicity of drugs? -- Answer ✔✔
IV bicarbonate or hyperventilation.
3) What drugs are used to suppress ventricular arrhythmias? -- Answer ✔✔ Lidocaine
and phenytoin.
4) What are sympathomimetics and inotropes used for? -- Answer ✔✔ They are used
to increase cardiac output.
5) What is the anxiolytic drug Buspirone used for? -- Answer ✔✔ It is used to treat
anxiety disorders, but not panic disorders.
6) What class of anxiolytics does Buspirone belong to? -- Answer ✔✔ It belongs to the
class of azapirones.
,7) What are the properties of Buspirone? -- Answer ✔✔ It has no sedating,
anticonvulsant, or skeletal muscle relaxing properties.
8) What is the potential for overdose with Buspirone? -- Answer ✔✔ It has a low
potential for overdose.
9) How long does it take for Buspirone to relieve anxiety? -- Answer ✔✔ It takes 1-2
weeks to relieve anxiety.
10) Where is monoamine oxidase found? -- Answer ✔✔ It is found on mitochondrial
membranes.
11) What neurotransmitters are metabolized by monoamine oxidase? -- Answer ✔✔
Dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.
12) Why are monoamine oxidase inhibitors not first-line drugs? -- Answer ✔✔ They
have associated hazards and complexity in dosing.
13) What are monoamine oxidase inhibitors used for? -- Answer ✔✔ They are used for
panic disorders and major depression unresponsive to tricyclics.
14) What dietary restrictions are required when taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors? --
Answer ✔✔ They require restrictions to avoid tyramine and systemic hypertension.
, 15) What is the mechanism of action of monoamine oxidase inhibitors? -- Answer ✔✔
They form an irreversible complex with MAO, leading to increased concentrations
of norepinephrine in the CNS and SNS.
16) Where does the synthesis of new MAO occur? -- Answer ✔✔ It occurs in the CNS
and SNS.
17) What are the two classes of MAO? -- Answer ✔✔ MAO-A and MAO-B.
18) What is the substrate for MAO-A? -- Answer ✔✔ Catechol-O-Methyl Transferase
(COMT).
19) What is the substrate for MAO-A when it comes to dopamine? -- Answer ✔✔
Homovanillic acid.
20) What is the substrate for MAO-A when it comes to norepinephrine? -- Answer ✔✔
Vanilmandelic acid.
21) What is the substrate for MAO-A when it comes to serotonin? -- Answer ✔✔
Serotonin.
22) What is the 2 substrates for MAO-B? -- Answer ✔✔ Tyramine and phenethylamine
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
1) What is the mechanism of action of benzodiazepines for seizures? -- Answer ✔✔
They act as an anxiolytic.
2) What are the methods used to reverse the cardiotoxicity of drugs? -- Answer ✔✔
IV bicarbonate or hyperventilation.
3) What drugs are used to suppress ventricular arrhythmias? -- Answer ✔✔ Lidocaine
and phenytoin.
4) What are sympathomimetics and inotropes used for? -- Answer ✔✔ They are used
to increase cardiac output.
5) What is the anxiolytic drug Buspirone used for? -- Answer ✔✔ It is used to treat
anxiety disorders, but not panic disorders.
6) What class of anxiolytics does Buspirone belong to? -- Answer ✔✔ It belongs to the
class of azapirones.
,7) What are the properties of Buspirone? -- Answer ✔✔ It has no sedating,
anticonvulsant, or skeletal muscle relaxing properties.
8) What is the potential for overdose with Buspirone? -- Answer ✔✔ It has a low
potential for overdose.
9) How long does it take for Buspirone to relieve anxiety? -- Answer ✔✔ It takes 1-2
weeks to relieve anxiety.
10) Where is monoamine oxidase found? -- Answer ✔✔ It is found on mitochondrial
membranes.
11) What neurotransmitters are metabolized by monoamine oxidase? -- Answer ✔✔
Dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.
12) Why are monoamine oxidase inhibitors not first-line drugs? -- Answer ✔✔ They
have associated hazards and complexity in dosing.
13) What are monoamine oxidase inhibitors used for? -- Answer ✔✔ They are used for
panic disorders and major depression unresponsive to tricyclics.
14) What dietary restrictions are required when taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors? --
Answer ✔✔ They require restrictions to avoid tyramine and systemic hypertension.
, 15) What is the mechanism of action of monoamine oxidase inhibitors? -- Answer ✔✔
They form an irreversible complex with MAO, leading to increased concentrations
of norepinephrine in the CNS and SNS.
16) Where does the synthesis of new MAO occur? -- Answer ✔✔ It occurs in the CNS
and SNS.
17) What are the two classes of MAO? -- Answer ✔✔ MAO-A and MAO-B.
18) What is the substrate for MAO-A? -- Answer ✔✔ Catechol-O-Methyl Transferase
(COMT).
19) What is the substrate for MAO-A when it comes to dopamine? -- Answer ✔✔
Homovanillic acid.
20) What is the substrate for MAO-A when it comes to norepinephrine? -- Answer ✔✔
Vanilmandelic acid.
21) What is the substrate for MAO-A when it comes to serotonin? -- Answer ✔✔
Serotonin.
22) What is the 2 substrates for MAO-B? -- Answer ✔✔ Tyramine and phenethylamine
