NURS 360; Final Exam Study Guide Overview
SSRIs common adverse effects - correct answer GI upset, headache, sexual dysfunction.
MAOIs black box warning - correct answer Hypertensive crisis when combined with
tyraminecontaining foods.
Opioids Black Box warning - correct answer Respiratory depression.
Benzodiazepines nursing considerations elderly - correct answer increased risk for falls,
confusion, and CNS depression.
Anticholinergics consideration for elderly - correct answer more prone to cognitive impairment
and urinary retention.
SSRIs Patient Teaching - correct answer Take with food to minimize GI upset. Monitor for
suicidal ideation.
NSAIDs Patient Teaching - correct answer Take with food to reduce risk of GI bleed.
Lithium Toxicity patient teaching - correct answer Report tremors, confusion, diarrhea,
vomiting.
Digoxin Toxicity - correct answer visual changes (halos), nausea, irregular heartbeat.
Levodopa-carbidopa Administration Considerations - correct answer Take on empty stomach,
avoid high-protein meals.
Insulin Administration Considerations - correct answer Rotate injection sites, timing relative to
meals matters.
Benzodiazepines Uses - correct answer Enhance GABA effect; Used for short-term acute anxiety
or insomnia.
Benzodiazepines Adverse Effects - correct answer CNS depression, drowsiness, confusion, dizzy.
Benzodiazepines Overdose symptoms - correct answer Stupor, confusion, lethargic, respiratory
depression.
Benzodiazepines Overdose Treatment - correct answer Flumazenil, airway support.
SSRIs Action - correct answer Blocks the reuptake of serotonin in the brain; increase serotonin.
SSRIs Uses - correct answer Depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic, PTSD, bulimia
nervosa.
, SSRIs Side/Adverse Effects - correct answer GI upset (nausea, diarrhea, weight loss), sexual
dysfunction, serotonin syndrome: hypertensive crisis, hyperpyrexia, coma, seizures, muscle
rigidity, suicidal ideation.
SSRIs Safety - correct answer Do not abruptly stop, do not take with MAOI (2-week washout
needed).
TCA Adverse Effects - correct answer Sedation, orthostatic hypotension, anticholinergic effects
(blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention), grapefruit juice (inhibit
metabolism), highly protein bound (anticoagulants, etc).
TCA Toxicity - correct answer CNS: agitation, confusion, delirium, seizures, coma, tremors,
drowsiness or sedation. Cardio: arrhythmias, hypotension, tachycardia.
TCA Black box warning - correct answer increased risk of suicidal ideation in children,
adolescents, and young adults 18-24 who are taking antidepressants.
TCA Overdose - correct answer 1-4 hr. after ingestion, high risk of fatality. Seizures,
dysrhythmias, hypotension.
MAOIs Interactions - correct answer Do not take with sympathomimetic drugs or
vasoconstrictors. (Cold medications, ADHD or weight loss medications, anesthesia).
MAOIs Adverse Effects - correct answer Most serious: Hypertensive crisis (may be caused by
ingesting tyramine foods).
Washout period - correct answer 2-4 weeks needed between SSRI, TCA, or MAOI.
Hypertensive crisis - correct answer Most serious adverse effect that may be caused by
ingesting tyramine foods, leading to heart attack or stroke.
Tyramine containing foods - correct answer Foods that cause large amounts of norepinephrine
and should be avoided by patients on certain antidepressants.
General Teaching for all Anti-Depressants - correct answer Take regularly at the same time of
day for best benefits; therapeutic effects take 2-4 weeks.
CNS Depression patient teaching - correct answer Caution when driving, avoid alcohol and other
CNS depressants.
CNS Stimulants uses - correct answer ADHD & Narcolepsy, with side effects including insomnia
and weight loss.
Nursing implication for CNS Stimulants - correct answer Baseline height & weight, monitor
growth velocity, assess BP & HR.
SSRIs common adverse effects - correct answer GI upset, headache, sexual dysfunction.
MAOIs black box warning - correct answer Hypertensive crisis when combined with
tyraminecontaining foods.
Opioids Black Box warning - correct answer Respiratory depression.
Benzodiazepines nursing considerations elderly - correct answer increased risk for falls,
confusion, and CNS depression.
Anticholinergics consideration for elderly - correct answer more prone to cognitive impairment
and urinary retention.
SSRIs Patient Teaching - correct answer Take with food to minimize GI upset. Monitor for
suicidal ideation.
NSAIDs Patient Teaching - correct answer Take with food to reduce risk of GI bleed.
Lithium Toxicity patient teaching - correct answer Report tremors, confusion, diarrhea,
vomiting.
Digoxin Toxicity - correct answer visual changes (halos), nausea, irregular heartbeat.
Levodopa-carbidopa Administration Considerations - correct answer Take on empty stomach,
avoid high-protein meals.
Insulin Administration Considerations - correct answer Rotate injection sites, timing relative to
meals matters.
Benzodiazepines Uses - correct answer Enhance GABA effect; Used for short-term acute anxiety
or insomnia.
Benzodiazepines Adverse Effects - correct answer CNS depression, drowsiness, confusion, dizzy.
Benzodiazepines Overdose symptoms - correct answer Stupor, confusion, lethargic, respiratory
depression.
Benzodiazepines Overdose Treatment - correct answer Flumazenil, airway support.
SSRIs Action - correct answer Blocks the reuptake of serotonin in the brain; increase serotonin.
SSRIs Uses - correct answer Depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic, PTSD, bulimia
nervosa.
, SSRIs Side/Adverse Effects - correct answer GI upset (nausea, diarrhea, weight loss), sexual
dysfunction, serotonin syndrome: hypertensive crisis, hyperpyrexia, coma, seizures, muscle
rigidity, suicidal ideation.
SSRIs Safety - correct answer Do not abruptly stop, do not take with MAOI (2-week washout
needed).
TCA Adverse Effects - correct answer Sedation, orthostatic hypotension, anticholinergic effects
(blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention), grapefruit juice (inhibit
metabolism), highly protein bound (anticoagulants, etc).
TCA Toxicity - correct answer CNS: agitation, confusion, delirium, seizures, coma, tremors,
drowsiness or sedation. Cardio: arrhythmias, hypotension, tachycardia.
TCA Black box warning - correct answer increased risk of suicidal ideation in children,
adolescents, and young adults 18-24 who are taking antidepressants.
TCA Overdose - correct answer 1-4 hr. after ingestion, high risk of fatality. Seizures,
dysrhythmias, hypotension.
MAOIs Interactions - correct answer Do not take with sympathomimetic drugs or
vasoconstrictors. (Cold medications, ADHD or weight loss medications, anesthesia).
MAOIs Adverse Effects - correct answer Most serious: Hypertensive crisis (may be caused by
ingesting tyramine foods).
Washout period - correct answer 2-4 weeks needed between SSRI, TCA, or MAOI.
Hypertensive crisis - correct answer Most serious adverse effect that may be caused by
ingesting tyramine foods, leading to heart attack or stroke.
Tyramine containing foods - correct answer Foods that cause large amounts of norepinephrine
and should be avoided by patients on certain antidepressants.
General Teaching for all Anti-Depressants - correct answer Take regularly at the same time of
day for best benefits; therapeutic effects take 2-4 weeks.
CNS Depression patient teaching - correct answer Caution when driving, avoid alcohol and other
CNS depressants.
CNS Stimulants uses - correct answer ADHD & Narcolepsy, with side effects including insomnia
and weight loss.
Nursing implication for CNS Stimulants - correct answer Baseline height & weight, monitor
growth velocity, assess BP & HR.
