Chapter 16: Psychotherapeutic Drugs Lilley: Pharmacology and the
Nursing Process, 10th Edition
1. A patient has been taking the monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) phenelzine
for 6 months. The patient wants to go to a party and asks the nurse, “Will just
one beer be a problem?” Which advice from the nurse is correct?
A. “You can drink beer as long as you have a designated driver.”
B. “Now that you’ve been on the drug for 6 months, there will be no further dietary
restrictions.”
C. “If you begin to experience a throbbing headache, rapid pulse, or nausea, you’ll
need to stop drinking.”
D. “You need to avoid all foods that contain tyramine, including beer, while taking
this medication.”
Answer: D
Explanation: MAOIs require strict avoidance of tyramine-rich foods and beverages, like beer
and aged cheeses, to prevent hypertensive crisis.
2. A patient has been taking haloperidol for 3 months for a psychotic disorder, and
the nurse is concerned about the development of extrapyramidal symptoms. The
nurse will monitor the patient closely for which effects?
A. Increased paranoia
B. Drowsiness and dizziness
C. Involuntary motor symptoms
D. Dry mouth and constipation
Answer: C
Explanation: Extrapyramidal symptoms are involuntary movement disorders, such as
dystonia, akathisia, and parkinsonism, which are potential adverse effects of typical
antipsychotics like haloperidol.
3. The nurse reads in the patient's medication history that the patient is taking
buspirone. The nurse interprets that the patient may have which disorder?
A. Anxiety disorder
B. Depression
C. Schizophrenia
D. Bipolar disorder
Answer: A
,Explanation: Buspirone is a non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic specifically indicated for the
management of anxiety disorders.
4. A patient has been admitted to the emergency department with a suspected
overdose of a tricyclic antidepressant. The nurse will prepare for what
immediate concern?
A. Hypertension
B. Renal failure
C. Cardiac dysrhythmias
D. Gastrointestinal bleeding
Answer: C
Explanation: Tricyclic antidepressant overdose is highly cardiotoxic and can cause lethal
arrhythmias, seizures, and anticholinergic toxicity.
5. When a patient is receiving a second-generation antipsychotic drug, such as
risperidone, the nurse will monitor for which therapeutic effect?
A. Fewer panic attacks
B. Decreased paranoia and delusions
C. Decreased feeling of hopelessness
D. Improved tardive dyskinesia
Answer: B
Explanation: Second-generation antipsychotics are effective in reducing positive symptoms
of psychosis, such as paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations.
6. A patient has been taking lithium for 1 year, and the most recent lithium level is
0.5 mEq/L. Which statement about the laboratory result is correct?
A. The lithium level is therapeutic.
B. The lithium level is too low.
C. The lithium level is too high.
D. Lithium is not usually monitored with blood levels.
Answer: B
Explanation: The therapeutic range for lithium maintenance therapy is 0.6 to 1.2 mEq/L. A
level of 0.5 mEq/L is subtherapeutic.
7. Before beginning a patient's therapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
(SSRI) antidepressants, the nurse will assess for concurrent use of which
, medications or medication class?
A. Aspirin
B. Warfarin
C. Diuretics
D. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Answer: B
Explanation: SSRIs can increase the anticoagulant effect of warfarin, raising the risk of
bleeding. Monitoring and potential dosage adjustment are necessary.
8. A patient with the diagnosis of schizophrenia is hospitalized and is taking a
phenothiazine drug. Which statement by this patient indicates that he is
experiencing a common adverse effect of phenothiazines?
A. “I can’t sleep at night.”
B. “I feel hungry all the time.”
C. “Look at how red my hands are.”
D. “My mouth has been so dry lately.”
Answer: D
Explanation: Phenothiazines have significant anticholinergic effects, commonly causing dry
mouth, constipation, and urinary retention.
9. While monitoring a depressed patient who has just started SSRI antidepressant
therapy, the nurse will observe for which problem during the early time frame of
this therapy?
A. Hypertensive crisis
B. Self-injury or suicidal tendencies
C. Extrapyramidal symptoms
D. Loss of appetite
Answer: B
Explanation: Antidepressants carry a black box warning for increased risk of suicidal
thoughts and behaviors, particularly in the initial weeks of therapy or during dosage changes.
10. The nurse is reviewing the food choices of a patient who is taking a monoamine
oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Which food choice would indicate the need for
additional teaching?
A. Grapefruit juice
B. Salami sandwich
Nursing Process, 10th Edition
1. A patient has been taking the monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) phenelzine
for 6 months. The patient wants to go to a party and asks the nurse, “Will just
one beer be a problem?” Which advice from the nurse is correct?
A. “You can drink beer as long as you have a designated driver.”
B. “Now that you’ve been on the drug for 6 months, there will be no further dietary
restrictions.”
C. “If you begin to experience a throbbing headache, rapid pulse, or nausea, you’ll
need to stop drinking.”
D. “You need to avoid all foods that contain tyramine, including beer, while taking
this medication.”
Answer: D
Explanation: MAOIs require strict avoidance of tyramine-rich foods and beverages, like beer
and aged cheeses, to prevent hypertensive crisis.
2. A patient has been taking haloperidol for 3 months for a psychotic disorder, and
the nurse is concerned about the development of extrapyramidal symptoms. The
nurse will monitor the patient closely for which effects?
A. Increased paranoia
B. Drowsiness and dizziness
C. Involuntary motor symptoms
D. Dry mouth and constipation
Answer: C
Explanation: Extrapyramidal symptoms are involuntary movement disorders, such as
dystonia, akathisia, and parkinsonism, which are potential adverse effects of typical
antipsychotics like haloperidol.
3. The nurse reads in the patient's medication history that the patient is taking
buspirone. The nurse interprets that the patient may have which disorder?
A. Anxiety disorder
B. Depression
C. Schizophrenia
D. Bipolar disorder
Answer: A
,Explanation: Buspirone is a non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic specifically indicated for the
management of anxiety disorders.
4. A patient has been admitted to the emergency department with a suspected
overdose of a tricyclic antidepressant. The nurse will prepare for what
immediate concern?
A. Hypertension
B. Renal failure
C. Cardiac dysrhythmias
D. Gastrointestinal bleeding
Answer: C
Explanation: Tricyclic antidepressant overdose is highly cardiotoxic and can cause lethal
arrhythmias, seizures, and anticholinergic toxicity.
5. When a patient is receiving a second-generation antipsychotic drug, such as
risperidone, the nurse will monitor for which therapeutic effect?
A. Fewer panic attacks
B. Decreased paranoia and delusions
C. Decreased feeling of hopelessness
D. Improved tardive dyskinesia
Answer: B
Explanation: Second-generation antipsychotics are effective in reducing positive symptoms
of psychosis, such as paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations.
6. A patient has been taking lithium for 1 year, and the most recent lithium level is
0.5 mEq/L. Which statement about the laboratory result is correct?
A. The lithium level is therapeutic.
B. The lithium level is too low.
C. The lithium level is too high.
D. Lithium is not usually monitored with blood levels.
Answer: B
Explanation: The therapeutic range for lithium maintenance therapy is 0.6 to 1.2 mEq/L. A
level of 0.5 mEq/L is subtherapeutic.
7. Before beginning a patient's therapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
(SSRI) antidepressants, the nurse will assess for concurrent use of which
, medications or medication class?
A. Aspirin
B. Warfarin
C. Diuretics
D. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Answer: B
Explanation: SSRIs can increase the anticoagulant effect of warfarin, raising the risk of
bleeding. Monitoring and potential dosage adjustment are necessary.
8. A patient with the diagnosis of schizophrenia is hospitalized and is taking a
phenothiazine drug. Which statement by this patient indicates that he is
experiencing a common adverse effect of phenothiazines?
A. “I can’t sleep at night.”
B. “I feel hungry all the time.”
C. “Look at how red my hands are.”
D. “My mouth has been so dry lately.”
Answer: D
Explanation: Phenothiazines have significant anticholinergic effects, commonly causing dry
mouth, constipation, and urinary retention.
9. While monitoring a depressed patient who has just started SSRI antidepressant
therapy, the nurse will observe for which problem during the early time frame of
this therapy?
A. Hypertensive crisis
B. Self-injury or suicidal tendencies
C. Extrapyramidal symptoms
D. Loss of appetite
Answer: B
Explanation: Antidepressants carry a black box warning for increased risk of suicidal
thoughts and behaviors, particularly in the initial weeks of therapy or during dosage changes.
10. The nurse is reviewing the food choices of a patient who is taking a monoamine
oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Which food choice would indicate the need for
additional teaching?
A. Grapefruit juice
B. Salami sandwich
