NR 508 pharm week 4 Exam Questions
and Answers (Latest Update
2025/2026)GRADED A+
Common mistakes practitioners make in treating anxiety disorders include:
1. Switching medications after an 8- to 12-week trial
2. Maximizing dosing of antianxiety medications
3. Encouraging exercise and relaxation therapy before starting medication
4. Thinking a partial response to medication is acceptable - CORRECT ANSWERS 4. Thinking a
partial response to medication is acceptable
An appropriate first-line drug to try for mild to moderate generalized anxiety disorder would be:
1. Alprazolam (Xanax)
2. Diazepam (Valium)
3. Buspirone (Buspar)
4. Amitriptyline (Elavil) - CORRECT ANSWERS 3. Buspirone (Buspar)
An appropriate drug to initially treat panic disorder is:
1. Alprazolam (Xanax)
2. Diazepam (Valium)
3. Buspirone (Buspar)
4. Amitriptyline (Elavil) - CORRECT ANSWERS 2. Diazepam (Valium)
Prior to starting antidepressants, patients should have laboratory testing to rule out:
1. Hypothyroidism
,2. Anemia
3. Diabetes mellitus
4. Low estrogen levels - CORRECT ANSWERS 1. Hypothyroidism
David is a 34-year-old patient who is starting on paroxetine (Paxil) for depression. David's education
regarding his medication would include:
1. Paroxetine may cause intermittent diarrhea.
2. He may experience sexual dysfunction beginning a month after he starts therapy.
3. He may have constipation and he should increase fluids and fiber.
4. Paroxetine has a long half-life so he may occasionally skip a dose. - CORRECT ANSWERS 2.
He may experience sexual dysfunction beginning a month after he starts therapy.
Jamison has been prescribed citalopram (Celexa) to treat his depression. Education regarding how
quickly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants work would be:
1. Appetite and concentration improve in the first 1 to 2 weeks.
2. Sleep should improve almost immediately upon starting citalopram.
3. Full response to the SSRI may take 2 to 4 months after he reaches the full therapeutic dose.
4. His dysphoric mood will improve in 1 to 2 weeks. - CORRECT ANSWERS 1. Appetite and
concentration improve in the first 1 to 2 weeks.
An appropriate drug for the treatment of depression with anxiety would be:
1. Alprazolam (Xanax)
2. Escitalopram (Lexapro)
3. Buspirone (Buspar)
4. Amitriptyline (Elavil) - CORRECT ANSWERS 2. Escitalopram (Lexapro)
An appropriate first-line drug for the treatment of depression with fatigue and low energy would be:
, 1. Venlafaxine (Effexor)
2. Escitalopram (Lexapro)
3. Buspirone (Buspar)
4. Amitriptyline (Elavil) - CORRECT ANSWERS 1. Venlafaxine (Effexor)
The laboratory monitoring required when a patient is on a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor is:
1. Complete blood count every 3 to 4 months
2. Therapeutic blood levels every 6 months after a steady state is achieved
3. Blood glucose every 3 to 4 months
4. There is no laboratory monitoring required - CORRECT ANSWERS 4. There is no laboratory
monitoring required
Jaycee has been on escitalopram (Lexapro) for a year and is willing to try tapering off of the selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitor. What is the initial dosage adjustment when starting a taper off
antidepressants?
1. Change dose to every other day dosing for a week
2. Reduce dose by 50% for 3 to 4 days
3. Reduce dose by 50% every other day
4. Escitalopram (Lexapro) can be stopped abruptly due to its long half-life - CORRECT ANSWERS
2. Reduce dose by 50% for 3 to 4 days
The longer-term Xanax patient comes in and states they need a higher dose of the medication. They
deny any additional, new, or accelerating triggers of their anxiety. What is the probable reason?
1. They have become tolerant of the medication, which is characterized by the need for higher and
higher doses.
2. They are a drug seeker.
3. They are suicidal.
and Answers (Latest Update
2025/2026)GRADED A+
Common mistakes practitioners make in treating anxiety disorders include:
1. Switching medications after an 8- to 12-week trial
2. Maximizing dosing of antianxiety medications
3. Encouraging exercise and relaxation therapy before starting medication
4. Thinking a partial response to medication is acceptable - CORRECT ANSWERS 4. Thinking a
partial response to medication is acceptable
An appropriate first-line drug to try for mild to moderate generalized anxiety disorder would be:
1. Alprazolam (Xanax)
2. Diazepam (Valium)
3. Buspirone (Buspar)
4. Amitriptyline (Elavil) - CORRECT ANSWERS 3. Buspirone (Buspar)
An appropriate drug to initially treat panic disorder is:
1. Alprazolam (Xanax)
2. Diazepam (Valium)
3. Buspirone (Buspar)
4. Amitriptyline (Elavil) - CORRECT ANSWERS 2. Diazepam (Valium)
Prior to starting antidepressants, patients should have laboratory testing to rule out:
1. Hypothyroidism
,2. Anemia
3. Diabetes mellitus
4. Low estrogen levels - CORRECT ANSWERS 1. Hypothyroidism
David is a 34-year-old patient who is starting on paroxetine (Paxil) for depression. David's education
regarding his medication would include:
1. Paroxetine may cause intermittent diarrhea.
2. He may experience sexual dysfunction beginning a month after he starts therapy.
3. He may have constipation and he should increase fluids and fiber.
4. Paroxetine has a long half-life so he may occasionally skip a dose. - CORRECT ANSWERS 2.
He may experience sexual dysfunction beginning a month after he starts therapy.
Jamison has been prescribed citalopram (Celexa) to treat his depression. Education regarding how
quickly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants work would be:
1. Appetite and concentration improve in the first 1 to 2 weeks.
2. Sleep should improve almost immediately upon starting citalopram.
3. Full response to the SSRI may take 2 to 4 months after he reaches the full therapeutic dose.
4. His dysphoric mood will improve in 1 to 2 weeks. - CORRECT ANSWERS 1. Appetite and
concentration improve in the first 1 to 2 weeks.
An appropriate drug for the treatment of depression with anxiety would be:
1. Alprazolam (Xanax)
2. Escitalopram (Lexapro)
3. Buspirone (Buspar)
4. Amitriptyline (Elavil) - CORRECT ANSWERS 2. Escitalopram (Lexapro)
An appropriate first-line drug for the treatment of depression with fatigue and low energy would be:
, 1. Venlafaxine (Effexor)
2. Escitalopram (Lexapro)
3. Buspirone (Buspar)
4. Amitriptyline (Elavil) - CORRECT ANSWERS 1. Venlafaxine (Effexor)
The laboratory monitoring required when a patient is on a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor is:
1. Complete blood count every 3 to 4 months
2. Therapeutic blood levels every 6 months after a steady state is achieved
3. Blood glucose every 3 to 4 months
4. There is no laboratory monitoring required - CORRECT ANSWERS 4. There is no laboratory
monitoring required
Jaycee has been on escitalopram (Lexapro) for a year and is willing to try tapering off of the selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitor. What is the initial dosage adjustment when starting a taper off
antidepressants?
1. Change dose to every other day dosing for a week
2. Reduce dose by 50% for 3 to 4 days
3. Reduce dose by 50% every other day
4. Escitalopram (Lexapro) can be stopped abruptly due to its long half-life - CORRECT ANSWERS
2. Reduce dose by 50% for 3 to 4 days
The longer-term Xanax patient comes in and states they need a higher dose of the medication. They
deny any additional, new, or accelerating triggers of their anxiety. What is the probable reason?
1. They have become tolerant of the medication, which is characterized by the need for higher and
higher doses.
2. They are a drug seeker.
3. They are suicidal.
