NCLEX : Neural Pharmacology
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Example Questions
Example Question #101 : Nclex
A client has been taking daily doses of Paroxetine for 6 months and has asked for an information with the nurse about going off the medication. What should the nurse emphasize in the information session?
Urge the client to continue taking the medication until he consults a psychotherapist
Taper the medication to avoid discontinuation syndrome
Stop taking the medication immediately, increase physical activity level for 2-3 weeks to counteract side effects
Advise the patient of probable weight gain after going off the medication
Taper the medication to avoid discontinuation syndrome
Clients taking Paroxetine may experience withdrawal and continuation syndrome. To minimize symptoms, taper the medication over a period of 3 or more weeks.
Example Question #1 : Neural Pharmacology
What type of antidepressant is fluoxetine?
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI)
Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI)
Tetracyclic antidepressant
Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI)
Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI)
Fluoxetine is an example of a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI). SSRI's limit the amount of serotonin that the presynaptic cell that secreted it, cat re-uptake. This increases the time and amount that serotonin is in the synaptic cleft, and bound to postsynaptic receptors, leading to anti-depressant properties. The other drugs are all antidepressants, but are sold under other names.
Example Question #15 : Drug Identification
What drug class is clomipramine?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
Serotonin modulator and stimulator (SMS)
Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)
Tricyclic antidepressant
Tricyclic antidepressant
Clomipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant. Drugs in this class function primarily by blocking serotonin and norepinephrine transporters, resulting in an increase in the levels of these neurotransmitters in the synapse, and thus an increase in their effects due to staying bound to postsynaptic receptors for longer.
Example Question #1 : Neural Pharmacology
What class of drug is trazodone?
Serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI)
Tricyclic antidepressant
Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI)
Tetracyclic antidepressant
Serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI)
Trazodone is a serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI). These drugs work by increasing the release and inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin in the synaptic space, thus increasing the effect of serotonin.
Example Question #3 : Neural Pharmacology
Aripiprazole is what class of drug?
Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI)
Atypical antipsychotic
Serotonin modulator and stimulator (SMS)
Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)
Atypical antipsychotic
Aripiprazole is an atypical antipsychotic. It acts as a partial dopamine agonist and an agonist to multiple 5-HT (serotonin) receptors.
Example Question #3 : Neural Pharmacology
What class of drug is quetiapine?
Tricyclic antidepressant
Serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI)
Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
Atypical antipsychotic
Atypical antipsychotic
Quetiapine is classified as an atypical antipsychotic. Quetiapine is a powerful antihistamine and has pharmacological action at many receptor types: it is a serotonin, dopamine, and adrenergic antagonist.
Example Question #2 : Neural Pharmacology
Which of the following antidepressants is also used for smoking cessation?
Buspirone
Bupropion
Venlafaxine
Amitriptyline
Bupropion
Bupropion is an antidepressant used for smoking cessation. None of the other medications listed are used for smoking cessation.
Example Question #4 : Neural Pharmacology
Sertraline, paroxetine, and citalopram, are all classified as what type of antidepressant?
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Serotonin modulator and stimulators (SMSs)
Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Sertraline, paroxetine, and Citalopra are all selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This class of drug works by blocking serotonin re-uptake in the synapse, thus increasing post-synaptic serotonin stimulation. They are one of the most widely used class of antidepressants in the United States and many parts of the world.
Example Question #1 : Neural Pharmacology
Zolpidem belongs in what drug class?
Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI)
Nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic
Orexin antagonist
Benzodiazepine
Nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic
Zolpidem is a short acting nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic. It's actions are similar to benzodiazepine drugs in that it stimulates GABAa receptors at the same location as benzodiazepines. It is used in insomnia for initiating sleep, though it's short half life (3 hours) means it is not generally considered effective for maintaining sleep.
Example Question #6 : Neural Pharmacology
All of the following are common anticonvulsants except __________.
lamotrigine
carbamazepine
risperidone
valproate
risperidone
All of the answers given are common anticonvulsant medications except risperidone, which is a second generation atypical antipsychotic used in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
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