Exam Random Practice Questions

Which one of the following statements about barbiturates is CORRECT? a. Compared with benzodiazepines, barbiturates exhibit a steeper dose-response curve b. Respiratory depression caused by barbiturates can be reversed by benzodiazepines c. Several weeks of treatment are necessary before barbiturates begin working d. Barbiturates increase the frequency of opening of GABAB chloride channels e. Tolerance and dependence do not occur when barbiturates are used chronically

A (D?)

Which statement concerning the adverse effects of antipsychotics is CORRECT? a. Blurred vision, constipation and sedation are side-effects of some antipsychotic drugs b. Inhibition of GABA receptors by olanzapine increases the appearance of negative symptoms c. Hallucinations are a common side-effect of drugs that inhibit D2 receptors d. Olanzapine but not haloperidol enhances the negative symptoms of schizophrenia e. Hypertension and sweating are common side-effect of antipsychotic drugs

A - Atropine-like effects are common of antipsychotics

Which one of the following mechanisms is CORRECT? a. PCP inhibits the NMDA receptor b. Cannabinoids increase glutamate release in the limbic system c. LSD inhibits serotonin metabolism in the cortex d. Heroin is an antagonist at mu-opioid receptors e. Ampetamines inhibit the reuptake of monoamines

A - PCP is an NMDA antagonist

Tyramine-containing foods should be avoided in individuals taking which one of the following? a. Phenelzine b. Imipramine c. Fluoxetine d. Morphine e. Benztropine

A - Phenelzine is a MAO inhibitor, while tyramine can increase the amount of NE release

Which one of the following statements about Alzheimer's disease is CORRECT? a. Benztropine administration would make the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease worse b. The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include tremor, rigidity and reduced mobility c. Constipation, dry mouth and blurred vision are common side-effects of Alzheimer disease treatments d. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors should be avoided in patients with Alzheimer's disease e. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors prevent amyloid plaque formation

A - benztropine is an ACh antagonist, further decreasing ACh receptor excitation

Which one of the following statements about sedative-hypnotics is CORRECT? a. Diazepam increases the frequency of opening of GABA-A chloride channels b. At high doses phenobarbital activates NMDA receptors c. Diazepam antagonizes the CNS depressant effects of opioids d. The microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system is the primary pathway for ethanol metabolism e. All of the metabolites of phenobarbital have sedative-hypnotic properties

A - diazepam facilitates GABA binding to GABA-a receptors

Which one of the following statements about sedative-hypnotics is CORRECT? a. Diazepam increases the frequency of opening of GABAA chloride channels b. At high doses phenobarbital activates NMDA receptors c. Diazepam antagonizes the CNS depressant effects of opioids d. The microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system is the primary pathway for ethanol metabolism e. All of the metabolites of phenobarbital have sedative-hypnotic properties

A - diazepam facilitates the binding of GABA to GABA-a

Which one of the following is not useful in the treatment of Parkinson's disease? a. Activation of dopamine receptors b. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase c. Increased dopamine synthesis d. Inhibition of dopamine metabolism e. Antagonism of acetylcholine receptors

B - You do not want to inhibit acetylcholinesterase in parkinson's patients; rather you want to decrease ACh levels

Which one of the following statements is INCORRECT? a. Lithium is more effective at treating the manic phase of bipolar affective disorder than the depressive phase b. Bupropion is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor c. Haloperidol could induce Parkinson-like symptoms d. Olanzipine less likely to enhance the negative symptoms of schizophrenia than haloperidol e. Antipsychotics and antidepressants can be used to treat bipolar affective disorder

B - bupropion is an SNRI not an SSRI

All of the following are side-effects of the medication indicated EXCEPT a. Hypertension following exposure to cocaine b. Constipation and dry mouth resulting from donepezil administration c. Respiratory depression following heroin injection d. Low blood pressure following an overdose of haloperidol e. Symptoms of psychosis following L-dopa administration

B - donepesil is an ACh agonist and would cause symptoms of muscarinic excess (increased GIT contraction and increased secretory activity)

Concerning the mechanisms of antidepressants, which one of the following statements is CORRECT? a. Bupropion inhibits D2 receptors b. Imipramine inhibits the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine c. Phenelzine decreases the levels of monoamines in the spinal cord d. Fluoxetine increases the metabolism of serotonin and dopamine e. All antidepressants increase the level of dopamine in the cortex

B - imipramine is a TCA (non-selective)

Which one of the following statements is INCORRECT? a. Most addictive drugs directly or indirectly increase dopamine levels in the lmbic system b. Tolerance does not occur with chronic use of alcohol or sedative hypnotics c. Long-term cocaine use can result in drug-induced psychosis d. Dependence rarely occurs with hallocinogens e. Clonidine can be used to treat autonomic symptoms of ethanol withdrawal

B - tolerance occurs with chronic use of alcohol and sedative hypnotics

A university student is brought to the emergency room by friends. The physician is told the student had taken a drug and then "flipped out". Several individuals were required to restrain the patient and symptoms included pupil dilation, tachycardia, hyperactivity and agitation. The most likely cause of these symptoms is intoxication from? a. Hashish b. Heroin c. Cocaine d. Ethanol e. Methadone

C - cocaine prevents the reuptake of NE, causing SNS activation (pupil dilation, hyperactivity, tachycardia, agitation, etc)

Concerning the hypotheses for the pathophysiological basis of schizophrenia, which one of the following statements is accurate? a. Serotonin is no longer considered to contribute to the pathology of schizophrenia b. All patients with psychosis have reduced numbers of D2 and 5-HT2A receptors c. Drug-induced psychosis can occur through inhibition of the NMDA receptor d. Increased glutamate release contributes to the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia e. Dopamine receptor antagonists exacerbate the symptoms of psychosis in individuals with schizophrenia

C - glutamate hypofunction is linked to increased DA levels in the limbic system and decreased DA levels in the cortex

Which one of the following drugs would make the symptoms of Parkinson's disease worse? a. Bupropion b. L-dopa c. Haloperidol d. Imipramine e. Selegiline

C - haloperidol is a DA antagonist

With respect to the treatment of depression, which one of the following statements is CORRECT? a. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors are much more effective than other available treatments b. Changes in dopamine neurotransmission have not been linked with depression c. Changes in neurotransmitter levels occur rapidly but it can take days or weeks before symptom relief occurs d. The combination of tyramine and phenelzine can result in an unsafe drop in blood pressure e. All antidepressants inhibit serotonin reuptake or metabolism

C - it can take longer for symptoms of antidepressant medication to take effect

An 85-year-old woman who is otherwise healthy was prescribed a benzodiazepine because she had difficulty sleeping. Which one of the following statements about the use of benzodiazepines in this patient is INCORRECT? a. Additive CNS depression can occur if she takes an over-the counter antihistamine at the same time b. She may experience amnesia if she also consumes alcoholic beverages c. Hypertension is a common side-effect of benzodiazepines in older patients d. The patient should be careful when taking this medication since it can decrease psychomotor skills e. The patient could experience rebound insomnia following abrupt discontinuation of this medication

C - sedatives do not cause hypertension

When it comes to opioid addiction, which one of the following statements is INCORRECT? a. Addiction is more common in individuals who use opioids recreationally than those who take opioids for pain management b. Naloxone can be used in an overdose situation c. Tolerance and dependence rarely occur d. Clonidine can be used to treat withdrawal symptoms e. Methadone is an opioid receptor agonist that can be used to treat opioid dependence

C - tolerance often occurs with opioid use

Which one of the following statements is CORRECT? A.PCP inhibits glutamate release B. Phenobarbital is a GABA receptor antagonist C. MPTP damages dopamine neurons by inhibiting monoamine oxidase D. Imipramine inhibits the reuptake of serotonin E. Ropinirole can be used to treat hallucinations

D - Imipramine inhibits the reuptake of serotonin

Which one of the following receptors would be affected by lithium? a. GABAA b. D2 c. NMDA d. CB1 e. 5-HT2A

E - serotonin receptors are affected by lithium, decreasing the recycling of secondary messangers

Which one of the following statements about alcohols is INCORRECT a. Ethanol can be used to treat methanol poisoning b. Additive CNS depression occurs when ethanol is combined with opioid agonsits c. The metabolism of ethanol by alcohol dehydrogenase occurs via zero-order kinetics d. Ethanol prevents the activation of GABAA receptors e. Benzodiazepines can be used to treat the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal

D - ethanol acts to increase GABA-a activation

Which one of the following drug combinations can result in serotonin syndrome? a. diazepam and lithium b. phenelzine and olanzapine c. selegiline and phenobarbital d. imipramine and phenelzine e. bupropion and ropinirole

D - pairing of a MAO inhibitor with an TCA, SSRI, or SNRI can cause serotonin syndrome

Which one of the following statements is CORRECT? a. Glutamate increases intracellular chloride levels b. In the central nervous system, acetylcholine activates muscarinic but not nicotinic receptors c. NMDA and GABA receptors are all linked to G-proteins d. Serotonin has been implicated in both depression and schizophrenia e. Amphetamie increases the release of acetylcholine in the cortex

D - serotonin imbalances are associated with depression (low) and schizophrenia (high)

All of the following statements about CNS pharmacology are true EXCEPT a. Cannabinoids like THC activate CB1 receptors b. Clonidine can be used to treat some of the symptoms of ethanol withdrawal c. Morphine activates presynaptic and postsynaptic mu-opioid receptors d. Many antipsychotics are antagonists at both dopamine and serotonin receptors e. L-Dopa must be metabolized to dopamine before it can be transported across the blood-brain barrier

E - L-Dopa must be metabolized to dopamine before it can be transported across the BBB

Which one of the following statements about Parkinsonism is CORRECT? a. Monoamine oxidase destroys nigrostriatal neurons by converting MPP+ to MPTP b. Selegiline selectively inhibits monoamine oxidase A c. Dopamine receptor agonists should be avoided in patients with Parkinson's disease d. Antimuscarinic drugs prevent the further loss of nigrostriatal GABA neurons e. L-dopa can cause several side-effects including hallucinations and involuntary movements

E - L-dopa can cause hyperactivity of dopamine receptors in the limbic system, causing psychosis

Which one of the following statements is CORRECT? a. Elevations in dopamine and GABA levels have all been linked to psychosis b. Hallucinations can be induced by dopamine receptor antagonists c. The combination of olanzapine and selegiline can cause serotonin syndrome d. Haloperidol is an alpha 1 receptor agonist e. There can be a delay in the effectiveness of antipsychotics

E - there is a delay in antipsychotic effectiveness

Which one of the following signs and symptoms is INCORRECT? a. Ethanol withdrawal symptoms can include anxiety, insomnia and tremors b. Amphetamine overdose can cause hypertension, agitation and hallucinations c. Respiratory depression can occur with heroin overdose d. Effects of marijuana can include enhanced appetite, uncontrollable laughter and altered concentration e. An overdose of diazepam would result in anxiety, insomnia, irritability and nausea

E - withdrawal from diazepam is likely to cause these symptoms

A 36-year-old woman was prescribed fluoxetine to treat the symptoms of major depression. She is currently not taking any other prescription medications. Which of the following information would you tell this patient? Insomnia is a possible side-effect of fluoxetine The dose of fluoxetine may need to be adjusted depending on therapeutic outcome and adverse effects Drug interactions can occur between fluoxetine and other prescription medications The antidepressant effects of fluoxetine may take several weeks to appear All of the above

E. All of the above

Which one of the following would most likely result from treatment with diazepam? a. Improved performance on memory and motor function tests b. Stimulation of GABA release from nerve terminals c. Enhanced withdrawal symptoms in chronic alcoholics d. Increased half-lives of other drugs metabolized by the liver e. Sedation and promotion of sleep

E. Diazepam is a sedative-hypnotic