Chap. 5 review questions

Question 1

Sarah presents for her initial intake with complaints of depression.  She is being treated for HTN and asthma by her PCP.  Knowing that some meds can exacerbate depression, which of the following on her medication history might you suspect as being contributory?
A-Prilosec
B-Propranolol
C-Synthroid
D-Biaxin

Answer 1

B - Propranolol. Beta blockers can cause or exacerbate depression

Question 2

The study of what the body does to drugs is called
A - Pharmacodynamics
B - Pharmacology
C - Pharmacokinetics
D - Distribution

Answer 2

C - Pharmacokinetics

Question 3

When treating the elderly, you should keep in mind that they are more sensitive to issues of drug toxicity because of which of the following:
A-Decreased body fat
B-Increased liver capacity
C-Decreased protein binding
D-Increased muscle concentration

Answer 3

C - Decreased protein binding.
Elderly people usually have decreased protein levels. Most psychotropic medications are highly protein bound. It is the unbound, or free, concentration of the drug that is active; the bound concentration is not. Thus with decreased protein available for binding, there is more free drug available, leading to a propensity for toxicity.

Question 4

Which known teratogenic effects can be caused by the common psychotropic medications of DPK and lithium?
A - DPK, Epstein anomaly; Li+, cleft palate
B - DPK, spina bifida; Li+, Epstein anomaly
C - DPK, limb malformations; Li+, Sz disorder
D - DPK, MR; Li+, spina bifida

Answer 4

B - Lithium during pregnancy is known to cause a cardiac defect called Epstein anomaly. DPK in pregnancy is on two cause neural tube defects like spina bifida.