Modes of action

Question 1

Mirtazapine

Answer 1

Antidepressant- 
Noradrenaline and serotonin specific antidepressant (NaSSa) 
5HT2 antagonist, 5HT3 antagonist, 
H1 antagonist, 
alpha 1 and 2 antagonist, 
moderate muscarinic antagonist

Question 2

Venlafaxine

Answer 2

Antidepressant-

Serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)

Question 3

Duloxetine

Answer 3

Antidepressant-

Serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)

Question 4

Roboxetine

Answer 4

Antidepressant-

Noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (NaRI)

Question 5

St John’s wort

Answer 5

Antidepressant-
Weak MAOI
Weak SNRI
(also considered to be a weak SSRI)

Question 6

Trazodone

Answer 6

Antidepressant-

Serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI)

Question 7

Moclobemide

Answer 7

RIMA/MAOI Antidepressant-

Reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase type A

Question 8

Agomelatine

Answer 8

Atypical Antidepressant-
Melatonergic agonist (MT1 and MT2 receptors) and 5-HT2C antagonist

Question 9

Bupropion (Zyban)

Answer 9

Antidepressant-

Norepinephrine and Dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist

Question 10

Donepezil

Answer 10

Antidementia-

Reversible anticholinesterase inhibitor

Question 11

Rivastigmine

Answer 11

Antidementia-

Reversible anticholinesterase inhibitor and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor

Question 12

Galantamine

Answer 12

Antidementia-

Reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and binds allosterically to nicotinic acetylcholinesterase inhibitor

Question 13

Tacrine

Answer 13

Antidementia-

Reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor

Question 14

Memantine

Answer 14

Antidementia-

Non-competitive NMDA antagonist

Question 15

Valproate

Answer 15

Mood stabiliser-

GABA agonist and NMDA antagonist

Question 16

Gabapentin

Answer 16

Mood stabiliser-
Mode of action unclear, known to bind to voltage activated calcium channels, unclear if this is how it exerts therapeutic effect

Question 17

Topiramate

Answer 17

Mood stabiliser-

GABA agonist, NMDA antagonist and Na channel stabiliser

Question 18

Carbamazepine

Answer 18

Mood stabiliser-

Stabilises Na channels

Question 19

Phenytoin

Answer 19

Mood stabiliser-

stabilises Na channels

Question 20

Lamotrigine

Answer 20

Mood stabiliser-

NMDA antagonist and stabilises Na channels

Question 21

Pregabalin

Answer 21

Mood stabiliser-

Potent ligand for alpha-2-delta subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels

Question 22

Diazepam

Answer 22

Benzodiazepine/ GABA-A agonist

Question 23

Lorazepam

Answer 23

Benzodiazepine/ GABA-A agonist

Question 24

Temazepam

Answer 24

Benzodiazepine/ GABA-A agonist

Question 25

Clonazepam

Answer 25

Benzodiazepine/ GABA-A agonist

Question 26

Midazolam

Answer 26

Benzodiazepine/ GABA-A agonist

Question 27

Zolpidem

Answer 27

Z drug/ GABA-A agonist

Question 28

Zopiclone

Answer 28

Z drug/ GABA-A agonist

Question 29

Buspirone

Answer 29

anxiolytic / 5HT1A partial agonist

Question 30

Ketamine

Answer 30

NMDA antagonist

Question 31

Phencyclidine

Answer 31

Drug of abuse (PCP) NMDA antagonist

Question 32

Lofexedine

Answer 32

Aids with opiate withdrawal / Alpha 2 agonist

Question 33

Clonidine

Answer 33

ADHD tx, Aids with opiate withdrawal / Alpha 2 agonist

Question 34

Buprenorphine

Answer 34

Aids with opiate withdrawal / Partial agonist of mu opioid receptor

Question 35

Naloxone

Answer 35

Tx for opiate OD / Pure opioid antagonist

Question 36

Atomoxetine

Answer 36

ADHD tx / Noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor

Question 37

Varenicline

Answer 37

Nicotine withdrawal aid / Nicotonic receptor partial agonist

Question 38

Disulfiram

Answer 38

Induces acute sensitivity to alcohol for tx of alcoholism Binds to acetaldehyde dehydrogenase causing acetaldehyde to accumulate. This leads to flushing, severe headache, respiratory distress, nausea and vomiting

Question 39

Acamprosate

Answer 39

treatment for alcoholism / metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist and GABA-A agonist

Question 40

Selegiline

Answer 40

Treatment for parkinsonianism and as an adjunct to co-beneldopa or co-careldopa to reduce end of dose deterioration / selective, irreversible inhibition of monoamine oxidase type B (also inhibits MAO-A at higher doses

Question 41

Sildenafil

Answer 41

Erectile dysfunction / Inhibits cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5)

Question 42

Amisulpride

Answer 42

2/D3 selective antagonist (low affinity selective antagonist of 'D2 like' receptors (D2=D3>D4) it has little affinity for D1 like' receptors (D1 and D5) or non dopaminergic receptors (serotonin, histamine, adrenergic, and cholinergic)

Question 43

Olanzapine

Answer 43

Dopamine and 5HT2 antagonism

Question 44

Aripiprazole

Answer 44

Partial agonist at 5HT1A and D2, and 5HT2A antagonist

Question 45

Clozapine

Answer 45

High affinity for D4, (to a lesser extent D1, D2, D3, D5) also 5 HT 1A partial agonist and 5HT2 antagonist