Quiz Answers Midterm Flashcards
The blood brain barrier is most permeable to what kind of molecule?
small, lipid-soluble
The central nervous system (CNS) is comprised of
the brain and the spine
Which of the following is NOT a part of the “reward circuit”?
A. frontal lobe
B. tectum
C. ventral tegmental area (VTA)
D. nucleus accumbens
B. tectum
Which division of the nervous system controls bodily organs, glands, ducts, and pupils?
A. somatic
B. enteric
C. central
D. autonomic
D. autonomic
What division of the nervous system controls the gut?
A. enteric
B. central
C. somatic
D. autonomic
A. enteric
What ionic movement begins an action potential?
A. exit of sodium ions
B. exit of potassium ions
C. entrance of sodium ions
D. entrance of potassium ions
C. entrance of sodium ions
An ion channel that contains a receptor site is called
an ionotropic receptor
Which of the following is NOT a monoamine?
A. dopamine
B. glutamate
C. norepinephrine
D. serotonin
B. glutamate
Which neurotransmitter is particularly important for mood, appetite, and sleep?
A. serotonin
B. GABA
C. glutamate
D. dopamine
A. serotonin
Drugs administered “sublingually” (under the tongue) and drugs administered orally are absorbed mostly in the ____ and ____ respectively.
A. mouth; stomach
B. small intestine; large intestine
C. stomach; small intestine
D. mouth; small intestine
D. mouth; small intestine
Which route of administration is characterized as “enteral”?
A. topical
B. inhalation
C. injection
D. oral
D. oral
All of the following drug attributes decrease the likelihood of drug absorption EXCEPT:
A. small size
B. low lipid-solubility
C. high water-solubility
D. large size
A. small size
What are the two main differences between capillaries in the periphery and capillaries in the brain?
capillaries in the brain have tighter junctions & are surrounded by membranes of astrocyte cells
Of the following, which is the most dangerous mode of drug administration?
A. subcutaneous
B. topical
C. intramuscular
D. intravenous
D. intravenous
The degradation of drugs by enzymes present in the gastrointestinal tract and liver is known as:
first-pass metabolism
Most drugs are excreted via the
kidneys
The time for the plasma level of a drug to fall by 50% is called the
elimination half-life
The “steady-state” concentration of a drug (the stable level achieved in blood with repeated, regular dosing) is
achieved when the amount of drug administered per unit time equals the amount eliminated per unit time
The ability of liver enzymes to degrade a drug more efficiently in the continued presence of the drug is termed
metabolic tolerance
“Pharmacodynamic” tolerance occurs in the ____; “metabolic” tolerance occurs in the _____.
synapse/neuron; liver
The term placebo is best described as
A pharmacologically inactive substance that elicits a significant therapeutic response
A drug that is more potent than another drug has
a smaller ED50
Most side effects are:
A. predictable and serious
B. predictable and mild
C. unpredictable and mild
D. unpredictable and serious
B. predictable and mild
The therapeutic index (TI) refers to the
relative safety of a drug
A drug that blocks the effect of the naturally occurring (endogenous) compound is called:
an antagonist
The dose of a drug that produces the desired effect in half of the subject is called the drug’s
ED50
The study of the effects a drug has when it binds to its target/receptor is termed
pharmacodynamics
Compared to males, most females:
A. have increased intestinal motility
B. have more intestinal enzymatic activity
C. have more water
D. have more fat
D. have more fat
Which of the following drug names are capitalized?
A. trade
B. none of these drug names are capitalized
C. generic
D. chemical
A. trade
Affinity refers to
the strength of attraction between a molecule (ligand) and its target (receptor)
The observation that caffeine cannot exert as much central nervous system stimulation as amphetamine indicates that caffeine
is less efficacious than amphetamine
A drug that is more efficacious than another drug has
a larger maximum effect
During pregnancy, intestinal motility ___
decreases
According to the DEA, the most dangerous drugs are typically scheduled as
Schedule I
In general, antipsychotics have a _____ potential for dependence, and a ____ potential for tolerance.
A. strong; weak
B. strong; strong
C. weak; weak
D. weak; strong
C. weak; weak
The word tardive in tardive dyskinesia indicates that the symptoms
A. appear later in treatment
B. can be reduced by lowering the dose of antipsychotic drug
C. are permanent
D. affect the upper parts of the body first
A. appear later in treatment
Carprazine should not be used by
A. patients with schizophrenia
B. elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis
C. male patients
D. patients with bipolar disorder
B. elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis
The single best predictor of antipsychotic efficacy in a drug is an affinity for ____ receptors.
D2
Loxapine is the only antipsychotic that
A. does not produce EPS
B. is administered via inhalation
C. does not induce weight gain
D. does not bind to D2 receptors
B. is administered via inhalation
The most problematic side effect caused by clozapine is
agranulocytosis
The percentage of the world’s population suffering from schizophrenia is
1%
Chlorpromazine was originally developed to be a
A. sedative
B. soporific
C. stimulant
D. pain reliever
A. sedative
An off-label use for risperidone is
A. nausea
B. OCD
C. schizophrenia
D. narcolepsy
B. OCD
What is the most common side effect of treatment with olanzapine?
A. weight gain
B. blurred vision
C. seizures
D. nausea
A. weight gain
Which of the following is NOT a negative symptom of schizophrenia?
disorganized behavior
Phenothiazines are in the class of antipsychotics known as
first-generation antipsychotics
What is the primary indication of haloperidol?
psychosis
amisulpride is a good choice of antipsychotic for patients who have a high risk for
diabetes
Which of the following is NOT a positive symptom of schizophrenia?
Flat affect
The uncontrollable movements of muscles commonly in the limbs, face, and tongue produced by ACUTE treatment with antipsychotics are called
dystonia
The major side effect of the first-generation antipsychotics is
motor impairment
Compared to SSRIs, TCAs are:
equally effective, but have different side effects
Impairment of memory is a side effect clearly associated with the use of
TCAs
First-generation tricyclic antidepressants are defined by a commonality in basic
molecular structure
What type of antidepressant is amitriptyline?
A. SNRI
B. TCA
C. SSRI
D. MAOI
B. TCA
The tricyclic antidepressants differ from Prozac and Zoloft in that they also have major effects on _______.
A. serotonin
B. GABA
C. norepinephrine
D. glutamate
norepinephrine
Venlafaxine is a/an
A. TCA
B. SNRI
C. SSRI
D. MAOI
B. SNRI
An SNRI would be a good treatment choice for someone
A. with GAD
B. with OCD
C. with MDD and pain
D. with anorexia
C. with MDD and pain
Which neurotransmitters are affected by amitriptyline?
A. 5-HT, NE, DA
B. GABA, NE, ACh
C. NE, ACH, DA
D. NE, ACh, 5-HT
D. NE, ACh, 5-HT
The neurogenic theory of depression stems from recent findings that in the mature brain
neurons are capable of being repaired and produced
Of the following classes of antidepressant drugs, the one associated with the highest incidence of sexual dysfunction is
A. TCAs
B. SSRIs
C. SNRIs
D. MAOIs
B. SSRIs
Orthostatic hypotension is a common side effect of
TCAs and MAOIs
Which statement best describes the pharmacodynamics of escitalopram?
It primarily effects 5-HT systems with minimal effects on NE/DA/ACh systems
What is the pharmacodynamic mechanism of bupropion?
it blocks DA and NE reuptake
If an SSRI is taken in conjunction with an MAOI, the levels of 5-HT can become dangerously high leading to
serotonin syndrome
Electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) is sometimes used to treat Bipolar Disorder because
it has rapid effects
The rate of suicide for bipolar patients is approximately ___ times that of the general population.
10
The classic drug for treating bipolar disorder is
lithium
Atypical antipsychotics are often used as a first-time treatment for Bipolar Disorder because
they have a better safety profile than lithium
Oxcarbazepine is an improvement of the carbamazepine molecule, and has a better side-effect profile. Which of the following is NOT one of the improvements?
A. lower rate of leucopenia
B. no alternations in liver enzymes
C. less weight gain
D. fewer GI issues
C. less weight gain
Which of the following is NOT a side effect of lithium?
A. EPS
B. weight gain
C. nystagmus
D. goiter
A. EPS
Valproate appears to be more effective for patients who have _____, compared to lithium.
mixed episodes
Similarly to antidepressants, lithium appears to:
A. increase neuroprotective factors
B. block the SERT
C. block DA receptors
D. increase monamine production
A. increase neuroprotective factors
One of the biggest problems with carbamazepine is that it can induce
agranulocytosis
Topamaz is used in the treatment of bipolar disorder to decrease
weight gain
One of the most serious side effects associated with taking Lamictal is
rash
What is the original primary indication for lamotrigine?
seizure disorder/epilepsy
Bipolar patients spend most of their lives in a ____ state.
asymptomatic
The therapeutic index for lithium is ___; the antidote for overdose is ___.
low; unavailable
Antiepileptics include all of the following drugs except:
lithium
barbituates are in a class of drugs known as
sedative-hypnotics
Drugs that reduce the activity of the ____ seem to be particularly efficacious for treating Panic Disorder.
locus coeruleus
In addition to treating anxiety, Buspirone can be used to improve the ____ side effects caused by SSRIs.
A. motor
B. cognitive
C. gastrointestinal
D. sexual
D. sexual
Barbiturates and benzodiazepines bind to what kind of receptor?
GABA A
Which of the following is NOT a benefit of Buspirone?
A. It has fewer side effects, compared to benzodiazepines.
B. It is equally efficacious, compared to other anxiolytics.
C. It is non-habit forming.
D. It is immediately effective.
D. It is immediately effective
Which of the following neurotransmitters is NOT thought to be important to the etiology of anxiety?
A. GABA
B. norepinephrine
C. dopamine
D. serotonin
C. dopamine
The most common sub-type of anxiety disorder is:
A. post-traumatic stress disorder
B. social anxiety
C. phobia
D. generalized anxiety disorder
C. phobia
It is recommended that pharmacological treatment of anxiety disorders begins with:
A. barbituates
B. SSRIs
C. beta blockers
D. benzodiazepines
B. SSRIs
Benzodiazepines differ from one another mainly in terms of
pharmacokinetics
Compared to benzodiazepines, SSRIs seem to be particularly effective for treating:
A. GAD
B. Panic Disorder
C. OCD
D. Social Anxiety Disorder
C. OCD
Alprazolam is contraindicated in patients who
smoke
Compared to barbiturates, benzodiazepines are
safer
Of the following anxiety disorders, which one has equal gender ratios?
Social Anxiety
Propanolol is a
beta blocker
Venlafaxine is associated with a higher risk of _____ in young (<24) patients.
suicide
Which of the following is NOT a concern regarding barbiturates?
some have extremely long half-lives
The cortical hyperactivity seen in patients with anxiety disorders is thought to be due to all of the following EXCEPT:
DA hypofunction
Unlike other anxiolytics, beta-blockers primarily work
peripherally
The anticipatory anxiety experienced by people who have panic attacks can sometimes progress to
agoraphobia
The most common cause of death when combining benzodiazepines with another CNS depressant (like alcohol) is
respiratory depression
Stimulation of the GABAA1 receptor is thought to result in all of the following effects EXCEPT
anxiolysis
Ma huang should not be combined with caffeine, as this can increase the risk of
cardiac arrest
What is the ideal ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids?
1:1
Pharmacodynamically, valerian is classified as a/n
GABA agonist
Valerian is best described as a/n:
A. depressant
B. sedative
C. antipsychotic
D. stimulant
B. sedative
Gingkgo biloba should not be combined with:
A. SSRIs
B. grapefruit juice
C. tamoxifen
D. aspirin
D. aspirin
What part of the kava plant is traditionally consumed?
A. flowers
B. roots
C. leaves
D. stems
B. roots
The pharmacodynamic mechanism of St. John’s wort is very similar to that of:
A. TCAs
B. SSRIs
C. MAOIs
D. SNRIs
A. TCAs
Ginkgo bliboba is mainly used to improve:
A. cognition
B. insomnia
C. mania
D. ADHD
A. cognition
Valerian is commonly called “Nature’s ____.”
Valium
All of the following are active compounds found in kava EXCEPT:
A. kavain
B. terpene trilactones
C. yangonin
D. methysticin
B. terpene trilactones
Which of the following is ma huang used for?
asthma
Valerian is commonly used to treat all of the following EXCEPT
high blood pressure
Toxicity can result from the consumption of the ginkgo biloba
seeds
Which of the following plants is NOT used as an anxiolytic?
Ma huang
Kava grows naturally in what part of the world?
South Pacific
The active ingredient in St. John’s wort is thought to be
hypericum perfortatum
An important property of omega-3 fatty acids is that they have ____ effects.
anti-inflammatory
An important pharmacodynamic effect of ginkgo biloba is
anticoagulation
Kava has pharmacodynamic effects very similar to
alcohol
In the past, use of kava has been linked to
hepatotoxicity
