Active Recall 1

Module 1: Psychiatric Pharmacology

  1. Benzodiazepines, such as Alprazolam, work by enhancing the inhibitory neurotransmitter ________________________________________; the antidote for toxicity is ________________________________________.

  2. Buspirone is an anxiolytic that does not cause sedation or dependence, but it takes ________________________________________weeks to reach full therapeutic effect.

  3. SSRIs (e.g., Fluoxetine) carry a risk of ________________________________________Syndrome, which manifests as agitation, fever, tremors, and hyperreflexia.

  4. SNRIs like Venlafaxine block the reuptake of serotonin and ________________________________________; therefore, nurses must monitor the patient for ________________________________________(a cardiovascular side effect).

  5. Bupropion is an atypical antidepressant that does not cause sexual dysfunction but carries a specific risk for ________________________________________, especially in patients with eating disorders.

  6. The TCA Amitriptyline causes ________________________________________effects (dry mouth, urinary retention) and can be lethal in overdose due to cardiac ________________________________________.

  7. Clients taking MAOIs (e.g., Phenelzine) must avoid foods high in ________________________________________(e.g., aged cheese, cured meats) to prevent a ________________________________________Crisis.

  8. Lithium toxicity is increased by ________________________________________(electrolyte imbalance) and concurrent use of ________________________________________(pain medication class) or diuretics.

  9. First-generation antipsychotics like Haloperidol carry a high risk of ________________________________________(e.g., acute dystonia) and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome.

  10. Clozapine requires strict monitoring of the ________________________________________count due to the risk of Agranulocytosis.

Module 2: Chronic Neurologic Disorders

  1. Myasthenia Gravis is treated with cholinesterase inhibitors like ________________________________________, which increase the amount of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction.

  2. A "Cholinergic Crisis" (too much medication) presents with SLUDGE symptoms and ________________________________________(slow heart rate); it is treated with ________________________________________.

  3. In Parkinson's treatment, Levodopa crosses the blood-brain barrier to convert to dopamine, while ________________________________________prevents its breakdown in the periphery.

  4. Pramipexole is a dopamine agonist that can cause ________________________________________control disorders (e.g., gambling) and sudden sleep attacks.

  5. Phenytoin can cause gingival ________________________________________; therefore, nurses must teach good oral hygiene.

  6. Carbamazepine carries a risk for ________________________________________dyscrasias (low WBCs, RBCs, platelets) and serious skin rashes like Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

  7. Valproic Acid carries a risk for ________________________________________(liver damage) and ________________________________________(inflammation of the pancreas).

  8. Lamotrigine requires slow titration to prevent ________________________________________Syndrome.

  9. Topiramate can cause metabolic ________________________________________and reduced sweating (overheating risk).

  10. For Status Epilepticus, the first-line medication administered IV is a ________________________________________(e.g., Lorazepam).

Answer Key

  1. GABA; Flumazenil

  2. 2–4 (or 1–4)

  3. Serotonin

  4. Norepinephrine; Hypertension

  5. Seizures

  6. Anticholinergic; Dysrhythmias

  7. Tyramine; Hypertensive

  8. Hyponatremia (or Dehydration/Low Sodium); NSAIDs

  9. EPS (Extrapyramidal Symptoms)

  10. WBC (or ANC/Neutrophil)

  11. Neostigmine (or Pyridostigmine)

  12. Bradycardia; Atropine

  13. Carbidopa

  14. Impulse

  15. Hyperplasia

  16. Blood

  17. Hepatotoxicity; Pancreatitis

  18. Stevens-Johnson

  19. Acidosis

  20. Benzodiazepine

Would you like to try applying these to a specific case study, or move on to a new topic?