Central Nervous System Disease Pharmacotherapy: Master Your Knowledge

Question 1

Explain the significance of monitoring for potential drug interactions when prescribing medications for central nervous system disorders, providing specific examples to illustrate your points.

Accepted Answer

Monitoring for drug-drug interactions is essential because these interactions can markedly affect the safety and efficacy of CNS medications.

Answer

Monitoring for drug-drug interactions is only necessary when patients are taking multiple CNS medications.

Answer

All CNS medications have a minimal potential for drug-drug interactions.

Answer

It is advisable for patients to avoid all potential drug interactions, regardless of the specific medications they are taking.

Question 2

Which of the following is the primary mechanism of action of benzodiazepines?

Accepted Answer

Positive allosteric modulation of GABA receptors

Answer

Enhancement of GABA neurotransmission

Answer

Blockade of NMDA receptors

Answer

Inhibition of serotonin reuptake

Question 3

Which of the following antidepressant medications is classified as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)?

Accepted Answer

Fluoxetine

Answer

Amitriptyline

Answer

Venlafaxine

Answer

Bupropion

Question 4

What is the first-line pharmacological treatment for schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Atypical antipsychotics

Answer

Typical antipsychotics

Answer

Mood stabilizers

Answer

Anticholinergics

Question 5

Which anticonvulsant medication is typically considered first-line for the treatment of generalized tonic-clonic seizures?

Accepted Answer

Sodium valproate

Answer

Lamotrigine

Answer

Carbamazepine

Answer

Levetiracetam

Question 6

Which neurotransmitter deficiency has been implicated in the pathophysiology of depression?

Accepted Answer

Serotonin

Answer

Dopamine

Answer

Noradrenaline

Answer

Acetylcholine

Question 7

Which class of antidepressants is often used to treat neuropathic pain?

Accepted Answer

Tricyclic antidepressants

Answer

Selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

Answer

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

Answer

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

Question 8

Which of the following is a commonly used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for the treatment of depression?

Accepted Answer

Fluoxetine

Answer

Venlafaxine (a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, SNRI)

Answer

Lithium (a mood stabilizer)

Answer

Lamotrigine (an anticonvulsant)

Question 9

Which neurotransmitter is the primary target of benzodiazepines, commonly used to treat anxiety disorders?

Accepted Answer

GABA

Answer

Dopamine

Answer

Serotonin

Answer

Glutamate

Question 10

Which antipsychotic drug is known for its potent affinity for the D2 dopamine receptor and is commonly used in the treatment of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Haloperidol (a typical antipsychotic)

Answer

Quetiapine (an atypical antipsychotic)

Answer

Clozapine (an atypical antipsychotic)

Answer

Risperidone (an atypical antipsychotic)

Question 11

Which of the following is a common side effect of anticonvulsant drugs, such as those used in the treatment of epilepsy?

Accepted Answer

Drowsiness

Answer

Tardive dyskinesia (a movement disorder)

Answer

Hypertension

Answer

Hepatotoxicity

Question 12

Which pathophysiological mechanism is thought to be a major factor in the development of Alzheimer's disease?

Accepted Answer

Accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques

Answer

Decreased dopamine production

Answer

Excessive glutamate activity

Answer

Loss of cholinergic neurons

Question 13

Which drug class is primarily employed to improve cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease?

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (e.g., donepezil)

Answer

NMDA receptor antagonists (e.g., memantine)

Answer

MAO inhibitors (e.g., phenelzine)

Answer

Dopamine agonists (e.g., pramipexole)

Question 14

Which type of stroke is caused by a blockage in a blood vessel, resulting in reduced blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain?

Accepted Answer

Ischemic stroke

Answer

Hemorrhagic stroke (caused by bleeding in the brain)

Answer

Transient ischemic attack (TIA; a temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain)

Answer

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding in the space surrounding the brain)

Question 15

Which neurotransmitter system is believed to be impaired in Huntington's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder?

Accepted Answer

Dopaminergic (involving the neurotransmitter dopamine)

Answer

GABAergic (involving the neurotransmitter GABA)

Answer

Serotonergic (involving the neurotransmitter serotonin)

Answer

Glutamatergic (involving the neurotransmitter glutamate)

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT typically considered a hallmark symptom of depression?

Accepted Answer

Increased energy levels and psychomotor agitation

Answer

Persistent sadness and low mood

Answer

Loss of interest or pleasure in activities

Answer

Weight loss and appetite disturbance

Question 17

Which neurotransmitter is strongly implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Dopamine

Answer

Serotonin

Answer

Noradrenaline

Answer

Glutamate

Question 18

The primary mechanism of action of sodium valproate in the treatment of epilepsy is believed to be:

Accepted Answer

Inhibition of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transaminase

Answer

Enhancement of GABA release

Answer

Blockade of voltage-gated calcium channels

Answer

Activation of adenosine receptors

Question 19

Which of the following is a potential adverse effect associated with long-term use of benzodiazepines?

Accepted Answer

Development of tolerance and dependence

Answer

Withdrawal seizures

Answer

Paradoxical agitation

Answer

Urinary incontinence

Question 20

The primary therapeutic goal in pharmacotherapy for depression is to:

Accepted Answer

Reduce symptoms to a manageable level, improving functionality

Answer

Achieve complete remission of symptoms

Answer

Prevent relapse

Answer

Enhance overall quality of life

Question 21

Which of the following represents a potential drug interaction with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)?

Accepted Answer

Serotonin syndrome with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

Answer

Increased risk of bleeding with warfarin

Answer

Reduced efficacy of anticonvulsants

Answer

Hypotension with antihypertensives

Question 22

Which cytochrome P450 enzyme is primarily responsible for the metabolism of many anticonvulsant medications?

Accepted Answer

CYP3A4

Answer

CYP2C9

Answer

CYP2D6

Answer

CYP450