1 :

Hint : 🧠 SSRIs raise suicide risk early.

Correct Answers:

  • A client who has an obsessive-compulsive disorder and takes fluoxetine.


Rationale :

🔷 Fluoxetine, an SSRI, increases serotonin levels, but during initial therapy, it may cause activation syndrome, characterized by restlessness and increased impulsivity.

🔷 This heightened activation can trigger suicidal ideation, especially in younger adults and those with coexisting psychiatric conditions.

🔷 Clients with OCD often have underlying anxiety and depressive symptoms, which may worsen temporarily before therapeutic effects begin.

🔷 Close monitoring during the first weeks of therapy is essential to prevent self-harm.

🔷 Nurses should provide frequent mental health assessments and education on reporting mood changes immediately.


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2 :

Hint : 👅 Watch orofacial TD signs.

Correct Answers:

  • Slurred speech
  • Involuntary movements of the tongue


Rationale :

Slurred speech

💎 Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a late-onset extrapyramidal side effect of haloperidol, resulting from chronic dopamine receptor blockade in the basal ganglia.

💎 Involvement of the orofacial muscles leads to difficulty in articulating words, presenting as slurred speech.

💎 Slurred speech in TD is persistent and involuntary, distinguishing it from transient dysarthria caused by other conditions.

💎 Early recognition is critical because TD symptoms can become irreversible if not promptly addressed.

💎 Nurses should report these findings immediately for possible medication adjustment or discontinuation.

Involuntary movements of the tongue

💎 Involuntary tongue thrusting, lip-smacking, and chewing movements are hallmark signs of TD.

💎 These movements occur due to supersensitivity of dopamine receptors after long-term antipsychotic use.

💎 TD can severely affect speech, swallowing, and social interactions, reducing quality of life.

💎 Identifying early orofacial TD signs allows for timely intervention, such as switching to atypical antipsychotics or using VMAT2 inhibitors.

💎 Continuous assessment for TD is a critical nursing responsibility when caring for clients on typical antipsychotics.


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3 :

Hint : 🧠 Mood stabilizer for mania.

Correct Answers:

  • Bipolar disorder


Rationale :

💎 Valproic acid is a mood stabilizer primarily used to treat bipolar disorder, especially for managing acute manic episodes and rapid cycling.

💎 It works by increasing GABA activity, which decreases neuronal excitability and stabilizes mood.

💎 It is also sometimes used as an adjunct in schizoaffective disorder, but bipolar disorder is its primary psychiatric indication.

💎 Nurses must monitor liver enzymes and platelet counts due to the risk of hepatotoxicity and thrombocytopenia.

💎 Consistent medication adherence helps prevent mood swings and relapse in bipolar disorder.


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4 :

Hint : 🧂 NSAIDs & low sodium ↑ lithium.

Correct Answers:

  • Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Consuming a low-sodium diet


Rationale :

Taking NSAIDs

♦️ NSAIDs reduce renal clearance of lithium, increasing serum levels and toxicity risk.

♦️ Clients should be educated to consult healthcare providers before taking over-the-counter pain relievers.

♦️ Acetaminophen is usually a safer alternative for mild pain relief in clients on lithium.

♦️ Nurses must assess renal function regularly when lithium is used with other nephrotoxic drugs.

Consuming a low-sodium diet

♦️ A low-sodium diet causes the kidneys to retain lithium in place of sodium, leading to elevated levels.

♦️ Nurses should emphasize consistent sodium intake to maintain therapeutic lithium levels.

♦️ Educating on avoiding excessive sweating or dehydration, which mimics low sodium states, is also crucial.


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5 :

Hint : 📝 Stimulant improves ADHD focus.

Correct Answers:

  • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)


Rationale :

💎 Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine sulfate is a CNS stimulant primarily prescribed for ADHD to improve focus, attention span, and impulse control.

💎 It works by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the prefrontal cortex, enhancing executive functioning.

💎 It is also used for narcolepsy, but ADHD remains the primary psychiatric indication.

💎 Nurses should monitor for insomnia, decreased appetite, and potential cardiovascular effects in clients.

💎 Regular assessment of growth in children and monitoring for misuse or dependency is essential.


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6 :

Hint : 🧠Depression & Parkinson’s aid.

Correct Answers:

  • Treatment of major depression
  • Management of Parkinson's disease


Rationale :

Treatment of major depression

🔷 Selegiline, in its transdermal form, is approved for major depressive disorder when other antidepressants are ineffective.

🔷 It is a selective MAO-B inhibitor at low doses but affects MAO-A at higher doses, increasing dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin availability.

🔷 Dietary precautions are needed to avoid hypertensive crisis from tyramine-rich foods at higher doses.

🔷 It is typically used in resistant depression cases due to its interaction risks.

Management of Parkinson's disease

🔷 Selegiline slows dopamine breakdown in the brain, improving motor function in Parkinson's.

🔷 It is often used with levodopa/carbidopa to enhance and prolong their effects.

🔷 Early initiation can delay the need for higher doses of dopaminergic medications.

🔷 Nurses must monitor for orthostatic hypotension and hallucinations in older adults.


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7 :

Hint : ⚠️Toxic if >1.5 mEq/L.

Correct Answers:

  • 1.5


Rationale :

💎 Lithium has a narrow therapeutic range (0.6–1.2 mEq/L), and levels above 1.5 mEq/L indicate toxicity.

💎 Early signs of toxicity include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fine tremors, and confusion.

💎 Severe toxicity can progress to coarse tremors, ataxia, seizures, and coma, which may be life-threatening.

💎 Nurses should monitor lithium levels regularly, especially after dose changes or illness causing dehydration.

💎 Patient education should include maintaining adequate hydration and consistent sodium intake to prevent fluctuations in lithium levels.


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8 :
Instruct clients to drink no less than liters of fluid/day to prevent dehydration when taking Lithium.

Hint : 💧Drink 2–3 L daily.

Correct Answers:

  • No less than 2 to 3 liters/day.


Rationale :

💎 Adequate hydration prevents dehydration-induced lithium reabsorption in the kidneys, lowering toxicity risk.

💎 Lithium is excreted through the kidneys, and dehydration can quickly lead to toxic accumulation.

💎 Nurses should encourage patients to increase fluid intake during hot weather, illness, or exercise.

💎 Monitoring for signs of dehydration (dry mouth, dizziness, decreased urine output) is essential.

💎 Education should stress avoiding diuretics unless prescribed, as they reduce fluid volume.


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9 :

Hint : 🍷Benzos prevent withdrawal seizures.

Correct Answers:

  • True


Rationale :

💎 Diazepam, a benzodiazepine, is the drug of choice for acute alcohol withdrawal because it provides sedation and seizure prevention.

💎 It reduces CNS hyperexcitability by enhancing GABA activity, preventing progression to delirium tremens.

💎 Long-acting benzodiazepines like diazepam offer smoother withdrawal control.

💎 Nurses should monitor for respiratory depression and over-sedation, especially in older adults.

💎 Tapering is essential to prevent benzodiazepine dependence after withdrawal management.


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10 :

Hint : 🍷 Benzos prevent withdrawal seizures.

Correct Answers:

  • Lorazepam


Rationale :

💎 Lorazepam, a benzodiazepine, is the drug of choice for acute alcohol withdrawal due to its ability to reduce CNS hyperexcitability.

💎 It works by enhancing GABA activity, preventing seizures, tremors, and progression to delirium tremens.

💎 Lorazepam is preferred in older adults and those with hepatic impairment because it has no active metabolites.

💎 Close monitoring for sedation and respiratory depression is essential during administration.

💎 Gradual tapering after acute withdrawal is necessary to prevent benzodiazepine dependence.


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Total Questions: 10

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