MN 650 EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
Antipsychotic agents are used to treat: - answer Schizophrenia, delusional disorders,
bipolar disorders, depressive psychoses, and drug induced psychoses. Not for dementia
related psychoses due to increased mortality.
What are the two groups of antipsychotics? - answer 1. first generation antipsychotics
(conventional antipsychotics).
2. second generation antipsychotics ( atypical antipsychotics)
How do you first generation antipsychotics work? - answer Create a strong blockade of
dopamine in the cntral nervous system.
What are some side effects of first generation antipsychotics? - answer Serious movement
disorders. Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS)
What are extrapyramidal symptoms? - answer Movement disorders related to the use of
antipsychotic drug use. Blockade of dopamine is highly suspected as the cause of EPS.
Four types of EPS can occur: Acute dystonia, Parkinsonism, akathisia, tardive dyskinesia
How do second generation antipsychotics work? - answer produce a moderate blockade of
receptors for dopamine and a much stronger blockade of receptors for serotonin. SGA
have a much lower risk of EPS due to the lower blockade of dopamine.
What side effects are commonly associated with SGA? - answer Metabolic effects: weight
gain, diabetes, and DLD resulting in cardiovascular events and early death
How do first generation antipsychotics work? - answer Block receptors for dopamine,
acetylcholine, histamine, and norepinephrine. Believed to block dopamine receptors in the
mesolimbic area of the brain.
How long does it take to respond to antipsychotic drugs? - answer Initial effect can be felt
in a day or two. Large improvement by 2 to 4 weeks. Full effect may not be for several
months. Positive effects may respond better than negative effects of schizophrenia.
What are examples of first generation antipsychotics? - answer Low potentcy:
chlorpromazine, thioridazine; medium potentcy: loxapine, perphenazine; High potentcy:
fluphenazine, haloperidol, pimozide, thiothixene, trifluoperazine
