MCAP Pharmacology and Medication-Assisted Treatment 3

Question 1

Cross-tolerance between alcohol and benzodiazepines occurs because both substances:

Accepted Answer

Primarily enhance GABA-A receptor activity to produce CNS depression

Answer

Both alcohol and benzodiazepines enhance GABA-A receptor function, producing CNS depression; tolerance to one substance confers tolerance to the other through shared receptor mechanisms.

Question 2

The concept of 'pharmacokinetics' in addiction pharmacology primarily refers to:

Accepted Answer

How the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes a substance (ADME)

Answer

Pharmacokinetics describes what the body does to a drug — encompassing absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion — which determines drug concentration at the site of action.

Question 3

Tolerance to a psychoactive substance is pharmacologically defined as:

Accepted Answer

The need for increasing doses to achieve the same effect, or diminished effect with the same dose

Answer

Tolerance is defined as requiring higher doses to produce the effect previously achieved at a lower dose, or experiencing diminished effects from the same dose over repeated exposure.

Question 4

A patient on buprenorphine/naloxone is prescribed a CYP3A4 inhibitor (e.g., ketoconazole) by another provider. The MCAP should be aware this interaction may:

Accepted Answer

Increase buprenorphine plasma levels, potentially causing dangerous sedation

Answer

CYP3A4 inhibitors reduce buprenorphine metabolism, increasing plasma concentrations and raising the risk of excessive sedation or respiratory depression.

Question 5

Long-term opioid use produces physical dependence through which primary neuroadaptive mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Downregulation of opioid receptors and compensatory upregulation of adenylyl cyclase activity

Answer

Chronic opioid exposure causes mu-receptor downregulation and compensatory increases in adenylyl cyclase activity; opioid removal unleashes an unopposed cAMP surge that drives withdrawal symptoms.

MCAP - Master's Level Certified Addiction Professional Practice Test

MCAP - Master's Level Certified Addiction Professional Practice Test

MCAP Pharmacology and Medication-Assisted Treatment 3