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Behavioral Health Pharmacotherapy Flashcards

7 cards from real MTM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Behavioral Health Pharmacotherapy flashcards as text

  1. Which SSRI has the longest half-life, making it least likely to cause discontinuation syndrome?

    Answer: Fluoxetine

    Fluoxetine has a half-life of 1–4 days and an active metabolite (norfluoxetine) with a half-life of 4–16 days, providing a self-tapering effect that minimizes discontinuation syndrome.

  2. An MTM pharmacist counsels a pregnant patient with depression. Which antidepressant is generally considered safest in the first trimester?

    Answer: Sertraline

    Sertraline is most commonly recommended during pregnancy due to the largest safety database and relatively favorable risk profile, though all antidepressants carry some risk.

  3. A patient with generalized anxiety disorder and comorbid depression would be best treated initially with which medication class?

    Answer: SSRI or SNRI

    SSRIs and SNRIs are first-line for both GAD and depression, making them ideal when both conditions are present, while benzodiazepines do not treat comorbid depression.

  4. Which mood stabilizer requires monitoring of thyroid function because it can cause hypothyroidism with long-term use?

    Answer: Lithium

    Lithium inhibits thyroid hormone synthesis and release, leading to hypothyroidism in up to 40% of patients with long-term use; thyroid function should be monitored every 6–12 months.

  5. A patient on bupropion reports a new-onset generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Which pre-existing condition most likely increased this risk?

    Answer: Bulimia nervosa

    Bupropion is contraindicated in patients with bulimia or anorexia nervosa because electrolyte disturbances from purging significantly increase seizure risk.

  6. Which atypical antipsychotic is FDA-approved as adjunctive therapy for major depressive disorder unresponsive to antidepressants alone?

    Answer: Quetiapine

    Quetiapine (Seroquel XR) is FDA-approved as adjunctive therapy for MDD when used with antidepressants, along with aripiprazole and brexpiprazole.

  7. A patient with opioid use disorder is started on buprenorphine/naloxone. When should the first dose be administered to avoid precipitated withdrawal?

    Answer: When the patient is in mild-to-moderate withdrawal (COWS score ≥8)

    Buprenorphine should be initiated when the patient is in mild-to-moderate withdrawal (COWS ≥8) to prevent precipitated withdrawal caused by buprenorphine's high opioid receptor affinity displacing full agonists.