Medical Pharmacology Chapter 22: Serotonin Pharmacology Practice Questions

Peak plasma concentration of sumatriptan following subcutaneous administration (autoinjector) occurs in about:
1. 2 min.
2. 6 min.
3. 12 min.
4. 24 min.
Oral administration of sumatriptan:
1. Peak plasma concentration within about 1-2 hours
2. Oral bioavailability is about 15%
3. Both
4. Neither
Newer triptans relative to sumatriptan exhibit higher oral bioavailability..
1. True
2. False
Some degree of effectiveness in preventing migraine:
1. Valproic acid (Depakote)
2. Topiramate (Topamax, Qudexy XR, Trokendi XR)
3. Both
4. Neither
Useful in migraine prophylaxis in some patients:
1. Propranolol (Inderal)
2. Amitriptyline (Elavil)
3. Both
4. Neither
Tegaserod (Zelnorm, Zelmac)
1. Classified as a 5-HT₄partial agonist.
2. Clinical use: irritable bowel syndrome with constipation
3. Both
4. Neither
Most cases of serotonin syndrome involve high dose of a single serotonergic drug.
1. True
2. False
Presentation of serotonin syndrome involves/involves:
1. Changed mental status e.g. anxiety, confusion, agitated state.
2. Abnormal neuromuscular function e.g. clonus, lower extremity rigidity, hyperreflexia.
3. Autonomic abnormalities e.g. diaphoresis, hyperthermia, tachycardia, flushing.
4. A & B
5. B & C
6. A & C
7. A, B & C
Most indicative clinical finding leading to a diagnosis of serotonin syndrome:
1. Mental confusion
2. Lower extremity rigidity with clonus is more pronounced compared to upper extremity rigidity.
3. Alternating hypotension and hypertension.
4. Alternating hypothermia and hyperthermia.
5. All of the above findings are equally helpful in the diagnosis of serotonin syndrome.
A diagnosis of serotonin syndrome may be confirmed by one of several laboratory findings.
1. True
2. False