Exam (elaborations)
10 Drugs for Central Nervous System Problems
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- Minnesota State University, Mankato
10 Drugs for Central Nervous System Problems
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Chapter 10: Drugs for Central Nervous System ProblemsMULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which neurotransmitter has an inhibitory action within the CNS?
a. Epinephrine
b. Acetylcholine
c. Norepinephrine
d. Gamma-aminobutyric acid ANS: D
Neurotransmitters can be excitatory or inhibitory. Excitatory neurotransmitters include
acetylcholine (Ach), epinephrine, and norepinephrine. Inhibitory neurotransmitters include
dopamine, some types of serotonin, and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid).
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering REF: p. 167
2. A 73-year-old male patient newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) is prescribed a
dopamine agonist. The patient’s wife asks you to explain how this class of drugs will work to
help her husband. What is your best response?
a. “Dopamine agonists reduce levels of acetylcholine to restore gait and balance.”
b. “Dopamine agonists use an enzyme to break down dopamine to improve PD symptoms.”
c. “Dopamine agonists prevent the buildup of beta amyloid plaques to improve coordination.”
d. “Dopamine agonists reduce muscle rigidity and tremors by increasing dopamine levels.”
ANS: D
Dopamine agonists work to increase dopamine levels in the brain to restore the balance between
the actions of acetylcholine and dopamine. This action reduces muscle rigidity and tremors, to
improve mobility.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying REF: p. 169
3. A patient placed on the drug tolcapone (Tasmar) for the relief of symptoms of Parkinson’s
disease asks you how this drug works for the disease. What is your best response?
a. “Tolcapone acts as a dopamine agonist, replacing the activity of dopamine.”
b. “Tolcapone forces the substantia nigra to increase production of natural dopamine.”
c. “Tolcapone suppresses the enzyme that breaks down naturally occurring dopamine.”
d. “Tolcapone increases the number of dopamine receptors sites.” ANS: C
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is an enzyme that breaks down (metabolizes) naturally
occurring catecholamine-based neurotransmitters, including dopamine. It also breaks down
dopamine agonist drugs. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors are drugs that
suppress the activity of the COMT enzyme so both naturally occurring dopamine and dopamine
agonist drugs remain active in the body longer, helping to restore the acetylcholine–dopamine
balance in the brain. Entacapone (Comtan) and tolcapone (Tasmar) are two COMT inhibitors
that are used currently for PD.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying REF: p. 173
4. Why are carbidopa and levodopa usually given together?
a. Carbidopa is a dopamine agonist and levodopa is a dopamine antagonist.
b. Levodopa is a dopamine agonist and carbidopa is a dopamine antagonist.
c. Carbidopa enhances the action of levodopa, and less drug is needed.
d. Levodopa reverses or prevents the side effects of carbidopa.
ANS: C
Carbidopa is usually given in combination with levodopa because it enhances the levodopa so
lower doses of levodopa can be used, thus preventing the nausea and vomiting that accompanies
the continual increasing of the levodopa dose to control disease symptoms.
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