Pharmacology

Neuro-pharmacology Practice Questions

20 free Neuro-pharmacology practice questions for the USMLE Step 1, each with the correct answer and a detailed explanation. Open any question below, or take the full set as an interactive quiz.

Start Practice Quiz

Questions

All Neuro-pharmacology questions

20 questions
  1. Q1. A patient with schizophrenia begins haloperidol therapy. Within days, he develops severe muscle stiffness and neck rigidity. Which adverse effect is most likel…
  2. Q2. A patient taking lithium for bipolar disorder begins experiencing tremor and confusion after starting hydrochlorothiazide. What is the most likely mechanism?
  3. Q3. A woman is prescribed fluoxetine for major depression. She is also taking a MAO inhibitor. What is the major risk of combining these medications?
  4. Q4. A patient with generalized anxiety disorder is started on buspirone. Which characteristic differentiates it from benzodiazepines?
  5. Q5. A patient taking levodopa for Parkinson disease develops hallucinations. Which drug can reduce this effect without worsening motor symptoms?
  6. Q6. A man with chronic pain is started on amitriptyline. What is the most likely adverse effect?
  7. Q7. A patient with epilepsy begins valproate therapy. Which serious adverse effect requires monitoring?
  8. Q8. A patient taking phenytoin presents with gingival hyperplasia. What mechanism explains this adverse effect?
  9. Q9. A patient with Alzheimer disease is started on donepezil. What is its mechanism?
  10. Q10. A patient receiving morphine develops respiratory depression. Which drug reverses this effect?
  11. Q11. A patient experiences acute anxiety during a flight and is prescribed medication with rapid onset. Which drug is appropriate?
  12. Q12. A patient with migraines is prescribed sumatriptan. What is its mechanism of action?
  13. Q13. A patient begins carbamazepine for trigeminal neuralgia. Which lab value should be monitored?
  14. Q14. A woman taking topiramate for seizures develops kidney stones. What mechanism contributes to this?
  15. Q15. A patient taking MAO inhibitors experiences hypertension after eating cheese and wine. What causes this reaction?
  16. Q16. A man with Parkinson disease is prescribed entacapone. What is its therapeutic mechanism?
  17. Q17. A patient with status epilepticus is treated with IV benzodiazepines. What receptor is primarily targeted?
  18. Q18. A patient treated with antipsychotics develops hyperprolactinemia. Which drug is most likely responsible?
  19. Q19. A man with opioid addiction begins methadone maintenance therapy. Which property makes methadone effective?
  20. Q20. A patient taking bupropion for depression asks why it does not cause sexual dysfunction like SSRIs. What is its mechanism?