A 55-year-old female has been diagnosed by her GP with anxiety. She requires an anxiolytic drug which does not cause sedation.  Which of the following anxiolytic drugs would be MOST appropriate? 

 Which of the following patients would be MOST suitable for a non-prescription supply of Nytol® one a night (diphenyhydramine 50mg) tablets?  

 Amitriptyline is a frequently used tricyclic antidepressant (TCA).  It is metabolised in the liver to form nortriptyline. Which of the following statements about amitriptyline and nortriptyline is NOT correct?

The serotonin system is involved in many processes in psychiatry including, most prominently mood, sleep and psychosis. In which of the following structure is serotonin primarily synthesised? 

Describing the underlying chemistry, rationalise the use of DOPA-decarboxylase inhibitors.    (5 Marks)

A 20-year-old man has been prescribed fluoxetine by his GP for newly diagnosed depression. He has no significant past medical history other than a recent femur fracture (sporting accident).  Drug history: Tramadol 50mg QDS PRN, Paracetamol 1g QDS, occasional use of recreational drugs.  What would be the MOST appropriate course of action in relation to his prescription? 

Methadone was earlier marketed as a painkiller for treatment of severe pain. It is still occasionally used for pain relief, although it is more widely used now as a substitute drug for people addicted to other opiates.    Which of the following statements regarding methadone is CORRECT?

Indicate which of the following statements is NOT correct  with regard to reservoir controlled release systems:

An 86-year-old woman, with a history of Parkinson’s disease, is admitted to hospital with acute confusion and is diagnosed with a urinary tract infection.  She is commenced on a course of antibiotics and haloperidol for agitation, but starts to complain of nausea, so is also commenced on an antiemetic. Two days into her admission, she develops abnormal movements, which her daughter recognizes as Parkinsonism in nature. You are asked to review the patient’s drug chart. From the list of prescribed medication, which one drug is the most likely to have precipitated loss of Parkinson’s control in the patient and should thus be stopped? 

The presenillin -1 (PSEN 1) gene associated with early – onset Alzheimer’s disease is found on which chromosome?