NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) Practice Exam

Sertraline is preferred in patients with:

1. Cardiac risk

2. High risk of QT prolongation

3. Elderly age

4. Serotonin syndrome risk

The correct answer is: Cardiac risk

Sertraline is a commonly prescribed medication used to treat depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. While it is effective for many patients, there are certain populations that may require additional consideration when prescribing this medication. Among the options provided, Sertraline is preferred in patients with cardiac risk. This means that if a patient has a history of heart disease or is at high risk for developing heart problems, Sertraline may be the best option for them. This is because some antidepressant medications can have negative effects on the heart, but Sertraline has a lower risk compared to others. Therefore, it is important for doctors to evaluate a patient's cardiac risk before prescribing Sertraline or another antidepressant medication. The other options, such as high risk of QT prolongation, elderly age, and serotonin syndrome risk, are not commonly associated with increased risk when taking Sertraline. Therefore, while these factors may still be considered, they do not have as much bearing on the decision to prescribe Sertraline in comparison to cardiac risk.