National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level 2 (NCAC II) Practice Exam Exam

What are augmenter medications used for?

1. To treat infections

2. To increase the efficacy of a primary medication

3. To induce sleep

4. To reduce anxiety

The correct answer is: To increase the efficacy of a primary medication

Augmenter medications are utilized specifically to enhance the effectiveness of a primary medication. This means that these medications are not typically used as stand-alone treatments; instead, they play a supportive role in conjunction with the main therapeutic agent, often improving treatment outcomes, especially in complex conditions like mental health disorders, including addiction and depression. For instance, in the context of treating major depressive disorder, typically an antidepressant medication may be the primary treatment, and an augmenter could be added to boost the overall efficacy when the initial response is inadequate. In contrast, the other options pertain to different therapeutic objectives. Some medications are primarily designed to treat infections, while others may focus on inducing sleep or alleviating anxiety, each serving distinct roles in a treatment regimen. Augmenter medications specifically target the enhancement of an existing treatment rather than serving these alternative functions.