Pharmacology Drug Class Flashcards: Mechanisms, Uses & Safety Patterns
Study 126 cards on 30 common drug classes: mechanisms, qualified generic-name patterns, common uses, and major safety concepts for nursing and introductory health science.
Apie šį rinkinį
Build a durable pharmacology map with 126 independently authored cards. Six prerequisites define drug classes, mechanisms, agonism, antagonism, inhibition, and how to treat generic-name stems as fallible clues. The remaining 120 cards cover 30 common classes through four separate retrieval directions: class → core mechanism; qualified pattern or representative generics → class; class → common use; and class → major safety concept.
The deck deliberately excludes dosing, prescribing, patient-specific guidance, administration or hold parameters, exhaustive contraindications and interactions, monitoring protocols, brand names, official questions, and clinical cases. Generic-name patterns are clues, never universal rules. Use this deck for study—not clinical decision-making.
Ordering supports learning: prerequisites come first, then five spiral blocks mix six broad topic groups. Same-class variants stay at least three unrelated cards apart, alternating mechanism, recognition, common-use, and safety recall instead of forming predictable runs.
Open Study Contributor independently authored this standalone deck from common pharmacology knowledge checked against WHO, FDA, and NIH/NCBI sources. Organization names identify sources only; no affiliation or endorsement is claimed.
Šio rinkinio kortelės
1 kortelė
Klausimas
What is a drug class?
Atsakymas
A group of drugs linked by a shared mechanism, target, structure, therapeutic use, or a combination of these features.
2 kortelė
Klausimas
What does mechanism of action mean?
Atsakymas
How a drug produces its effects at a molecular, cellular, or physiological target.
3 kortelė
Klausimas
What is a receptor agonist?
Atsakymas
A drug that binds to a receptor and activates it to produce a response.
4 kortelė
Klausimas
What is a receptor antagonist?
Atsakymas
A drug that binds to a receptor and blocks or reduces activation by an agonist.
5 kortelė
Klausimas
What does it mean when a drug inhibits an enzyme or transporter?
Atsakymas
It reduces that protein's activity, changing the movement or conversion of its usual substrates.
6 kortelė
Klausimas
How should generic-name stems be used to recognize drug classes?
Atsakymas
As clues, not universal rules. Confirm the actual drug because exceptions and overlapping stems exist.
7 kortelė
Klausimas
ACE inhibitors: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme, reducing angiotensin II and aldosterone while increasing bradykinin.
8 kortelė
Klausimas
SSRIs: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They inhibit the serotonin transporter, increasing serotonin signaling in the synaptic cleft.
9 kortelė
Klausimas
Biguanides: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
Metformin mainly reduces hepatic glucose production and improves insulin sensitivity without directly stimulating insulin release.
10 kortelė
Klausimas
Penicillins: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
Their beta-lactam ring binds penicillin-binding proteins and disrupts bacterial cell-wall synthesis.
11 kortelė
Klausimas
Which class is often suggested by the ending -pril?
Atsakymas
ACE inhibitors. Examples include lisinopril and enalapril, but a name stem is only a clue.
12 kortelė
Klausimas
Proton-pump inhibitors: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They inhibit the H+/K+ ATPase proton pump in gastric parietal cells, strongly reducing acid secretion.
13 kortelė
Klausimas
SSRIs: common uses?
Atsakymas
Depression and several anxiety-related disorders; the approved indications differ by agent.
14 kortelė
Klausimas
NSAIDs: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They inhibit cyclooxygenase enzymes, reducing prostaglandin synthesis.
15 kortelė
Klausimas
Biguanides: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Gastrointestinal effects are common; vitamin B12 can fall with long use, and lactic acidosis is rare but serious.
16 kortelė
Klausimas
Which class is often suggested by the ending -cillin?
Atsakymas
Penicillins, such as amoxicillin and piperacillin. The stem does not describe spectrum or resistance.
17 kortelė
Klausimas
ACE inhibitors: common uses?
Atsakymas
Hypertension and selected heart-failure, post-myocardial-infarction, and kidney-protection indications.
18 kortelė
Klausimas
Proton-pump inhibitors: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Possible concerns include hypomagnesemia and enteric infection risk. Many other long-term links are observational rather than proven causal effects.
19 kortelė
Klausimas
Which class is often suggested by -oxetine or -opram?
Atsakymas
SSRIs, but not universally. Sertraline and fluvoxamine are exceptions, and some stems overlap other classes.
20 kortelė
Klausimas
NSAIDs: common uses?
Atsakymas
Pain, inflammation, and fever; individual agents also have more specific uses.
21 kortelė
Klausimas
Metformin belongs to which drug class?
Atsakymas
Biguanides. Metformin is the main widely used member, so there is no useful class-wide suffix rule.
22 kortelė
Klausimas
Penicillins: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Hypersensitivity can range from rash to anaphylaxis; diarrhea and antibiotic-associated colitis are additional concerns.
23 kortelė
Klausimas
ACE inhibitors: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Cough, hyperkalemia, kidney-function changes, angioedema, and fetal harm are major class concerns.
24 kortelė
Klausimas
Proton-pump inhibitors: common uses?
Atsakymas
Acid-related disorders such as GERD, erosive esophagitis, and peptic-ulcer disease.
25 kortelė
Klausimas
SSRIs: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Serotonin syndrome, bleeding and hyponatremia risks, sexual dysfunction, and the antidepressant suicidality warning for younger people.
26 kortelė
Klausimas
Ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketorolac belong to which class?
Atsakymas
NSAIDs. The class has no single reliable generic-name suffix.
27 kortelė
Klausimas
Biguanides: common use?
Atsakymas
Type 2 diabetes.
28 kortelė
Klausimas
Penicillins: common use?
Atsakymas
Treatment of susceptible bacterial infections; the spectrum differs substantially among individual penicillins.
29 kortelė
Klausimas
Which class is often suggested by the ending -prazole?
Atsakymas
Proton-pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole and pantoprazole. Confirm the individual drug.
30 kortelė
Klausimas
NSAIDs: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney injury, fluid retention, and cardiovascular events are key risks; FDA also warns about use from about 20 weeks of pregnancy.
31 kortelė
Klausimas
Sulfonylureas: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They close ATP-sensitive potassium channels in pancreatic beta cells, triggering insulin release even when glucose is not high.
32 kortelė
Klausimas
H2 blockers: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They competitively block histamine H2 receptors on gastric parietal cells, reducing acid secretion.
33 kortelė
Klausimas
SNRIs: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake transporters, increasing both transmitters in synapses.
34 kortelė
Klausimas
Opioid analgesics: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They activate opioid receptors; many important analgesic effects and toxicities are mediated through mu receptors.
35 kortelė
Klausimas
Glipizide, glyburide, and glimepiride belong to which class?
Atsakymas
Sulfonylureas. Their names offer clues, but the broad ending -ide is not class-specific.
36 kortelė
Klausimas
ARBs: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They block angiotensin II at AT1 receptors, reducing vasoconstriction and aldosterone effects.
37 kortelė
Klausimas
H2 blockers: common uses?
Atsakymas
Acid-related disorders such as heartburn, GERD, and gastric or duodenal ulcers.
38 kortelė
Klausimas
Cephalosporins: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
Their beta-lactam ring binds penicillin-binding proteins and disrupts bacterial cell-wall synthesis.
39 kortelė
Klausimas
SNRIs: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Serotonin syndrome, blood-pressure increases, discontinuation symptoms, and the antidepressant suicidality warning for younger people.
40 kortelė
Klausimas
Morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl belong to which broad class?
Atsakymas
Opioid analgesics. The class has no single reliable generic-name suffix.
41 kortelė
Klausimas
Sulfonylureas: common use?
Atsakymas
Type 2 diabetes when increasing pancreatic insulin release is appropriate.
42 kortelė
Klausimas
ARBs: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Hyperkalemia, hypotension, kidney-function changes, and fetal harm are major concerns; cough is less common than with ACE inhibitors.
43 kortelė
Klausimas
Which class is often suggested by the ending -tidine?
Atsakymas
H2 receptor blockers, such as famotidine and cimetidine. Confirm the individual drug.
44 kortelė
Klausimas
Cephalosporins: common use?
Atsakymas
Treatment of susceptible bacterial infections; antibacterial spectrum varies widely by agent and generation.
45 kortelė
Klausimas
Which name endings can suggest an SNRI?
Atsakymas
-faxine or sometimes -oxetine, but neither is decisive. The -oxetine ending also appears in some SSRIs.
46 kortelė
Klausimas
Opioid analgesics: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Respiratory depression, sedation, constipation, tolerance, dependence, and overdose; benzodiazepines and other depressants increase danger.
47 kortelė
Klausimas
Sulfonylureas: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Hypoglycemia and weight gain are the main class patterns, with risk differing among agents and clinical contexts.
48 kortelė
Klausimas
ARBs: common uses?
Atsakymas
Hypertension and selected heart-failure and kidney-protection indications.
49 kortelė
Klausimas
H2 blockers: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
They are usually well tolerated, but confusion or other CNS effects can occur with reduced clearance; cimetidine has many interactions.
50 kortelė
Klausimas
Which class is often suggested by cef- or ceph-?
Atsakymas
Cephalosporins, such as cefazolin and cephalexin. The name does not reveal the full spectrum.
51 kortelė
Klausimas
SNRIs: common uses?
Atsakymas
Depression and anxiety disorders; selected agents also treat neuropathic pain or fibromyalgia.
52 kortelė
Klausimas
Opioid analgesics: common uses?
Atsakymas
Analgesia for selected severe pain and perioperative settings; individual opioids also have other specific uses.
53 kortelė
Klausimas
Which class is often suggested by the ending -sartan?
Atsakymas
Angiotensin II receptor blockers, or ARBs. Examples include losartan and valsartan.
54 kortelė
Klausimas
Cephalosporins: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Hypersensitivity and antibiotic-associated diarrhea are important; penicillin cross-reactivity depends largely on similar side chains.
55 kortelė
Klausimas
Beta2 agonists: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They activate beta2 receptors, increasing cAMP and relaxing airway smooth muscle.
56 kortelė
Klausimas
Beta blockers: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They antagonize beta-adrenergic receptors; beta1 blockade can reduce heart rate, contractility, and renin release.
57 kortelė
Klausimas
Systemic corticosteroids: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They bind intracellular glucocorticoid receptors and alter gene transcription, reducing inflammatory and immune signaling.
58 kortelė
Klausimas
Benzodiazepines: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They positively modulate GABA-A receptors, increasing the frequency of chloride-channel opening when GABA is present.
59 kortelė
Klausimas
Which class is often suggested by the ending -terol?
Atsakymas
Beta2 agonist bronchodilators, such as formoterol and salmeterol. Albuterol is a familiar exception.
60 kortelė
Klausimas
Macrolides: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They bind the bacterial 50S ribosomal subunit and inhibit protein synthesis.
61 kortelė
Klausimas
Beta blockers: common uses?
Atsakymas
Selected cardiovascular conditions such as arrhythmias, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and hypertension; some agents have noncardiac uses.
62 kortelė
Klausimas
GLP-1 receptor agonists: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They activate GLP-1 receptors, increasing glucose-dependent insulin release, suppressing glucagon, and slowing gastric emptying.
63 kortelė
Klausimas
Systemic corticosteroids: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Infection, hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal suppression; risks rise with systemic exposure and duration.
126 kortelės
Pharmacology Drug Class Flashcards: Mechanisms, Uses & Safety Patterns
Mokytis iš šio rinkinio nemokamaiAtsidarys Nibomo ir galėsite pradėti mokytis.
64 kortelė
Klausimas
Which endings often suggest a benzodiazepine?
Atsakymas
-azepam or -azolam, as in diazepam or midazolam. Not every sedative with a similar ending belongs to this class.
65 kortelė
Klausimas
Beta2 agonists: common use?
Atsakymas
Bronchodilation in asthma or COPD regimens; short- and long-acting agents play different roles.
66 kortelė
Klausimas
Macrolides: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Gastrointestinal effects, QT prolongation, and clinically important interactions that vary by agent.
67 kortelė
Klausimas
Which class is often suggested by the ending -olol?
Atsakymas
Beta blockers, such as metoprolol and propranolol. Receptor selectivity still varies by agent.
68 kortelė
Klausimas
GLP-1 receptor agonists: common uses?
Atsakymas
Type 2 diabetes; selected agents are also approved for chronic weight management and cardiovascular-risk reduction.
69 kortelė
Klausimas
Which patterns often suggest a systemic corticosteroid?
Atsakymas
-sone or -olone, as in prednisone or prednisolone, but these endings are not unique to the class.
70 kortelė
Klausimas
Benzodiazepines: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Sedation, dependence and withdrawal, plus respiratory depression—especially with opioids, alcohol, or other CNS depressants.
71 kortelė
Klausimas
Beta2 agonists: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Tremor, palpitations or tachycardia, hypokalemia, and rare paradoxical bronchospasm.
72 kortelė
Klausimas
Macrolides: common use?
Atsakymas
Treatment of selected susceptible bacterial infections, including some respiratory and atypical pathogens.
73 kortelė
Klausimas
Beta blockers: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Bradycardia and hypotension; nonselective agents can cause bronchospasm, and the class can mask adrenergic signs of hypoglycemia.
74 kortelė
Klausimas
Which class is often suggested by -glutide?
Atsakymas
GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as semaglutide and liraglutide. Exenatide and lixisenatide show the pattern is not universal.
75 kortelė
Klausimas
Systemic corticosteroids: common uses?
Atsakymas
Inflammatory, allergic, and autoimmune disorders, with the route and agent chosen for the condition.
76 kortelė
Klausimas
Benzodiazepines: common uses?
Atsakymas
Anxiety, seizures, procedural sedation, or alcohol withdrawal, depending on the agent and setting.
77 kortelė
Klausimas
Which class is often suggested by the ending -thromycin?
Atsakymas
Macrolide antibiotics, such as azithromycin and clarithromycin. Confirm the individual agent.
78 kortelė
Klausimas
GLP-1 receptor agonists: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Gastrointestinal effects are common; gallbladder disease and pancreatitis are warnings, and some labels warn about thyroid C-cell tumors.
79 kortelė
Klausimas
Second-generation antipsychotics: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
Most modulate dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2A signaling, but receptor profiles vary substantially by agent.
80 kortelė
Klausimas
Tetracyclines: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They bind the bacterial 30S ribosomal subunit and inhibit protein synthesis.
81 kortelė
Klausimas
Dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They block L-type calcium channels mainly in vascular smooth muscle, causing arteriolar relaxation.
82 kortelė
Klausimas
Inhaled antimuscarinics: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They block airway muscarinic receptors, reducing vagal bronchoconstriction and promoting bronchodilation.
83 kortelė
Klausimas
Which endings often suggest a second-generation antipsychotic?
Atsakymas
-apine or -idone often appear, but many members use other endings and the stems are not class-specific.
84 kortelė
Klausimas
SGLT2 inhibitors: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They inhibit renal sodium-glucose cotransporter 2, increasing urinary glucose and sodium excretion.
85 kortelė
Klausimas
Tetracyclines: common uses?
Atsakymas
Selected susceptible bacterial infections and, for some agents, acne or rosacea.
86 kortelė
Klausimas
Bisphosphonates: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They bind bone mineral and inhibit osteoclast-mediated bone resorption.
87 kortelė
Klausimas
Dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Peripheral edema, flushing, headache, dizziness, and hypotension are characteristic patterns.
88 kortelė
Klausimas
Which class is often suggested by the ending -tropium?
Atsakymas
Inhaled antimuscarinic bronchodilators, such as ipratropium and tiotropium. Several class members use other endings.
89 kortelė
Klausimas
Second-generation antipsychotics: common uses?
Atsakymas
Schizophrenia and selected bipolar or other psychiatric indications; approvals differ by agent.
90 kortelė
Klausimas
SGLT2 inhibitors: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Genital infections, volume depletion, ketoacidosis, and rare necrotizing infection of the perineum.
91 kortelė
Klausimas
Which class is often suggested by the ending -cycline?
Atsakymas
Tetracycline antibiotics, such as doxycycline and minocycline. Confirm the individual drug.
92 kortelė
Klausimas
Bisphosphonates: common uses?
Atsakymas
Osteoporosis and selected disorders with excessive bone resorption, including Paget disease or malignancy-related bone disease.
93 kortelė
Klausimas
Which class is often suggested by the ending -dipine?
Atsakymas
Dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers, such as amlodipine and nifedipine.
94 kortelė
Klausimas
Inhaled antimuscarinics: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Dry mouth, urinary retention, tachycardia, and eye exposure that may worsen narrow-angle glaucoma.
95 kortelė
Klausimas
Second-generation antipsychotics: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Metabolic effects, movement disorders, QT effects, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome; labels warn about increased mortality in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis.
96 kortelė
Klausimas
SGLT2 inhibitors: common uses?
Atsakymas
Type 2 diabetes; selected agents also treat heart failure or chronic kidney disease.
97 kortelė
Klausimas
Tetracyclines: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Gastrointestinal or esophageal irritation, photosensitivity, and effects on developing teeth and bone are key patterns.
98 kortelė
Klausimas
Which class is often suggested by the ending -dronate?
Atsakymas
Bisphosphonates, such as alendronate and risedronate. Confirm the individual agent and formulation.
99 kortelė
Klausimas
Dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers: common uses?
Atsakymas
Hypertension and angina, using vascular smooth-muscle relaxation to reduce arterial tone.
100 kortelė
Klausimas
Inhaled antimuscarinics: common use?
Atsakymas
Maintenance bronchodilation, especially in COPD; selected agents also serve as add-on asthma therapy.
101 kortelė
Klausimas
Which class is often suggested by the ending -gliflozin?
Atsakymas
SGLT2 inhibitors, such as empagliflozin and dapagliflozin.
102 kortelė
Klausimas
Bisphosphonates: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Upper-GI irritation with oral agents, hypocalcemia, and rare osteonecrosis of the jaw or atypical femur fracture.
103 kortelė
Klausimas
TNF inhibitors: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They neutralize tumor necrosis factor signaling, reducing downstream inflammation.
104 kortelė
Klausimas
DPP-4 inhibitors: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They inhibit DPP-4, prolonging endogenous incretin activity and increasing glucose-dependent insulin release.
105 kortelė
Klausimas
Inhaled corticosteroids: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They activate glucocorticoid receptors in airway cells, reducing inflammatory gene expression and airway inflammation.
106 kortelė
Klausimas
Statins: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, reducing hepatic cholesterol synthesis and increasing hepatic LDL-receptor activity.
107 kortelė
Klausimas
Adalimumab, infliximab, and etanercept belong to which class?
Atsakymas
TNF inhibitors. The class has no single specific shared suffix: -mab is broad, and etanercept ends in -cept.
108 kortelė
Klausimas
Triptans: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They activate serotonin 5-HT1B/1D receptors, reducing trigeminal signaling and causing cranial vasoconstriction.
109 kortelė
Klausimas
DPP-4 inhibitors: common use?
Atsakymas
Type 2 diabetes, using enhanced endogenous incretin signaling to improve glucose-dependent insulin release.
110 kortelė
Klausimas
Fluoroquinolones: core mechanism?
Atsakymas
They inhibit bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, disrupting DNA replication.
111 kortelė
Klausimas
Inhaled corticosteroids: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Oral candidiasis and dysphonia are important local effects; systemic effects become more relevant with higher exposure.
112 kortelė
Klausimas
Which class is suggested by the ending -statin?
Atsakymas
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, or statins, such as atorvastatin and rosuvastatin.
113 kortelė
Klausimas
TNF inhibitors: common uses?
Atsakymas
Selected autoimmune inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis-related conditions.
114 kortelė
Klausimas
Triptans: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Vasoconstrictive risk in coronary, cerebrovascular, or peripheral vascular disease, plus tingling, flushing, or chest pressure called triptan sensations.
115 kortelė
Klausimas
Which class is suggested by the ending -gliptin?
Atsakymas
DPP-4 inhibitors, such as sitagliptin and linagliptin.
116 kortelė
Klausimas
Fluoroquinolones: common use?
Atsakymas
Selected serious or resistant bacterial infections when their spectrum and risk profile fit the infection.
117 kortelė
Klausimas
Which patterns often suggest an inhaled corticosteroid?
Atsakymas
-sonide or -sone often appear, as in budesonide or fluticasone, but these endings are not class-specific.
118 kortelė
Klausimas
Statins: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Muscle symptoms and rare rhabdomyolysis or liver injury; pregnancy is a major risk context, although FDA no longer applies a blanket class contraindication.
119 kortelė
Klausimas
TNF inhibitors: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Serious infections and reactivation of tuberculosis or hepatitis B are central concerns; other warnings vary by agent.
120 kortelė
Klausimas
Triptans: common use?
Atsakymas
Acute treatment of migraine attacks; they are not general-purpose analgesics or routine migraine preventives.
121 kortelė
Klausimas
DPP-4 inhibitors: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Severe joint pain and pancreatitis are warnings; some agents also carry a heart-failure warning.
122 kortelė
Klausimas
Which class is suggested by the ending -floxacin?
Atsakymas
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin.
123 kortelė
Klausimas
Inhaled corticosteroids: common use?
Atsakymas
Controller therapy for asthma and selected COPD regimens; they reduce inflammation rather than acting as standalone rescue bronchodilators.
124 kortelė
Klausimas
Statins: common uses?
Atsakymas
Lowering LDL cholesterol and reducing atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk.
125 kortelė
Klausimas
Which class is suggested by the ending -triptan?
Atsakymas
Triptan antimigraine agents, such as sumatriptan and rizatriptan.
126 kortelė
Klausimas
Fluoroquinolones: major safety concepts?
Atsakymas
Potentially disabling tendon, muscle, joint, nerve, and CNS effects, plus a rare risk of aortic aneurysm or rupture in susceptible people.
126 kortelės
Pharmacology Drug Class Flashcards: Mechanisms, Uses & Safety Patterns
Atsidarys Nibomo ir galėsite pradėti mokytis.