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