Pharmacology Drug Class Flashcards: Mechanisms, Uses & Safety Patterns

Question 1

What is a drug class?

Accepted Answer

A group of drugs linked by a shared mechanism, target, structure, therapeutic use, or a combination of these features.

Question 2

What does mechanism of action mean?

Accepted Answer

How a drug produces its effects at a molecular, cellular, or physiological target.

Question 3

What is a receptor agonist?

Accepted Answer

A drug that binds to a receptor and activates it to produce a response.

Question 4

What is a receptor antagonist?

Accepted Answer

A drug that binds to a receptor and blocks or reduces activation by an agonist.

Question 5

What does it mean when a drug inhibits an enzyme or transporter?

Accepted Answer

It reduces that protein's activity, changing the movement or conversion of its usual substrates.

Question 6

How should generic-name stems be used to recognize drug classes?

Accepted Answer

As clues, not universal rules. Confirm the actual drug because exceptions and overlapping stems exist.

Question 7

ACE inhibitors: core mechanism?

Accepted Answer

They inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme, reducing angiotensin II and aldosterone while increasing bradykinin.

Question 8

SSRIs: core mechanism?

Accepted Answer

They inhibit the serotonin transporter, increasing serotonin signaling in the synaptic cleft.

Question 9

Biguanides: core mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Metformin mainly reduces hepatic glucose production and improves insulin sensitivity without directly stimulating insulin release.

Question 10

Penicillins: core mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Their beta-lactam ring binds penicillin-binding proteins and disrupts bacterial cell-wall synthesis.

Question 11

Which class is often suggested by the ending -pril?

Accepted Answer

ACE inhibitors. Examples include lisinopril and enalapril, but a name stem is only a clue.

Question 12

Proton-pump inhibitors: core mechanism?

Accepted Answer

They inhibit the H+/K+ ATPase proton pump in gastric parietal cells, strongly reducing acid secretion.

Question 13

SSRIs: common uses?

Accepted Answer

Depression and several anxiety-related disorders; the approved indications differ by agent.

Question 14

NSAIDs: core mechanism?

Accepted Answer

They inhibit cyclooxygenase enzymes, reducing prostaglandin synthesis.

Question 15

Biguanides: major safety concepts?

Accepted Answer

Gastrointestinal effects are common; vitamin B12 can fall with long use, and lactic acidosis is rare but serious.

Question 16

Which class is often suggested by the ending -cillin?

Accepted Answer

Penicillins, such as amoxicillin and piperacillin. The stem does not describe spectrum or resistance.

Question 17

ACE inhibitors: common uses?

Accepted Answer

Hypertension and selected heart-failure, post-myocardial-infarction, and kidney-protection indications.

Question 18

Proton-pump inhibitors: major safety concepts?

Accepted Answer

Possible concerns include hypomagnesemia and enteric infection risk. Many other long-term links are observational rather than proven causal effects.

Question 19

Which class is often suggested by -oxetine or -opram?

Accepted Answer

SSRIs, but not universally. Sertraline and fluvoxamine are exceptions, and some stems overlap other classes.

Question 20

NSAIDs: common uses?

Accepted Answer

Pain, inflammation, and fever; individual agents also have more specific uses.

Question 21

Metformin belongs to which drug class?

Accepted Answer

Biguanides. Metformin is the main widely used member, so there is no useful class-wide suffix rule.

Question 22

Penicillins: major safety concepts?

Accepted Answer

Hypersensitivity can range from rash to anaphylaxis; diarrhea and antibiotic-associated colitis are additional concerns.

Question 23

ACE inhibitors: major safety concepts?

Accepted Answer

Cough, hyperkalemia, kidney-function changes, angioedema, and fetal harm are major class concerns.

Question 24

Proton-pump inhibitors: common uses?

Accepted Answer

Acid-related disorders such as GERD, erosive esophagitis, and peptic-ulcer disease.

Question 25

SSRIs: major safety concepts?

Accepted Answer

Serotonin syndrome, bleeding and hyponatremia risks, sexual dysfunction, and the antidepressant suicidality warning for younger people.

Question 26

Ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketorolac belong to which class?

Accepted Answer

NSAIDs. The class has no single reliable generic-name suffix.

Question 27

Biguanides: common use?

Accepted Answer

Type 2 diabetes.

Question 28

Penicillins: common use?

Accepted Answer

Treatment of susceptible bacterial infections; the spectrum differs substantially among individual penicillins.

Question 29

Which class is often suggested by the ending -prazole?

Accepted Answer

Proton-pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole and pantoprazole. Confirm the individual drug.

Question 30

NSAIDs: major safety concepts?

Accepted Answer

Gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney injury, fluid retention, and cardiovascular events are key risks; FDA also warns about use from about 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Question 31

Sulfonylureas: core mechanism?

Accepted Answer

They close ATP-sensitive potassium channels in pancreatic beta cells, triggering insulin release even when glucose is not high.

Question 32

H2 blockers: core mechanism?

Accepted Answer

They competitively block histamine H2 receptors on gastric parietal cells, reducing acid secretion.

Question 33

SNRIs: core mechanism?

Accepted Answer

They inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake transporters, increasing both transmitters in synapses.

Question 34

Opioid analgesics: core mechanism?

Accepted Answer

They activate opioid receptors; many important analgesic effects and toxicities are mediated through mu receptors.

Question 35

Glipizide, glyburide, and glimepiride belong to which class?

Accepted Answer

Sulfonylureas. Their names offer clues, but the broad ending -ide is not class-specific.

Question 36

ARBs: core mechanism?

Accepted Answer

They block angiotensin II at AT1 receptors, reducing vasoconstriction and aldosterone effects.

Question 37

H2 blockers: common uses?

Accepted Answer

Acid-related disorders such as heartburn, GERD, and gastric or duodenal ulcers.

Question 38

Cephalosporins: core mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Their beta-lactam ring binds penicillin-binding proteins and disrupts bacterial cell-wall synthesis.

Question 39

SNRIs: major safety concepts?

Accepted Answer

Serotonin syndrome, blood-pressure increases, discontinuation symptoms, and the antidepressant suicidality warning for younger people.

Question 40

Morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl belong to which broad class?

Accepted Answer

Opioid analgesics. The class has no single reliable generic-name suffix.

Question 41

Sulfonylureas: common use?

Accepted Answer

Type 2 diabetes when increasing pancreatic insulin release is appropriate.

Question 42

ARBs: major safety concepts?

Accepted Answer

Hyperkalemia, hypotension, kidney-function changes, and fetal harm are major concerns; cough is less common than with ACE inhibitors.

Question 43

Which class is often suggested by the ending -tidine?

Accepted Answer

H2 receptor blockers, such as famotidine and cimetidine. Confirm the individual drug.

Question 44

Cephalosporins: common use?

Accepted Answer

Treatment of susceptible bacterial infections; antibacterial spectrum varies widely by agent and generation.

Question 45

Which name endings can suggest an SNRI?

Accepted Answer

-faxine or sometimes -oxetine, but neither is decisive. The -oxetine ending also appears in some SSRIs.

Question 46

Opioid analgesics: major safety concepts?

Accepted Answer

Respiratory depression, sedation, constipation, tolerance, dependence, and overdose; benzodiazepines and other depressants increase danger.

Question 47

Sulfonylureas: major safety concepts?

Accepted Answer

Hypoglycemia and weight gain are the main class patterns, with risk differing among agents and clinical contexts.

Question 48

ARBs: common uses?

Accepted Answer

Hypertension and selected heart-failure and kidney-protection indications.

Question 49

H2 blockers: major safety concepts?

Accepted Answer

They are usually well tolerated, but confusion or other CNS effects can occur with reduced clearance; cimetidine has many interactions.

Question 50

Which class is often suggested by cef- or ceph-?

Accepted Answer

Cephalosporins, such as cefazolin and cephalexin. The name does not reveal the full spectrum.

Question 51

SNRIs: common uses?

Accepted Answer

Depression and anxiety disorders; selected agents also treat neuropathic pain or fibromyalgia.

Question 52

Opioid analgesics: common uses?

Accepted Answer

Analgesia for selected severe pain and perioperative settings; individual opioids also have other specific uses.

Question 53

Which class is often suggested by the ending -sartan?

Accepted Answer

Angiotensin II receptor blockers, or ARBs. Examples include losartan and valsartan.

Question 54

Cephalosporins: major safety concepts?

Accepted Answer

Hypersensitivity and antibiotic-associated diarrhea are important; penicillin cross-reactivity depends largely on similar side chains.

Question 55

Beta2 agonists: core mechanism?

Accepted Answer

They activate beta2 receptors, increasing cAMP and relaxing airway smooth muscle.

Question 56

Beta blockers: core mechanism?

Accepted Answer

They antagonize beta-adrenergic receptors; beta1 blockade can reduce heart rate, contractility, and renin release.

Question 57

Systemic corticosteroids: core mechanism?

Accepted Answer

They bind intracellular glucocorticoid receptors and alter gene transcription, reducing inflammatory and immune signaling.

Question 58

Benzodiazepines: core mechanism?

Accepted Answer

They positively modulate GABA-A receptors, increasing the frequency of chloride-channel opening when GABA is present.

Question 59

Which class is often suggested by the ending -terol?

Accepted Answer

Beta2 agonist bronchodilators, such as formoterol and salmeterol. Albuterol is a familiar exception.

Question 60

Macrolides: core mechanism?

Accepted Answer

They bind the bacterial 50S ribosomal subunit and inhibit protein synthesis.

Question 61

Beta blockers: common uses?

Accepted Answer

Selected cardiovascular conditions such as arrhythmias, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and hypertension; some agents have noncardiac uses.

Question 62

GLP-1 receptor agonists: core mechanism?

Accepted Answer

They activate GLP-1 receptors, increasing glucose-dependent insulin release, suppressing glucagon, and slowing gastric emptying.

Question 63

Systemic corticosteroids: major safety concepts?

Accepted Answer

Infection, hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal suppression; risks rise with systemic exposure and duration.

Question 64

Which endings often suggest a benzodiazepine?

Accepted Answer

-azepam or -azolam, as in diazepam or midazolam. Not every sedative with a similar ending belongs to this class.

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