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