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Pharmacology Flashcards

6 cards from real ExCPT Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. Which drug class is primarily used to treat Type 2 diabetes by increasing insulin sensitivity in peripheral tissues?

    Answer: Thiazolidinediones

    Thiazolidinediones (e.g., pioglitazone, rosiglitazone) are insulin sensitizers that act on PPAR-gamma receptors to reduce insulin resistance in muscle and adipose tissue.

  2. A patient is prescribed atorvastatin. What is the primary mechanism of action of this drug?

    Answer: Inhibits HMG-CoA reductase

    Atorvastatin (Lipitor) is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) that blocks the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver.

  3. Which of the following opioid analgesics has the HIGHEST risk of causing QT prolongation?

    Answer: Methadone

    Methadone has a unique pharmacological profile that includes potassium channel blockade, leading to QT interval prolongation and risk of torsades de pointes arrhythmia.

  4. Benzodiazepines exert their anxiolytic effects by acting on which receptor?

    Answer: GABA-A receptor

    Benzodiazepines bind to GABA-A receptors at the benzodiazepine binding site, enhancing the effect of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and increasing chloride ion influx.

  5. Which drug is used as an antidote for acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose?

    Answer: N-acetylcysteine

    N-acetylcysteine (NAC) replenishes hepatic glutathione stores, allowing the liver to detoxify the toxic NAPQI metabolite that accumulates in acetaminophen overdose.

  6. What is the primary pharmacological effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)?

    Answer: Inhibit the reuptake of serotonin at the presynaptic terminal

    SSRIs block the serotonin transporter (SERT), preventing serotonin reuptake into the presynaptic neuron, thereby increasing serotonin availability in the synaptic cleft.