Pharmacology & Drug Regulations Flashcards

The mechanism of action of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) involves:

Answer: Irreversibly inhibiting the H+/K+-ATPase pump

PPIs irreversibly bind to and inhibit the H+/K+-ATPase (proton pump) in parietal cells, blocking the final step of acid secretion and providing sustained acid suppression.

Digoxin toxicity is potentiated by:

Answer: Hypokalemia

Hypokalemia potentiates digoxin toxicity because potassium and digoxin compete for the same binding site on Na+/K+-ATPase; low potassium increases digoxin binding and its toxic effects.

Which antibiotic requires renal dose adjustment and is associated with ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity?

Answer: Gentamicin

Gentamicin, an aminoglycoside, requires careful renal dose adjustment and therapeutic drug monitoring due to concentration-dependent ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity.

Statins are contraindicated in pregnancy primarily because of risk of:

Answer: Teratogenicity and impaired fetal cholesterol synthesis

Statins inhibit cholesterol synthesis, which is essential for fetal development; their use in pregnancy is contraindicated due to proven teratogenic risk and disruption of fetal organ formation.

A patient prescribed lithium for bipolar disorder should be advised to maintain adequate intake of:

Answer: Sodium

Lithium and sodium share the same renal reabsorption transporter; sodium depletion leads to increased lithium reabsorption and potential toxicity, so adequate sodium intake is essential.

The drug of choice for treating status epilepticus in the emergency setting is:

Answer: Lorazepam or diazepam IV

IV benzodiazepines (lorazepam or diazepam) are the first-line treatment for status epilepticus due to their rapid onset of action in terminating seizure activity.