Pharmacology Flashcards
6 cards from real Pharmacy practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Pharmacology flashcards as text
Which class of drugs works by blocking H2 receptors to reduce gastric acid secretion?
Answer: H2 blockers
H2 blockers (e.g., ranitidine, famotidine) competitively block histamine H2 receptors on parietal cells, reducing acid production.
Metformin's primary mechanism of action for treating type 2 diabetes is to:
Answer: Decrease hepatic glucose production
Metformin primarily decreases hepatic gluconeogenesis and improves insulin sensitivity; it does not stimulate insulin secretion.
Which term describes the study of how the body affects a drug (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion)?
Answer: Pharmacokinetics
Pharmacokinetics (PK) describes how the body processes a drug — ADME: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion.
A drug with a narrow therapeutic index requires close monitoring because:
Answer: The difference between effective and toxic doses is small
Narrow therapeutic index drugs (e.g., warfarin, digoxin, lithium) have minimal margin between therapeutic and toxic plasma levels.
Beta-1 selective adrenergic blockers are preferred in asthmatic patients because they:
Answer: Avoid bronchoconstriction caused by beta-2 blockade
Cardioselective (beta-1 selective) blockers like metoprolol minimize bronchospasm risk by avoiding beta-2 receptor blockade in the lungs.
Which drug class inhibits the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase to lower cholesterol?
Answer: Statins
Statins (e.g., atorvastatin, simvastatin) inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting step in hepatic cholesterol synthesis.