Pharmacology & Therapeutics Flashcards
6 cards from real PSI 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 & Therapeutics flashcards as text
Which drug class is used as first-line for acute migraine attacks?
Answer: Triptans (5-HT1B/1D agonists)
Triptans (e.g., sumatriptan) selectively activate 5-HT1B/1D receptors causing cerebral vasoconstriction and inhibiting neuropeptide release, aborting migraine attacks.
Which antibacterial mechanism does penicillin use?
Answer: Inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis
Penicillin irreversibly binds penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), inhibiting cross-linking of peptidoglycan in the bacterial cell wall, leading to osmotic lysis of the bacterium.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) treat depression by:
Answer: Blocking the serotonin transporter (SERT)
SSRIs block SERT, preventing reuptake of serotonin from the synapse, thereby increasing synaptic serotonin concentration and enhancing serotonergic neurotransmission.
Which diuretic is potassium-sparing and acts by blocking aldosterone receptors?
Answer: Spironolactone
Spironolactone competitively antagonises aldosterone receptors in the collecting duct, reducing sodium reabsorption and potassium excretion. It is used in heart failure and hyperaldosteronism.
Atorvastatin lowers LDL cholesterol primarily by:
Answer: Inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase in the liver
Statins inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in hepatic cholesterol synthesis. This upregulates LDL receptors, increasing LDL clearance from blood.
Which drug is the antidote for paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose?
Answer: N-acetylcysteine (NAC)
NAC replenishes hepatic glutathione, which conjugates the toxic metabolite NAPQI (produced by CYP2E1 during paracetamol overdose), preventing liver damage.