COMMON MEDICATIONS

Question 1

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Answer 1

fever reducer; treats minor aches and pains

(induces analgesia by blocking prostaglandin synthesis by selectively inhibiting COX-II)

Question 2

Amoxicillin (Amoxil or Larotid)

Answer 2

antibiotic

(inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding one or more of the penicillin binding proteins (PBPs)).

Question 3

Adenosine (Adenocard or Adenoscan)

Answer 3

anti-arrhythmic agent

(exerts a negative chronotropic effect by suppressing the automaticity of cardiac pacemakers, and a negative dromotropic effect through inhibition of AV-nodal conduction.)

Question 4

Albuterol (Proair HFA, Proventil HFA, or Ventolin HFA)

Answer 4

bronchodilator used as a breathing treatment (acts on beta-2 adrenergic receptors to relax the bronchial smooth muscle).

Question 5

Atenolol (Tenormin)

Answer 5

beta-blocker used to treat hypertension and angina

(works by selectively binding to the beta-1 adrenergic receptors found in vascular smooth muscle and the heart, blocking the positive inotropic and chronotropic actions of endogenous catecholamines such as isoproterenol, norepinephrine, and epinephrine).

Question 6

Ativan (Lorazepam)

Answer 6

benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety

(binds to benzodiazepine receptors on the postsynaptic GABA-A ligand-gated chloride channel neuron at several sites within the central nervous system (CNS). It enhances the inhibitory effects of GABA, which increases the conductance of chloride ions in the cell)

Question 7

Atropine (AtroPen)

Answer 7

involuntary nervous system blocker that can increase that firing at the SA node and treat some forms of bradycardia.

(Atropine inhibits the muscarinic actions of acetylcholine on structures innervated by postganglionic cholinergic nerves, and on smooth muscles, which respond to endogenous acetylcholine but are not so innervated)

Question 8

Augmentin (Amoxicillin/Clavulanate Potassium)

Answer 8

antibiotic

(The mechanisms of action of amoxicillin/clavulanate are interference with cell wall synthesis by attachment to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), inhibition of cell wall peptidoglycan synthesis and inactivation of inhibitors to autolytic enzymes).

Question 9

Azithromycin (Zithromax)

Answer 9

antibiotic

(Azithromycin mechanism of action including the inhibition of bacterial protein synthesis, inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine production, inhibition of neutrophil infestation, and macrophage polarization alteration, gives it the ability to act against a wide range of microorganisms)

Question 10

Bactrim (Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole)

Answer 10

antibiotic

(Trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole inhibit bacterial synthesis of tetrahydrofolic acid, the physiologically active form of folic acid and a necessary cofactor in the synthesis of thymidine, purines, and bacterial DNA)

Question 11

Benadryl (Diphenhydramine)

Answer 11

antihistamine

(Diphenhydramine acts as an inverse agonist at the H1 receptor, thereby reversing the effects of histamine on capillaries, reducing allergic reaction symptoms. The H1 receptor is similar to muscarinic receptors).

Question 12

Ciprofloxacin (Ciproxin, Ciloxan, or Cetraxal)

Answer 12

antibiotic

(The bactericidal action of ciprofloxacin results from inhibition of the enzymes topoisomerase II (DNA gyrase) and topoisomerase IV (both Type II topoisomerases), which are required for bacterial DNA replication, transcription, repair, and recombination)

Question 13

Clindamycin (Cleocin, etc.)

Answer 13

antibiotic

(Clindamycin works primarily by binding to the 50s ribosomal subunit of bacteria. This agent disrupts protein synthesis by interfering with the transpeptidation reaction, which thereby inhibits early chain elongation).

Question 14

Coumadin (Warfarin)

Answer 14

anticoagulant

(Warfarin competitively inhibits the vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1 (VKORC1), an essential enzyme for activating the vitamin K available in the body. Through this mechanism, warfarin can deplete functional vitamin K reserves and thereby reduce the synthesis of active clotting factors)

Question 15

Compazine (Prochlorperazine)

Answer 15

antiemetic

(It mainly works by depressing the chemoreceptor trigger zone and blocking D2 dopamine receptors in the brain. It was shown to also block histaminergic, cholinergic and noradrenergic receptors)

Question 16

Decadron (Dexamethasone)

Answer 16

steroid; anti-inflammatory

(Dexamethasone is a potent glucocorticoid with very little if any, mineralocorticoid activity. [5] Dexamethasone’s effect on the body occurs in a variety of ways. It works by suppressing the migration of neutrophils and decreasing lymphocyte colony proliferation)

Question 16

Dextrose (D10)

Answer 16

form of glucose

(Some tissues can also use fat or protein as an energy source but others, such as the brain and red blood cells, only use glucose. Dextrose in intravenous fluids undergoes oxidation to carbon dioxide and water, and quickly provides fluid and calories)

Question 16

Digoxin (Lanoxin)

Answer 16

antiarrhythmic

(Digoxin induces an increase in intracellular sodium that will drive an influx of calcium in the heart and cause an increase in contractility. Cardiac output increases with a subsequent decrease in ventricular filling pressures)

Question 17

Dilantin (Phenytoin)

Answer 17

anti-epileptic drug

(Phenytoin is believed to protect against seizures by causing voltage-dependent block of voltage gated sodium channels. This blocks sustained high frequency repetitive firing of action potentials)

Question 18

Dilaudid (Hydromorphone)

Answer 18

narcotic - opioid pain reliever

(The principal therapeutic action of hydromorphone is analgesia. Like all full opioid agonists, there is no ceiling effect for analgesia with morphine. Clinically, dosage is titrated to provide adequate analgesia and may be limited by adverse reactions, including respiratory and CNS depression)

Question 19

Diltiazem (Cardizem)

Answer 19

calcium channel blocker that is often used to treat atrial fibrillation

(inhibits the inflow of calcium ions into the cardiac muscle during depolarization. Reduced intracellular calcium concentrations increase smooth muscle relaxation, resulting in arterial vasodilation and decreased blood pressure)

Question 20

Dopamine (Intropin)

Answer 20

blood pressure support that can treat symptoms of shock by improving blood flow

(interacts with specific membrane receptors to produce its effects. These effects are terminated by re-uptake into the presynaptic neuron by a dopamine transporter, or by metabolic inactivation by monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) or catechol-0-methyltransferase (COMT)).

Question 21

Epinephrine (Adrenalin)

Answer 21

blood pressure support and vasoconstrictor

(Through its action on alpha-1 receptors, epinephrine induces increased vascular smooth muscle contraction, pupillary dilator muscle contraction, and intestinal sphincter muscle contraction)

Question 22

Etomidate (Amidate)

Answer 22

short-acting intravenous anesthetic agent

(It produces its effect by acting as a positive allosteric modulator on the γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor and thus enhancing the effect of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid)

Question 23

Fentanyl

Answer 23

narcotic - opioid pain reliever

(Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid agonist, which acts primarily at the μ-opioid receptor. It is 100 times more potent than morphine resulting in an estimated conversion ratio of 1 to 100 to provide an equal degree of analgesia)

Question 24

Flagyl (Metronidazole)

Answer 24

antibiotic

(Metronidazole diffuses into the organism, inhibits protein synthesis by interacting with DNA, and causes a loss of helical DNA structure and strand breakage. Therefore, it causes cell death in susceptible organisms)

Question 25

Haldol (Haloperidol)

Answer 25

antipsychotic

(It is believed that haloperidol competitively blocks post-synaptic dopamine (D2) receptors in the brain, eliminating dopamine neurotransmission and leading to the relief of delusions and hallucinations that are commonly associated with psychosis)

Question 26

Heparin (Lovenox)

Answer 26

anticoagulant

(Heparin is a sulfated polysaccharide with a molecular weight range of 3000 to 30 000 Da (mean, 15 000 Da). It produces its major anticoagulant effect by inactivating thrombin and activated factor X (factor Xa) through an antithrombin (AT)-dependent mechanism)

Question 27

Hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide, HydroDiuril, and Oretic)

Answer 27

diuretic used to treat hypertension

(Hydrochlorothiazide inhibits sodium chloride transport in the distal convoluted tubule. More sodium is then excreted in the kidney with accompanying fluid. Pharmacological effects begin in about 2 hours after an oral dose, peak in 4 hours, and lasts for about 6 to 12 hours)

Question 28

Ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil)

Answer 28

anti-inflammatory and fever reducer

(The main mechanism of action of ibuprofen is the non-selective, reversible inhibition of the cyclooxygenase enzymes COX-1 and COX-2)

Question 29

Insulin (Novolog, Humulin, etc.)

Answer 29

used to treat diabetes by lowering the levels of blood glucose

(Insulin stimulation of glucose uptake occurs through translocation of GLUT4-containing storage vesicles (GSVs) to the plasma membrane. The resultant increase in intracellular glucose-6-phosphate production, together with a coordinated dephosphorylation of glycogen metabolic proteins, enables net glycogen synthesis)

Question 30

Cephalexin (Keflex)

Answer 30

antibiotic

(Cephalexin inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis, leading breakdown and eventualy cell death. Well absorbed from the upper gastrointestinal tract with nearly 100% oral bioavailability. Cephalexin is not absorbed in the stomach but is absorbed in the upper intestine)

Question 31

Ketamine (Ketalar)

Answer 31

general anesthetic

Question 32

Lasix (Furosemide)

Answer 32

diuretic

(Furosemide, like other loop diuretics, acts by inhibiting the luminal Na-K-Cl cotransporter in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle, by binding to the Na-K-2Cl transporter, thus causing more sodium, chloride, and potassium to be excreted in the urine)

Question 33

Lisinopril (Zestril and Privinil)

Answer 33

ACE inhibitor; treats hypertension and heart failure

(Lisinopril inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in human subjects and animals. ACE is a peptidyl dipeptidase that catalyzes the conversion of angiotensin I to the vasoconstrictor substance, angiotensin II. Angiotensin II also stimulates aldosterone secretion by the adrenal cortex)

Question 34

Levaquin (Levofloxacin)

Answer 34

antibiotic

(The mechanism of action of levofloxacin and other fluoroquinolone antimicrobials involves inhibition of bacterial topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase (both of which are type II topoisomerases), enzymes required for DNA replication, transcription, repair and recombination)

Question 35

Lidocaine

Answer 35

local anesthetic and antiarrhythmic

(Lidocaine can block Na+ and K+ ion channels and regulate intracellular and extracellular calcium concentrations through other ligand-gated ion channels. Lidocaine was the first sodium channel blocker to be identified. Its main mechanism of action is blocking voltage-gated Na+ channels (VGSC/NaVs)).

Question 36

Marcaine (Bupivacaine)

Answer 36

local anesthetic

(Bupivacaine blocks the generation and the conduction of nerve impulses, presumably by increasing the threshold for electrical excitation in the nerve, by slowing the propagation of the nerve impulse, and by reducing the rate of rise of the action potential).

Question 37

Methadone

Answer 37

narcotic - opioid pain reliever that can be used to treat narcotic drug addiction

(Methadone is a synthetic opioid analgesic with full agonist activity at the µ-opioid receptor. While agonism of the µ-opioid receptor is the primary mechanism of action for the treatment of pain, methadone also acts as an agonist of κ- and σ-opioid receptors within the central and peripheral nervous systems)

Question 38

Metoprolol (Lopressor and Toprol XL)

Answer 38

beta-blocker that is used to treat hypertension, angina, and heart failure

(Metoprolol is a cardioselective beta-1-adrenergic receptor inhibitor that competitively blocks beta1-receptors with minimal or no effects on beta-2 receptors at oral doses of less than 100 mg in adults. It decreases cardiac output by negative inotropic and chronotropic effects).

Question 39

Morphine

Answer 39

narcotic - opioid pain reliever

(The net effect of morphine is the activation of descending inhibitory pathways of the CNS as well as inhibition of the nociceptive afferent neurons of the PNS, which leads to an overall reduction of the nociceptive transmission)

Question 40

Narcan (Naloxone)

Answer 40

opiate receptor blocker; treats narcotic overdose

(It is an opioid antagonist—meaning that it binds to opioid receptors and can reverse and block the effects of other opioids, such as heroin, morphine, and oxycodone. Administered when a patient is showing signs of opioid overdose, naloxone is a temporary treatment and its effects do not last long)

Question 41

Norco (Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen)

Answer 41

narcotic - opioid pain reliever

(Hydrocodone is full opioid agonist with relative selectivity for the mu-opioid (μ) receptor, although it can interact with other opioid receptors at higher doses. The principal therapeutic action of hydrocodone is analgesia)

Question 42

Nitroglycerin (Nitrostat)

Answer 42

relaxes vascular smooth muscle and is used to treat chest pain by dilating the coronary arteries

(As with other nitrates used to treat anginal chest pain, nitroglycerin converts to nitric oxide (NO) in the body. NO then activates the enzyme guanylyl cyclase, which converts guanosine triphosphate (GTP) to guanosine 3’,5’-monophosphate (cGMP) in vascular smooth muscle and other tissues).

Question 43

Oxycontin (oxycodone)

Answer 43

narcotic - opioid pain reliever

(Oxycodone has the same mechanism of action as other opioids: binding to a receptor, inhibition of adenylyl-cyclase and hyperpolarisation of neurons, and decreased excitability)

Question 44

Percocet (oxycodone acetaminophen)

Answer 44

narcotic - opioid pain reliever

(Oxycodone produces respiratory depression by direct action on brain stem respiratory centers. The respiratory depression involves a reduction in the responsiveness of the brain stem respiratory centers to both increases in carbon dioxide tension and electrical stimulation)

Question 45

Phenergan (Promethazine)

Answer 45

antihistamine that is also used to treat nausea

(Promethazine is a an antagonist of histamine H1, post-synaptic mesolimbic dopamine, alpha adrenergic, muscarinic, and NMDA receptors. The antihistamine action is used to treat allergic reactions. Antagonism of muscarinic and NMDA receptors contribute to its use as a sleep aid, as well as for anxiety and tension)

Question 46

Plavix (Clopidogrel)

Answer 46

anticoagulant

(The active metabolite of clopidogrel selectively inhibits the binding of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) to its platelet P2Y12 receptor and the subsequent ADP- mediated activation of the glycoprotein GPIIb/IIIa complex, thereby inhibiting platelet aggregation. This action is irreversible)

Question 47

Prednisone (Deltasone)

Answer 47

steroid that is also used as an anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressant

(Prednisone decreases inflammation via suppression of the migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and reversing increased capillary permeability. It also suppresses the immune system by reducing the activity and the volume of the immune system)

Question 48

Propofol (Diprivan)

Answer 48

general anesthetic

(A widely used intravenous anesthetic that acts by enhancing GABAergic inhibitory activity in the brain. Propofol can directly activate the GABAA receptor or, when coapplied with GABA or other agonists, potentiate the response to the transmitter)

Question 49

Rocephin (Ceftriaxone)

Answer 49

antibiotic

(Ceftriaxone is a bactericidal agent that acts by inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis. Ceftriaxone has activity in the presence of some beta-lac- tamases, both penicillinases and cephalosporinases, of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria)

Question 50

Simvistatin (Zocor)

Answer 50

treats high cholesterol

(Using acetyl-CoA as a substrate, mevalonic acid is formed, and subsequent reactions lead to the formation of cholesterol. Simvastatin acts on the rate-limiting step and serves as an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, consequently leading to decreased cholesterol concentrations)

Question 51

Solumedrol (Methylprednisolone)

Answer 51

steroid that is also used as an anti-inflammatory

(By reversing capillary permeability, suppressing the migration of fibroblasts and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, controlling the rate of protein synthesis, and stabilizing lysosomes at the cellular level, methylprednisolone may control or prevent inflammation through these actions as well)

Question 52

Spironolactone (Aldactone)

Answer 52

diuretic used to treat hypertension

(A specific pharmacologic antagonist of aldosterone, acting primarily through competitive binding of receptors at the aldosterone-dependent sodium-potassium exchange site in the distal convoluted renal tubule)

Question 53

Succinylcholine (Sux)

Answer 53

paralytic that is used to induce muscle relaxation and short-term paralysis

(A depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent, succinylcholine adheres to post-synaptic cholinergic receptors of the motor endplate, inducing continuous disruption that results in transient fasciculations or involuntary muscle contractions and subsequent skeletal muscle paralysis)

Question 54

Toradol (Ketorolac Tromethamine)

Answer 54

anti-inflammatory

(A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is used to treat moderately severe pain and inflammation, usually after surgery. Toradol works by blocking the production of prostaglandins, compounds that cause pain, fever, and inflammation)

Question 55

TPA (Tissue Plasminogen Activator)

Answer 55

thrombolytic used to dissolve blood clots

(tPA attaches to the fibrin on the clot surface. It activates the fibrin-bound plasminogen. Plasmin is subsequently cleaved from the plasminogen affiliated with the fibrin. The plasmin breaks up the molecules of fibrin, and the clot dissolves)

Question 56

Xanax (Alprazolam)

Answer 56

benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety

(Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine that binds γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type-A receptors (GABAARs) to enhance their inhibitory effect on neurotransmission, specifically in the brain)

Question 57

Versed (Midazolam)

Answer 57

sedative

(Midazolam acts on glycine receptors and produces a muscle-relaxing effect. Almost all the pharmacologic effects, including sedation, anxiolysis, anterograde amnesia, and anticonvulsant effect, can are explainable through its action on GABA receptors)

Question 58

Zofran (Ondansetron)

Answer 58

antiemetic

(Ondansetron is used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Ondansetron is in a class of medications called serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonists. It works by blocking the action of serotonin, a natural substance that may cause nausea and vomiting)

Question 59

Zosyn (piperacillin/tazobactam)

Answer 59

antibiotic

(Piperacillin sodium exerts bactericidal activity by inhibiting septum formation and cell wall synthesis of susceptible bacteria. In vitro, piperacillin is active against a variety of gram-positive and gram-negative aerobic and anaerobic bacteria)