Drug Types

Question 1

corticosteroid

Answer 1

Provides relief for inflamed areas of the body; lessening swelling, redness, itching, and allergic reactions.

Question 2

benzodiazepine

Answer 2

Acts selectively on gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABA-A) receptors in the brain. Used in the treatment of anxiety, panic disorder, seizures, or sleep disorders. May also be used as a muscle relaxant, during alcohol withdrawal, or before surgery to induce relaxation and amnesia.

Question 3

ACE inhibitor

Answer 3

Blocks the angiotensin-converting-enzyme from converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II, resulting in a decrease in angiotensin II, causing vasodilation and therefore a reduction in blood pressure.

Question 4

calcium channel blocker

Answer 4

Blocks calcium from entering cells of the heart and smooth muscle in the walls of blood vessels; resulting in vasodilation of the arteries, a reduction in heart contraction force, a slowing of heart rate, and a reduction in aldosterone production, causing a decrease in blood pressure.

Question 5

bisphosphonate

Answer 5

Slows down or prevents bone loss, strengthening bones. Inhibits osteoclasts which are responsible for breaking down and reabsorbing minerals. Allows osteoblasts to work more effectively, improving bone mass.

Question 6

bronchodilator

Answer 6

Dilates the breathing passages by relaxing the bronchial smooth muscle, making breathing easier for people with asthma or other lung conditions.

Question 7

cephalosporin

Answer 7

broad-spectrum antibiotic

Question 8

diuretic

Answer 8

Increases urine production in the kidneys, promoting the removal of salt and fluid from the body to treat conditions that are associated with fluid retention; such as heart failure, kidney failure, and cirrhosis of the liver. Effective at reducing blood pressure and are used in the treatment of hypertension, also glaucoma.

Question 9

sclerosing agent

Answer 9

Used to treat varicose veins.

Question 10

statin

Answer 10

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. Decreases cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol production. Increases the number of LDL receptors on liver cells which enhances the uptake and breakdown of LDL-cholesterol. Most of the effects of statins occur in the liver. May be used to treat hyperlipidemia; most effective at lowering LDL-cholesterol.

Question 11

quinolone

Answer 11

Synthetic broad-spectrum antibiotic. Inhibits the enzyme topoisomerase II, a DNA gyrase that is necessary for the replication of bacteria.

Question 12

tetracycline

Answer 12

Broad-spectrum antibiotic. Inhibits protein synthesis in microbial RNA and are primarily bacteriostatic (prevent bacteria from reproducing but don’t necessarily kill them).

Question 13

heparin

Answer 13

Anticoagulant that activates antithrombin III which inhibits thrombin and factor Xa, factors necessary in the final stages of blood clotting cascade. Used to treat or prevent clots in conditions where there is a high risk of clot formation and thromboembolism, such as in atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, knee and hip surgery and so on.

Question 14

vasodilator

Answer 14

Dilates blood vessels. Used to treat hypertension, angina and heart failure.

Question 15

vasopressor

Answer 15

Constricts blood vessels, increasing blood pressure. Used in the treatment of extremely low blood pressure, especially in critically ill patients.

Question 16

thrombolytic

Answer 16

May be used for emergency treatment of an ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, or massive pulmonary embolism. Breaks up clots.

Question 17

gonadotropin

Answer 17

Promotes production of sex hormones and stimulates production of either sperm or ova. Used in fertility treatment to produce mature follicles and ovulation induction in women and to increase sperm count in men.

Question 18

sulfonamide

Answer 18

Synthetic antibiotic; called sulfa. Bacteriostatic when used alone; however, in combination with trimethoprim (co-trimoxazole), tends to be bactericidal. Rapidly excreted and very soluble in urine, so they are used to treat infections of the urinary tract. Not all sulfonamides have antibacterial activity. Thiazide diuretics, furosemide, acetazolamide, sulfonylureas and some COX-2 inhibitors are also sulfonamides.