Drugs

Question 1

What is the action of warfarin?

Answer 1

Inhibits epoxide reductase enzyme which prevents the activation of vitamin K, an important co-factor in the coagulation cascade.

Question 2

What type of drug is warfarin?

Answer 2

Oral anticoagulant

Question 3

What is the action of clopidogrel?

Answer 3

Binds antagonistically to the P2Y12 ADP receptor which inhibits the activation of platelets and so reduces risk of clot formation.

Question 4

What type of drug is clopidogrel?

Answer 4

Antiplatelet agent used to manage CVD.
Other examples: prasugrel, ticagrelor

Question 5

What type of drugs are atenolol, propanolol and bisoprolol?

Answer 5

beta blockers

Question 6

What is the action of beta-blockers?

Answer 6

They inhibit the release of renin by the kidneys (partly regulated by B1-adrenoceptors in the kidney). Decreasing circulating plasma renin leads to a decrease in angiotensin II and aldosterone –> ↑renal loss of sodium and water –> ↓blood pressure

Question 7

What type of drug is Ramipril?

Answer 7

ACE-Inhibitor (other examples = lisinopril, benazepril, enalapril)

Question 8

What is the action of ACE-inhibitors?

Answer 8

Inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme which prevents the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. Angiotensin II causes vasoconstriction of blood vessels and so ACE-inhibitors have a vasodilatory effect, helping to reduce blood pressure.

Question 9

What type of drug is rivaroxaban?

Answer 9

DOAC (direct-acting oral anticoagulants)
Other examples: dabigatran, apixaban

Question 10

What is the action of DOACs?

Answer 10

Inhibit factor Xa (rivaroxaban, apixaban) or factor IIa (dabigatran) in the coagulation cascade resulting in reduced risk of blood clots.
Used first-line prophylactically for DVT + PE.

Question 11

What type of drug is furosemide?

Answer 11

Loop diuretic
Other common examples: bumetanide, torsemide

Question 12

What is the action of loop diuretics?

Answer 12

They inhibit Na+-K+-Cl- co-transporters in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle.
This transporter reabsorbs around 25% of the sodium load so these drugs significantly increase the distal tubular concentration of sodium, leading to diuresis and natriuresis. Used to treat fluid overload conditions like heart failure, cirrhosis, hypertension

Question 13

What type of drug is bendroflumethiazide?

Answer 13

Thiazide diuretic
Other examples: chlorothiazide, indapamide, chlorthalidone

Question 14

What is the action of thiazide diuretics?

Answer 14

Inhibit Na+/Cl- transporter in the distal tubule reducing sodium uptake and resulting in diuresis and natriuresis. Commonly used to treat hypertension.

Question 15

What type of drug is spironolactone?

Answer 15

K+ sparing diuretic

Question 16

What is the action of spironolactone?

Answer 16

Acts on the Na+/H+/Cl- co-transporters in the collecting duct to increase sodium excretion and results in increased diuresis + natriuresis. Unlike other diuretics it is potassium-sparing.
It is used in treatment of hypertension and heart failure.

Question 17

What are the mechanisms of action of antibiotics?

Answer 17

• cell wall synthesis inhibitors
• protein synthesis inhibitors
• DNA synthesis inhibitors
• damage DNA
• RNA synthesis inhibitors
• folic acid fomation inhibitors

Question 18

What are the groups of cell wall synthesis inhibitors?

Answer 18

penicillins
cephalosporins
carbapenems
glycopeptides

Question 19

What are the 30S subunit protein synthesis inhibitors?

Answer 19

aminoglycosides
tetracyclines

Question 20

What are the 50S subunit protein synthesis inhibitors?

Answer 20

macrolides
chloramphenicol
clindamycin
linezolid
streptogramins

Question 21

What is the group of DNA synthesis inhibitors?

Answer 21

quinolones

Question 22

What antibiotic damages DNA?

Answer 22

metronidazole

Question 23

Which 2 groups of antibiotics inhibit folic acid formation?

Answer 23

sulphonamides
trimethoprim

Question 24

what is the antibiotic action of rifampicin?

Answer 24

inhibits RNA synthesis

Question 25

What is the action of calcium channel blockers?

Answer 25

Block voltage-gated calcium channels and prevent calcium from entering the myocardial cells, cells of the conduction system and vascular smooth muscle cells. This reduces the strength of contraction of the heart and arteries and allows blood vessels to relax and open.
Used to manage cardiovascular disease.

Question 26

What are some examples of CCBs?

Answer 26

Verapamil, Diltiazem, nifedipine, amlodipine, felodipine

Question 27

What type of medicine is digoxin?

Answer 27

Cardiac glycoside - used for rate control in the management of AF

Question 28

What is the mechanism of action of digoxin?

Answer 28

• Decreases conduction through the AV node which slows the ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation and flutter
• increases the force of cardiac muscle contraction due to inhibition of the Na/K ATPase pump

Question 29

What is the action of PPIs?

Answer 29

Proton pump inhibitors cause irreversible blockade of H+/K+ ATPase of the gastric parietal cell

Question 30

What are 2 examples of PPIs?

Answer 30

Omeprazole, lansoprazole

Question 31

What are “a-blockers” and what is their action?

Answer 31

Also known as a-adrenoreceptor antagonists, they bind to a-adrenergic receptors, block them from being stimulated by noradrenaline. This has various effects on the body:
- relaxation of blood vessels (treatment for hypertension)
- relaxation of muscles of the bladder around the prostate gland (treatment for BPH)

Question 32

What are some example of a-blocker?

Answer 32

doxazosin, terazosin, tamsulosin

Question 33

What is the action of corticosteroids?

Answer 33

Inflammation reduction and immune system suppression

Question 34

What are some examples of corticosteroids?

Answer 34

Prednisolone, fludrocortisone, hydrocortisone, dexaemthasone, betmethasone

Question 35

What are ARBs?

Answer 35

Angiotensin receptor-blockers which block AT1 receptors found in the heart, blood vessels and kidneys. This prevents action of angiotensin II resulting in reduced vasoconstriction and reduced salt and water retention so blood pressure is decreased.

Question 36

What are some examples of ARBs?

Answer 36

losartan, candesartan, valsartan