Drugs list

Question 1

Acetazolamide

Answer 1

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor

Leads to accumulation of H2CO3 and thus H+ and HCO3-, lowers pH - altitude sickness

Increased excretion of HCO3- and Cl- (CA needed for reabsorption) - weak diuretic

Question 2

Adenosine

Answer 2

Anti-dysrhythmic

Supraventricular tachycardia

Adenosine causes transient heart block in the atrioventricular (AV) node. A1 receptor - inhibits adenylyl cyclase, reducing cAMP - cell hyperpolarization by increasing K+ efflux via inward rectifier K+ channels - subsequently inhibiting Ca2+ current

Class V

Question 3

Adrenaline

Answer 3

Nonselective agonist of all adrenergic receptors, α1, α2, β1, β2, and β3.

Increases heart rate; contractility; conduction across AV node
Increases respiratory rate; bronchodilation
Stimulates glycogenolysis
Systemic Vasoconstriction and vasodilation
Triggers lipolysis
Muscle contraction

Question 4

Amiloride

Answer 4

Potassium sparing diuretic

Directly blocking the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) Inhibits sodium reabsorption in the late distal convoluted tubules, connecting tubules, and collecting ducts in the nephron. Promotes the loss of sodium and water from the body, and reduces potassium excretion.

Question 5

Amiodarone

Answer 5

Anti-dysrhythmic

VT, AF

Prolongs repolarization phase

Blocker of voltage gated potassium (KCNH2) and voltage gated calcium channels (CACNA2D2).

Amiodarone slows conduction rate and prolongs the refractory period of the SA and AV nodes, ventricles, bundles of His, and the Purkinje fibres without exhibiting any effects on the conduction rate

Class III

Question 6

Amphetamines

Answer 6

Inhibit reuptake of monoamines
( dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin)

Stimulates CNS

Question 7

Aspirin

Answer 7

Anti-inflammatory and anti-hypertensive

Suppress the production of prostaglandins and thromboxanes is due to its irreversible inactivation of the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme required for prostaglandin sythesis

Question 8

Atenolol

Answer 8

Selective beta 1 adrenergic antagonist

Beta blocker reduces heart excitability, arrhythmia, angina, tachycardia

Question 9

Atropine

Answer 9

M2 cholinergic antagonist

Used to treat bradycardia

Question 10

Propanolol

Answer 10

Non-selective beta adrenergic antagonist

Beta blocker reduces heart excitability, arrhythmia, angina, tachycardia

Also blocks beta 2 so should not be given to asthmatic patients

Question 11

Bendroflumethiazide

Answer 11

Thiazide diuretic

Inhibits NCC (sodium chloride symporter) in distal tubule

More sodium remains in the urine (in the lumen), draws more water to lumen, increasing the volume of urine produced.

Question 12

Botulinum toxin

Answer 12

Toxin cleaves SNARE proteins

Acetylcholine vesicles can’t bind to the intracellular cell membrane, vesicles of neurotransmitter not released.

This stops nerve signaling, leading to paralysis.

Question 13

Digoxin

Answer 13

Cardiac glycoside

Inhibition of the Na+/K+ ATPase.

Increase in intracellular sodium levels, resulting in decreased activity of the sodium-calcium exchanger,

Increase in the intracellular calcium concentration that is available to the contractile proteins.

Question 14

Ouabain

Answer 14

Cardiac glycoside

Inhibition of the Na+/K+ ATPase.

Increase in intracellular sodium levels, resulting in decreased activity of the sodium-calcium exchanger,

Increase in the intracellular calcium concentration that is available to the contractile proteins.

Question 15

Dobutamine

Answer 15

Dobutamine is predominantly a β1-adrenergic agonist (sympathomimetic)

Used in heart failure to increase CO

Question 16

Furosemide

Answer 16

Loop diuretic

Inhibits the NKCC2 in the TALH

Reduces Na+ reabsorption, more water in interstitium, increased urine excretion

Question 17

Insulin

Answer 17

Widespread actions to promote anabolism and reduces raised plasma glucose

Used in type I diabetes and extreme cases of type II

Question 18

Isoprenaline

Answer 18

Beta adrenergic agonist

Can be used to treat bradycardia

Question 19

Lidocaine

Answer 19

Blocks VGNC

Influx of sodium is interrupted, an action potential cannot arise and signal conduction is inhibited (i.e in nociceptors)

Local anaesthetic

Question 20

Mannitol

Answer 20

Osmotic diuretic

Injected intravenously, and then freely filtered at the kidney, where it raises the osmotic pressure of the urine and draws additional water into it.

Rare use in the treatment of life-threatening cerebral oedema.

Question 21

Neostigmine

Answer 21

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor

More ACh in cleft - enhances cholinergic transmission

Question 22

Omeprazole

Answer 22

Inhibits proton pump H+/K+ATPase on parietal cells

Reduce stomach acid, used to treat peptic ulcers

Question 23

Penicillin

Answer 23

Antibiotic

Interfere with bacterial cell wall formation and remodelling

Question 24

Ranitidine

Answer 24

Histamine (H2-receptor) antagonists

Block the amplifying effect of the mast (ECL) cells on parietal cell stimulation, and so substantially reduce acid secretion

Used to treat peptic ulcers

Question 25

Salbutamol

Answer 25

Beta 2 adrenergic agonist

Promotes smooth muscle relaxation of the brochioles

Used to treat asthmatic attacks

Question 26

Spironolactone

Answer 26

Potassium sparing diuretic

Aldosterone receptor (mineralocorticoid) antagonist

Question 27

Suxamethonium

Answer 27

Depolarising NMJ blocking drug

Generates an action potential, AChE cannot remove the drug so the membrane cannot repolarise.

Maintained depolarisation means that the voltage gated sodium channels are inactivated.

Question 28

Tetrodotoxin

Answer 28

Blocks voltage gated Na+ channels

Prevents excitability of neurone

Question 29

Tubocurarine

Answer 29

Antagonist for the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChr)

Blocks the receptor site from ACh.

Question 30

Vercuronium

Answer 30

Competes for the nAChr receptors at the motor end plate, thereby exerting its muscle-relaxing properties

Question 31

Verapamil

Answer 31

Block voltage-dependent calcium channels.

Class-IV antiarrhythmic agent.

Verapamil is also a Kv voltage gated potassium channel blocker.