Pharmacology Flashcards
Mechanism of statins
- Lipid/cholesterol lowering agents
- Inhibit HMG-coA reductase which plays a role in cholesterol production
- Increases LDL (bad cholesterol) uptake by the liver
Mechanism of fibrates
- Lipid/cholesterol lowering agents
- Activate PPAR
- Induces transcription of genes that facilitate lipid metabolism
- Increases HDL levels (good cholesterol)
Class and mechanism of penicillin
- Broad spectrum, bactericidal beta-lactam
- Inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis by preventing cross linking of peptides by binding to the transpeptidase enzyme (PBPs), preventing bacterial cell wall formation
- Cell walls are improperly made, this allows water to flow into the cell, causing it to burst (cytolysis)
Different examples of macrolides
Macrolides are a class of antibiotic that includes erythromycin, roxithromycin, azithromycin and clarithromycin
- Used for patients with penicillin allergy
First-line indications for macrolides
First-line indications for macrolides include the treatment of atypical community acquired pneumonia, H. Pylori (as part of triple therapy), chlamydia and acute non-specific urethritis.
Cephalosporin class?
Beta lactam, bactericidal
Mechanism of cephalosporin
- Mimic the D-Ala-D-Ala site, irreversibly inhibiting the PBP cross-linking of the peptidoglycan bacterial cell wall
Indications of cephalosporin
Septicaemia Pneumonia Meningitis Biliary-tract infections Peritonitis Urinary-tract infections
Examples of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors
Abacavir
Tenofovir
Emtricitabine
Mechanism of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors
Stop HIV changing ssRNA to dsDNA
- They cause chain termination after they have been incorporated into DNA
Examples of NNRTIs
Nevirapine
Efavirenz
Etravirine
Mechanism of NNRTIs
Stop HIV from changing ssRNA into dsDNA
- They have a high affinity for the hydrophobic binding pocked located near the active site of HIV reverse transcriptase, so it cannot catalyse DNA polymerisation
Mechanism of protease inhibitors
Block new HIV from being cut into smaller pieces and from being reassembled into new, infectious particles
- Mimic the natural peptide substrate of HIV called aspartyl protease enzyme
Mechanism of integrase inhibitors
Block HIV from being integrated into the cell DNA
- They target HIV integrase, responsible for the integration of viral genetic material into human DNA, a crucial step in the replication cycle of HIV
Mechanism of entry inhibitors
CCR5 antagonists
- Bind to CCR5 receptor which blocks HIV protein gp120 from association with the receptor, so it is unable to enter human macrophages and T cells, but it can use CXCR4 instead