20 Mechanisms Of Action

Front 1

Statin

Atorvastatin

Pravastatin

Back 1

Statins work by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase enzyme; The rate limiting enzyme in the mevalonate pathway of cholesterol production.

Front 2

Beta Blockers

Metoprolol

Bisoprolol

Pindolol

Back 2

Beta-1 adrenoceptors are found on the heart. Beta-2 adrenoceptors are found on the lungs. Some BB are selective for the heart and work to reduce the force of contraction and speed of conduction of the heart. This relieves the heart from work and oxygen demand. BB also prolong the refractory period of the AV node, making these drugs effective in the treatment of cardigan arrhythmias.

Front 3

Beta-2 agonist

Albuterol

Salmeterol

Back 3

Beta-2 agonist are used in the treatment of asthma and COPD. By stimulating (or agonizing) the Beta 2 receptor, which is found in the lungs, beta 2 agonist wirk to cause smooth muscle relaxation- making it easier to improve air flow in the lungs.

Front 4

Corticosteroid

Dexamethasone

Prednisolone

Back 4

Corticosteroid bind to surface cell glucocorticoid receptors, which then navigate their way into the cell nucleus to alter gene expression. Corticosteroid enhance anti-flammatory genes and downregulate pro inflammatory genes.

Front 5

Tetracycline

Minocycline

Doxycycline

Back 5

Proteins are necessary for cells, including bacterial cells, to survive. Tetracycline work by inhibiting protein synthesis inside bacterial cells.

Front 6

ACE Inhibitor

Captopril

Lisinopril

Ramipril

Back 6

Ace inhibitors block the angiotensin- converting enzyme-which normally converts angiotensin I into angiotensin II. Angiotensin II is responsible for effects such as vasoconstriction and releasing the hormone, aldosterone, which work to increase blood pressure further. ACE inhibitors prevent these actions from antigiotensin II and therefore they are used as antihypertensive drugs.

Front 7

NSAIDS

Naproxen

Ibuprofen

Etoricoxib

Back 7

NSAIDs work by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase enzyme, or COX. There are 2 kinds of COX; COX-1 & COX-2. The therapeutic effects of NSAIDs come from COX-2 inhibition- reducing inflammation. Therefore, NSAIDs are used to treat mild to moderate pain and pain related to inflammation. Aspirin also works by inhibiting COX.

Front 8

Opiods

Codeine

Dihydrocodeine

Tramadol

Morphine

Back 8

Opiods are used in the treatment of pain. They work by acting as agonists of the mu opiod receptor.

Front 9

Antifungal

Ketoconazole

Nystatin

Clotrimazole

Back 9

Azole antifungal drugs work by targeting ergosterol in fungal cells membranes. By targeting ergosterol, it impairs cell membrane synthesis, cell growth,and replication- damaging fungal cells.

Front 10

Penicillins

Benzylpenicillin

Flucloxacillin

Ampicillin

Amoxicillin

Back 10

Penicillins work by inhibiting enzymes responsible for linking up key elements in bacterial cell walls. By weakening in bacterial cell walls, penicillins cause cells to swell up break and ultimately die. The antimicrobacterial activity of penicillins comes from the fact that they contain a beta-lactam ring:a 4-sided square ring in their chemical structure. Another drug class- called cephalosporins- also contain a beta-lactam ring and work in much the same way. Examples include cefazolin,ceftriaxone,cefdinir and cefoperazone.

Front 11

PPI

Lansoprazole

Omeprazole

Pantoprazole

Back 11

PPIs are used to treat conditions that arise from excess gastric acid production. PPIs work to inhibit gastric acid production by blocking the "proton-pump" that feeds hydrogen ions into the stomach. PPIs irreversibly bind H+/K+-ATPase (aka the proton pump) in gastric parietal cells.

Front 12

Fluoroquinolones

Ciprofloxacin

Moxifloxacin

Back 12

Fluoroquinolones are antibacterial drugs that work by inhibiting DNA synthesis. As cells cannot replicate, the rate of production is reduced, and this allows the body to fight of the infection.

Front 13

Benzodiazepines

Diazepam

Midazolam

Nitrazepam

Back 13

Benzodiazepines are used to treat anxiety, seizures, to induce anesthesia and insomnia. They work by enhancing the binding of neurotransmitters GABA to the GABA A receptor. Once bound, it causes a "depressive" effect on neuronal synaptic transmission that lead to reduced anxiety, sleepiness, sedation and an anticonvulsive effect.

Front 14

Antipsychotic

Haloperidol

Chlorpromazine

Risperidone

Clozapine

Back 14

Antipsychotics work by a complex range of methods, but one of the most common is blocking post synaptic D2 receptors. D2 receptors are "dopaminergic" receptors that impact dopamine levels. D2 blockade is one of the primary ways that Antipsychotic drugs reduce psychotic symptoms in affected patients.

Front 15

SARIS

Fluoxetine

Paroxetine

Sertraline

Back 15

Are selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. Whereas antipsychotics act on dopamine receptors, SSRIs act on serotonin levels. Specifically, SSRIs work to inhibit neuronal re-uptake into neuronal cells. This means more serotonin is available between neurons to increase neurotransmissioms.

Front 16

Antihistamines

Certirizine

Loratadine

Fexofenadine

Chloropheniramine

Back 16

These 4 drugs are antagonists of the histamine, H1 type. H1 antagonism prevents the release of histamine from granules found in mast cells. Histamine is responsible for pro-allergy effects. Hence, these drugs are used to treat allergies, hay fever, itch and hives.

Front 17

Antihistamines

Ranitidine

Back 17

There is also a H2 receptor and once this is blocked (or antagonized), it reduces gastric acid production. That's why ranitidine is used in treatment of peptic ulcer disease, dyspepsia, and GERD.

Front 18

Heparin

Back 18

To make clots, you need thrombin and factor Xa; two key elements in the clot forming pathway. Heparin works to inactivate factor Xa and thrombin. There are low-molecular weight versions of heparin, too, and these drugs preferentially inhibit factor Xa. Examples include enoxaparin and dalteperin.

Front 19

Warfarin

Back 19

Warfarin

Hint 19

Warfarin is also used as an anticoagulant drug. However, warfarin works by inhibiting the enzyme vitamin K epoxide reducatase- preventing the reactivation of vitamin K and the synthesis of pro-clotting factors.

Front 20

Metformin

Back 20

Treats type 2 diabetes. It works by increasing the sensitivity (or response) to insulin. For example, this means it suppresses glucose production by the liver, increases glucose uptake into skeletal muscle and it suppresses glucose absorption by the intestines. This collectively works to reduce blood sugar levels.