High-yield drug classes (first half of the alphabet by system: CNS, cardiovascular, autonomic) with mechanism of action, one card per class or key drug.
118 cards · mixed cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.
- SSRIs: What is their primary mechanism of action?
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Inhibit selective reuptake of serotonin at the presynaptic terminal- SNRIs: What neurotransmitters do they block reuptake of?
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Serotonin and norepinephrine- Tricyclic antidepressants: What is their mechanism?
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Block reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin, plus antimuscarinic and antihistamine effects- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors: How do they work?
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Inhibit the enzyme MAO, preventing breakdown of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine- Atypical antipsychotics: What is their mechanism?
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Block D2 dopamine receptors and 5-HT2 serotonin receptors- Typical antipsychotics: What is their mechanism?
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Block D2 dopamine receptors, primarily in the mesolimbic pathway (antipsychotic effect); also block D2 receptors in the nigrostriatal pathway, causing extrapyramidal side effects, and in the tuberoinfundibular pathway, causing hyperprolactinemia- Benzodiazepines: How do they enhance CNS depression?
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Potentiate GABA-A receptor function, increasing chloride channel opening- Barbiturates: What is their mechanism?
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Enhance GABA-A receptors and also directly open chloride channels, producing CNS depression- Amphetamines: How do they increase alertness?
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Increase release of norepinephrine and dopamine, inhibit their reuptake- Lithium: What is its proposed mechanism in bipolar disorder?
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Inhibits inositol monophosphatase, disrupting the phosphatidylinositol cycle, reducing IP3 signaling- Phenytoin (anticonvulsant): What is its mechanism?
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Blocks voltage-gated sodium channels, stabilizing neuronal membranes- Opioids: How do they produce analgesia?
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Bind to mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors, decreasing neurotransmitter release and hyperpolarizing neurons- Acetaminophen: What is its mechanism of analgesia?
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Inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX) in the CNS and also acts on serotonergic and endocannabinoid pathways- NSAIDs: What enzyme do they inhibit?
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Cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2), decreasing prostaglandin and thromboxane synthesis- Alpha-1 agonists (e.g., phenylephrine): What is their effect?
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Activate alpha-1 adrenergic receptors, causing vasoconstriction and increasing blood pressure
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