Pharmacology: Therapeutic Actions

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for diazepam?

enhances inhibitory effects of the transmitter GABA

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for phenytoin?

alters the movement of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium ions which decreases the discharge of neurons

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for valproic acid?

• reduces abnormal electrical activity

• enhances inhibitory effects of GABA

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for amitriptyline?

blocks reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for fluoxetine?

blocks reuptake of serotonin

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for baclofen?

enhances inhibitory effects of the transmitter GABA

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for zolpidem?

enhances inhibitory effects of the transmitter GABA

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for lisinopril?

blocks production of Angiotensin II

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for losartan?

blocks Angiotensin II receptors

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for diltiazem?

blocks calcium channels in blood vessels

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for metoprolol?

blocks Beta 1 receptors

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for digoxin?

inhibits sodium, potassium-ATPase

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for atorvastatin?

inhibits HMG-CoA reductase

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for nitroglycerin?

dilates coronary arteries

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for amiodarone?

block potassium, sodium and calcium channels

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for hydralazine?

relaxes arterial smooth muscle causing vasodilation

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for heparin?

binds with antithrombin to inactivate factor Xa and thrombin

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for enoxaparin?

binds with antithrombin to inactivate factor Xa and thrombin

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for warfarin?

blocks activation of vitamin K

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for clopidogrel?

blocks ADP receptors

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for alteplase?

converts plasminogen to plasmin

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for aspirin?

inhibits prostaglandin synthesis resulting in inhibition of platelet aggregation

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for budesonide?

• prevents release of leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and histamine

• inhibits activity of leukocytes and eosinophils

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for zafirlukast?

inhibits release of leukotrienes

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for albuterol?

stimulate beta 2 receptors causing bronchodilation via smooth muscle relaxation

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for ipratropium?

blocks muscarinic receptors in bronchi causing smooth muscle relaxation and bronchodilation

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for diphenhydramine?

blocks histamine-1 receptors

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for loratidine?

blocks histamine-1 receptors

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for guaifenesin?

reduces adhesiveness and surface tension of respiratory tract fluids

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for dextromethorphan?

depress cough reflex in medullary cough center

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for acetylcysteine?

splits apart disulfide bonds that hold mucus together

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for pseudoephedrine?

stimulates SNS resulting in vasoconstriction to open nasal passages

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for oxymetazoline?

stimulates SNS resulting in vasoconstriction to open nasal passages

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for metformin?

• decreases absorption of glucose in intestines

• decreases synthesis of glucose by liver

• increases sensitivity of insulin in tissues

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for insulin (lispro, regular, NPH, glargine)?

replaces endogenous insulin

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for glucagon?

converts liver glycogen to glucose

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for levothyroxine?

synthetic form of T4

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for methimazole?

inhibits synthesis of thyroid hormones (T3, T4)

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for glyburide?

• increases insulin release

• may increase binding of insulin to receptor sites

• may increase the number of receptor sites

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for fludrocortisone?

• increases sodium reabsorption (sodium and water retention)

• increases potassium excretion

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for famotidine?

blocks H2 receptors to decrease gastric acid secretion

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for omeprazole?

inhibits ATP enzyme system which suppresses acid production

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for sucralfate?

creates a gel to coat ulcers

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for magnesium hydroxide?

• neutralizes gastric acid

• induces peristalsis

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for ondansetron?

blocks 5-HT3 serotonin receptors in CTZ (chemoreceptor trigger zone) and peripherally

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for metoclopramide?

• blocks dopamine receptors to increase CTZ (chemoreceptor trigger zone) threshold

• increase tone of the lower esophageal sphincter

• increase peristalsis

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for psyllium?

• increases absorption of water from intestinal wall

• add bulk to the stool

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for docusate?

increases absorption of water from intestinal wall

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for senna?

• increases absorption of water from intestinal wall

• stimulates intestinal motility

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for loperamide?

inhibits intestinal peristalsis through direct effects on the longitudinal and circular muscles of the intestinal wall, slowing motility and movement of water and electrolytes

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for misoprostol?

• inhibits gastric acid secretion

• increases bicarbonate and mucus production

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for hydrochlorothiazide?

blocks chloride pump which decreases sodium and chloride reabsorption

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for furosemide?

blocks chloride pump which decreases sodium and chloride reabsorption

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for spironolactone?

blocks aldosterone

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for celecoxib?

inhibits COX-2

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for aspirin?

inhibits COX-1 & COX-2

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for ibuprofen?

inhibits COX-1 & COX-2

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for ketorolac?

inhibits COX-1 & COX-2

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for acetaminophen?

inhibits COX in CNS only

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for tramadol?

• stimulates opioid receptors

• blocks reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin in the CNS

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for morphine?

stimulates mu receptors and to a lesser degree stimulates kappa receptors

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for buprenorphine?

• blocks mu receptors

• stimulates kappa receptors

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for naloxone?

blocks opioid receptors

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for prednisone?

• inhibits synthesis of prostaglandins

• decreases permeability of capillaries

• inhibits lysosomal activity

• decreases production of lymphocytes

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for gentamycin?

inhibits protein synthesis in susceptible strains of gram-negative bacteria, disrupting functional integrity of the cell membrane and causing cell death

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for cefaclor?

inhibits the synthesis of bacterial cells walls, causing cell death in susceptible bacteria

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for ciprofloxacin?

interferes with DNA replication in susceptible gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, preventing cell reproduction

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for amoxicillin?

inhibits synthesis of the cell wall in susceptible bacteria, causing cell death

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole?

blocks two consecutive steps in protein and nucleic acid production, leading to inability for cells to multiply

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for tetracycline?

inhibits protein synthesis in susceptible bacteria, preventing cell replication

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for vancomycin?

• affects bacterial cell wall synthesis leading to disruption of cell membrane function and bacterial cell death

• alters bacterial cell membrane permeability and RNA synthesis

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for erythromycin?

• binds to ribosome within the bacterial cell, causing a change in protein synthesis and cell death

• can be bacteriostatic or bactericidal with high doses

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for isoniazid?

interferes with lipid and nucleic acid synthesis in actively growing tubercle bacilli

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for rifampin?

• inhibits protein synthesis

• is bactericidal

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for metronidazole?

• inhibits DNA synthesis of specific anaerobes, causing cell death

• mechanism of action as an antiprotozoal and amebicidal is not known

What is/are the therapeutic action(s) for acyclovir?

inhibits viral DNA replication