Pharmacology Lecture Notes: Generic/Brand Names, Indications, and Mechanisms of Action

Flashcards providing generic/brand names, medical indications, dosing notes, mechanisms of action, and critical black box warnings for a wide range of common pharmaceuticals.

Acetylcysteine

Brand: Acetadote; Indication: Acetaminophen overdose; Mechanism: Hepatoprotective by restoring hepatic glutathione and enhancing nontoxic sulfate conjugation; Dose: $300\,mg/kg$ total dose via IV infusion.

Albuterol sulfate

Brands: Proventil, Ventolin, Proair; Indication: Asthma, COPD, Bronchospasm; Mechanism: Short acting beta 2 adrenergic agonist that relaxes bronchial smooth muscle.

Alendronate

Brand: Fosamax; Indication: Osteoporosis; Mechanism: Adheres to sites of bone reabsorption, inhibiting osteoclast activity; Normal bone is formed on top of the drug.

Allopurinol

Brand: Zyloprim; Indication: Gout; Mechanism: Competitive inhibition of xanthine oxidase, preventing conversion of hypoxhypoxanthine to xanthine to uric acid.

Alprazolam

Brand: Xanax, Xanax XR; Indication: Anxiety; Mechanism: Binds to GABA(A) receptor, facilitating the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA; Black Box Warning: Risk of profound sedation and respiratory depression when used with opioids.

Alteplase

Brand: Activase; Indication: Acute ischemic stroke; Mechanism: Initiates local fibrinolysis by binding to fibrin in the thrombus and converting entrapped plasminogen to plasmin.

Amiodarone

Brands: Cordarone, Pacerone, Nexterone; Indication: Arrhythmia; Mechanism: Class III antiarrhythmic that lengthens cardiac action potential by prolonging intranodal conduction; Black Box Warning: Risk of pulmonary and hepatic toxicity.

Amitriptyline

Brand: Elavil; Indication: Depression; Mechanism: Prevents reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin at the presynaptic nerve terminal; Black Box Warning: Increased suicidal thoughts in children/young adults.

Amlodipine

Brand: Norvasc; Indication: Hypertension; Mechanism: Dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker that inhibits calcium influx in vascular smooth muscle more than cardiac muscle.

Amoxicillin

Brands: Amoxil, Moxatag, Trimox; Indication: Bacterial infection; Mechanism: Inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis via acylation transpeptidase enzyme.

Amoxicillin/Clavulanate

Brand: Augmentin, Augmentin XR; Indication: Bacterial infection; Mechanism: Inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis and inhibits beta-lactamase.

Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine salts

Brand: Adderall, Adderall XR; Indication: ADHD; Mechanism: Releases norepinephrine and dopamine from storage sites to stimulate adrenergic receptors; Black Box Warning: High potential for abuse and dependence.

Apixaban

Brand: Eliquis; Indication: Anticoagulation; Mechanism: Selectively inhibits Factor Xa, reducing thrombin formation; Black Box Warning: Premature discontinuation increases thrombosis risk.

Aripiprazole

Brand: Abilify, Abilify Maintena; Indication: Schizophrenia; Mechanism: Partial agonist activity at dopamine type 2 and serotonin 5-HT1A receptors, and antagonism at 5-HT2 receptors.

Atenolol

Brand: Tenormin; Indication: Hypertension; Mechanism: Cardioselective beta 1 adrenergic blocker; Black Box Warning: Abrupt discontinuation may cause severe exacerbation of angina or MI.

Atomoxetine

Brand: Strattera; Indication: ADHD; Mechanism: Selective inhibition of the pre-synaptic norepinephrine transporter; Black Box Warning: Increased suicidal thoughts/actions in pediatric patients.

Atorvastatin

Brand: Lipitor; Indication: Dyslipidemia; Mechanism: Selective competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase; Dose: $10\,mg$ by mouth once daily.

Azithromycin

Brand: Zithromax, Zmax; Indication: Bacterial infection; Mechanism: Suppresses protein synthesis by binding to the 50 S ribosomal subunit.

Baclofen

Brand: Lioresal; Indication: Musculoskeletal pain/spasm; Mechanism: Hyperpolarization of afferent terminals leading to inhibition of monosynaptic and polysynaptic reflexes.

Budesonide/Formoterol

Brand: Symbicort; Indication: Asthma, COPD; Mechanism: Combination of an anti-inflammatory protein synthesis stimulator and a long-acting beta 2 adrenergic receptor agonist.

Bupropion

Brands: Wellbutrin, Zyban; Indication: Depression, Smoking cessation; Mechanism: Blocks neuronal uptake of norepinephrine and dopamine in the CNS.

Carbamazepine

Brand: Tegretol; Indication: Seizure; Mechanism: Na+ channel antagonist that delays recovery of inactive Na+ channels; Black Box Warning: Serious dermatologic reactions (HLA-B*1502 variance).

Carbidopa/Levodopa

Brands: Sinemet, Rytary; Indication: Parkinson's disease; Mechanism: Levodopa is a dopamine precursor; Carbidopa is a DOPA-decarboxylase inhibitor preventing breakdown before crossing the blood-brain barrier.

Carvedilol

Brand: Coreg; Indication: Hypertension; Mechanism: Non-selective beta- and alpha-1 adrenergic blocking activity.

Celecoxib

Brand: Celebrex; Indication: Pain, Osteoarthritis; Mechanism: Selective cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibition; Black Box Warning: Cardiovascular thrombotic events and GI bleeding.

Chlorhexidine

Brand: Peridex, Periogard; Indication: Gingivitis; Mechanism: Disrupts the plasma membrane of the bacterial cell; Use: Swish oral rinse for $30\,s$ twice daily.

Ciprofloxacin

Brand: Cipro; Indication: Bacterial infection; Mechanism: Interferes with enzyme DNA gyrase to prevent bacterial DNA synthesis; Black Box Warning: Risk of tendonitis and tendon rupture.

Clindamycin

Brand: Cleocin; Indication: Bacterial infection; Mechanism: Binds to 50 S ribosomal subunit to suppress protein synthesis; Black Box Warning: Severe/fatal colitis due to C. difficile.

Clopidogrel

Brand: Plavix; Indication: Atherosclerosis; Mechanism: Irreversibly modifies platelet receptors to inhibit aggregation; Black Box Warning: Reduced efficacy in patients with two loss-of-function alleles of the CYP2C19 gene.

Clozapine

Brand: Clozaril; Indication: Schizophrenia; Mechanism: Antagonism of dopamine type 2 and 5-HT2A receptors; Black Box Warning: Severe neutropenia and myocarditis.

Cyclobenzaprine

Brand: Flexeril; Indication: Musculoskeletal pain/spasm; Mechanism: Reduces tonic somatic motor activity by acting in the brain stem.

Dapagliflozin

Brand: Farxiga; Indication: Diabetes; Mechanism: Inhibits sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) to increase urinary glucose excretion.

Digoxin

Brand: Lanoxin; Indication: Heart failure, Atrial fibrillation; Mechanism: Inhibits Na+/K+ ATPase, increasing intracellular Na+ and extracellular Ca++ influx to increase heart contraction force.

Diltiazem

Brand: Cardizem; Indication: Hypertension; Mechanism: Calcium channel blocker inhibiting influx in vascular smooth muscle more than cardiac muscle.

Divalproex sodium

Brand: Depakote; Indication: Seizures, Bipolar disorder; Mechanism: Increases brain levels of GABA; Black Box Warning: Hepatotoxicity, pancreatitis, and neural tube defects in pregnancy.

Donepezil

Brand: Aricept; Indication: Alzheimer's disease; Mechanism: Reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that increases acetylcholine at cholinergic synapses.

Duloxetine

Brand: Cymbalta; Indication: Depression; Mechanism: Blocks neuronal uptake of serotonin and norepinephrine in the CNS.

Enoxaparin

Brand: Lovenox; Indication: Anticoagulation; Mechanism: Inhibits Factor Xa (and IIa) to reduce thrombin formation; Black Box Warning: Spinal/epidural hematomas leading to paralysis.

Epinephrine

Brand: EpiPen, Auvi-Q; Indication: Anaphylaxis; Mechanism: Acts on alpha and beta receptors causing vasoconstriction, cardiac stimulation, and bronchial relaxation.

Escitalopram

Brand: Lexapro; Indication: Depression; Mechanism: Selective block of neuronal serotonin uptake in the CNS.

Esomeprazole

Brand: Nexium; Indication: GERD; Mechanism: Inhibits H+/K+ ATPase enzyme system at the secretory surface of gastric parietal cells.

Fentanyl Transdermal Patch

Brand: Duragesic; Indication: Chronic pain; Mechanism: Opioid receptor agonist; Black Box Warning: Life-threatening respiratory depression and risk of abuse/misuse.

Finasteride

Brand: Proscar; Indication: BPH; Mechanism: Competitively inhibits 5-alpha-reductase, decreasing metabolism of testosterone to DHT.

Furosemide

Brand: Lasix; Indication: Edema; Mechanism: Loop diuretic inhibiting reabsorption of sodium and chloride in the loop of Henle.

Gabapentin

Brand: Neurontin; Indication: Neuropathic pain, Seizure; Mechanism: Ca2+ channel antagonist; binds with alpha 2 subunit of Ca2+ channel.

Heparin

Brand: Generic; Indication: Anticoagulation; Mechanism: Inactivates thrombin and Factor Xa through an antithrombin dependent mechanism; Dose: $5,000\,units$ subcutaneously every $8\,h$.

Hydrochlorothiazide

Brand: Microzide; Indication: Edema; Mechanism: Inhibits reabsorption of sodium and chloride at the distal renal tubule.

Ibuprofen

Brand: Advil, Motrin; Indication: Pain; Mechanism: Non-specific COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition; Black Box Warning: Risk of CV thrombotic events and GI bleeding.

Ketorolac

Brand: Toradol; Indication: Pain; Mechanism: Non-specific COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition; Dose: $30\,mg$ IV every $6\,h$ (MAX $5\,days$).

Levofloxacin

Brand: Levaquin; Indication: Bacterial infection; Mechanism: Inhibition of bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV; Black Box Warning: Tendon rupture risk.

Levothyroxine

Brand: Synthroid, Levoxyl; Indication: Hypothyroidism; Mechanism: Synthetic form of thyroxine (T4) involved in normal metabolism and growth.

Lisinopril

Brand: Zestril, Prinivil; Indication: Hypertension; Mechanism: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor; Black Box Warning: Fetal toxicity.

Lithium

Brands: Lithonate, Lithobid; Indication: Bipolar disorder; Mechanism: May increase reuptake of norepinephrine/dopamine or antagonize release.

Metformin

Brand: Glucophage; Indication: Diabetes; Mechanism: Decreases intestinal glucose absorption, suppresses hepatic gluconeogenesis, and improves insulin sensitivity.

Methotrexate

Brand: Trexall; Indication: Rheumatoid arthritis; Mechanism: Folate antimetabolite inhibiting DNA synthesis and cellular replication; Black Box Warning: Bone marrow suppression and organ toxicities.

Methylphenidate

Brand: Ritalin, Concerta; Indication: ADHD; Mechanism: Releases norepinephrine and dopamine from storage sites.

Metoprolol succinate/tartrate

Brand: Toprol XL (succinate), Lopressor (tartrate); Indication: Hypertension; Mechanism: Cardioselective beta 1 adrenergic blocker; Black Box Warning: Avoid abrupt discontinuation.

Naloxone

Brand: Narcan; Indication: Opioid overdose; Mechanism: Selective mu-opioid receptor antagonist.

Omeprazole

Brand: Prilosec; Indication: GERD; Mechanism: Proton pump inhibitor (H+/K+ ATPase enzyme system).

Oxycodone/Acetaminophen

Brand: Percocet, Roxicet, Endocet; Indication: Pain; Mechanism: Opioid agonist combined with CNS prostaglandin synthesis inhibition.

Pantoprazole

Brand: Protonix; Indication: GERD; Mechanism: Inhibits H+/K+ ATPase enzyme system at the secretory surface of gastric parietal cells.

Pregabalin

Brand: Lyrica; Indication: Neuropathic pain; Mechanism: Ca2+ channel antagonist; binds with alpha 2 subunit of Ca2+ channel.

Rivaroxaban

Brand: Xarelto; Indication: Anticoagulation; Mechanism: Factor Xa inhibitor.

Simvastatin

Brand: Zocor; Indication: Dyslipidemia; Mechanism: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor.

Spironolactone

Brand: Aldactone; Indication: Edema; Mechanism: K+ sparing diuretic-aldosterone antagonist primarily at the distal convoluted tubule.

Tamsulosin

Brand: Flomax; Indication: BPH; Mechanism: Alpha 1A-adrenoreceptor antagonist.

Warfarin

Brand: Coumadin, Jantoven; Indication: Anticoagulation; Note: Phytonadione (Vitamin K) is used as an antidote for overdose.