Pharmacology Exam 2 Review: Neurology, Psych, Cardiac, Stroke, Seizures, Hypertension, Dysrhythmias, DVT

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering pharmacology topics including neurology, psychiatry, cardiology, and anticoagulation based on the Exam 2 review notes.

Alteplase (tPA)

The first-line thrombolytic used in acute ischemic stroke that converts plasminogen to plasmin; it must be administered within $3-4.5$ hours of symptom onset.

Phenytoin

A seizure medication with classic side effects including gingival hyperplasia, hirsutism, and folate deficiency.

Gabapentin

A drug that modulates calcium channels, commonly used for the treatment of neuropathic pain and partial seizures.

Lithium

The main mood stabilizer used for bipolar disorder; it requires careful monitoring for toxicity and kidney function.

SSRIs

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as fluoxetine and sertraline, which increase serotonin availability and are first-line treatments for depression and anxiety.

Amiodarone

A potassium channel blocker antiarrhythmic used for atrial and ventricular dysrhythmias; potential side effects include pulmonary toxicity and thyroid dysfunction.

Levodopa + Carbidopa

A combination medication for Parkinson's disease where Levodopa converts to dopamine and Carbidopa prevents its peripheral breakdown.

Vitamin K

The medication used to reverse warfarin toxicity by restoring the production of clotting factors.

Dobutamine

A positive inotrope used in acute heart failure to increase cardiac contractility and output.

Valproate

A medication used to treat seizures and bipolar disorder that requires monitoring of liver function.

Donepezil

A cholinesterase inhibitor used for Alzheimer's disease to increase acetylcholine levels and improve cognitive function.

Enoxaparin

A low-molecular-weight heparin commonly used for DVT prophylaxis in hospitalized patients.

ARBs (Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers)

A class of antihypertensives, such as Losartan, that reduces vasoconstriction and decreases aldosterone secretion.

Bupropion

A dopamine-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (DRI) used to treat depression and ADHD symptoms with fewer sexual side effects.

Zolpidem (Ambien)

A selective hypnotic medication used for the short-term treatment of insomnia by enhancing GABA activity.

Protamine sulfate

The official antidote used for heparin overdose to neutralize the drug and reverse anticoagulation.

Calcium channel blockers

A class of drugs (e.g., Amlodipine) used to treat variant (Prinzmetal's) angina by relaxing coronary arteries and reducing vasospasms.

Atorvastatin

A statin that inhibits HMG-CoA reductase to decrease cholesterol synthesis in the liver and lower LDL levels.

Atrial fibrillation

An arrhythmia characterized by an irregularly irregular rhythm and the absence of distinct P waves on an ECG.

Pregabalin

A medication similar to gabapentin used for neuropathic pain, often noted for being more potent.

Clopidogrel

An antiplatelet medication that prevents aggregation after a stroke by blocking platelet ADP receptors.

Lidocaine

A sodium channel blocker used to treat ventricular arrhythmias by suppressing ectopic activity.

Furosemide

A loop diuretic commonly used in heart failure to reduce fluid overload and pulmonary edema.

Spironolactone

A potassium-sparing diuretic that blocks aldosterone to prevent potassium loss while promoting diuresis.

Dimethyl fumarate

A medication used in multiple sclerosis to reduce relapses by modulating the immune response and inflammation.

SNRIs

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, such as venlafaxine and duloxetine, that increase levels of both neurotransmitters.

Rivastigmine

A cholinesterase inhibitor used to improve cognitive symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

MAOIs

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (e.g., Nardil, Parnate) that require dietary restrictions of tyramine to avoid a hypertensive crisis.

Nitroglycerin

A medication for acute angina that dilates coronary arteries and reduces cardiac workload to relieve chest pain.

Digoxin

A medication that increases myocardial contractility and slows the heart rate in patients with heart failure.

Diltiazem

A non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker used to slow AV conduction and control heart rate in atrial fibrillation.

Metoprolol

A cardioselective beta blocker that primarily blocks $beta_1$ receptors in the heart.

Carvedilol

A beta blocker that blocks both alpha and beta receptors to reduce heart rate and cause vasodilation.

Epoetin alfa

A medication that treats anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) by stimulating erythropoiesis in the bone marrow.

Levetiracetam (Keppra)

A widely used seizure prevention medication known for having minimal drug interactions.

Carbamazepine

A medication used to stabilize hyperexcited nerve membranes in trigeminal neuralgia and seizure disorders.

Ventricular fibrillation

A life-threatening dysrhythmia with no cardiac output that requires immediate defibrillation.

Tricyclic antidepressants

A class of antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, nortriptyline) that block the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin but carry anticholinergic effects.

ACE inhibitors

A class of antihypertensives (e.g., Lisinopril) that can cause side effects such as a persistent cough and angioedema due to increased bradykinin levels.

Nondihydropyridines

Calcium channel blockers like Verapamil and Diltiazem that primarily slow AV conduction and affect cardiac conduction.

Nitrates

A group of drugs that release nitric oxide to dilate blood vessels and reduce chest pain in angina.

Parkinson's disease

A condition resulting from the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons, characterized by tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia.

Dopamine

The neurotransmitter that is deficient in the substantia nigra of patients with Parkinson's disease.

Eszopiclone (Lunesta)

A selective hypnotic medication used for both the initiation and maintenance of sleep.

Warfarin

An anticoagulant that requires regular monitoring of the International Normalized Ratio (INR) to ensure a therapeutic range.

Apixaban

A direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) that works by directly inhibiting factor Xa.

Atrial flutter

A dysrhythmia produced by rapid atrial reentry circuits, appearing as a sawtooth pattern on an ECG.

Unstable angina

A type of angina that occurs unpredictably at rest and may signal an impending myocardial infarction (MI) due to plaque rupture.

Flecainide

A sodium channel blocker used to slow conduction in cardiac tissue to treat atrial arrhythmias.