Indications

Anticholinergic (method)

Block the action of acetylcholine

Anticholinergic (treat)

decrease smooth muscle contractions

reduce secretions

relax airway muscles

reduce bladder activity

Anticholinergic (side effects)

Xerostomia, Constipation, Blurred Vision, Urinary Retention, Drowsiness, Confusion, Tachycardia, Reduced Sweating

Anticholinergic (interact)

additive on itself, enhance sedatives

Atropine

Reduces excessive secretions; treats certain heart rhythm problems; used before some procedures (Anticholinergic)

Diphenhydramine

Parkinsonism, motion sickness (Anticholinergic)

Scopolamine

Prevents motion sickness and nausea (Anticholinergic)

Ipratropium

Treats bronchospasm associated with COPD and asthma (Anticholinergic)

Tiotropium

Long-term maintenance treatment for COPD (Anticholinergic)

Oxybutynin

Treats overactive bladder and urinary urgency (Anticholinergic)

Solifenacin

Treats overactive bladder and urinary urgency (Anticholinergic)

Darifenacin

Treats overactive bladder and urinary urgency (Anticholinergic)

Tolterodine

Treats overactive bladder and urinary urgency (Anticholinergic)

Benztropine

Helps manage symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and medication-induced movement disorders (Anticholinergic)

Tropicamide

Dilates the pupil during eye examinations (Anticholinergic)

Glycopyrrolate

Reduces secretions before surgery; used in some gastrointestinal conditions (Anticholinergic)

Statins (function)

inhibit HMG-CoA reductase to lower cholesterol synthesis in liver

Statins (treat)

high cholesterol

Statin (side effects)

myopathy, rhabdomyolysis, elevated liver enzyme

Statin (interaction)

Grapefruit juice (SLAM)

Statin (interaction)

pregnancy/breastfeeding

Statin (note)

Take at night

Cholesterol absorption inhibitor

Ezetimibe/Zetia

Cholesterol absorption inhibitor (function)

blocking the absorption of cholesterol from the small intestine, which reduces the amount of cholesterol entering the bloodstream

Cholesterol absorption inhibitor (side effects)

Diarrhea, Elevated liver enzymes

Bile Acid Sequestrants

Cholestyramine

Bile Acid Sequestrants

Colestipol

Bile Acid Sequestrants

Colesevelam

Bile Acid Sequestrants (function)

bind bile acids in gut so liver uses cholesterol to make more bile acids

Bile Acid Sequestrants (side effects)

constipation, bloating, reduces absorption of other drugs

Fibrates (function)

Activate PPAR-α to increase lipoprotein lipase to decrease triglycerides

Fibrates (side effects)

gallstones, myopathy, increased creatinine

Fibrates (interactions)

high risk of muscle toxicity with statins

PCSK9 Inhibitors

Alirocumab

PCSK9 Inhibitors

Evolocumab

PCSK9 Inhibitors (function)

Prevent LDL receptor breakdown to increase LDL clearance

PCSK9 Inhibitors (side effects)

Injection site reactions

Bempedoic Acid (Function)

blocks cholesterol synthesis upstream of statins

Bempedoic Acid (side effects)

hyperuricemia, tendon rupture

Inclisiran (function)

siRNA to decrease PCSK9 production in liver

Inclisiran (side effects)

Injection site reactions

SERM (function)

act on estrogen receptors in the body (selective estrogen receptor modulators)

SERM (treat)

Breast Cancer, Osteoporosis, Infertility

SERM suffix

-ifene / -iphene / -ifen

SERM (side effects)

hot flashes, nausea, mood swings, leg cramps, fatigue, venous thromboembolism (DVT/PE); blood clots

SERM interaction

bleeding with Warfarin

Tamoxifen

Breast Cancer

Tamoxifen

Blocks estrogen in breast tissue; increased risk of endometrial cancer

Raloxifene

Osteoporosis prevention/treatment; breast cancer risk reduction

Raloxifene

Protects bone; lower endometrial risk than tamoxifen

Clomiphene

Infertility (induces ovulation)

Clomiphene

Stimulates ovulation by increasing hormone release

Toremifene

Metastatic breast cancer

Toremifene

Blocks estrogen in breast tissue

Bazedoxifene

Osteoporosis (often with estrogen)

Bazedoxifene

Used in postmenopausal women

Ospemifene

Dyspareunia (painful intercourse) due to menopause

Ospemifene

Acts like estrogen in vaginal tissue

Tamoxifen

Nolvadex

Toremifene

Fareston

Bazedoxifene

Duavee

Ospemifene

Osphena

Proton Pump Inhibitors (suffix)

-prazole

Proton Pump Inhibitors (function)

irreversibly inhibits the hydrogen-potassium ATPase enzyme in parietal cells

Dexlansoprazole

Dexilant

Omeprazole + Sodium Bicarbonate

Zegerid

Proton Pump Inhibitors (note)

before meals

Proton Pump Inhibitors (side effects)

headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, Vitamin B12, magnesium, and calcium deficiencies; bone fractures; kidney disease; increased infection risk

Proton Pump Inhibitors (treat)

dyspepsia and heartburn, GERD, peptic ulcer disease, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

Proton Pump Inhibitors (interactions)

reduce the antiplatelet effects of clopidogrel

Corticosteroids (suffix)

-olone / –sone

Corticosteroids (function)

drugs used in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders

Corticosteroids (treat)

ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, asthma, COPD, eczema, dermatitis, and cancer chemotherapy

Corticosteroid (side effects)

weight gain, hypertension, infections, type 2 diabetes, cataracts and glaucoma, thin skin / easy bruising, and mood / behavioural changes (anxiety, depression)

Corticosteroid (side effects inhaled)

oral thrush infection and hoarse voice

Corticosteroids (interactions)

increase the risk of bleeding when taken with NSAIDs

Corticosteroids (interactions)

low potassium levels (hypokalemia) when used alongside diuretics

Corticosteroids (interactions)

reduce the effectiveness of vaccines

Corticosteroids (note)

suppresses growth in children

Corticosteroids

by binding to intracellular receptors and altering gene expression

SSRI (suffix)

–etine / –pram

SSRI (treat)

MDD,Anxiety, Panic disorders, OCD

SSRI (function)

increase serotonin levels in the brain by inhibiting its reuptake into nerve cells

SSRI (side effects)

GI upset, headache, appetite/weight, suicide, bleeding, seizures, sexual dysfunction, dizziness, dry mouth (xerostomia), serotonin syndrome

SSRI (note)

gradual withdrawal

SSRI (note)

sudden stop causes sleep disturbances, flu symptoms, neurological effects, gastro upset

SSRI (interactions)

Increase bleeding with NSAIDs/anticoagulants/antiplatelet

SSRI (interactions)

serotonin syndrome with SSRIs, MAO inhibitors, linezolid

SSRI (interactions)

lower seizure threshold (epilepsy)

SSRI (interactions)

prolong the QT interval, increasing the risk of cardiac arrhythmias (antipsychotics, fluoroquinolones, lithium, macrolide antibiotics)

ACE inhibitors (suffix)

-pril

Capoten

Captopril

ACE inhibitors (treat)

hypertension, chronic heart failure, ischemic heart disease, diabetic nephropathy

ACE inhibitors (most important side effect)

persistent dry cough

ACE inhibitors (side effect)

hyperkalemia, renal failure, hypotension

ACE inhibitor (note)

first dose before bedtime

ACE inhibitor interactions

potassium cause cardiac arrhythmias (potassium-sparing diuretics)

ACE inhibitor interactions

not safe for pregnant patients

Cystitis

infections that cause inflammation of the bladder

Pyelonephritis

infections that cause inflammation of the kidney