PHARMACOLOGY D398 WGU STUDY GUIDE
Cardiac Glycosides - Answers -drugs used to improve heart output by increasing the
muscular contraction
Beta Blockers - Answers -decrease heart rate and dilate arteries by blocking beta
receptors
Calcium Channel Blockers - Answers -agents that inhibit the entry of calcium ions into
heart muscle cells, causing a slowing of the heart rate, a lessening of the demand for
oxygen and nutrients, and a relaxing of the smooth muscle cells of the blood vessels to
cause dilation; used to prevent or treat angina pectoris, some arrhythmias, and
hypertension
Diuretics - Answers -medications administered to increase urine secretion in order to rid
the body of excess water and salt
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors - Answers -lower blood pressure by
inhibiting the conversion of angiotensin I (an inactive enzyme) to angiotensin II (a potent
vasoconstrictor)
Angiotensin Receptor Blockers - Answers -prevent angiotensin II from reaching its
receptors, causing vasodilation
antiarrhythmic drugs - Answers -used to prevent, alleviate, or correct an abnormal heart
rhythm
coronary vasodilators - Answers -widen blood arteries
Antilipemic Statin drugs - Answers -suppresses enzyme for cholesterol production
Antilipemic fibrates - Answers -reduce triglycerides and cholesterol levels
Antithrombotics - Answers -A class of drugs used to dissolve blood clots
Broncodilators - Answers -dilates airways
Anticholinergics - Answers -reduce bronchospasm
Xanthine Derivatives - Answers -relaxes smooth muscle of bronchial airways and
pulmonary blood vessels
Laxative - Answers -drug used to induce emptying of the intestinal tract
Antiemetics - Answers -control nausea and vomiting by blocking nerve impulses to the
vomiting center of the brain
, Antidopaminergics - Answers -Block dopamine receptors in the CTZ
Also used for psychotic disorders, intractable hiccups
Adrenal Corticosteroids - Answers -Treat inflammatory conditions
Parenteral insulin and oral antidiabetics - Answers -reduce blood glucose levels
Biguanides - Answers -decrease glucose production by the liver
Sulfonylureas - Answers -increase insulin production from pancreas
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - Answers -relieve mild to moderate pain
and reduce inflammation in treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, such as sprains
and strains, and inflammatory disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis,
bursitis, gout, and tendinitis
antiandrogens - Answers -drugs used to block the production or interfere with the action
of male sex hormones
Alpha blockers - Answers -Drugs that block the alpha-1 receptors found in the smooth
muscle in the bladder, neck, and prostate, causing them to relax.
Antineoplastic medications - Answers -Medications used to treat cancer; also referred to
as chemotherapy medications
pallative care - Answers -care for seriously ill persons focused on providing relief from
symptoms
remission - Answers -improvement or absence of signs of disease
Antimetabolites - Answers -chemicals that prevent cell division by inhibiting formation of
substances necessary to make DNA; used in cancer chemotherapy
Alkylating agents - Answers -chemotherapeutic synthetic drugs that cause crosslinks
and breaks in DNA to stop cells from dividing
miotic inhibitors - Answers -Directly interfere with or stop cell division
biologics - Answers -give immune system a boost typically to fight cancer
myelosuppression - Answers -suppression of the blood cell-producing function of the
bone marrow
extravasation - Answers -escape of fluid from a blood vessel into surrounding tissue
Cardiac Glycosides - Answers -drugs used to improve heart output by increasing the
muscular contraction
Beta Blockers - Answers -decrease heart rate and dilate arteries by blocking beta
receptors
Calcium Channel Blockers - Answers -agents that inhibit the entry of calcium ions into
heart muscle cells, causing a slowing of the heart rate, a lessening of the demand for
oxygen and nutrients, and a relaxing of the smooth muscle cells of the blood vessels to
cause dilation; used to prevent or treat angina pectoris, some arrhythmias, and
hypertension
Diuretics - Answers -medications administered to increase urine secretion in order to rid
the body of excess water and salt
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors - Answers -lower blood pressure by
inhibiting the conversion of angiotensin I (an inactive enzyme) to angiotensin II (a potent
vasoconstrictor)
Angiotensin Receptor Blockers - Answers -prevent angiotensin II from reaching its
receptors, causing vasodilation
antiarrhythmic drugs - Answers -used to prevent, alleviate, or correct an abnormal heart
rhythm
coronary vasodilators - Answers -widen blood arteries
Antilipemic Statin drugs - Answers -suppresses enzyme for cholesterol production
Antilipemic fibrates - Answers -reduce triglycerides and cholesterol levels
Antithrombotics - Answers -A class of drugs used to dissolve blood clots
Broncodilators - Answers -dilates airways
Anticholinergics - Answers -reduce bronchospasm
Xanthine Derivatives - Answers -relaxes smooth muscle of bronchial airways and
pulmonary blood vessels
Laxative - Answers -drug used to induce emptying of the intestinal tract
Antiemetics - Answers -control nausea and vomiting by blocking nerve impulses to the
vomiting center of the brain
, Antidopaminergics - Answers -Block dopamine receptors in the CTZ
Also used for psychotic disorders, intractable hiccups
Adrenal Corticosteroids - Answers -Treat inflammatory conditions
Parenteral insulin and oral antidiabetics - Answers -reduce blood glucose levels
Biguanides - Answers -decrease glucose production by the liver
Sulfonylureas - Answers -increase insulin production from pancreas
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - Answers -relieve mild to moderate pain
and reduce inflammation in treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, such as sprains
and strains, and inflammatory disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis,
bursitis, gout, and tendinitis
antiandrogens - Answers -drugs used to block the production or interfere with the action
of male sex hormones
Alpha blockers - Answers -Drugs that block the alpha-1 receptors found in the smooth
muscle in the bladder, neck, and prostate, causing them to relax.
Antineoplastic medications - Answers -Medications used to treat cancer; also referred to
as chemotherapy medications
pallative care - Answers -care for seriously ill persons focused on providing relief from
symptoms
remission - Answers -improvement or absence of signs of disease
Antimetabolites - Answers -chemicals that prevent cell division by inhibiting formation of
substances necessary to make DNA; used in cancer chemotherapy
Alkylating agents - Answers -chemotherapeutic synthetic drugs that cause crosslinks
and breaks in DNA to stop cells from dividing
miotic inhibitors - Answers -Directly interfere with or stop cell division
biologics - Answers -give immune system a boost typically to fight cancer
myelosuppression - Answers -suppression of the blood cell-producing function of the
bone marrow
extravasation - Answers -escape of fluid from a blood vessel into surrounding tissue
