CJE PHARMACOLOGY REVIEW
COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE
SECTION 1: DRUG CLASSIFICATIONS & NAMING CONVENTIONS
QUESTION 1
What are the major antibiotic/antibacterial medication classes and their naming conventions?
ANSWER
• Tetracyclines (-cycline): doxycycline, tetracycline
• Sulfonamides (sulf-): sulfasalazine
• Cephalosporins (-cef, ceph-): cefazolin, cephalexin
• Penicillins (-cillin): ampicillin, oxacillin
• Aminoglycosides/Macrolides (-micin, -mycin): gentamicin, erythromycin
• Fluoroquinolones (-floxacin): ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin
RATIONALE / EXPLANATION
Recognizing drug name patterns helps identify the drug class, mechanism, side effects, and
nursing considerations without memorizing individual drugs.
QUESTION 2
What are the antiviral medication classes and their naming conventions?
ANSWER
• Antiviral Undefined Group (vir-, -vir): oseltamivir, zanamivir
• Anti-Herpes Virus Agents (-clovir): acyclovir, famciclovir
• Protease Inhibitors (-navir): atazanavir, nelfinavir
• HIV/AIDS Antiretrovirals (-vudine): zidovudine, stavudine
RATIONALE / EXPLANATION
Antiviral naming patterns indicate the type of virus targeted. -clovir drugs target herpes viruses; -
navir and -vudine drugs are used for HIV treatment.
Page 1 of 35
,QUESTION 3
What are the anesthetic and anti-anxiety medication classes?
ANSWER
• Local Anesthetics (-caine): lidocaine, bupivacaine
• Barbiturates CNS Depressant (-barbital): amobarbital, secobarbital
• Benzodiazepines for Anxiety/Sedation (-zolam, -zepam): alprazolam,
lorazepam
RATIONALE / EXPLANATION
-caine drugs block nerve conduction locally. Barbiturates and benzodiazepines are CNS
depressants; benzos are safer and more commonly used today.
QUESTION 4
What are the antidepressant medication classes and their naming conventions?
ANSWER
• SSRIs (-oxetine, -talopram, -zodone): fluoxetine, escitalopram, vilazodone
• SNRIs/DNRIs (-faxine, -zodone, -nacipran): venlafaxine, nefazodone,
milnacipran
• Tricyclic Antidepressants TCAs (-triptyline, -pramine): amitriptyline,
clomipramine
RATIONALE / EXPLANATION
SSRIs are first-line for depression. TCAs are older with more side effects. All antidepressants
take weeks to work and require gradual tapering.
QUESTION 5
What are the analgesic/opioid medication classes?
ANSWER
• Opioids (-done, -one): oxycodone, hydromorphone, fentanyl, codeine
• NSAIDs (-profen): ibuprofen, fenoprofen
• Salicylates: aspirin
• Nonsalicylates: acetaminophen
RATIONALE / EXPLANATION
Opioids are CNS depressants for severe pain. NSAIDs and salicylates have anti-inflammatory
Page 2 of 35
,properties. Acetaminophen lacks anti-inflammatory effect but is safer for GI.
QUESTION 6
What are the upper and lower respiratory medication classes?
ANSWER
Upper Respiratory:
• H1 Antagonist Antihistamines (-tadine, -tirizine): loratadine, cetirizine
• Nasal Decongestants (-ephrine, -zoline): phenylephrine, oxymetazoline
Lower Respiratory:
• Beta2-Agonist Bronchodilators (-terol): albuterol, levalbuterol
• Xanthine Derivatives (-phylline): aminophylline
• Cholinergic Blockers (-tropium): tiotropium
• Leukotriene Modifiers (-lukast): montelukast
RATIONALE / EXPLANATION
-terol drugs (SABA/LABA) are bronchodilators for asthma/COPD. -tropium drugs block
parasympathetic activity to reduce secretions.
QUESTION 7
What are the GI and antidiabetic medication naming conventions?
ANSWER
GI Medications:
• H2 Blockers (-tidine): cimetidine, famotidine
• Proton Pump Inhibitors (-prazole): omeprazole, pantoprazole
Antidiabetic Medications:
• Thiazolidinediones (-glitazone): rosiglitazone, pioglitazone
• DPP-4 Inhibitors (-gliptin): sitagliptin, linagliptin
RATIONALE / EXPLANATION
PPIs are more potent acid suppressors than H2 blockers. -glitazone drugs improve insulin
sensitivity; -gliptin drugs enhance incretin hormones.
Page 3 of 35
, SECTION 2: CARDIAC & ANTIHYPERTENSIVE MEDICATIONS
QUESTION 8
What are the cardiac/antihypertensive medication classes and naming conventions?
ANSWER
• ACE inhibitors (-pril): enalapril, captopril
• Beta-blockers (-olol): metoprolol, nadolol
• ARBs (-sartan): losartan, olmesartan
• Calcium Channel Blockers (-pine, -amil): amlodipine, verapamil
• Vasopressin Antagonists (-vaptan): conivaptan, tolvaptan
• Alpha-1 Blockers (-osin): prazosin, doxazosin
• Loop Diuretics (-ide, -semide): furosemide, bumetanide
• Thiazide Diuretics (-thiazide): hydrochlorothiazide
• K+-Sparing Diuretics (-actone): spironolactone
RATIONALE / EXPLANATION
Multiple drug classes treat HTN through different mechanisms. Often combined for synergistic
effect and to minimize side effects.
QUESTION 9
What are the ACE inhibitor side effects and nursing considerations?
ANSWER
Uses: Hypertension and Heart Failure
Remember "ACE":
• A - Angioedema
• C - Cough (DRY)
• E - Elevated K+
Nursing Considerations:
• Monitor for swelling (angioedema is life-threatening)
• Monitor potassium levels
RATIONALE / EXPLANATION
Page 4 of 35
COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE
SECTION 1: DRUG CLASSIFICATIONS & NAMING CONVENTIONS
QUESTION 1
What are the major antibiotic/antibacterial medication classes and their naming conventions?
ANSWER
• Tetracyclines (-cycline): doxycycline, tetracycline
• Sulfonamides (sulf-): sulfasalazine
• Cephalosporins (-cef, ceph-): cefazolin, cephalexin
• Penicillins (-cillin): ampicillin, oxacillin
• Aminoglycosides/Macrolides (-micin, -mycin): gentamicin, erythromycin
• Fluoroquinolones (-floxacin): ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin
RATIONALE / EXPLANATION
Recognizing drug name patterns helps identify the drug class, mechanism, side effects, and
nursing considerations without memorizing individual drugs.
QUESTION 2
What are the antiviral medication classes and their naming conventions?
ANSWER
• Antiviral Undefined Group (vir-, -vir): oseltamivir, zanamivir
• Anti-Herpes Virus Agents (-clovir): acyclovir, famciclovir
• Protease Inhibitors (-navir): atazanavir, nelfinavir
• HIV/AIDS Antiretrovirals (-vudine): zidovudine, stavudine
RATIONALE / EXPLANATION
Antiviral naming patterns indicate the type of virus targeted. -clovir drugs target herpes viruses; -
navir and -vudine drugs are used for HIV treatment.
Page 1 of 35
,QUESTION 3
What are the anesthetic and anti-anxiety medication classes?
ANSWER
• Local Anesthetics (-caine): lidocaine, bupivacaine
• Barbiturates CNS Depressant (-barbital): amobarbital, secobarbital
• Benzodiazepines for Anxiety/Sedation (-zolam, -zepam): alprazolam,
lorazepam
RATIONALE / EXPLANATION
-caine drugs block nerve conduction locally. Barbiturates and benzodiazepines are CNS
depressants; benzos are safer and more commonly used today.
QUESTION 4
What are the antidepressant medication classes and their naming conventions?
ANSWER
• SSRIs (-oxetine, -talopram, -zodone): fluoxetine, escitalopram, vilazodone
• SNRIs/DNRIs (-faxine, -zodone, -nacipran): venlafaxine, nefazodone,
milnacipran
• Tricyclic Antidepressants TCAs (-triptyline, -pramine): amitriptyline,
clomipramine
RATIONALE / EXPLANATION
SSRIs are first-line for depression. TCAs are older with more side effects. All antidepressants
take weeks to work and require gradual tapering.
QUESTION 5
What are the analgesic/opioid medication classes?
ANSWER
• Opioids (-done, -one): oxycodone, hydromorphone, fentanyl, codeine
• NSAIDs (-profen): ibuprofen, fenoprofen
• Salicylates: aspirin
• Nonsalicylates: acetaminophen
RATIONALE / EXPLANATION
Opioids are CNS depressants for severe pain. NSAIDs and salicylates have anti-inflammatory
Page 2 of 35
,properties. Acetaminophen lacks anti-inflammatory effect but is safer for GI.
QUESTION 6
What are the upper and lower respiratory medication classes?
ANSWER
Upper Respiratory:
• H1 Antagonist Antihistamines (-tadine, -tirizine): loratadine, cetirizine
• Nasal Decongestants (-ephrine, -zoline): phenylephrine, oxymetazoline
Lower Respiratory:
• Beta2-Agonist Bronchodilators (-terol): albuterol, levalbuterol
• Xanthine Derivatives (-phylline): aminophylline
• Cholinergic Blockers (-tropium): tiotropium
• Leukotriene Modifiers (-lukast): montelukast
RATIONALE / EXPLANATION
-terol drugs (SABA/LABA) are bronchodilators for asthma/COPD. -tropium drugs block
parasympathetic activity to reduce secretions.
QUESTION 7
What are the GI and antidiabetic medication naming conventions?
ANSWER
GI Medications:
• H2 Blockers (-tidine): cimetidine, famotidine
• Proton Pump Inhibitors (-prazole): omeprazole, pantoprazole
Antidiabetic Medications:
• Thiazolidinediones (-glitazone): rosiglitazone, pioglitazone
• DPP-4 Inhibitors (-gliptin): sitagliptin, linagliptin
RATIONALE / EXPLANATION
PPIs are more potent acid suppressors than H2 blockers. -glitazone drugs improve insulin
sensitivity; -gliptin drugs enhance incretin hormones.
Page 3 of 35
, SECTION 2: CARDIAC & ANTIHYPERTENSIVE MEDICATIONS
QUESTION 8
What are the cardiac/antihypertensive medication classes and naming conventions?
ANSWER
• ACE inhibitors (-pril): enalapril, captopril
• Beta-blockers (-olol): metoprolol, nadolol
• ARBs (-sartan): losartan, olmesartan
• Calcium Channel Blockers (-pine, -amil): amlodipine, verapamil
• Vasopressin Antagonists (-vaptan): conivaptan, tolvaptan
• Alpha-1 Blockers (-osin): prazosin, doxazosin
• Loop Diuretics (-ide, -semide): furosemide, bumetanide
• Thiazide Diuretics (-thiazide): hydrochlorothiazide
• K+-Sparing Diuretics (-actone): spironolactone
RATIONALE / EXPLANATION
Multiple drug classes treat HTN through different mechanisms. Often combined for synergistic
effect and to minimize side effects.
QUESTION 9
What are the ACE inhibitor side effects and nursing considerations?
ANSWER
Uses: Hypertension and Heart Failure
Remember "ACE":
• A - Angioedema
• C - Cough (DRY)
• E - Elevated K+
Nursing Considerations:
• Monitor for swelling (angioedema is life-threatening)
• Monitor potassium levels
RATIONALE / EXPLANATION
Page 4 of 35
