PMCOL 200 - HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE PHARMACOLOGY QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY LATEST UPDATE 2026

PMCOL 200 - HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE PHARMACOLOGY QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY LATEST UPDATE 2026 Diuretics - Answers Drugs that lower arterial pressure by increasing sodium and water excretion, reducing blood volume and cardiac output. Thiazide Diuretics - Answers First-line agents that lower blood pressure by blocking sodium reabsorption in the distal tubule. Hydrochlorothiazide - Answers A thiazide drug that inhibits the Na⁺/Cl⁻ transporter in the distal tubule, reducing blood volume and arterial pressure. Chlorthalidone - Answers A thiazide-like drug used as first-line therapy that lowers blood pressure by reducing sodium reabsorption in the distal tubule. Indapamide - Answers A thiazide-like drug used in hypertension management that lowers blood pressure by reducing sodium retention. Thiazide Mechanism Of Action - Answers Inhibition of the Na⁺/Cl⁻ transporter in the distal tubule decreases sodium reabsorption, lowers blood volume, decreases cardiac output, and reduces arterial pressure. Hyponatremia - Answers A potential adverse effect involving abnormally low sodium levels due to increased sodium loss. Hypokalemia - Answers A potential adverse effect involving abnormally low potassium levels due to increased renal potassium loss. Salt Sensitive Hypertension - Answers A form of hypertension strongly influenced by sodium intake that responds particularly well to thiazide therapy. Potassium Sparing Diuretics - Answers Agents that lower blood pressure while minimizing potassium loss by blocking sodium reabsorption in the distal nephron. Amiloride - Answers A drug that blocks epithelial sodium channels in the distal tubule, lowering blood pressure by reducing sodium reabsorption. Epithelial Sodium Channel (ENaC) - Answers A sodium transport channel in the distal nephron that promotes sodium reabsorption and contributes to blood volume regulation. Loop Diuretics - Answers Powerful agents that reduce blood volume by inhibiting sodium reabsorption in the loop of Henle, used mainly in heart failure and chronic kidney disease. Furosemide - Answers A loop diuretic that blocks the Na⁺/K⁺/Cl⁻ cotransporter in the thick ascending limb, producing strong diuresis. Na⁺/K⁺/Cl⁻ Cotransporter (NKCC) - Answers A transporter in the thick ascending limb that normally reabsorbs sodium, potassium, and chloride, supporting water retention. RAAS Inhibitors - Answers Drug classes that lower blood pressure by reducing vasoconstriction and fluid retention driven by hormone cascade signaling. Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) - Answers An enzyme responsible for producing angiotensin II and degrading bradykinin. Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACE Inhibitors) - Answers First-line antihypertensives that reduce angiotensin II and aldosterone while increasing bradykinin to lower arterial pressure. Captopril - Answers An ACE inhibitor used to lower blood pressure by reducing angiotensin II formation. Enalapril - Answers An ACE inhibitor used in hypertension treatment by suppressing angiotensin II production. Lisinopril - Answers An ACE inhibitor that lowers arterial pressure by inhibiting angiotensin II formation and aldosterone secretion. Ramipril - Answers An ACE inhibitor that reduces vasoconstriction and fluid retention through inhibition of angiotensin II production. ACE Inhibitor Mechanism Of Action - Answers Inhibition of angiotensin II and aldosterone formation reduces vasoconstriction and sodium retention while increased bradykinin promotes vasodilation. Bradykinin Increase - Answers Reduced breakdown of a vasodilator peptide that contributes to lowered vascular resistance. Dry Cough - Answers A common adverse effect caused by increased bradykinin accumulation. Angioedema - Answers A rare but serious adverse effect involving swelling of deeper skin tissues due to elevated bradykinin activity. Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs) - Answers First-line drugs that reduce blood pressure by blocking the AT1 receptor and preventing angiotensin II-mediated vasoconstriction. Losartan - Answers An ARB that blocks AT1 receptors to reduce vasoconstriction and aldosterone-driven sodium retention. Valsartan - Answers An ARB that lowers arterial pressure by preventing angiotensin II from activating AT1 receptors. Telmisartan - Answers An ARB that reduces vascular resistance by blocking AT1 receptor signaling. Hyperkalemia - Answers A possible adverse effect involving elevated potassium due to reduced aldosterone-driven potassium excretion. Acute Kidney Injury - Answers A potential adverse effect involving sudden decline in renal function, especially in vulnerable patients. ACE Inhibitor And ARB Combination Contraindication - Answers Using both drug classes together is avoided because it significantly increases risk of kidney injury and hyperkalemia. Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists - Answers Drugs that lower blood pressure by blocking aldosterone receptors and reducing sodium reabsorption. Spironolactone - Answers A drug used as add-on therapy for resistant hypertension by blocking aldosterone receptors and decreasing sodium retention. Eplerenone - Answers A mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that reduces sodium retention and lowers blood pressure. Gynecomastia - Answers A spironolactone adverse effect involving breast tissue enlargement due to hormonal receptor interactions. Resistant Hypertension - Answers Hypertension that remains uncontrolled despite treatment with multiple drug classes. Primary Aldosteronism - Answers A disorder involving excessive aldosterone secretion that can cause resistant hypertension and responds well to aldosterone receptor blockade. Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs) - Answers Drugs that lower blood pressure by blocking L-type calcium channels in vascular smooth muscle and/or the heart. Dihydropyridines (DHPs) - Answers A subgroup that lowers arterial pressure mainly by relaxing arterial smooth muscle and causing vasodilation. Nifedipine - Answers A dihydropyridine that lowers blood pressure by blocking L-type calcium channels in arterial smooth muscle. Amlodipine - Answers A dihydropyridine that produces vasodilation and lowers blood pressure through L-type calcium channel blockade. Felodipine - Answers A dihydropyridine that lowers arterial pressure by relaxing vascular smooth muscle. DHP Mechanism Of Action - Answers Blocking L-type calcium channels in arterial smooth muscle decreases vascular tone, lowers resistance, and reduces arterial pressure. Edema - Answers A common adverse effect caused by increased capillary hydrostatic pressure due to preferential dilation of arterioles rather than venules. Non-Dihydropyridines (Non-DHPs) - Answers A subgroup that lowers blood pressure by reducing heart rate and contractility through action on cardiac L-type calcium channels. Diltiazem - Answers A non-dihydropyridine that reduces heart rate and cardiac contraction, useful when hypertension occurs with arrhythmias. Verapamil - Answers A non-dihydropyridine that decreases SA node activity and cardiac contractility, lowering blood pressure. Bradycardia - Answers A potential adverse effect where heart rate becomes excessively slow due to cardiac conduction suppression. Arrhythmia Indication - Answers A clinical situation where cardiac-acting calcium channel blockers are useful because they reduce abnormal rhythm while lowering pressure. Beta Blockers - Answers Drugs that lower blood pressure by blocking β1 receptors, reducing heart rate and contractility, and lowering cardiac output. Metoprolol - Answers A beta blocker that reduces cardiac output by decreasing heart rate and contractility through β1 receptor blockade. Esmolol - Answers A short-acting beta blocker that decreases cardiac output through β1 receptor inhibition. Bisoprolol - Answers A beta blocker that reduces cardiac workload by inhibiting β1 receptor signaling. Heart Block - Answers A conduction abnormality that may occur as an adverse effect due to excessive suppression of cardiac electrical signaling.