Top 100 Pharmacology Flashcards for Quick Revision Before Your Exam

Pharmacology exams are quite overwhelming where you need to memorize drug classes, mechanisms of action, side effects, and therapeutic uses. If you are pharmacy student you’re getting close to your exam date and looking for a fast way to revise pharmacology, you’re in the right place.

That’s exactly why I created these 100 essential pharmacology flashcards to help you review smarter, not harder. These flashcards are designed for quick recall and active revision, whether you’re preparing for GPAT, NCLEX, MOH, DHA, or any other competitive medical or pharmacy exam.

Each question targets a pharmacology concept that shows up often in tests and clinical practice.

100 Pharmacology Flashcards for Quick Revision

Think of this as your rapid-fire pharmacology quiz guide, written by a pharmacology teacher who knows what matters most at crunch time.

1. What is the drug class of Atenolol?
Answer: Beta-blocker (selective β1)

2. What is the mechanism of action of Omeprazole?
Answer: Proton pump inhibitor – inhibits H+/K+ ATPase in stomach parietal cells

3. Name a common side effect of ACE inhibitors.
Answer: Dry cough

4. What is Paracetamol commonly used for?
Answer: Pain relief and fever reduction (analgesic and antipyretic)

5. What is the therapeutic use of Metformin?
Answer: First-line treatment for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

6. Which class does Furosemide belong to?
Answer: Loop diuretic

7. Mechanism of action of Warfarin?
Answer: Inhibits vitamin K epoxide reductase – interferes with clotting factor synthesis

8. Side effect commonly associated with Statins?
Answer: Muscle pain (myopathy)

9. Therapeutic use of Salbutamol?
Answer: Relief of bronchospasm in asthma and COPD

10. Which class does Diazepam belong to?
Answer: Benzodiazepine

11. Mechanism of action of Aspirin?
Answer: Irreversible COX inhibitor – prevents platelet aggregation

12. Which class is Amoxicillin?
Answer: Penicillin antibiotic (β-lactam)

13. Use of Loratadine?
Answer: Allergic rhinitis and urticaria

14. Common side effect of Metronidazole?
Answer: Metallic taste

15. Mechanism of action of Heparin?
Answer: Activates antithrombin III – inhibits thrombin and factor Xa

16. Therapeutic use of Lisinopril?
Answer: Hypertension and heart failure

17. What is the drug class of Atorvastatin?
Answer: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (Statin)

18. Side effect of NSAIDs like Ibuprofen?
Answer: Gastric ulcer

19. Mechanism of action of Amlodipine?
Answer: Calcium channel blocker (dihydropyridine)

20. Drug class of Ciprofloxacin?
Answer: Fluoroquinolone antibiotic

21. Use of Ranitidine (withdrawn in many countries)?
Answer: Treatment of ulcers and GERD (H2 blocker)

22. Therapeutic use of Insulin?
Answer: Management of diabetes mellitus

23. Class of drug: Clopidogrel?
Answer: Antiplatelet (P2Y12 inhibitor)

24. Mechanism of action of Morphine?
Answer: μ-opioid receptor agonist

25. Side effect of Clozapine?
Answer: Agranulocytosis

26. Therapeutic use of Levothyroxine?
Answer: Hypothyroidism

27. What is the drug class of Losartan?
Answer: Angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)

28. Use of Doxycycline?
Answer: Broad-spectrum antibiotic – treats infections and malaria prophylaxis

29. Mechanism of action of Digoxin?
Answer: Inhibits Na+/K+ ATPase – increases intracellular calcium

30. Side effect of Phenytoin?
Answer: Gingival hyperplasia

31. Therapeutic use of Alendronate?
Answer: Osteoporosis treatment

32. Drug class of Fluoxetine?
Answer: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)

33. Use of Salicylates?
Answer: Anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet effects

34. Side effect of Isotretinoin?
Answer: Teratogenicity

35. Mechanism of action of Sildenafil?
Answer: PDE5 inhibitor – increases cGMP in corpus cavernosum

36. Therapeutic use of Methotrexate?
Answer: Rheumatoid arthritis and some cancers

37. Class of Hydralazine?
Answer: Direct arteriolar vasodilator

38. Use of Isoniazid?
Answer: First-line treatment for tuberculosis

39. Mechanism of action of Loperamide?
Answer: μ-opioid receptor agonist in GI tract – reduces gut motility

40. Side effect of Lithium?
Answer: Tremor, hypothyroidism, nephrotoxicity

41. Class of Haloperidol?
Answer: Typical antipsychotic (butyrophenone)

42. Therapeutic use of Glibenclamide?
Answer: Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

43. Use of Tamsulosin?
Answer: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

44. Drug class of Rifampicin?
Answer: Antitubercular (RNA polymerase inhibitor)

45. Side effect of Ethambutol?
Answer: Optic neuritis

46. Mechanism of action of Vancomycin?
Answer: Inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis – D-Ala-D-Ala binding

47. Therapeutic use of Spironolactone?
Answer: Heart failure, hypertension, and hyperaldosteronism

48. Drug class of Verapamil?
Answer: Calcium channel blocker (non-dihydropyridine)

49. Use of Carbamazepine?
Answer: Seizure disorders and trigeminal neuralgia

50. Mechanism of action of Sucralfate?
Answer: Forms protective barrier at ulcer site

51. Side effect of Chloramphenicol?
Answer: Aplastic anemia

52. What is the drug class of Atenolol? (rev)
Answer: Beta-blocker (selective β1)

53. What is the class of Imatinib?
Answer: Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (used in CML)

54. Therapeutic use of Naloxone?
Answer: Opioid overdose reversal

55. Mechanism of action of DPP-4 inhibitors like Sitagliptin?
Answer: Inhibit DPP-4 enzyme, increasing incretin levels to control blood glucose

56. Common side effect of Amiodarone?
Answer: Thyroid dysfunction and pulmonary fibrosis

57. What is the drug class of Cetirizine?
Answer: Second-generation antihistamine (H1 blocker)

58. Therapeutic use of Methyldopa?
Answer: Management of hypertension during pregnancy

59. Mechanism of action of Bupropion?
Answer: Inhibits reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine

60. Class of Beclomethasone?
Answer: Inhaled corticosteroid (used in asthma)

61. Side effect of Thiazide diuretics?
Answer: Hypercalcemia and hypokalemia

62. Drug class of Amphotericin B?
Answer: Polyene antifungal

63. Mechanism of action of Donepezil?
Answer: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (used in Alzheimer’s disease)

64. Use of Desmopressin?
Answer: Treatment of diabetes insipidus and nocturnal enuresis

65. Drug class of Oseltamivir?
Answer: Neuraminidase inhibitor (antiviral for influenza)

66. Therapeutic use of Sildenafil?
Answer: Erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension

67. Side effect of corticosteroids?
Answer: Hyperglycemia and osteoporosis

68. What is the drug class of Tetracycline?
Answer: Protein synthesis inhibitor (broad-spectrum antibiotic)

69. Mechanism of action of Mannitol?
Answer: Osmotic diuretic – increases osmolarity of filtrate

70. Use of Misoprostol?
Answer: Prevention of NSAID-induced ulcers; also used in medical abortion

71. What is the class of Abciximab?
Answer: Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (antiplatelet)

72. Side effect of Chlorpromazine?
Answer: Sedation and extrapyramidal symptoms

73. Use of Erythropoietin?
Answer: Anemia associated with chronic kidney disease

74. Mechanism of action of Allopurinol?
Answer: Xanthine oxidase inhibitor – reduces uric acid production

75. Drug class of Zidovudine?
Answer: NRTI (antiretroviral for HIV)

76. Therapeutic use of Hydroxychloroquine?
Answer: Rheumatoid arthritis and malaria

77. Mechanism of action of Bisoprolol?
Answer: Selective β1-blocker

78. Class of drugs causing ototoxicity?
Answer: Aminoglycosides

79. Use of Nalidixic acid?
Answer: Treatment of urinary tract infections

80. Side effect of Propylthiouracil (PTU)?
Answer: Agranulocytosis and liver toxicity

81. Drug class of Valsartan?
Answer: Angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB)

82. Mechanism of action of Tetrabenazine?
Answer: Inhibits VMAT2 – used in Huntington’s disease

83. Use of Baclofen?
Answer: Spasticity in multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury

84. Drug class of Methylergometrine?
Answer: Ergot alkaloid – used to prevent postpartum hemorrhage

85. Side effect of Dapsone?
Answer: Hemolysis (especially in G6PD deficiency)

86. Use of Pralidoxime?
Answer: Organophosphate poisoning antidote

87. Mechanism of action of Etanercept?
Answer: TNF-α inhibitor (biologic for RA)

88. Drug class of Acarbose?
Answer: Alpha-glucosidase inhibitor – delays carbohydrate absorption

89. Therapeutic use of Trazodone?
Answer: Depression and insomnia

90. Use of Flumazenil?
Answer: Reversal of benzodiazepine overdose

91. Drug class of Clindamycin?
Answer: Lincosamide antibiotic

92. Mechanism of action of Tamoxifen?
Answer: Selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM)

93. Therapeutic use of Raloxifene?
Answer: Prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women

94. Drug class of Ipratropium?
Answer: Anticholinergic bronchodilator (used in COPD)

95. Side effect of Methotrexate?
Answer: Hepatotoxicity and bone marrow suppression

96. Mechanism of action of Nifedipine?
Answer: Calcium channel blocker – vasodilation

97. Use of Linezolid?
Answer: Treatment of resistant Gram-positive infections like MRSA

98. Drug class of Orlistat?
Answer: Lipase inhibitor – used in obesity

99. Therapeutic use of Finasteride?
Answer: Benign prostatic hyperplasia and male pattern baldness

100. Use of Folic acid?
Answer: Prevention of neural tube defects in pregnancy

Benefits of Flashcards for Pharmacology Revision

• Active recall > passive reading
• Perfect for daily revision sprints
• Builds exam confidence
• Easy to memorize tricky drug facts
• Portable study method (online/offline)

How to Study These Pharmacology Flashcards Effectively

• Use spaced repetition (e.g., Anki or printed shuffle)
• Read questions aloud for active recall
• Cover the answer first, quiz yourself
• Pair with mnemonics where possible