Pharmacology Quiz: Drug Classes, Antidotes and Interactions

Twenty questions, easy to hard: drug name endings first, then antidotes, side effects and the interactions that catch people out. Tap an answer to see if you’re right.

  1. Question 1 of 20

    Drugs ending in -olol (like metoprolol) are usually what?

    1. Statins
    2. ACE inhibitors
    3. Beta blockers
    4. Calcium channel blockers
    Show answer

    Answer: Beta blockers. Beta blockers slow the heart and lower blood pressure: metoprolol, atenolol, bisoprolol, propranolol.

  2. Question 2 of 20

    Drugs ending in -pril (like ramipril) are usually what?

    1. Beta blockers
    2. ACE inhibitors
    3. Diuretics
    4. Angiotensin receptor blockers
    Show answer

    Answer: ACE inhibitors. ACE inhibitors (ramipril, perindopril) lower blood pressure and protect the heart and kidneys.

  3. Question 3 of 20

    Drugs ending in -statin (like atorvastatin) do what?

    1. Lower cholesterol
    2. Lower blood sugar
    3. Reduce stomach acid
    4. Thin the blood
    Show answer

    Answer: Lower cholesterol. Statins block HMG-CoA reductase, the liver enzyme that makes cholesterol.

  4. Question 4 of 20

    Drugs ending in -prazole (like pantoprazole) do what?

    1. Lower blood pressure
    2. Relieve pain
    3. Treat fungal infections
    4. Reduce stomach acid
    Show answer

    Answer: Reduce stomach acid. Proton pump inhibitors switch off the acid pumps in the stomach lining. Used for reflux and ulcers.

  5. Question 5 of 20

    Drugs ending in -sartan (like candesartan) are usually what?

    1. Angiotensin receptor blockers
    2. Beta blockers
    3. ACE inhibitors
    4. Antibiotics
    Show answer

    Answer: Angiotensin receptor blockers. They block angiotensin II at its receptor. Similar to ACE inhibitors, without the cough.

  6. Question 6 of 20

    Drugs ending in -mab (like adalimumab) are what?

    1. Antivirals
    2. Enzyme blockers taken by mouth
    3. Monoclonal antibodies
    4. Vaccines
    Show answer

    Answer: Monoclonal antibodies. -mab means monoclonal antibody: lab-made antibodies, usually injected, that target one molecule.

  7. Question 7 of 20

    What reverses an opioid overdose?

    1. Acetylcysteine
    2. Naloxone
    3. Atropine
    4. Flumazenil
    Show answer

    Answer: Naloxone. Naloxone blocks opioid receptors within minutes. It wears off sooner than many opioids, so people need watching afterwards.

  8. Question 8 of 20

    What is the antidote for paracetamol overdose?

    1. Activated charcoal only
    2. Naloxone
    3. Vitamin K
    4. Acetylcysteine
    Show answer

    Answer: Acetylcysteine. It tops up glutathione so the liver can mop up the toxic breakdown product. Best within 8 hours.

  9. Question 9 of 20

    A dry, tickly cough is a common side effect of which class?

    1. Beta blockers
    2. Calcium channel blockers
    3. Statins
    4. ACE inhibitors
    Show answer

    Answer: ACE inhibitors. ACE inhibitors stop the breakdown of bradykinin, which irritates the airways. About 1 in 10 people get it; switching to a ‘sartan’ fixes it.

  10. Question 10 of 20

    Which blood test monitors warfarin?

    1. Platelet count
    2. HbA1c
    3. INR
    4. Liver function tests
    Show answer

    Answer: INR. The INR measures how long blood takes to clot. Most people on warfarin aim for 2 to 3.

  11. Question 11 of 20

    Which vitamin reverses warfarin?

    1. Vitamin D
    2. Vitamin K
    3. Vitamin C
    4. Vitamin B12
    Show answer

    Answer: Vitamin K. Warfarin blocks vitamin K-dependent clotting factors. Sudden changes in leafy greens can shift the INR.

  12. Question 12 of 20

    Which side effect of statins should people be asked about?

    1. Muscle aches
    2. Hair loss
    3. Ankle swelling
    4. Dry cough
    Show answer

    Answer: Muscle aches. Muscle aches are the commonest complaint. Rarely, statins cause serious muscle breakdown; dark urine with weakness needs urgent review.

  13. Question 13 of 20

    Why shouldn’t long-term prednisolone be stopped suddenly?

    1. It causes a rebound infection
    2. It damages the kidneys
    3. It causes sudden high blood sugar
    4. The adrenal glands may not restart in time
    Show answer

    Answer: The adrenal glands may not restart in time. After weeks of steroids the body makes less of its own cortisol. Stopping suddenly can cause an adrenal crisis, so doses are tapered.

  14. Question 14 of 20

    Metformin is avoided in severe kidney disease because of the risk of what?

    1. Liver failure
    2. High potassium
    3. Lactic acidosis
    4. Low blood sugar
    Show answer

    Answer: Lactic acidosis. Metformin is cleared by the kidneys. If it builds up, lactic acidosis is rare but dangerous.

  15. Question 15 of 20

    Gliflozins (like empagliflozin) commonly cause which side effect?

    1. Low blood sugar on their own
    2. Genital thrush
    3. Weight gain
    4. Dry cough
    Show answer

    Answer: Genital thrush. They make the kidneys pass sugar in the urine, which feeds yeast. They can also cause ketoacidosis with near-normal sugar levels.

  16. Question 16 of 20

    Grapefruit juice raises levels of some drugs by blocking which enzyme?

    1. CYP3A4
    2. MAO
    3. Acetylcholinesterase
    4. CYP2D6
    Show answer

    Answer: CYP3A4. It blocks CYP3A4 in the gut wall, so more of drugs like simvastatin and some calcium channel blockers gets absorbed.

  17. Question 17 of 20

    Which combination most raises the risk of serotonin syndrome?

    1. Sertraline with tramadol
    2. Sertraline with paracetamol
    3. Metoprolol with ramipril
    4. Atorvastatin with aspirin
    Show answer

    Answer: Sertraline with tramadol. Tramadol boosts serotonin as well as acting on opioid receptors. Watch for agitation, sweating, tremor, twitching and fever.

  18. Question 18 of 20

    The ‘triple whammy’ that can injure the kidneys is an ACE inhibitor or sartan, plus a diuretic, plus what?

    1. A proton pump inhibitor
    2. Paracetamol
    3. An anti-inflammatory (NSAID)
    4. A statin
    Show answer

    Answer: An anti-inflammatory (NSAID). Each one reduces kidney blood flow in a different way. Together, especially when someone is dehydrated, they can cause acute kidney injury.

  19. Question 19 of 20

    Lithium levels can rise to toxic levels when it’s combined with which drugs?

    1. Penicillins
    2. NSAIDs, ACE inhibitors and thiazide diuretics
    3. Paracetamol and codeine
    4. Antihistamines
    Show answer

    Answer: NSAIDs, ACE inhibitors and thiazide diuretics. All three make the kidneys hold on to lithium. Toxicity causes tremor, vomiting, confusion and unsteadiness.

  20. Question 20 of 20

    Trimethoprim can raise which blood level, especially with spironolactone or an ACE inhibitor?

    1. Glucose
    2. Sodium
    3. Calcium
    4. Potassium
    Show answer

    Answer: Potassium. Trimethoprim acts like the diuretic amiloride on the kidney, holding on to potassium. Combined with other potassium-raising drugs, levels can climb dangerously.

Want the details? Our medicines A–Z explains what each medicine does and what to watch for, in plain English.

Common questions

How do I learn drug classes quickly?

Learn the name endings first: -olol (beta blockers), -pril (ACE inhibitors), -sartan (angiotensin receptor blockers), -statin (cholesterol lowering), -prazole (proton pump inhibitors), -mab (monoclonal antibodies). Then add how each class works and its key side effects.

What are the most important antidotes to know?

Naloxone for opioids, acetylcysteine for paracetamol, vitamin K (and prothrombin complex) for warfarin, flumazenil for benzodiazepines (rarely used), and glucagon or sugar for insulin overdose.

Is this quiz medical advice?

No. It’s for learning. Don’t start, stop or change a medicine without talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

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Updated 16 November 2026. General education, not medical advice. General education, not personal medical advice.