UPRVUNL - 2021
Pharmacology
Easy

Which of the following is NOT an example of histamine H2 receptor antagonist?

Appeared in: UPRVUNL - 2021

Explanation

  • Omeprazole is a Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI), a different class of acid-reducing medication.
  • Its mechanism involves irreversibly blocking the H+/K+ ATPase enzyme (the proton pump) in gastric parietal cells.
  • This action inhibits the final step of acid production, making PPIs more potent suppressors of gastric acid than H2 antagonists.
  • A common mnemonic for this class is that the generic names typically end in the suffix '-prazole'.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: Ranitidine is a classic example of an H2 receptor antagonist.
  • Option B: Famotidine is a potent H2 receptor antagonist.
  • Option C: Cimetidine is the prototypical H2 receptor antagonist.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification of drugs for acid-peptic disorders (H2 antagonists vs. PPIs) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • Nurses must understand the difference between H2 blockers and PPIs for correct administration and patient teaching. PPIs like omeprazole are most effective when taken 30-60 minutes before the first meal of the day.
  • H2 blockers like famotidine are often given at bedtime to suppress nocturnal acid production, but can also be used for on-demand relief of heartburn.
  • Cimetidine has a high potential for drug interactions by inhibiting the P-450 enzyme system, affecting drugs like warfarin and phenytoin. Nurses should always review a patient's medication list for potential interactions.
How to Approach the Question
  • This is a negatively framed question using the word 'NOT', which requires you to identify the outlier among the options.
  • First, identify the drug class mentioned in the stem: 'histamine H2 receptor antagonist'.
  • Next, review each option and classify it. A useful strategy is to recognize the common suffixes for these drug classes.
  • H2 receptor antagonists often have generic names ending in '-tidine' (e.g., Ranitidine, Famotidine, Cimetidine).
  • Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) often have generic names ending in '-prazole' (e.g., Omeprazole).
  • The option that does not fit the '-tidine' pattern and belongs to a different class (PPIs) is the correct answer.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Classification of drugs for acid-peptic disorders (H2 antagonists vs. PPIs)
  • Stem keywords: histamine H2 receptor antagonist, NOT, example
  • Lead-in keywords: NOT
  • Negative lead-in flag: Question asks for the option that does not belong to the specified drug class.

Question ID

QZIRf7dYYFqTtDjvbkV5N5

Reference Book

E6 Pharmacology Nursing Lilley 11e Part 3 p. 167-169

E6 Pharmacology KD Tripathi Essentials 9e Part 2 p. 324-326

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