A patient with frequent tension headaches asks the nurse about over-the-counter remedies. The nurse knows that Excedrin combines which of the following active ingredients to address pain, inflammation, and increased vascular tone associated with headaches?

Choice A reason: This is correct. Excedrin contains a combination of aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine. Aspirin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that reduces pain, inflammation, and swelling. Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and a fever reducer. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that enhances the pain-relieving function of aspirin and acetaminophen.

Choice B reason: This is incorrect. Ibuprofen and naproxen are both NSAIDs, but they are not the same as aspirin. They have different chemical structures and may have different effects and side effects. Caffeine is not an ingredient in ibuprofen or naproxen products.

Choice C reason: This is incorrect. Loratadine is an antihistamine that is used to treat allergies, not headaches. It does not have any pain-relieving or anti-inflammatory properties. Caffeine is not an ingredient in loratadine products.

Choice D reason: This is incorrect. Naproxen is an NSAID, but it is not the same as aspirin. It has a different chemical structure and may have different effects and side effects. Loratadine is an antihistamine that is used to treat allergies, not headaches. It does not have any pain-relieving or anti-inflammatory properties. Caffeine is not an ingredient in acetaminophen, naproxen, or loratadine products.

Choice A reason: This is incorrect. Antibiotics are not a term for a drug model, but a class of drugs that are used to treat bacterial infections. Antibiotics can have different chemical structures, mechanisms of action, and modes of action. For example, penicillin is a prototype drug of the beta lactam antibiotics, which inhibit the synthesis of bacterial cell walls¹.

Choice B reason: This is incorrect. Pharmacologic drug is not a term for a drug model, but a general term for any substance that has a physiological effect on the body. Pharmacologic drugs can belong to different classes, such as analgesics, antihistamines, or antivirals. For example, aspirin is a prototype drug of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which reduce pain, inflammation, and fever.

Choice C reason: This is correct. Prototype drug is the term used for a well understood drug model with which other drugs in its representative class are compared. A prototype drug is an individual drug that has similar chemical structure, mechanism of action, and mode of action as other drugs in its class. A prototype drug is often the first developed or the most important drug in its class, and is used as a reference for comparison. For example, morphine is a prototype drug of the opioid analgesics, which relieve pain by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord.

Choice D reason: This is incorrect. Therapeutic drug is not a term for a drug model, but a term for any drug that is used to treat or prevent a disease or disorder. Therapeutic drugs can belong to different classes, such as antibiotics, antihypertensives, or antidepressants. For example, metformin is a prototype drug of the biguanide antidiabetic drugs, which lower blood glucose levels by reducing glucose production in the liver and increasing glucose uptake in the muscles.