Question 73

Crestor has the same mechanism as pravastatin.

Crestor, like pravastatin, is a statin medication that works by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which plays a central role in cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver.

A) finasteride

Finasteride is not a statin and operates through a different mechanism; it inhibits the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which is involved in the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Therefore, it does not share the same mechanism as Crestor.

B) fluoxetine

Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used primarily for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders. Its mechanism does not involve cholesterol regulation, making it incorrect in relation to Crestor's function.

C) paroxetine

Similar to fluoxetine, paroxetine is also an SSRI that acts on serotonin levels in the brain to alleviate mood disorders. It does not have any relation to cholesterol-lowering mechanisms, thus it is not comparable to Crestor.

D) pravastatin

Pravastatin is a statin that, like Crestor, inhibits HMG-CoA reductase to reduce cholesterol production in the liver. This shared mechanism makes pravastatin the correct answer when comparing it to Crestor.

Conclusion

Crestor and pravastatin both function as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, which is essential for their ability to lower cholesterol levels. The other options, finasteride, fluoxetine, and paroxetine, operate through entirely different biochemical pathways and are not relevant when discussing the mechanism of action of statins like Crestor. Hence, pravastatin is the definitive choice.