Question 73

Crestor has the same mechanism as pravastatin.

Crestor, a medication used to lower cholesterol, functions similarly to pravastatin, as both are statins that inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme critical for cholesterol synthesis in the liver.

A) finasteride

Finasteride is a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor primarily used to treat hair loss and enlarged prostate. Its mechanism of action does not involve the inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase, making it unrelated to the cholesterol-lowering effects seen with Crestor.

B) fluoxetine

Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used primarily to treat depression and anxiety disorders. Its mechanism involves the modulation of serotonin levels in the brain, which is distinct from the cholesterol-lowering mechanism of Crestor.

C) paroxetine

Paroxetine, like fluoxetine, is also an SSRI used for treating depression and anxiety. It works by affecting serotonin levels and does not share any pharmacological action with Crestor's statin mechanism, thereby making it an incorrect choice.

D) pravastatin

Pravastatin is a statin that, like Crestor, works by inhibiting the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme, effectively lowering LDL cholesterol levels in the body. Both medications belong to the same class and share the same fundamental mechanism of action.

Conclusion

Crestor and pravastatin both function as statins that inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, leading to reduced cholesterol synthesis. The other options—finasteride, fluoxetine, and paroxetine—operate through entirely different mechanisms and are used for different medical conditions, confirming that D is the only accurate answer in this context.