Catapres, Aldomet, and Lopressor are used to treat high blood pressure. Which pharmacologic class do they belong to?

• A. Anti-inflammatory
• B. Antineoplastic
• C. Antihypertensive
• D. Antituberculosis

Answer: (C)

These drugs all share the purpose of lowering blood pressure, even though they work through different mechanisms. Catapres (clonidine) and Aldomet (methyldopa) reduce sympathetic nervous system activity from the brain, leading to lower peripheral resistance and blood pressure. Lopressor (metoprolol) blocks beta-adrenergic receptors, decreasing heart rate and the force of contraction, which also lowers blood pressure. Because their common use is to treat hypertension, they belong to the antihypertensive class. The other options describe drugs used for different conditions (inflammation, cancer, tuberculosis) and don’t reflect their primary use here.