Which drug class inhibits the COX-2 enzyme?

• A. Contraceptive
• B. Antiviral
• C. COX-2 Inhibitor
• D. Cardiac Glycoside

Answer: (C)

The main idea is recognizing a drug class by its mechanism of action—blocking the COX-2 enzyme to reduce inflammation and pain. COX-2 inhibitors are a specialized subset of NSAIDs designed to selectively inhibit the COX-2 enzyme, which lowers prostaglandin production at sites of inflammation. By targeting COX-2, these drugs aim to relieve inflammation with fewer stomach-related side effects associated with COX-1 inhibition, though they can carry other risks such as cardiovascular effects. The other options describe drug classes that don’t work by inhibiting COX-2—for example, contraceptives regulate hormones, antivirals block viral replication, and cardiac glycosides influence heart contraction—so they don’t match the mechanism in question.