Final answer:
Patients can distinguish nystatin and atorvastatin by brand names, appearance, and therapeutic uses, but not typically by pharmacokinetics, due to its complexity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct direct answer to the question 'All of the following are ways a patient might distinguish the classes of the medication nystatin and atorvastatin EXCEPT' is Pharmacokinetics. Nystatin and atorvastatin can be differentiated based on brand names, appearance, and therapeutic uses; however, patients are unlikely to distinguish medications based on pharmacokinetics as this involves the drug's absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion which require professional knowledge.
Nystatin is an antifungal medication that acts by creating pores in fungal cell membranes. It is used topically for yeast infections and can also treat intestinal fungal infections. In contrast, atorvastatin belongs to the class of drugs known as statins, which are cholesterol-lowering medications that inhibit the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme, reducing cholesterol synthesis in the body. Understanding the therapeutic uses of these medications helps distinguish them, as nystatin is used for infections caused by yeast, while atorvastatin is used for managing cholesterol levels.