Classification of Drugs

1. Analgesics - used for the relief of pain

acute pain of a headache (mild) - aspirin, acetaminophen or dextropropoxyphene
more severe pain of dental surgery or trauma - more potent narcotic analgesics such as codeine, oxycodone,
meperidine, morphine
excruciating chronic pain of arthritis and cancer - potent narcotics
so severe like cancer - morphine

2. Anesthetics - used to relieve pain by interfering with nerve transmission
General anesthetics - depressing cerebral nerves that carry sensory pain signals to the brain; useful during surgical
procedures; gases or volatile liquids administered by inhalation; halothane and ether
Local anesthetics - local nerve block in relieving pain in dental extractions or topical application to the skin and
mucous membrane to relieve pain of minor trauma, sunburns, or painful canker sores; lidocaine, procaine and
cocaine
* lidocaine - cardiac membrane depressant to treat cardiac arrhythmias

3. Antacids - used to relieve gastric hyperacidity and the pain associated with duodenal or gastric ulcers; reduce acid
irritation; permits the ulcer site to heal; sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, milk of magnesia,
magnesium trisilicate

4. Antihelmintics - used to get rid of worm infestation that have gained entry into the body through the gastrointestinal tract;
pyrivinium pamoate, piperazine citrate, diethylcarbamazine citrate

5. Antianginals - used to relieve the chest pain associated with increased oxygen demand by the heart muscle due to physical
exertion
Vasodilators - nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate, pentaerythritol tetranitrate
beta-adrenergic blocking agents that decrease heart rate - propranolol, nadolol, labetalol
6. Anticholinergics - inhibit cholinergic nerves that are primarily responsible for gastrointestinal hypersecretions and motility;
gastrointestinal antispasmodics; propantheline, belladonna, alkaloids, adiphenine, dicyclomine
7. Anticoagulants - inhibit the clotting mechanism in patients who have a propensity for clotting; used as prophylaxis to
prevent possible clotting during hemodialysis and surgery; heparin, warfarin
8. Anticonvulsants - used to depressed brain nerve firing to control convulsive seizures in epilepsy; prevent or reduce
convulsions in electroshock therapy, brain damage, and ingestion of certain poisons; phenyotin, trimethadione, diazepam
9. Antidiarrheals - treat diarrhea or the liquefaction of fecal discharges; decrease gastrointestinal activity, adsorb toxins, and
replace the bacterial flora; opium tincture (paregoric), loperamide, diphenoxylate, kaolin-pectin mixture.
10. Antiemetics - prochlorperazine, chlorpromazine, thiethylperazine, trimethobenzamide
phenothiazines - blocking the brain centers associated with vomiting
metoclopramide - used before and after the treatment
meclizine and cyclizine - prevent the disturbance
11. Antihistamines - used to antagonize the pathological effects of histamine that is released as a consequence of various
disease states, including allergy, hayfever, common cold, asthma and others; diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine,
brompheniramine, promethazine, tripelennamine, terfenadine
12. Antihypertensives - lower blood pressure by reducing vascular volume, using diuretics, by relaxing blood vessels, using
vasodilators, by inhibiting the sympathetic nervous system, using nerve ending blocking agents;
diuretics - thiazides
beta-adrenergic blocking agents - propranolol
nerve ending blockers - reserpine, methyldopa, guanethidine
central nervous system blockers - clonidine
vasodilators - hydralazine, prazocin
angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors - Captopril and Enalapril (Vasotec)
13. Anti-infectives and sulfonamides - inhibit the growth (bacteriostatic) or destroy (bacteriocidal) microorganisms.
ointments, creams or irrigating solutions - bacitracin, neomycin, polymixin
oral, intramuscular or intravenous administration - penicillins, cephalosporins, chloramphenicol, tetracyclines,
erythromycin, sulfonamides
disinfectant - alcohol, acetic acid, boric acid, iodine, hydrogen peroxide, merbromin (Mercurochrome), thimerosol,
gentian violet, zinc oxide, hexachlorophene, benzalkonium chloride
14. Antineoplastics - function by destroying rapidly multiplying cells associated with cancer; also destroy normal cells in the
body; cisplatin, vinblastine, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, fluorouracil
15. Antitussives - prevent exhausting, non-productive cough that interferes with daily activity or sleep; depress the central
nervous system cough trigger; codeine, hydrocodone, dextromethorphan
16. Antivirals - treatment of viral infections
Herpes simplex infections - acyclovir (Zovirax)
Group A influenza - amantadine (Symmetrel)
HIV or AIDS infections - zidovudine (AZT)
17. Bronchodilators or Antiasthmatics - relax bronchial smooth muscle; permits normal respiratory air breathing; epinephrine,
isoproterenol, pseudoepinephrine, theophylline
18. Cardiac Stimulants and Depressants - Cardiac depression, arrhythmias
cardiac depression with a low heart rate and impulse conduction through the heart - epinephrine or isoproterenol
heart failure with compromise heart muscle function - digoxin
overexcitability of the heart resulting in rhythm disturbances and rapid heart rates with depressed cardiac output of
blood - quinidine, procainamide, propranolol
19. Decongestants - vasconstrictors; shrinking of mucous membrane, permitting improved air transit through the nasal and
other passages; used in cold medication combination products; pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, phenylephrine, disopyramide
20. Digestants - promote digestion of food in the gastrointestinal tract in individuals; Hydrochloric acid, bile acids, pancreatin,
pepsin, diastase
Simethicone - used in conjunction with these agents to alleviate trapped gas (flatulence) in the gastrointestinal tract
21. Diuretics - act on the kidney to increase the output of the urine; thus, reducing edema fluid accumulation;
hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, ethacrynic acid, bumetanide, spironolactone, acetazolamide
22. Emetics - used to induce vomiting; useful to eliminate poisonous substances that have been ingested; ipecac syrup,
apomorphine
23. Hormones - produced endogenously by the endocrine glands of the body
pituitary hormones or releasing factors - regulate the release of glandular hormones
growth hormones - regulate growth
thyroid hormone - regulates the activity of all body cells
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) - control sexual growth and development
corticotropin (ACTH) - regulates corticosteroid release from the adrenal glands
vasopressin - released by posterior pituitary, maintain blood pressure in shock
oxytocin - used in obstetrics to induce uterine contractility during labor
pancreatic hormones include insulin - used to replace deficiencies seen in diabetes mellitus
ovarian hormones such as estrogens and progesterones - used to replace a lack of these substances during
menopause or ovarian dysfunction
male androgens - used to prevent negative nitrogen balance in debilitating disease, to promote normal sexual
function, and to treat osteoporosis and inoperable breast cancer
adrenal cortical hormones such as hydrocortisone and cortisone - antiflammatory, regulate water balance together
with epinephrine and norepinephrine and maintain blood pressure
24. Hypnotics and Sedatives - produce and maintain sleep; treatment of patients with sleep disturbances called insomnia
barbiturates - secobarbital, pentobarbital, phenobarbital, benzodiazepine
sleep-producing drugs - flurazepam, temazepam, triazolam
25. Laxatives and Cathartics - promote defecation in patients who are constipated or unable to empty the gastrointestinal
tract of its waste materials; castor oil, prunes, magnesium salts, phenolphthalein, psyllium seed, mineral oil,
dioctylsodiumsulfosuccinate, and senna
26. Tranquilizers - produce a sense of detach calmness without depression of mental faculties or clouding of consciousness;
treatment of mental and emotional disorders; used for secondary problems such as emotional distress or agitation due to
surgery or cancer; phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine, trifluoperazine, diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, meprobamate
27. Miscellaneous drugs
diagnostic aids - used to determine a specific disease state
histamines - used for the diagnosis of achlorhydria
barium sulfate - identify gastrointestinal tract lesions or ulcers
sodium diatrizoate radiopaque dye - used for angiography of the brain and heart and urographically for the
urinary tract to visualize vascular insufficiency or aneurysms
radioisotopes - used to identify and treat certain tumors; iodine, phosphate, gold, cobalt, sodium
vitamins - organic catalysts that are required daily by the human body in small amounts for the proper functioning of
certain enzyme systems that mediate chemical reactions of the cells and maintain body tissues
B vitamins - thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, cyanocobalamin, folic acid, biotin
vitamin C
vitamin E
vitamin A
vitamin D
vitamin K