Drugs and Medicines

Nomenclature, classification and

sources

Nusrat Hossain
Lecturer
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
North South University
 Drug
Drug: is any substance that acts on the living body to alter
the physiological process and are used for the prevention,
diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

According to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), Drug

is a substance intended for use in the diagnosis, cure,
modification, treatment or prevention of disease.

03/15/21
• Diagnosis – used to identify a disease.
• Example – barium sulfate in x-ray of GIT.
• Prevention – used to prevent the occurrence of diseases.
• Example – vaccines against diseases like tuberculosis, whooping
cough, typhoid etc.
• Cure – to cure or get rid of some disease.
• Example – antibiotics to cure infections caused by microorganisms.
• Control – keep the disease under control although it may not
be fully cured.
• Example – anti-diabetic drugs to control diabetes, antihypertensive
drugs to treat hypertension and control the blood pressure.
• Moderate / mitigate – reduce some of sufferings or relief
some symptoms.
• Example –painkillers in headache, smooth muscle relaxant in
stomachache.
 Medicine
• Medicine: is any drug which has a definite form & dose
and are therapeutically used for the treatment of diseases
of living subjects.

Two types:
• OTC
• Prescription only

03/15/21
 OTC Drug
Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs
are medicines sold directly to a consumer
without a prescription from a healthcare
professional, as opposed to prescription
drugs, which may only be sold to consumers
possessing a valid prescription.

e.g. paracetamol
 Prescription only

A prescription drug (also prescription
medication or prescription medicine) is
a pharmaceutical drug that legally requires
a medical prescription to be dispensed.

e.g. Diazepam
 Nomenclature of Drugs
 Generic name : Shortened name of a drug, usually given
by the health authorities and officially used in the
pharmacopoeias like BP and USP.
 Sometimes, there may be more than one generic name of
a particular drug.
 For example

BP name USP name

Paracetamol Acetaminophen
 Chemical name

Chemical name : Name based on

the chemical structure of the drug.
The name is applicable only for
O
pure drugs. HN C CH3

Generic name: paracetamol

Chemical name:
N-acetyl para-aminophenol OH
or
4-hydroxyacetanilide
or
N-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)acetamide.
 Brand name / Trade name

 Brand name / Trade name : Name of a drug

product ( medicine ) given by the manufacturer.
For example
 Napa Tablet ( Beximco ) for Paracetamol tablet
 Ace Tablet ( Square ) for Paracetamol tablet
 Nomenclature of Drugs
O

For example HN C CH3

 Generic name paracetamol

 Chemical name N-acetyl para-aminophenol
or OH
4-hydroxyacetanilide
or
N-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)acetamide.
 Brand name / Trade name : Name of a drug product
( medicine ) given by the manufacturer.
For example
 Napa Tablet ( Beximco ) for Paracetamol tablet
 Ace Tablet ( Square ) for Paracetamol tablet
 Classification of drugs
Drugs can be classified on the basis of various parameters.

On the basis of pharmacological action:

Analgesic and antipyretic drug – Paracetamol
Anti-inflammatory drug – Diclofenac sodium
Antihypertensive drugs - propranolol

On the basis of target organ:

Gastrointestinal drugs (acting on the gastrointestinal tract) –
antacids
Cardiovascular drugs (acting on the cardiovascular system ) –
antihypertensive.
CNS Drugs (acting on central nervous system)-Diazepam
 Classification of drugs
On the basis of therapeutic uses :
Antidiarrheal – acting against diarrhea
Anti-diabetic – acting against diabetes

On the basis of target receptors :

β-blockers – blocks the β-receptors
H2-blockers - blocks the H2-receptors
α–stimulants – stimulates the α receptors
 Classification of drugs
BNF drugs and preparations
 1 Gastro-intestinal system
 2 Cardiovascular system
 3 Respiratory system
 4 Central nervous system
 5 Infections
 6 Endocrine system
 7 Obstetrics, gynaecology, and urinary-tract disorders
 8 Malignant disease and immunosuppression
 9 Nutrition and blood
 10 Musculoskeletal and joint diseases
 11 Eye
 12 Ear, nose, and oropharynx
 13 Skin
 14 Immunological products and vaccines
 15 Anaesthesia
 Anatomical Therapeutic
Chemical (ATC) classification

The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification

System is used for the classification of active ingredients of
drugs according to the organ or system on which they act
and their therapeutic, pharmacological and chemical
properties.
 Practical Classifications/ ATC drug
classification
• The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification
system is by the WHO.
• The system provides a global standard for classifying medical
substances and serves as a tool for drug utilization research.
• The system is divided into 14 general groups according to
the body system on which they act.
• Title: The Anatomical, Therapeutic, Chemical (ATC)
classification system with Defined Daily Doses (DDDs), short:
The ATC system.

03/15/21
03/15/21
03/15/21
Drug from the Natural World
PLANT EXTRACTS

MORPHINE

POPPY CAPSULE
03/15/21
03/15/21
03/15/21
03/15/21
Drug from the Natural World

VENOMS AND TOXINS A toxin (from Ancient Greek:   toxikon)

is a poisonous substance produced
within living cells or organisms

A toxin is a poisonous substance produced O

C OH

within living cells or organisms. C N

CH3
HS

Captopril
(anti-hypertensive)
Drug from the Natural World
MeO
VENOMS AND TOXINS CH 3
N
HO CH 3
O H

H O
H3 C
N OH
H3 C
OMe

Tubocurarine
(from curare)
03/15/21
03/15/21
03/15/21
03/15/21
03/15/21
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOcpsXMJcJk