APPENDIX C: CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS

1. ANALGESICS - Examples: Sodium bicarbonate, sodium

- Used for the relief of pain carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, milk of
- Type and degree of pain determines type of magnesia, magnesium trisilicate
analgesic 4. ANTHELMINTICS
- Mild (Acute pain of headache) – - Rid the body of worm infestations from
aspirin, acetaminophen or gastrointestinal tract
dextropropoxyphene - Drug therapy is limited because of the
- Severe (Dental surgery or trauma) – toxicity of the drug
more potent narcotics starting with - Examples: Pyvinium pamoate, piperazine
codeine, oxycodone then citrate, diethylcarbamazine citrate
meperidine, morphine. 5. ANTIANGINALS
- Excruciating chronic pain (arthritis - Relieve chest pain associated with increased
or cancer) – frequent administration oxygen demand by heart muscle due to
of potent narcotics physical exertion
- Cancer – morphine intravenous - Examples: Both decrease oxygen demand by
infusion the heart and subsequently relieve chest
2. ANESTHETICS pain
- Relieve pain by interfering with nerve - Vasodilators
transmission  Nitroglycerin, isosorbide
- General anesthetics dinitrate, pentaerythritol
- Depressing cerebral nerves that - Beta-adgernic blocking agents –
carry sensory pain signals to the decrease heart rate
brain  Propranolol, nadolol,
- Cause loss of pain and consciousness labetalol
(surgical procedures) 6. ANTICHOLINERGICS
- Gases or volatile liquids - Inhibit cholinergic nerves – gastrointestinal
administered by inhalation hypersecretions and motility
- Flammable, caution advised - Used as gastrointestinal antispasmodics
- Examples: Halothane and ether - Examples: Propantheline, belladonna
- Local anesthetics alkaloids, adiphenine, dicyclomine
- Can be used for local nerve block in 7. ANTICOAGULANTS
relieving pain for dental extractions - Inhibit clotting mechanism
- Many are topical for the skin and - Clot can serve as physical barriers which can
mucous membrane cause stroke or heart attack
- Examples: Lidocaine (cardiac membrane - Used also as prophylaxis to prevent possible
depressant to treat cardiac arrhythmia), clotting during hemodialysis and surgery
procaine, cocaine - Examples: Heparin, warfarin
3. ANTACIDS 8. ANTICONVULSANTS
- Relieve gastric hyperacidity and pain - Used for depressed brain nerve firing to
associated with duodenal or gastric ulcers control convulsive seizures in epilepsy
- Lower HCl content of stomach by - Prevent or reduce convulsions, in
neutralizing or buffering, reduce acid electroshock therapy, brain damage and
irritation ingestion of poison
- Permits ulcer site to heal - Examples: Phenytoin, trimethadione,
- diazepam
-
9. ANTIDIARRHEALS
- Decrease gastrointestinal activity, absorb
toxins and replace bacterial flora
- Examples: Opium tincture (paregoric),
loperamide, diphenoxylate, kaolin-pectin
tincture
- Lactobacillus acidolphilus – bacterial culture
used to replace bacterial flora of lower GI
tract, frequently depressed during antibiotic
therapy (ampicillin) causing diarrhea
10. ANTIEMETICS
- Block brain centers associated with vomiting
like phenothiazines
- Examples: Prochlorperazine,
chlorpromazine, thiethylperazine,
trimethobenzamide
- Metochlopramide - antagonist to emetic
effecr of anticancer drugs; used before and
after treatment
- Meclizine, cyclizine – prevent emesis from
motion sickness
11. ANTIHISTAMINES
- Antagonize the pathological effects of
histamine releases as a consequence of
various disease states (allergy, hayfever,
colds, asthma, etc.)
- Examples: Diphenhysramine
chlorpheniramine, brompheniramine,
promethazine, tripelennamine
- Drowsiness is aleading side effect
- Terfenadine – little to no drowsiness side
effect
12. ANTIHYPERTENSIVES
- Lowers blood pressure in the following ways:
- Reducing vascular volume using
diuretics
- Relaxing blood vessels using
vasodilators
- Inhibiting sympathetic nervous
system (hyperactive) – using nerve
ending blocking agents
- Inhibit renal mechanism for blood
elevation – angiotensin-converting
enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
- Examples:
- Diuretics: Thiazides
- Beta-adgernic: Propranolol
- Nerve-ending blocker: Reserpine,
methyldopa, guanethidine
- CNs blockers: Clonidine
- Vasodilators: Hydralazine, prazocin
- ACE inhibitor: Captopril, enalapril
(vasotec)
13. ANTI-INEFECTIVES and SULFONAMIDES
- Natural or synthetic agents that inhibit
growth (bacteriostatic) or destroy
(bacteriocidal) microorganisms
- Examples:
- Topical: Bacitracin, neomycin,
polymixin
- Systemical: Penicillin,
cephalosporins, chloramphenicol,
tetracyclines, erythromycin,
sulfonamides
- Disinfectant: Alcohol, acetic acid,
boric acid, iodine, hydrogen
peroxide, merbromine
(mercurochrome), thimerosol,
gentian violet, zinc oxide,
hexachlorophene, benzalkonium
chloride
14. ANTINEOPLASTICS
- Cellular toxins which destroy rapidly
multiplying cells associated with cancer
- They also destroy normal cells in the body
(rapidly growing) resulting in gastrointestinal
ulcer or blood dyscrasias
- Examples: Cisplatin, vinblastine, vincristine,
cyclophosphamide, fluorouracil
- Stimulates chemoreceptor trigger zone –
antiemetic drugs (asprochlorperazine or
metoclopramide) precede antineoplastics
15. ANTITUSSIVES
- Depress the CNS cough trigger
- Belong to narcotic category of drugs
- Examples: Codeine, hydrocodone,
dextromethorphan
- +antihistaminic cough prep: Glyceryl
guaiacolate with codeine
16. ANTIVIRALS
- Newest drug used for viral infections like
Herpes simplex, Group A influenza and
HIV/AIDS
- Examples:
- Acyclovir (Zovirax) – Herpes simplex
 - Amantadine (Symmetrel) – Group A
influenza
- Zidovudine (AZT) – HIV/AIDS
17. BRONCHODILATORS
- Or anti-asthmatics relax bronchial smooth
muscles which dilate airways constricted in
pulmonary disease state
- Permits normal respiratory air breathing
- Examples: Epinephrine, isoproterenol,
pseudoepinephrine, theophylline
18. CARDIAC STIMULANTS and DEPRESSANTS
- For cardiac depression - Cardiac stimulants:
Epinephrine, isoproterenol
- For heart failure: digoxin
- Overexcitability: Quinidine, procainamide,
propranolol
19. DECONGESTANTS
- Vasoconstrictors – cause shrinking of
mucous membranes, permits improved air
transit (nasal and other passages)
- Examples: Pseudoephedrine, ephedrine,
phenylephrine, disopyramide
- Also used in cold medication
- Not used in patients with hypertension
20. DIGESTANTS
- Promote digestion of food in gastrointestinal
tract
- Gastrointestinal replacement products for
normal digestion substances
- Examples: HCl, bile acids, pancreatin, pepsin,
diastase
- Simethicone – in conjunction with these
products to alleviate trapped gas (flatulence)
21. DIURETICS
- Increase output of urine to reduce edema
fluid accumulation
- Examples: Hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide,
ethacrynic acid, bumetanide,
spironolactone, acetazolamide
22. EMETICS
- Induce vomiting
- Eliminate poisonous substances that have
been ingested
- Most popular: ipecac syrup – orally then
induce vomiting in half an hour
- Injection: apomorphine – less used
23. HORMONES
- Organic compounds produced
endogenously by the endocrine glands
- Supplemented in form of drugs in cases of
deficiency states, secondary disease or
surgery of gland
- Pituitary hormones: regulate release of
glandular hormones; called releasing factors
- Growth hormones: regulate growth
- Thyroid hormones: regulate activity of all
body cells
- FSH (follicle stimulating) & LH (luteinizing):
control sexual growth and development
- ACTH (corticotropin) – regulate
corticosteroid release from adrenal glands
(influences blood pressure and reaction to
environmental stress)
- Posterior pituitary – Vasopressin: maintain
blood pressure in shock
- Pancreatic hormones – Insulin: replace
deficiencies seen in diabetes mellitus
- Ovarian hormones – Estrogen and
progesterone: replace lack of substances
during menopause and dysfunction
- Male androgens: prevent negative nitrogen
balance in debilitating disease; promote
normal sexual function; treat osteoporosis
and inoperable breast cancer
- Adrenal cortical hormones – Hydrocortisone
and cortisone: anti-inflammatory; regulate
water balance with non-epi and epi;
maintain blood pressure
24. HYPNOTICS and SEDATIVES
- Drugs used to produce and maintain sleep
- Useful for treatment of sleep disturbances
like insomnia
- Used also in lower doses as anticonvulsants
to treat epilepsy
- Examples:
- Barbituates: Secobarbital,
pentobarbital, phenobarbital
- Benzodiazepine sleep-producing
drugs: Flurazepam, temazepam,
triazolam
- Danger: Habituation; undesirable effect with
abrupt withdrawal
25. LAXATIVES and CATHARTICS - Examples: B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin,
- Promote defecation in patients who are niacin, pyridoxine, cyanocobalamin, folic
constipated or unable to empty GI tract of acid, biotin) Vit C, E, A, D and K
waste materials
- Different mechanisms stimulating
peristalsis:
- Irritating GI tract
- Retaining water in the bowel
- Forming bulk
- Lubricating bowel
- Reducing surface tension of fecal
material
- Examples: Castor oil, prunes, magnesium
salts, phenolphthalein, psyllium seed,
mineral oil, dioctylsodiumsulfosuccinate,
senna
26. TRANQUILIZERS
- Produce sense pf detach calmness without
depression of mental faculties or clouding of
consciousness
- Treatment of mental and emotional
disorders
- Also used for secondary problems such as
emotional distress or agitation due to
surgery or cancer
- Examples: phenothiazines
(chloropromazine, trifluoperazine,
diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, meprobamate)
27. MISCELLANEOUS DRUGS
A. Diagnosic aids
- Used to determine specific disease states
- Histamine – diagnosis of achlorhydia
- Barium sulfate – oral; fluoroscopically
identify GI tract lesion or ulcer
- Sodium diatrizoate radiopaque dye –
angiography of the brain and heart;
urographically for urinary tract to visualize
vascular insufficiency or aneurysm
B. Radioisotopes
- Identify and treat certain tumors
- Examples: radioactive isotopes of iodine,
phosphate, gold, cobalt and sodium
C. Vitamins
- Organic catalysts that are required daily by
the human body in small amounts for proper
functioning of certain enzyme system that
mediate chemical reactions of cells and
maintain body tissues