Appendix A: Drug Classifications Flashcards
Analgesics
reduce pain. Non-narcotic analgesics are used for mild pain. Narcotic analgesics are used to treat moderate to severe pain.
Anti-Alzheimer’s agents
work to manage the dementia that occurs with Alzheimer’s disease. They attempt to prevent further deterioration of the reasoning and memory. They are not curative.
Antianemics
prevent and treat anemias, which are most commonly caused by low iron levels in the blood.
Antiaginals
treat and prevent angina, or chest pain.
Antianxiety medications
used to treat anxiety, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Antiarrhythmics
suppress cardiac arrhythmias, or irregular heart beats
Antiasthmatics
manage both acute and chronic attacks of bronchospasm or asthma.
Anticholinergics
have many uses, including slowing a fast heart rate and relieving spasms of the respiratory system and nasal discharge. They may also be used to treat nausea and vomiting, motion sickness, and dizziness; some decrease gastric secretions and increase esophageal sphincter muscle tome. Finally, anticholinergics can be used for treating eye and urinary tract disorders, as well as neurological disorders.
Anticoagulants
prevent blood from clotting. They can cause a prolonged bleeding time (a laboratory test)
Anticonvulsants
decrease the incidence and severity of seizures. Sometimes they are used for immediate relief of symptoms (usually given intramuscularly, intravenously, or via endotracheal tube for this purpose). Blood levels may be measured to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy.
Antidepressants
treat depression and elevate mood, usually in conjunction with psychotherapy. They are also used for the following: to treat anxiety, bedwetting, and chronic pain syndromes; for smoking cessation and eating disorders; and for obsessive-compulsive and generalized anxiety disorders.
Antidiabetics
manage diabetes mellitus. In some cases, injecting insulin is necessary. In others, tablets can be given to stimulate the body to release its own insulin.
Antidiarrheals
control and give symptomatic relief for both acute and chronic diarrhea.
Antiemetics
manage nausea, vomiting, and motion sickness.
Antifungal agents
treat fungal infections. usually, they are rubbed on the skin or mucosa. Severe cases may require systemic treatment with an oral or intravenous form.
Antihistamines
relieve symptoms associated with allergies, including nose inflammation, itching, and vessel swelling. They are used to treat anaphylaxis
Antihypertensives
decrease blood pressure. They are usually taken orally to reduce chronic hypertension, although some may be given intravenously in an emergency
Anti-infectives
treat bacterial infections. They may be used for a current infection or to prevent infection (prophylaxis). For example, frequently anti-infectives can be given before surgery to prevent infections that could result from opening the patient’s body during surgery.
Anti-inflammatories
decrease swelling
Antineoplastics
fight new growths caused by cancer. They are also used against autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis
Antiparkinsonian agents
treat Parkinson’s disease, a neurological disorder caused by low levels of dopamine, a chemical substance that transmits nerve impulse in the body.
Antiplatelet agents
prevent thromboembolic (clots that move) events, such as stoke (CVA or heart attack). They are frequently used after cardiac surgery and can be combined with anticoagulants and thrombolytic (clot-busting) drugs.
Antipsychotic drugs
treat both acute and chronic psychoses, such as schizoprenia. They are also used to suppress tics that originate in the brain, such as in Tourette’s syndrome.
Antipyretics
lower fevers resulting from infection, inflammation, or cancer.
Antiretrovirals
manage human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. They increase the CD4 cell count and decrease the viral load.
Antirheumatics
manage symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (pain and swelling), slow joint destruction, and preserve joint function.
Antituberculars
prevent and treat tuberculosis. they are also used to prevent meningitis and influenza
Antiulcer agents
prevent or treat stomach ulcers. They are also used in the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Antiviral medications
manage viral infections, such as herpes, chickenpox, influenza A, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection
Beta blockers
help to manage blood pressure, chest pain, fast heart rates, vessel narrowing, migraine headaches, glaucoma, and heart failure. They can also prevent heart attacks and manage symptoms of low thyroid function
Bone resorption inhibitors
primarily used to treat and prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. They are also used to manage high blood calcium and Paget’s disease of bone.
Bronchodilators
treat reversible airway obstruction resulting from asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Calcium Channel blockers
treat high blood pressure, chest pain, and coronary artery spasm. They act to control the rhythm of the heart and to prevent neurological damage.
Central Nervous System stimulants
treat narcolepsy, attention deficit disorder (ADD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Corticosteroids
correct adrenocortical insufficiency. In large dosages, corticosteroids are used for anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and antineoplastic activity. They can be used to reduce blood calcium and to treat autoimmune diseases. Topically, they are used to decrease inflammation and allergic conditions. Inhaled corticosteroids are used for asthma and vasoconstriction. They are also used for eye disorders.
Diuretics
used alone or in combination to reduce high blood pressure and swelling resulting from congestive heart failure (CHF) and other disorders. Potassium-sparing diuretics conserve potassium while decreasing fluid.
Hormones
used to treat deficiencies in disorders such as diabetes and thyroid disease
Immunosuppressants
prevent transplant rejection. However, they also suppress the body’s own immune system. For this reason, they may be used to treat some autoimmune disorders.
Laxatives
Treat and prevent constipation. They are also used to cleanse the bowel in preparation for radiological or endoscopic procedures.
Lipid-lowering agents
used in conjunction with diet and exercise to lower blood lipid levels in an effort to decrease the morbidity associated with cardiovascular disease.
Minerals / electrolytes / pH modifiers
treat deficiencies or excesses of electrolytes to maintain correct acid-base balance
Natural / Herbal products
used for a wide variety of disorders. As discussed in the text, the FDA does not regulate herbal remedies, so the quality and effectiveness of herbal remedies can vary. Herbs are used extensively to treat menopausal symptoms, improve mood, reduce nausea, prevent motion sickness, boost the immune system, strengthen muscles, and improve gastric and urinary functioning.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
control mild to moderate pain, fever, and inflammatory symptoms resulting from conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Ophthalmic NSAIDs decrease inflammation after eye surgery
Sedative-hypnotics
provide sedation. They are frequently given before procedures or to induce sleep
skeletal muscle relaxants
reduce spasticity associated with neurological disorders or for symptomatic relief of musculoskeletal conditions
Thrombolytic agents
dissolve clots and prevent heart attacks. As their name suggests, they are “clot-busters”
Vaccines / Immunizing agents
prevent infectious diseases by promoting the body’s own production of antibodies against diseases
Vascular headache suppressants
change vascular tension to decrease pain
Vitamins
prevent and treat vitamin deficiencies. They are also used as supplements in metabolic disorders
Weight control agents
used in the management of obesity. This therapy should be combined with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise.
