Appendix A: Drug Classifications

Question 1

Analgesics

Answer 1

reduce pain. Non-narcotic analgesics are used for mild pain. Narcotic analgesics are used to treat moderate to severe pain.

Question 2

Anti-Alzheimer’s agents

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

Antianemics

Answer 3

prevent and treat anemias, which are most commonly caused by low iron levels in the blood.

Question 4

Antiaginals

Answer 4

treat and prevent angina, or chest pain.

Question 5

Antianxiety medications

Answer 5

used to treat anxiety, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Question 6

Antiarrhythmics

Answer 6

suppress cardiac arrhythmias, or irregular heart beats

Question 7

Antiasthmatics

Answer 7

manage both acute and chronic attacks of bronchospasm or asthma.

Question 8

Anticholinergics

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

Anticoagulants

Answer 9

prevent blood from clotting. They can cause a prolonged bleeding time (a laboratory test)

Question 10

Anticonvulsants

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Antidepressants

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

Antidiabetics

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

Antidiarrheals

Answer 13

control and give symptomatic relief for both acute and chronic diarrhea.

Question 14

Antiemetics

Answer 14

manage nausea, vomiting, and motion sickness.

Question 15

Antifungal agents

Answer 15

treat fungal infections. usually, they are rubbed on the skin or mucosa. Severe cases may require systemic treatment with an oral or intravenous form.

Question 16

Antihistamines

Answer 16

relieve symptoms associated with allergies, including nose inflammation, itching, and vessel swelling. They are used to treat anaphylaxis

Question 17

Antihypertensives

Answer 17

decrease blood pressure. They are usually taken orally to reduce chronic hypertension, although some may be given intravenously in an emergency

Question 18

Anti-infectives

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

Anti-inflammatories

Answer 19

decrease swelling

Question 20

Antineoplastics

Answer 20

fight new growths caused by cancer. They are also used against autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis

Question 21

Antiparkinsonian agents

Answer 21

treat Parkinson’s disease, a neurological disorder caused by low levels of dopamine, a chemical substance that transmits nerve impulse in the body.

Question 22

Antiplatelet agents

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

Antipsychotic drugs

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

Antipyretics

Answer 24

lower fevers resulting from infection, inflammation, or cancer.

Question 25

Antiretrovirals

Answer 25

manage human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. They increase the CD4 cell count and decrease the viral load.

Question 26

Antirheumatics

Answer 26

manage symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (pain and swelling), slow joint destruction, and preserve joint function.

Question 27

Antituberculars

Answer 27

prevent and treat tuberculosis. they are also used to prevent meningitis and influenza

Question 28

Antiulcer agents

Answer 28

prevent or treat stomach ulcers. They are also used in the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Question 29

Antiviral medications

Answer 29

manage viral infections, such as herpes, chickenpox, influenza A, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection

Question 30

Beta blockers

Answer 30

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

Question 31

Bone resorption inhibitors

Answer 31

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.

Question 32

Bronchodilators

Answer 32

treat reversible airway obstruction resulting from asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Question 33

Calcium Channel blockers

Answer 33

treat high blood pressure, chest pain, and coronary artery spasm. They act to control the rhythm of the heart and to prevent neurological damage.

Question 34

Central Nervous System stimulants

Answer 34

treat narcolepsy, attention deficit disorder (ADD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Question 35

Corticosteroids

Answer 35

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.

Question 36

Diuretics

Answer 36

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.

Question 37

Hormones

Answer 37

used to treat deficiencies in disorders such as diabetes and thyroid disease

Question 38

Immunosuppressants

Answer 38

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.

Question 39

Laxatives

Answer 39

Treat and prevent constipation. They are also used to cleanse the bowel in preparation for radiological or endoscopic procedures.

Question 40

Lipid-lowering agents

Answer 40

used in conjunction with diet and exercise to lower blood lipid levels in an effort to decrease the morbidity associated with cardiovascular disease.

Question 41

Minerals / electrolytes / pH modifiers

Answer 41

treat deficiencies or excesses of electrolytes to maintain correct acid-base balance

Question 42

Natural / Herbal products

Answer 42

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.

Question 43

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Answer 43

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

Question 44

Sedative-hypnotics

Answer 44

provide sedation. They are frequently given before procedures or to induce sleep

Question 45

skeletal muscle relaxants

Answer 45

reduce spasticity associated with neurological disorders or for symptomatic relief of musculoskeletal conditions

Question 46

Thrombolytic agents

Answer 46

dissolve clots and prevent heart attacks. As their name suggests, they are “clot-busters”

Question 47

Vaccines / Immunizing agents

Answer 47

prevent infectious diseases by promoting the body’s own production of antibodies against diseases

Question 48

Vascular headache suppressants

Answer 48

change vascular tension to decrease pain

Question 49

Vitamins

Answer 49

prevent and treat vitamin deficiencies. They are also used as supplements in metabolic disorders

Question 50

Weight control agents

Answer 50

used in the management of obesity. This therapy should be combined with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise.