Drug Classification Flashcards
Therapeutic Classes
- Broad catagories based on therapeutic intent
- Each broad Therapeutic Class involved several Pharmacologic classes
- Ex. The borad Therapeutic Class antihypertensives includes 13 pharmacologic classes
- Drugs grouped by Therapeutic Class work in very different ways
- They are NOT chemically similar
- They have DIFFERENT mechanisms of action
- Therapeutic Class is useful when speaking of drugs in a general way
- “You will need an antihypertensive medication”
Analgesics
- Drugs that control pain
Anesthetics
- drugs that cause reversable loss of sensation of pain or reversable loss of consciousness
Antihistamines
- drugs that control or treat allergies
Anti-infectives
- drugs that combat infestions such as antibiotics
Antineoplastic agents
- drugs that are used to treat cancer
Anti-emetics
- drugs that stop vomiting
Autonomic Drugs
- agents that stimulate or supress the ANS
Blood Derivatives
- specific process blood components such as:
- red blood cells
- plasma
- platelets
- most blood products contain blood derivatives
Blood Formation, Coagulation, and Thrombosis Agents
- drug products that alter coagulation and platelet adhesion
- commonly called “blood thinners”
Cardiovascular Drugs
- agents that influence the actions of the heart and health of the circulatory system
- antihypertensives
- anticholesterolemics
- 2 pharmacologic classes that belong in this therapeutic class
Central Nervous System Agents
- drugs that act on the brain to:
- dull pain
- cause weight loss
- reduce convulsions
- stop vomiting
- relieve anxiety
- cause sleep
- stimulate attention
- relax muscles
Contraceptives
- (foams, devices)
- pregnancy prevention
Dental Agents
- drugs that act locally in the mouth to numb dental pain or teething problems
Diagnostic Agents
- drugs used to confirm or indicate a specific medical diagnosis
Electrolytic, Caloric, and Water Balance Agents
- Parenteral agents or medications not administered through the GI tract
- returns a patients electrolytes to normal values
- glucose IV may be given to increase the sugar content of blood
- Saline solution for adequate hydration
Enzymes
- usually digestive enzymes needed for the proper digestion of fats and food
Respiratory Tract Agents
- drugs given by inhalation for treating allergies, asthma, and infections
Ophtalmic, Otic, Nasal, and Throat (EENT)
- drugs used in the eye, ear, nose and throat for treating local conditions
Gastrointestinal Drugs
- antacids
- antidiarrheals
- laxatives
- acid reducers
Hormones and Synthetic Substitutes
- drugs that replace natural hormones or are synthetic analogs of natural hormones
- examples:
- testosterone
- estrogen
- thyroid
Oxytocics
- agents used to induce labor and reduce postpartum bleeding
Serums, Toxoids, Vaccines
- agents used to stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies against specific pathogens
- Ex.
- Tetanus
- Polio
- Shingles
Skin and Mucous Membrane Agents
- Agents used to treat acne, rosacea, dermatitis, psoriasis, etc.
Smooth Muscle Relaxants
- Drugs that affect skeletal muscle function and decrease muscle tone
Vitamins
- Organic compounds and vital nutrients that an organism requires in limited amounts
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Miscellaneous Therapeutic Agents
- Alcohol deterrents
- snake-bite antidotes
- immunosuppressants for organ transplants
- antigout medications
- and more
ATC
Anatomical-Therapeutic-Chemical System of drug classification
- Widely used in Europe and some North American countries…..but not the U.S. Still, we American students need to know this, so giving a silent salute to America’s rebellious nature – ingenuity and all that – here goes!
- Divisons: (of ATC)
- Alimentary Tract and Metabolism
- Blood and Blood-Forming Organs
- Cardiovascular System
- Dermatologicals
- Genitourinary System and Sex Hormones
- Systemic Hormonal Preparations, excluding sex hormones and insulins
- Anti-infectives for systemic use
- Antineoplastics and Immune-Modulating Agents
- Musculoskeletal System
- Nervous System
- Antiparasitic products, Insecticides, and Repellents
- Respiratory System
- Sensory Organs
- Various
- Each broad anatomic division is further subdivided by organs and pharmacologic classes.
- ex. Cardiovascular System
- Heart
- Antianginal
- Nitroglycerine
- Antianginal
- Heart
- ex. Cardiovascular System
Other U.S. Drug Classification Systems
- Uniquely U.S. systems of drug classification
- VA Medication Classification System
- Physicians Desk Reference (PDR.net)
- Drugs.com (Sounds suspiciously generic..pun intended! Hell yeah!)
- AHFS (American Hospital Formulary System)
Main ways U.S. Classifies Medications
In the U.S. you can find at least 5 relevant methods of drug classification:
- Anatomical
- Therapeutic
- Pharmacologic
- Chemical
- USAN Council stems
AHFS
- American Hospital Formulary System
- Has a widely used Therapeutic-Pharmacologic indexing system
Pharmacologic Classes
- Pharmacologic classification is based on mechanism of action and includes only those medications that have the same or similar mechanism of action.
- This classification system describes a drugs properties in a specific way
- Pharmacologic class is necessary when determining a specific treatment
- “An ACE inhibitor is more desireable than a beta-blocker.”
- Generic names of drugs in the same pharmacologic class often have the same stem - prefix, suffix, or infix.
- ex. Beta-blockers end in “-olol”
- Drugs in pharmacologic classes have similar attributes
- Indications
- Mechanism of Action
- Contraindications and Precautions
- Interactions
- Adverse Reactions and Side Effects
- Drugs in a Pharmacologic Class may differ:
- Dosages
- Time Action Profile
- Availability
Chemical Classes
drug classificatgions related to their chemical structure
Opiates
analgesic drugs derived from the opium poppy and based on morphine as the chemical template
benzodiazepines
tranquelizer/sedative drugs developed based on the 1,4-benzodiazepine chemical structure
barbiturates
hypnotic drugs designed on the barbiturate acid chemical structure
phenothiazines
tranquelizer drugs based on the dibenzo 1,4-thiazine chemical structure
Steroids
anti-inflammatory drugs based on the sterane chemical structure
thiazides
diuretic drugs based on the 1,2,4-benzothiadiazine chemical structure
bisphosphonates
osteoporosis drugs related to diphosphonic esters
quinolones
antibiotic compounds using 4-keto-1-benzopiperidine (known chemically as quinolone) as the basic structure
sulfonamides
antibiotic compounds that are based on amides of para-aminosulfonic acid
thiazolidinediones
antidiabetic agents that are modeled after 1,3-thiazolidine-2,4-dione chemical structure
USAN Council stem classification
United States Adopted Name Council stem classifications
-afil
- PDE5 inhibitors
- used to treat erectile dysfunction
- sildinafil (Viagria)
- tadafil (Cialis)
-olol
- beta-blockers
- antihypertensive
- atenolol (Tenormin)
-azepam
- anti-anxiety agents
- lorazepam (Ativan)
-caine
- local anesthetic
- benzocaine (Americaine)
- cef
- ceph
- cephalosporin
- antibiotic
- cephalaxin (Keflex)
-pine
- calcium channel blocker
- heart and BP treatment
- nifedipine (Procardia)
-pril
- ACE inhibitor
- antihypertensive
- enalapril (Vasotec)
-statin
- cholesterol lowering agent
- rosuvastatin (Crestor)
-prazole
- anti-ulcer agent
- esomeprazole (Nexium)
-glitazone
- suger-lowering agent
- pioglitazone (Actos)
-mab
- monoclonal antibodies
- adalimumab (Humira)
-oxetine
- antidepressant
- paroxetine (Paxil)
-tidine
- H2 receptor antagonist
- treats heartburn
- climetidine (Tagamet)
-vir
- antivirals
- acyclovir (Zovirax)
