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Drug Classifications
Term | Definition |
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Anhibitor | Inhibits conversion of angiotensin 1 to angiotensin 2, a potent vasoconstrictor, i.e. relaxation of the blood vessels occur |
Aminoglycoside | Used to treat serious infections by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis by binding to ribosomal subunits. Dose to be adjusted according to plasma concentrations in the blood. |
Analgesic | Used to relieve pain. Suppresses pain without rendering the patient unconscious |
Anesthetic | Reduces or eliminate pain, general, or topical |
Anorexiant | Used to decrease appetite |
Antiacid | Neutralizes excess gastric acid |
Anthelmintic | Eradicates intestinal worms |
Anti-acne | Controls acne vulgaris |
Antianginal | Dilates blood vessels; used to treat angina pectoris, pain in the chest |
Antianxiety | Used in the treatment of anxiety disorders that do not require excessive sedation |
Antiarrhythmic | Drugs used to treat irregular heart rhythms. Depresses the action of the heart to combat irregularities in its rhythm. |
Antiarthrtic | Reduces inflammation of joints |
Antibacterial | Destructive or preventing bacterial growth. Kills bacterial (topical) |
Antibiotic | Drugs used to destroy microorganisms. Kills bacteria and prevents infection. |
Anticholesterol | Lowers cholesterol |
Anticholinergic | Drugs that are antagonistic to the action of parasympathetic or other cholinergic nerve fibers |
Anticoagulant | Slows clotting of blood to prevent blood clots formation in the treatment of thrombosis and embolism |
Anticonvulsant | Prevents or arrests seizures |
Antidepressant | Agent in treating depression classified as SSRI's, TCA's, MAOI's |
Antidiabetic | Used to treat diabetes |
Antidiarrhal | Used to treat diarrhea |
Antidiuretic | Reduces volume of urine production |
Antidote | Neutralizes a poison or counteracts its effects |
Antiemetic | Drugs that treat the urge to vomit |
Antiepileptic | Prevents epileptic seizures |
Antiflatulent | Reduces gastrointestinal gas |
Antifungal | Destroys fungi or inhibits its growth. Eradicates or suppresses fungi |
Antigout | Drugs used in the treatment of the inflammatory joint condition, Gout |
Antihemophilic | Allows blood to clot for the treatment of a clotting disorder |
Antihistamine | For treatment of allergies. Drug that act to respond to the release of histamine that occurs with an implicated anaphylactic reaction. |
Antihyperlipidemic | Drugs used to lower high levels of cholesterol |
Antihypertensive | Used to reduce a sustained elevation in blood pressure |
Anti-Infective | Used to treat disease produced by microorganism such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and parasites. Kills microorganisms and sterilizes wounds |
Anti-Inflammatory | Reduces inflammation |
Antimigraine | Used to treat migraine headaches |
Antineoplastic | Attacks and destroys malignant cells |
Anti-Parkinson's | Used to treat Parkinson's disease |
Antiplatelet | Prevents clotting |
Antiprotozoal | Prevents protazoa |
Antipruritic | Suppresses itching |
Antipsychotic | Reduces symptoms of hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorders. Primary indication for use is schizophrenia |
Antipyretic | Reduces fever |
Antiretroviral | Attacks any virus or the family Retroviridae |
Antispasmodic | Prevents or alleviates muscles cramps |
Antitubercular | Used to treat TB |
Antitussive | Suppresses coughing |
Antivertigo | Used to treat dizziness |
Antiviral | Interferes with virus replication, weakening or abolishing its action |
Anxiolytic | Reduces anxiety |
Astringent | Causes contradiction locally after topical application |
Barbiturate | Type of sedative |
Benzodiaepine | CNS depressing agents with potential for abuse and/or dependence |
Beta Blocker | Blocks response to beta stimulation, resulting in decrease in heart rate, myocardial contractility, blood pressure and myocardial oxygen demand |
Bronchodilator | Acts to relieve bronchospasms, used in the treatment of asthma |
Calcium Channel Blockers | Blocker prevents the movement of calcium ions through blocker slow channels. Causes a relaxing of the coronary arty smooth muscle and are used to control fat ventricula rated in patients with arterial flutter and atrial fibrillation. |
Cardiac Glycoside | Used to treat mild to moderate heart failure |
Cephalosporin | Inhibits cell wall formation in bacteria |
Corticosteroid | A hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex that regulates the bodys ability to handle stress, resist infections, relieve infammation and manages autoimmune disorders |
Decongestant | Used to cause mucous membrane vasoconstriction, reduction of nasal passages drainage, and relief of stuffiness |
Diuretic | Increases urine production. Decreases blood pressure by decreasing blood volume by increasing the elimination of salts and water through urination |
Muscle Relaxant | Causes skeletal muscle relaxation, used to reduce muscle spasms and inhibits muscle contraction |
Narcotic | Often addictive, relieves pain and induces sleep, includes opium and its derivatives |
Narcotic Analgesic | Highly abuse potential; used to relieve severe pain |
Nasal Decongestant | Constricts vessels in nasal passages |
Nonsteriodal Anti-Inflammatory (NSAID) | Mild to moderate pain, both analgesic and anit-inflammatory action |
Oplate | Narcotic derived or related to opium |
Parasiticide | Destroys parasites in the skin |
Pendiculicide | kills lice |
Penicillin | Derives from the mold Penicillium Chrysogenum and kills bacteria by preventing them from forming a rigid wall needed for survival |
Radiopharmaceutical | Contains radioactive isotopes, for diagnosis or therapy |
Scabicide | Destroys skin mites and their eggs |
Sedative | Depresses the CNS, causing relaxation |
Tetracycline | Broad spectrum bacteristatic antibiotic that inhibit protein synthesis in bacteria by binding to ribosomes |
Tranquilizer | Reduces anxiety or disturbance |
Vaccine | Introduces an antigen into the body to stimulate the production of antibodies for protection against a disease-casing microorganism |
Vasoconstrictor | Narrows vessels and increases blood pressure |
Vasodialtor | Expands vessels and lowers blood pressure |