**Pharmacology**

*Drug Classification*

 Drugs are generally classified according to their actions on the body or according to the
body system they affect.
 May have multiple actions & therefore multiple classifications.

**Adrenergic**

 Action- Constricts blood vessels, narrows the lumen of a vessel

 Examples- Epinephrine, phenylephrine, (Neo-synephrine)
 Primary use- Stop superficial bleeding, increase and sustain blood pressure, and relieve
nasal congestion.

**Analgesic**

 Action – Lessens the sensory function of the brain

Examples – Non-narcotic, aspirin; acetaminophen, (Tylenol); ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin);

narcotic memperidine (Demerol); hydrocodone (Vicodin); propoxyphene (Darvon)

 Primary use: Pain relief

**Anesthetic**

 Action – Produces insensibility to pain or the sensation of pain

Examples – Bupivacaine (Marcaine); lidocaine (Xylocaine).

 Primary use : Local or general anesthesia

**Antibiotic**

 Action – Kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms

Examples – Cefaclor (Ceclor); tetracycline (Acromycin); amoxicillin (Augmentin)

 Primary use : Treatment of bacterial invasions and infections

**Anticholinergic**

 Action – Parasympathetic blocking agent, reduces spasm in smooth muscle

Examples – Scopolamine; atropine sulfate

 Primary use- Dry secretions

**Anticoagulant**

 Actions – Delays or blocks the clotting of blood

Examples – Heparin; warfarin sodium (Coumadin)

 Primary use – Treatment of blood clots

**Anti-depressants**

 Action – Treats depression

Examples – Fluoxetine (Prozac); imipramine pamoate (Tofranil) ; amitriptyline (Elavil)

 Primary use – Mood elevator

**Antiemetic**

 Action – Acts on hypothalamus center in the brain

Examples – Prochlorperazine (Compazine); trimethobenzamide (Tigan); metoclopramide

(Reglan)

 Primary use – Prevent and relieve nausea and vomiting

**Antiepileptic**

 Action – Reduces excessive stimulation of the brain

Examples – Phenytoin (Dilantin) ; Phenobarbital; carbamazepine (Tegretol)

 Primary use – Epilepsy and other convulsive disorders

**Antifungal**

 Action – Slows or cripples the multiplication of fungi

Examples – Miconazole (Monistat); nystatin (Mycostatin); amphotericin B

 Primary use – Treat systemic or local fungal infections

**Antihistamine**

 Action- Counteracts the effects of histamine ; may inhibit gastric secretions

Examples – Brompheniramine maleate (Dimetane); chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton);

diphenhydramine (Benadryl); promethazine (Phenergan); cimetidine (Tagamet); ranitidine
(Zantac)
  Primary use – Relief of allergies; prevention of gastric ulcers

**Antihypertensives**

 Action – Blocks nerve impulses that constrict arteries; or slows heart rate decreasing
contractility; or restricts the hormone aldosterone in the blood

Examples – Atenolol (Tenormin); doxazosin mesylate (Cardura); metoprolol (Lopressor);

methyldopa (Aldomet)

 Primary use- Reduces and controls blood pressure

**Anti-inflammatory**

 Action – Anti-inflammatory or antirheumatic

Examples – Nonsteroidal (NSAIDS); ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin); naproxen (Naprosyn).

Steroidal; dexamethasone (Decadron); prednisone (Cortisone)

 Primary use- Treatment of arthritic and other inflammatory disorders

**Antineoplastic**

 Action – Inhibits the development of and destroys cancerous cells

Examples – Interferon alfa – 2a (Roferon-A); hydroxyurea (Hydrea); cyclophosphamide

(Cytoxan); fluorouracil (Adrucil)

 Primary use- Cancer chemotherapy

**Antispasmodic**

 Action – Relieves or prevents spasms from musculoskeletal injury or inflammation

Examples- Methocarbamol (Robaxin); carisoprodol (Soma)

 Primary use- Sport injuries

**Antitussives** (Cough suppressants)

 Action – Inhibits the cough center

Examples- Narcotic; codeine sulfate; non narcotic; dextromethorphan (Romilar, Robitussin

DM)

 Primary use – Temporarily suppresses a non productive cough; reduces the thickness of
secretions.
**Bronchodilators**

 Action- relaxes the smooth muscle of the bronchi

Examples- Aminophylline (Aminophyllin) ; theophylline (Theo-Dur) ; epinephrine (Adrenaline

Sus-Phrine); albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil); isoproterenol (Isuprel)

 Primary use- Treat asthma, bronchospasm; promotes bronchodilation

**Contraceptive**

 Action- inhibits conception

Examples- Medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera); norgestrel (Ovrett); ethinyl estradiol

and ethynodiol diacetate (Demulen 1/35)

 Primary use – Family planning

**Decongestant**

 Action – Relieves local congestion in the tissues

Examples- Ephedrine or phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine); pseudoephederine (Sudafed);

oxymetazoline (Afrin)

 Primary use- Relief of nasal and sinus congestion due to common cold, hay fever, or
upper respiratory tract disorders

**Diuretic**

 Action – Inhibits the reabsorption of sodium chloride in the kidneys

Examples- Hydrochlorothiazide (Dyazide, Esidrix, HydroDiuril); furosemide (Lasix);

triamterene ( Dyrenium)

 Primary use- Increases urinary output, decreases blood pressure

**Expectorant**

 Action – Increases secretions and mucus from the bronchial tubes

Examples- Diphenhydramine (Benylin); guaifenesin guaiacolate (Fenesin, Robitussin)

 Primary use- upper respiratory tract congestion

**Hypnotic** (Sedatives)

 Action- Induces sleep and lessens the activity of the brain

Examples – Secobarbital (Seconal); flurazepam (Dalmane); tamazepam (Restoril)

 Primary use- Insomnia; lower dose sedative

**Hormone Replacement**

 Action – Replaces or compensates hormone deficiency

Examples- Insulin (Humulin); levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid); estrogen (Premarin)

 Primary use- Maintenance of adequate hormone levels

**Miotic**

 Action- causes the pupil of the eye to contract

Examples- Carbachol (isopto-Carbachol); isoflurophate (Floropryl); pilocarpine (isopto

Carpine)

 Primary use- Counteract pupil dilation

**Mydriatic**

 Action- Dilates the pupil of the eye

Examples- Atropine sulfate (Isopto-Atropine)

 Primary use- Opthalmologic examinations

**Narcotic**

 Action- Depress the central nervous system and cause insensibility or stupor

Examples- Natural narcotics: opium group (codeine phosphate, morphine sulfate); synthetic
narcotics; meperidine (Demerol) , methadone (Dolophine) , and propoxyphene HCI (Darvon)

 Primary use- Pain relief

**Sympathetic Blocking Agent**

 Action- Blocks certain functions of the adrenergic nervous system

Examples- Propramnolol (Inderal); metaprolol (Lopressor); phentolamine (Regitine); prazosin

(Minipress)

 Primary use- Treating cardiovascular conditions

**Six Parts of a Prescription**

 Superscription; Patients name and address, the date, and the symbol Rx (for the latin
recipe, meaning “take”)
 Inscription; Main part of the prescription; name of the drug, dosage form, and strength
 Subscription; Directions for the pharmacist; size of each dose, amount to be dispensed,
and the form of the drug such as tablets or capsules
 Signature; Directions for the patient; usually preceded by the symbol Sig: (for the Latin
signa, meaning “mark”). The physician indicates the instructions to tell the patient how,
when and in what quantities to use the medication.
 Refill information; May be regulated by federal law if drug is a controlled substance;
must write number of times refill allowed.
 Physician signature; Must include manual signature of physician and DEA number when
indicated