Therapeutic Categories of Drugs Quiz

Therapeutic Categories of Drugs

• Analgesic: Reduces pain without loss of consciousness. Examples include painkillers.
• Anesthetic: Causes lack of feeling or awareness, including loss of sensation. Local anesthetics affect a specific area, while general anesthetics affect the whole body. Examples include lidocaine (local) and Propofol, Nitrous Oxide (general).
• Anorexiant: Suppresses appetite. Examples include Methamphetamine and Phentermine.
• Antacid: Neutralizes stomach acidity. Examples include Aluminum hydroxide, Milk of Magnesia, and Sodium bicarbonate.
• Anthelmintic: Destroys or prevents parasitic worms. Examples include Albendazole, Ivermectin, Mebendazole, Pyrantel pamoate, and Triclabendazole.
• Anti-allergic: Prevents or relieves allergies. First-generation examples include Diphenhydramine and Chlorpheniramine; second-generation examples include Cetirizine, Levocetirizine, Loratadine, and others.
• Antianxiety: Prevents or reduces anxiety (anxiolytics/minor tranquilizers). Benzodiazepines (e.g., Lorazepam, Midazolam, Diazepam) are examples.
• Anti-arrhythmic: Prevents, alleviates, or corrects abnormal heart rhythms. Examples include Barbiturates, Procainamide, Propafenone, Propranolol, Amiodarone, and Bretylium.
• Antibacterial: Destroys or suppresses bacterial growth or reproduction. Sulfonamides, Trimethoprim, Quinolones, Fluoroquinolones, Penicillin, Cefalexin, Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Amikacin, Gentamicin, Azithromycin, and Erythromycin.
• Anticoagulant: Prevents blood clot formation or enlargement. Heparin and Warfarin are examples.
• Anticonvulsant: Prevents or reduces epileptic or other convulsive seizures. Examples include Carbamazepine, Clonazepam, Gabapentin, Lamotrigine, Phenytoin, and Phenobarbital.
• Antidepressant: Prevents, treats, or alleviates depression. Examples include Amitriptyline, Imipramine, Phenelzine, Isocarboxazid, Moclobemide, and Selegiline.
• Antidiabetic: Helps control blood sugar levels in diabetes. Insulin and Metformin are among the drugs used.
• Antidiarrheal: Prevents or stops diarrhea. Examples include bismuth subsalicylate and loperamide.
• Antidote: Counteracts or neutralizes the effects of a poison. Examples include Activated Charcoal.
• Antiemetic: Prevents or treats nausea and vomiting. Examples include Meclizine, Dexamethasone, Ondansetron, Granisetron; and Metoclopramide.
• Antiflatulent: Reduces intestinal gas. Simethicone is an example.
• Antifungal: Destroys or prevents fungal growth. Examples include Clotrimazole, Miconazole, and Fluconazole.
• Antigout: Used to avoid severe gout attacks and prevent long-term joint damage. Colchicine and NSAIDs are examples.
• Antihypertensive: Reduces high blood pressure. Examples include Clonidine, Methyldopa, Prazosin, Terazosin, Nifedipine, Diltiazem, and Verapamil.
• Antihypoglycemic: Elevates or increases blood glucose levels.
• Anti-inflammatory: Relieves inflammation. Aspirin, Indomethacin, Diclofenac, Mefenamic Acid, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Celecoxib, and Etoricoxib are examples.
• Antilipidemic: Reduces lipid levels. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins), fibrates, and sterol absorption inhibitors are examples.
• Antimalarial: Treats malaria. Chloroquine is an example.
• Antimanic: Prevents and treats manic episodes. Lithium carbonate and Valproic acid are examples.
• Antimigraine: Prevents or reduces migraine severity. Sumatriptan and Rizatriptan are examples.
• Antineoplastic: Prevents the growth and spread of tumors/cancer. Methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, 6-mercaptopurine, Vinblastine, Vincristine, Paclitaxel, Docetaxel, and Etoposide are examples.
• Antiparasitic: Destroys or prevents parasitic growth. Examples include Metronidazole, Albendazole, Ivermectin, and Mebendazole.
• Anti-Parkinson's: Reduces Parkinson's symptoms. Levodopa + Carbidopa + Entacapone are a common triple therapy.
• Antiplatelet: Prevents platelet aggregation to reduce blood clots. Examples include Aspirin, Ticlopidine, Clopidogrel, Ticagrelor, and Cilostazol.
• Antiprotozoa: Destroys or prevents protozoa growth. Examples include Metronidazole, Ivermectin and Atovaquone.
• Antipsychotic: Treats psychosis. Examples include Chlorpromazine, Fluphenazine, Haloperidol, Clozapine, Olanzapine, Risperidone, and Quetiapine.
• Antipyretic: Reduces fever. Examples include Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, and Naproxen.

Other Drug Categories

• Antirheumatic: Treats rheumatoid arthritis. Examples include Methotrexate.
• Antiseborrheic: Treats seborrheic dermatitis. Examples include Selenium sulfide.
• Antispasmodic: Treats muscle contractions. Examples include Belladonna, Chlordiazepoxide, Dicyclomine, and Hyoscine-N Butylbromide.
• Anti-TB: Treats tuberculosis. Isoniazid, Rifampin, Pyrazinamide, and Ethambutol fall into the first-line group, while Cycloserine and Kanamycin are second-line.
• Antitussive: Relieves coughs. Examples include Codeine, Butamirate, and Dextromethorphan.
• Antiviral: Kills or inhibits viral replication. Examples include Famciclovir, Ganciclovir, Oseltamivir, Zanamivir, and Acyclovir.
• Astringents: Cleanse and tone skin by shrinking pores; also arrests secretions and contraction of tissue, or control bleeding. Examples include Tretinoin.
• Bronchodilator: Relaxes bronchiole muscles facilitating better lung aeration. Examples include Albuterol, Terbutaline, Metaproterenol, Salmeterol, and Formoterol.
• Cathartic: Empties bowels. Examples include Psyllium and Methylcellulose.
• CNS Stimulant: Increases alertness. Amphetamine is an example.
• Contraceptive: Prevents pregnancy. Examples include Ethinyl Estradiol and Norgestrel.
• Decongestant: Reduces nasal congestion. Examples include Phenylpropanolamine and Phenylephrine.
• Diuretic: Increases urine production. Examples include Furosemide, Acetazolamide, and Spironolactone.
• Electrolyte Supplement: Replenishes electrolytes. Oral rehydration solutions and Lactated Ringer's solution are examples.
• Expectorant: Thins and removes mucus from airways. Guaifenesin is an example.
• Gastroprokinetic: Aids in the movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract. Examples include Domperidone and Metoclopramide.
• Hemostatic: Stops bleeding. Examples include SeraSeal.
• Hypnotic: Induces sleep. Lorazepam, Diazepam, Zolpidem.
• Immunosuppressant: Suppresses the immune response. Mycophenolate Mofetil.
• Keratolytic: Exfoliates skin. Salicylic acid and Selenium sulfide are examples.
• Laxative: Treats constipation. Examples include Senna and Lactulose.
• Mucolytic: Dissolves mucus. Examples include Acetylcysteine and Bromhexine.
• Miotic: Contracts the pupil of the eye. Examples include Carbachol and Pilocarpine.
• Mydriatic: Dilates the pupil of the eye. Examples include Atropine sulfate and Tropicamide.
• Pediculicide: Kills lice. Permethrin is an example.
• Rubefacient: Produces redness in the skin. Examples include Camphor and Salicylates.
• Scabicidal: Kills mites that cause scabies. Examples include Crotamiton and Permethrin.
• Sedative: Calms a patient. Examples include Clonazepam and Amobarbital.
• Skeletal Muscle Relaxant: Reduces muscle contractions. Examples include Rocuronium.
• Tocolytic: Slows or stops uterine contractions during labor. Examples include Magnesium Sulfate.
• Vaccine: Provides immunity against a disease. Examples include Dengue, Hep-B, and Flu vaccines.
• Vasodilator: Widens blood vessels. Examples include Terazosin and Nitroglycerin.
• Vitamin: Provides essential nutrients for bodily function. The specifics of different vitamins will need to be studied separately.