Pharmacy Tech Exam- Drug Classes

corticosteroids

Ind.= inflammation, airway inflammation, skin inflammation

ex.= hydrocortisone, dexamethasone, prednisone, beclomethasone

Histamine Type-2 Receptor Antagonists (H2 Blockers)

Suffix.= -tidine

Ind.= excessive acid production

Ex.= famotidine, ranitidine

expectorant

Ind.= increase volume of airway secretions to encourage mucus explusion from the respiratory tract

ex.= guaifenisin

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

Ind.= depression

Ex.= Selegiline, Isocarboxazid, Tranylcypromine

Eugeroic

Ind.= excessive sleepiness, narcolepsy

Ex.= Modafinil

Taxanes

Ind.= chemotherapy drugs

Ex.= Docetaxel, Paclitaxel

Tranquilizers/auxiolytics

Ind.= reduce anxiety

Ex.= SSRIs, antipsychotic drugs, benzodiazepines

Hypnotic

Ind.= induce sleep and reduce anxiety

Ex.= zolpidem, zaleplon, zopiclone

antacid

Ind.= heartburn, acid reflux

Ex.= magnesium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide

Fibrates

Ex.= high cholesterol, high blood lipids

Ind.= fenofibrate

Phosphate binder

Ind.= high blood phosphate levels in patient with renal failure

Ex.= sevelamer

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors

Suffix: -pril

Purpose: antihypertensive, may reduce the chance of increased vasoconstriction/BP

How: Block the conversion of angiotension I to angiotension II. Avoiding angiotension II can reduce vasoconstriction and bp

Ex.= ramipril, lisinopril (zestril), perindopril (loversyl), fosinopril

antiemetics

Ind.= nausea/vomiting

Ex.= ondansteron, promethazine, cyclizine

antifungal drugs

Ind.= fungal infections

Ex.= fluconazole, ketoconazole, clotrimazole

Benzodiazepins

Ind.= sedation, anxiety, seizures, muscle relaxation

Ex.= Diazepam, clonazepam, lorazepam, temazepam, midazolam, nitrazepam

AKA benzos

Biphosphonates

Ind.= osteoporosis

Ex.= alendronate, zoledronic acid, pamidronate

dopaminergic drugs

Ind.= parkinsons disease

Ex.= ropinirole, pramipexole, levodopa

laxatives

Ind.= constipation

Ex.= senna, biscadoyl, lactulose

Opioids

Suffix: -codone (most)

Ind.= pain

Ex.= tramadol, codeine, morphine, oxycodone

How: block pain signals in brain and increase pain tolerance

antidote

Ind.= reverse the toxic events of drugs

Ex.= N-acetylcysteine, activated charcoal

PDES inhibitors

Ind.= erectile dysfunction

Ex.= sildenafil (viagra), tadalafil (cialis)

HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors

Suffix= -statin

Inhibit the body's cholesterol production

Ex.= atorvastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin

nootropic

Ind.= cognitive enhancers

Ex.= caffeine, amphetamine, methylphenidate

proton-pump inhibitors

Suffix.= -prazole

Ind.= acid reflux

Ex.= oemprazole, esomeprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole

How: inhibit action of gastric proton pump, therefore reducing gastric acid production

sedative

Ind.= reduce irrability

Ex.= benzodiazepines

hormones

Ind.= replace endogenous hormones in the body

Ex.= levothyroxine, medroxy progesterone, conjugated estrogens

diuretic

Ind.= antihypertensive, increase urine output

Ex.= furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, torsemide, amiloride, spironolactone

Decrease cardiovascular load

decongestants

Ind.= relieve nasal congestion

Ex.= pseudophedrine, phenylephrine, xylometazoline

antineoplastics

Ind.= cancer

Ex.= cisplatia, etoposide, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin

antihypertensives

Treat: hypertension (high blood pressure)

Beta-blockers: -lol

Calcium channel blockers: -dipine

ACE inhibitors: -pril

Diuretics: hydrochlorothiazide, -actone, -emide

Alpha-blockers: -azosin

Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blockers (A2RB): -sartan

anticoagulant

Ind.= prevent formation of blood clots

Ex.= warfarin, heparin, enoxaparin

antipsychotic

Ind.= schizophrenia, bipolar disorder

Ex.= lithium carbonate, clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine, aripiprazole

SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)

Ind.= depression

Ex.= fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, citalopram, escitalopram, fluvoxamine

Suffix: N/A

Purpose: treat mental health conditions

How: Increase body's serotonin levels by inhibiting its reuptake into the presynaptic cell

antiepileptic

Ind.= seizures

Ex.= carbamazepine, ethosuximide

anticonvulsant

Ex.= epilepsy, prevent seizures

How: suppress rapid firing of neurons in the brain. Aka anti-seizures and anti-epileptic

Ex: carbamazepine (Tegretol), topiramate (Topamax), valproate

antianginal

Ind.= chest pain due to reduced oxygen supply

Ex.= nitroglycerin

NSAID

Ind.= reduce inflammation and pain

Ex.= ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, celecoxib, meloxicam

Biguanide

Ind.= type 2 diabetes

Ex.= metformin

Bronchodilators

Ind.= asthma

Ex.= albuterol

Antivirals

Suffix: -vir

Purpose: inhibit growth of or kill viruses

Ex: docosanol (Abreva), oseltamivir (Tamiflu), acyclovir, valacyclovir

antitussive

Ind.= cough

Ex.- dextromethorphon (robitussin)

benzonatate

xanthine oxidase inhibitors

Ind.= gout

Ex.= allopurinol, fabuxostat

Antimuscarinics

Ind.= urinary frequency, urinary urgency, urge and incontinence

Ex.= oxybutynin, tolterodine, solifenacin

antihistamine

Ind.= allergens

Ex.= cetirizine, diphenhydramine, loratadine, chlorpheniramine, fexofenadine

analgesic

Ind.= pain

Ex.= codeine, oxycodone, morphine, acetaminophen

DMARD (disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug)

Ind.= rheumatoid arthritis, crohn's disease

Ex.= methotrexate, lefluromide, hydroxychloroquine

immunosupressant

Ind.= overactive immune response, autoimmune disease, organ transplant rejection

Ex.= azathioprine, cyclosporine

antiretroviral drugs

Ind.= HIV

Ex.= lamivudine, efavirenz

Fluoroquinolones

Ind.= bacterial infections

Ex.= ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, levofloxain

antibiotics (penicillins and cephalosporins)

Ind.= bacterial infections

Ex.= penicillins: ampicillin, amoxicillin

Cephalosporins: Cefnidir, cephalexin, ceftriaxone, cefazolin

antibiotics (tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, macrolides)

Ind.= bacterial infections

Ex.= macrolides: azithryomycin, erythromycin

Tetracyclines: tetracyclines, minocycline

Aminoglycosides: amikacin, tobramycin

Sulfonylureas

Ind.= treat type 2 diabetes only, lowers levels of glucose in blood

Ex.= Glipizide, glimepiride, glyburide

neuromuscular blockers

Suffix= -nium

Purpose: paralyze skeletal muscles

Local anesthetics

Suffix: -caine

Purpose: block sensation in a small area

Loop diuretics

Suffix: -emide

Purpose: antihypertensive, increase flow of urine and enhance loss of sodium

Potassium sparing diuretics

Suffix: -actone

Purpose: antihypertensive, increase flow of urine and enhance loss of sodium, lead to increase of potassium in body

calcium channel blockers

Suffix: -pine

Purpose: antihypertensive relax and widen blood vessels,

How: Block calcium channels in cardiac muscle and blood vessels, slow down heart activity

Beta Blockers (B1s) or Beta-adrenergic blocking agents

Suffix: -olol

Purpose: antihypertensive, improve blood flow

How: Block adrenaline receptors, mediate the fight or flight response

Barbiturates

Suffix: -barbital

Purpose: depress CNS

Ex: phenobarbital (Nembutal)

Alpha-Andrenergic Blockers

Suffix: -azosin

Purpose: antihypertensive, relaxes veins and arteries so blood can easily pass through

Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (A2RBs)

Suffix: -artan

Purpose: antihypertensive, help prohibit vasoconstriction, treats high bp, heart and kidney failure

How: Block angiotension II enzymes from receptor sites

antipyretics

Purpose: reduce fever

Ex.= acetaminophen, aspirin