General Drug Categories Google Sheet Activity

Analgesics

Drugs that relieve pain.

2 main types of Analgesics

1. Non-narcotic analgesics: for mild pain

2. Narcotic analgesics: for severe pain

Antacids

Drugs that relieve indigestion and heartburn by neutralizing stomach acid.

Antianxiety Drugs

Drugs that suppress anxiety and relax muscles (sometimes called anxiolytics, sedatives, or minor tranquilizers).

Antiarrhythmics

Drugs used to control irregularities of heartbeat.

Antibacterials

Drugs used to treat infections.

Antibiotics

Drugs made from naturally occurring and synthetic substances that combat bacterial infection.

Anticoagulants

Drugs that prevent blood from clotting.

Thrombolytics

Drugs that help dissolve and disperse blood clots and may be prescribed for patients with recent arterial or venous thrombosis.

Anticonvulsants

Drugs that prevent epileptic seizures.

Antidepressants

Used to treat conditions like depression, anxiety disorders, and some chronic pain and addiction.

3 main groups of mood-lifting antidepressants

1. Tricyclics

2. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

3. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Antidiarrheals

Drugs used for the relief of diarrhea.

2 main types of antidiarrheal preparations

1. Simple adsorbent substances

2. Drugs that slow down the contractions of the bowel muscles so that the contents are propelled more slowly

Antiemetics

Drugs used to treat nausea and vomiting.

Antifungals

Drugs used to treat fungal infections, the most common of which affect the hair, skin, nails, or mucous membranes.

Antihistamines

Drugs used primarily to counteract the effects of histamine, one of the chemicals involved in allergic reactions.

Antihypertensives

Drugs that lower blood pressure.

Types of antihypertensives currently marketed

1. Diuretics

2. Beta-blockers

3. Calcium channel blocker

4. ACE (angiotensin- converting enzyme) inhibitors

5. Centrally acting antihypertensive

6. Sympatholytics

Anti-Inflammatories

Drugs used to reduce inflammation - the redness, heat, swelling, and increased blood flow found in infections and in many chronic noninfective diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout.

Antineoplastics

Drugs used to treat cancer.

Antipsychotics

Drugs used to treat symptoms of severe psychiatric disorders. These drugs are sometimes called major tranquilizers.

Antipyretics

Drugs that reduce fever.

Antivirals

Drugs used to treat viral infections or to provide temporary protection against infections such as influenza.

Barbiturates

Term for sleeping drugs that are older and riskier.

Beta-Blockers

Reduce the oxygen needs of the heart by reducing heartbeat rate.

Bronchodilators

Drugs that open up the bronchial tubes within the lungs when the tubes have become narrowed by muscle spasm.

Cold Cures

Used to alleviate symptoms of a cold.

Corticosteroids

These hormonal preparations are used primarily as anti-inflammatories in arthritis or asthma or as immunosuppressives, but they are also useful for treating some malignancies or compensating for a deficiency of natural hormones in disorders such as Addison's disease.

Cough Suppressants

Simple cough medicines, which contain substances such as honey, glycerine, or menthol, soothe throat irritation but do not actually suppress coughing.

Cytotoxics

Drugs that kill or damage cells.

Decongestants

Drugs that reduce swelling of the mucous membranes that line the nose by constricting blood vessels, thus relieving nasal stuffiness.

Diuretics

Drugs that increase the quantity of urine produced by the kidneys and passed out of the body, thus ridding the body of excess fluid.

Expectorant

A drug that stimulates the flow of saliva and promotes coughing to eliminate phlegm from the respiratory tract.

Hormones

Referred to as drugs that are designed to affect the body's hormonal system.

Hypoglycemics

Drugs that lower the level of glucose in the blood.

Immunosuppressives

Drugs that prevent or reduce the body's normal reaction to invasion by disease or by foreign tissues.

Laxatives

Drugs that increase the frequency and ease of bowel movements, either by stimulating the bowel wall (stimulant laxative), by increasing the bulk of bowel contents (bulk laxative), or by lubricating them (stool-softeners, or bowel movement-softeners).

Muscle Relaxants

Drugs that relieve muscle spasms in disorders such as backache.

Sedatives

Drugs that mainly calm or induce sleep. They are the same as Antianxiety Drugs.

Sex Hormones (Female)

Used to treat menstrual and menopausal disorders and are also used as oral contraceptives.

Sex Hormones (Male)

Given to compensate for hormonal deficiency in hypopituitarism or disorders of the testes.

Sleeping Drugs

Used to induce sleep.

Tranquilizer

This is a term commonly used to describe any drug that has a calming or sedative effect.

Vitamins

Chemicals essential in small quantities for good health.