DRUG CLASSIFICATIONS

 Pharmacologic Classification
- Similar Characteristics
- Similar Chemical Make up
- examples: Penicillins, Beta Blockers

 Therapeutic Classification
- Used for similar effect
- May not have similar chemical make up
- Examples: Antihypertensives, Antibiotics

 Allopathic Drugs: The term "Allopathy" refers to the principle of curing a disease by
administering substances that produce the opposite effect of the disease when
given to a healthy human.

Allopathic drugs can be further classified as:

A. Non Prescription Drugs: Non Prescription Drugs are the drugs, which can be
purchased from a pharmacy without the prescription of a doctor.
 Non prescription drugs are also called as Over-the-counter drugs (OTC drugs).

1. Anti-Hemorrhoid Drugs
2. Topical Antibiotics
3. Cough-Suppressants
4. Anti-acne Drugs
5. Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs
6. Antiseptics
7. Analgesics
8. Salicylates Drug Classifications
9. Vasodilator
10. Antacids
11. Expectorants
12. Anti-fungal Drugs
13. Anti-Histamines
14. Anti-gas Agents
15. Smoking Cessation Drugs

Anti-Hemorrhoid Drugs
 Anti-Haemorrhoid Drugs are medicines that reduce the swelling and relieve the
discomfort of haemorrhoids.
 Antihemorrhoid drugs are available as creams, ointments and suppositories.
 Most can be bought without a physician's prescription.

Topical Antibiotics
 Topical Antibiotics are medicines applied to the skin to kill bacteria.
  Topical Antibiotics helps in preventing infections caused by bacteria that get into
minor cuts, scrapes, and burns.
 Treating minor wounds with Antibiotics allows quicker healing.
 If the wounds are left untreated, the bacteria will multiply, causing pain,
redness, swelling, itching, and oozing.

Cough-Suppressants
 Cough Suppressants are medicines that prevent or stop coughing.
 Cough Suppressants act on the center in the brain that controls the cough reflex.
 They are meant to be used only to relieve dry, hacking coughs associated with
colds and flu.
 They should not be used to treat coughs that bring up mucus or the chronic
coughs associated with smoking, Asthma, Emphysema or other lung problems.

Anti-acne Drugs
 Anti-acne drugs are medicines that help clear up pimples, black heads, white
heads, and more severe forms of acne.
 Different types of anti-acne drugs are used for different purposes.
 For example, lotions, soaps, gels, and creams containing benzoyl peroxide or
tretinoin may be used to clear up mild to moderately severe acne.

Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAID)

 Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs are medicines that relieve pain, swelling,
stiffness, and inflammation.
 Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed for a variety of
painful conditions, including Arthritis, Bursitis, Tendinitis, Gout, sprains,
strains, and other injuries.
 Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs relieve pain, stiffness, swelling, and
inflammation, but they do not cure the diseases or injuries responsible for
these problems.

Antiseptics
 Antiseptics are medicines that slow or stop the growth of germs and help prevent
infections in minor cuts, scrapes, and burns.
 Antiseptics are applied to the skin to keep bacteria from getting into wounds and
causing infection. • Although Antiseptics do not usually kill bacteria, they do
weaken them and slow their growth.

 Simply applying an Antiseptic to a wound is not adequate treatment.

 The wound should be cleaned first and in most cases it should be covered with a
bandage or other type of dressing to keep it clean and moist while it heals.
 However, some Antiseptics, such as Phenol, can damage the skin if the wound is
covered after they are applied.
Analgesics
 Analgesics are medicines that relieve pain.
 Analgesics are prescribed to relieve pain of all sorts - headaches, backaches,
joint pain, sore muscles and pain that results from surgery, injury or illness.
 Among the most common Analgesics are Aspirin, Choline Salicylate, Magnesium
Salicylate and Sodium Salicylate.

 Ibuprofen, Naproxen Sodium and Ketoprofen are all in the general category
known as Non-Steroidal Anti- Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).
 NSAIDs relieve pain and also reduce inflammation.
 Another common analgesic, Acetaminophen provides pain relief but does not
reduce inflammation.

Salicylates
 Salicylates are medicines that relieve pain and reduce fever.
 Aspirin belongs to group include Sodium Salicylate, Choline Salicylate, and
Magnesium Salicylate.
 Aspirin is used to relieve many kinds of minor aches and pains-headaches,
toothaches, muscle pain, menstrual cramps, the joint pain from arthritis, and
aches associated with colds and flu.
 Aspirin is also known as acetylsalicylic acid.

Vasodilator
 Vasodilators are medicines that act directly on muscles in blood vessel walls to
make blood vessels widen (dilate).
 Vasodilators are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).
 By widening the arteries, these drugs allow blood to flow through more easily,
reducing blood pressure.

Antacids
 Antacids are medicines that neutralize stomach acid.
 Antacids are used to relieve acid indigestion, upset stomach, sour stomach, and
heartburn.
 Some antacid products also contain the ingredient Simethicone to relieve gas.
 Antacids are taken by mouth and work by neutralizing excess stomach acid.
 Antacids contain ingredients such as Aluminum Hydroxide, Calcium Carbonate,
Magnesium Hydroxide, and Sodium Bicarbonate, alone or in various
combinations.

Expectorants
 Expectorants are drugs that loosen and clear mucus and phlegm from the
respiratory tract.
 Guaifenesin is an ingredient in many cough medicines, such as anti--Tuss, Dristan
Cold & Cough, Guaifed, GuaiCough, and some Robitussin products.
  Some products that contain guaifenesin are available only with a physician's
prescription; others can be bought without a prescription.
 They come in several forms, including capsules, tablets, and liquids.

Anti-fungal Drugs
 Many fungi are harmless, some cause minor and irritating infections while a few
can cause much more severe infections.
 People with compromised immune systems, such as AIDS and cancer patients,
may be more susceptible to fungal infections than others.
 Anti-fungal drugs are used to treat fungal infections.

Anti-Histamines
 Antihistamines are drugs that block the action of histamine (a compound
released in allergic inflammatory reactions) at the H1 receptor sites,
responsible for immediate hypersensitivity reactions such as sneezing and
itching.
 By inhibiting the activity of histamine, they can reduce capillary fragility, which
produces the erythema, or redness, associated with allergic reactions.
 They will also reduce histamine-induced secretions, including excessive tears and
salivation.

Antigas Agents
 Antigas Agents are medicines that relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of too
much gas in the stomach and intestines.
 Antigas agents help relieve the symptoms by preventing the formation of gas
pockets and breaking up gas that already is trapped in the stomach and
intestines.
 Antigas agents are sold as capsules, liquids, and tablets (regular and chewable)
and can be bought without a physician's prescription.

Smoking Cessation Drugs

 Smoking-cessation Drugs are medicines that help people stop smoking cigarettes
or using other forms of tobacco.
 People who smoke cigarettes or use other forms of tobacco often have a difficult
time when they try to stop.
 Most Smoking-Cessation products contain nicotine, but the Nicotine is delivered
in small, steady doses spread out over many hours.
 Smoking Cessation Drugs that contain Nicotine are also called Nicotine
Substitution products or Nicotine Replacement therapy.
 Smoking Cessation Drugs come in four forms- chewing gum, skin patch, nasal
spray, and inhaler.
 Another type of Smoking Cessation drug, Bupropion (Zyban) also reduces craving
and withdrawal symptoms, but it contains no Nicotine.