Text c. Types of medications
Medications can be classified in various ways, such as by chemical properties, mode or route of administration, biological system affected, or therapeutic effects. An elaborate and widely used classification system is the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System (ATC system). The World Health Organization keeps a list of essential medicines. A sampling of classes of medicine includes: 1) antipyretics: reducing fever (pyrexia/pyresis); 2) analgesics: reducing pain (painkillers); 3) antimalarial drugs: treating malaria; 4) antibiotics: inhibiting germ growth; and 5) antiseptics: prevention of germ growth near burns, cuts and wounds. And more than 20 types of pharmacotherapy are known according to their indication. These are listed below.
Medications affecting gastrointestinal tract (digestive system) include those for: 1) upper digestive tract (antacids, reflux suppressants, antiflatulents, antidopaminergics, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), H2-receptor antagonists, cytoprotectants, and prostaglandin analogues); 2) lower digestive tract (laxatives, antispasmodics, antidiarrhoeals, bile acid sequestrants, and opioid).
Medications affecting the cardiovascular system include those for: 1) general (β-receptor blockers (“beta blockers”), calcium channel blockers, diuretics, cardiac glycosides, antiarrhythmics, nitrate, antianginals, vasoconstrictors, vasodilators, peripheral activators); 2) affecting blood pressure (i.e. antihypertensive drugs) (ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, α blockers, calcium channel blockers); 3) coagulation (anticoagulants, heparin, antiplatelet drugs, fibrinolytics, anti-hemophilic factors, haemostatic drugs); and 4) atherosclerosis/cholesterol inhibitors: hypolipidaemic agents, statins.
Medications affecting central nervous system include: psychedelics, hypnotics, anaesthetics, antipsychotics, antidepressants (including tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, lithium salts, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)), antiemetics, anticonvulsants or antiepileptics, anxiolytics, barbiturates, movement disorder (e.g., Parkinson’s disease) drugs, stimulants (including amphetamines), benzodiazepines, cyclopyrrolones, dopamine antagonists, antihistamines, cholinergics, anticholinergics, emetics, and cannabinoids.
Medications affecting pain and consciousness (analgesic drugs). The main classes of painkillers are NSAIDs, opioids and various orphans such as paracetamol. Other drugs such as anesthetic medication can also be used to reduce pain or numb a person’s feeling to it.
Medications affecting muscular-skeletal disorders include: NSAIDs (including COX-2 selective inhibitors), muscle relaxants, neuromuscular drugs, and anticholinesterases.
Medications affecting the eye include: 1) general (adrenergic neurone blocker, astringent, ocular lubricant); 2) diagnostic (topical anesthetics, sympathomimetics, parasympatholytics, mydriatics, cycloplegics); 3) antibacterial (antibiotics, topical antibiotics, sulfa drugs, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones); 4) antiviral drugs: anti-fungal (imidazoles, polyenes), anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs, corticosteroids), anti-allergy (mast cell inhibitors), and anti-glaucoma (adrenergic agonists, beta-blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors / hyperosmotics, cholinergics, miotics, parasympathomimetics, prostaglandin agonists/prostaglandin inhibitors, and nitroglycerin).
Medications affecting the ear, nose and oropharynx include: sympathomimetics, antihistamines, anticholinergics, NSAIDs, steroids, antiseptics, local anesthetics, antifungals.
Medications affecting the respiratory system include: bronchodilators, NSAIDs, anti-allergics, antitussives, mucolytics, decongestants corticosteroids, anticholinergics, and steroids.
Medications reducing endocrine problems include: androgens, antiandrogens, gonadotropin, corticosteroids, human growth hormone, insulin, antidiabetics (sulfonylureas, biguanides or metformin, thiazolidinediones, insulin), thyroid hormones, antithyroid drugs, calcitonin, diphosponate, and vasopressin analogues.
Medications for the reproductive system or urinary system treatment include: antifungal, alkalising agents, quinolones, antibiotics, cholinergics, anticholinergics, anticholinesterases, antispasmodics, sildenafils, and fertility medications.
Medications for obstetrics and gynecology include: NSAIDs, anticholinergics, haemostatic drugs, antifibrinolytics, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), bone regulators, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, LHRH gamolenic acid, gonadotropin release inhibitor, progestogen, dopamine agonists, oestrogen, prostaglandins, gonadorelin, clomiphene, and tamoxifen.
Medications for the skin treatment include: emollients, anti-pruritics, antifungals, disinfectants, scabicides, pediculicides, tar products, vitamin A derivatives, vitamin D analogues, keratolytics, abrasives, systemic antibiotics, topical antibiotics, hormones, desloughing agents, exudate absorbents, fibrinolytics, proteolytics, sunscreens, antiperspirants, and corticosteroids.
Medications for infections and infestations treatment include: antibiotics, antifungals, antileprotics, antituberculous drugs, antimalarials, anthelmintics, amoebicides, antivirals, and antiprotozoals.
Medications affecting the immune system include: vaccines, immunoglobulins, immunosuppressants, interferons, monoclonal antibodies.
Medications affecting allergic disorders include: anti-allergics, antihistamines, and NSAIDs.
Medications for nutrition treatment include: tonics, electrolytes and mineral preparations (including iron preparations and magnesium preparations), parental nutritional supplements, vitamins, anti-obesity drugs, anabolic drugs, haematopoietic drugs, and food product drugs.
Medications for neoplastic disorders treatment include: cytotoxic drugs, therapeutic antibodies, aromatase inhibitors, somatostatin inhibitors, recombinant interleukins, and erythropoietin.