Drugs Classfications
Drugs Acting on the Central Nervous System (CNS)
Sedatives and Hypnotics
1 Benzodiazepines
| Generic Name | USA – Common Brand Names | UK – Common Brand Names |
|---|---|---|
| Alprazolam | Xanax®, Niravam® (Drugs.com) | Xanax® (private prescription only) (Mental Health Matters) |
| Chlordiazepoxide | Librium® (KFX) | Librium® (Benzo) |
| Clonazepam | Klonopin® (APRI Link) | Rivotril® (Benzo) |
| Clorazepate | Tranxene® (Benzo) | Tranxene® (Benzo) |
| Diazepam | Valium® (Castle Craig) | Valium® (Benzo) |
| Flurazepam | Dalmane® (E-Space) | Dalmane® (Benzo) |
| Lorazepam | Ativan® (APRI Link) | Ativan® / Tavor®, Temesta® (Benzo) |
| Nitrazepam | Mogadon® (Benzo) | Mogadon® (E-Space) |
| Temazepam | Restoril® (USA) (APRI Link) | Normison®, Euhypnos®, Sompam® (Benzo) |
| Triazolam | Halcion® (Detox Plus Rehab Clinics UK) | Halcion® (note: discontinued in UK) (Detox Plus Rehab Clinics UK) |
1.2 Anxiolytics
- Examples: Benzodiazepines, Buspirone, SSRIs (Escitalopram, Sertraline)
1.3 Antidepressants
- Classes:
- SSRIs – Fluoxetine, Sertraline
- SNRIs – Duloxetine, Venlafaxine
- TCAs – Amitriptyline, Imipramine
- MAOIs – Phenelzine, Selegiline
- Atypical – Bupropion, Mirtazapine
1.4 Antipsychotics
- Typical (First Generation): Haloperidol, Chlorpromazine
- Atypical (Second Generation): Risperidone, Clozapine, Olanzapine
1.5 Mood Stabilizers
- Examples: Lithium, Valproate, Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine
1.6 Antiepileptic Drugs
- Examples: Phenytoin, Carbamazepine, Valproate, Levetiracetam, Gabapentin
1.7 Antiparkinsonian Drugs
- Examples: Levodopa + Carbidopa, Selegiline, Pramipexole, Amantadine
1.8 CNS Stimulants
- Examples: Caffeine, Amphetamine, Methylphenidate
1.9 Muscle Relaxants
- Examples: Cyclobenzaprine, Baclofen, Tizanidine, Methocarbamol
1.10 Opioid Analgesics
- Examples: Morphine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone, Tramadol
- Antagonists: Naloxone, Naltrexone
2. Drugs Acting on the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
2.1 Cholinergic Drugs (Parasympathomimetics)
- Examples: Pilocarpine, Bethanechol, Neostigmine
2.2 Anticholinergic Drugs (Parasympatholytics)
- Examples: Atropine, Ipratropium, Scopolamine
2.3 Adrenergic Drugs (Sympathomimetics)
- Examples: Adrenaline, Noradrenaline, Dopamine, Ephedrine
2.4 Adrenergic Blockers (Sympatholytics)
- α-blockers: Prazosin, Tamsulosin
- β-blockers: Propranolol, Metoprolol, Atenolol
- α + β blockers: Labetalol, Carvedilol
3. Drugs Acting on the Cardiovascular System (CVS)
3.1 Anti-hypertensive Drugs
- Diuretics (Hydrochlorothiazide, Furosemide)
- ACE inhibitors (Enalapril, Lisinopril)
- ARBs (Losartan, Valsartan)
- Calcium channel blockers (Amlodipine, Verapamil)
- Beta-blockers (Metoprolol, Propranolol)
3.2 Anti-anginal Drugs
- Nitrates (Nitroglycerin, Isosorbide dinitrate)
- Beta-blockers, Calcium channel blockers
3.3 Anti-arrhythmic Drugs
- Class I: Lidocaine, Quinidine
- Class II: Propranolol
- Class III: Amiodarone
- Class IV: Verapamil
3.4 Anti-failure Drugs
- Diuretics, ACE inhibitors, Beta-blockers, Digoxin, ARNI (Entresto)
3.5 Anti-hyperlipidemic Drugs
- Statins (Atorvastatin, Rosuvastatin)
- Fibrates, Ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors
3.6 Anti-coagulants
- Heparin, Warfarin, Enoxaparin, Apixaban
3.7 Anti-platelet Drugs
- Aspirin, Clopidogrel, Ticagrelor
3.8 Thrombolytics
- Streptokinase, Alteplase
4. Drugs Acting on the Respiratory System
- Bronchodilators: Salbutamol, Theophylline, Ipratropium
- Corticosteroids: Budesonide, Fluticasone
- Leukotriene antagonists: Montelukast
- Antitussives: Dextromethorphan, Codeine
- Expectorants: Guaifenesin
5. Drugs Acting on the Gastrointestinal Tract
5.1 Antacids and Antiulcer Drugs
- H₂ blockers (Ranitidine, Famotidine)
- Proton pump inhibitors (Omeprazole, Pantoprazole)
- Sucralfate, Misoprostol
5.2 Antiemetic Drugs
- Ondansetron, Metoclopramide, Domperidone
5.3 Laxatives and Purgatives
- Lactulose, Bisacodyl, Psyllium husk
5.4 Anti-diarrheal Drugs
- Loperamide, Bismuth subsalicylate
5.5 Drugs for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Mesalamine, Sulfasalazine, Corticosteroids, Biologics (Infliximab)
6. Drugs Acting on the Endocrine System
6.1 Antidiabetic Drugs
- Insulins: Regular, Lispro, Glargine
- Oral agents: Metformin, Glimepiride, Empagliflozin, Sitagliptin
6.2 Thyroid Drugs
- Levothyroxine, Propylthiouracil, Methimazole
6.3 Corticosteroids
- Hydrocortisone, Prednisolone, Dexamethasone
6.4 Sex Hormones and Modulators
- Estrogens & Progestins: Ethinylestradiol, Medroxyprogesterone
- Androgens: Testosterone
- Antiandrogens: Flutamide, Finasteride
6.5 Contraceptives
- Oral, Injectable, Intrauterine
7. Drugs Acting on the Hematopoietic System
- Hematopoietic growth factors: Erythropoietin, Filgrastim
- Iron preparations: Ferrous sulfate, Ferric carboxymaltose
- Vitamin B12, Folic acid supplements
- Anti-anemics
8. Chemotherapeutic Agents (Antimicrobial Drugs)
8.1 Antibiotics
- β-lactams: Penicillins, Cephalosporins, Carbapenems
- Macrolides: Azithromycin, Erythromycin
- Aminoglycosides: Gentamicin, Amikacin
- Fluoroquinolones: Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin
- Tetracyclines: Doxycycline
- Others: Clindamycin, Linezolid
8.2 Antifungal Drugs
- Fluconazole, Amphotericin B, Terbinafine
8.3 Antiviral Drugs
- Acyclovir, Oseltamivir, Remdesivir, Tenofovir
8.4 Antitubercular Drugs
- Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol, Streptomycin
8.5 Antimalarial Drugs
- Chloroquine, Artemisinin, Mefloquine, Primaquine
8.6 Anthelmintics
- Albendazole, Mebendazole, Ivermectin
8.7 Antiprotozoal Drugs
- Metronidazole, Tinidazole
9. Drugs Acting on the Urinary System
- Diuretics: Furosemide, Spironolactone
- Antidiuretics: Desmopressin
- Drugs for Overactive Bladder: Mirabegron, Gemtesa (Vibegron)
- Drugs for BPH: Tamsulosin, Finasteride
10. Drugs Acting on the Immune System
- Immunosuppressants: Cyclosporine, Tacrolimus, Azathioprine
- Immunostimulants: Levamisole, Interferons
- Monoclonal antibodies: Infliximab, Adalimumab, Dupilumab
11. Drugs Acting on the Reproductive System
- Fertility drugs: Clomiphene, Menotropins
- Oxytocics: Oxytocin, Misoprostol
- Tocolytics: Nifedipine, Terbutaline
12. Chemotherapy (Anti-cancer Drugs)
- Alkylating agents: Cyclophosphamide
- Antimetabolites: Methotrexate, 5-FU
- Antitumor antibiotics: Doxorubicin
- Plant alkaloids: Vincristine, Paclitaxel
- Hormonal agents: Tamoxifen, Flutamide
- Targeted therapies: Imatinib, Trastuzumab
- Immunotherapies: Pembrolizumab, Nivolumab
13. Miscellaneous
- Vitamins & Minerals
- Antihistamines – Cetirizine, Loratadine
- NSAIDs – Ibuprofen, Diclofenac
- Local Anesthetics – Lidocaine, Bupivacaine
- General Anesthetics – Propofol, Isoflurane
- Chelating Agents – EDTA, Deferoxamine
- Antidotes – Naloxone (opioids), Flumazenil (benzodiazepines), Atropine (organophosphate poisoning)