Drugs Index
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Drugs Information:
Drugs List
A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. Each drug can be classified into one or more drug classes.
Protease inhibitors are synthetic drugs that inhibit the action of HIV-1 protease, an enzyme that cleaves two precursor proteins into smaller fragments. These fragments are needed for viral growth, infectivity and replication. Protease inhibitors bind to the active site of the protease enzyme and prevent the maturation of the newly produced virions so that they remain non-infectious.
Protease inhibitors are used in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV infection) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
See also
Medical conditions associated with protease inhibitors:
- Hepatitis C
- HIV Infection
- Nonoccupational Exposure
- Occupational Exposure
A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. Each drug can be classified into one or more drug classes.
Prolactin inhibitors are agents that inhibit the production of prolactin, a hormone that stimulates milk production after childbirth. In both sexes, excessive secretion of prolactin (hyperprolactinemia) can give rise to abnormal production of milk (galactorrhea).
Prolactin inhibitors are dopamine agonists, which effectively treat hyperprolactinemia.
See also
Medical conditions associated with prolactin inhibitors:
- Acromegaly
- Diabetes, Type 2
- Hyperprolactinemia
- Parkinson's Disease
- Tardive Dyskinesia
A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. Each drug can be classified into one or more drug classes.
Phenothiazine antipsychotics are dopamine-2 (D2) receptor antagonists therefore decrease the effect of dopamine in the brain. Phenothiazines are classed as typical antipscyhotics and are used to treat schizophrenia or psychosis.
See also
Medical conditions associated with phenothiazine antipsychotics:
- Agitated State
- Anxiety
- Bipolar Disorder
- Hiccups
- Light Sedation
- Mania
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Opiate Withdrawal
- Porphyria
- Psychosis
- Schizophrenia
- Tetanus
A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. Each drug can be classified into one or more drug classes.
Purine nucleosides are antiviral agents that have selective activity against herpes simplex virus types 1 (cold sores) and 2 (genital herpes) and varicella zoster virus (chicken pox).
The purine nucleoside molecule is converted to a monophosphate by viral thymidine kinases. The monophosphate is then converted to diphosphate and then into a triphosphate form by cellular enzymes. The triphosphate form blocks the replication of viral DNA by inhibiting viral DNA polymerase and terminating the growing viral DNA chain.
Purine nucleosides are more potent against the viral enzymes than the host enzymes.
See also
Medical conditions associated with purine nucleosides:
- CMV Retinitis
- Cold Sores
- Cytomegalovirus Infection
- Hepatitis C
- Herpes Simplex
- Herpes Simplex Encephalitis
- Herpes Simplex, Mucocutaneous/Immunocompetent Host
- Herpes Simplex, Mucocutaneous/Immunocompromised Host
- Herpes Simplex, Suppression
- Herpes Zoster
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus
- Smallpox Vaccine Reaction
- Varicella-Zoster
A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. Each drug can be classified into one or more drug classes.
Plasma expanders are agents that have relatively high molecular weight and boost the plasma volume by increasing the osmotic pressure. They are used to treat patients who have suffered hemorrhage or shock. Shock occurs due to reduced blood volume (usually due to hemorrhage) and it is necessary to get the blood volume back to normal as quickly as possible.
See also
Medical conditions associated with plasma expanders:
- Bleeding Disorder
- Blood Disorders
- Burns, External
- Hypoproteinemia
- Pancreatitis
- Peritonitis
- Postoperative Albumin Loss
- Shock
Penicillin is an antibiotic that disturbs the cell wall synthesis in bacteria. It was initially derived from the mold Penicillium rubrum. Since then, a number of naturally occurring penicillins have been derived e.g. penicillin G (benzylpenicillin) and penicillin V (phenoxymethylpenicillin).
Other antibiotics obtained from penicillins include amoxicillin, ampicillin, flucloxacillin. These are classed as semisynthetic penicillins.
Penicillins are bactericidal and mainly active against gram-positive bacteria.
The most important side effect of penicillins is hypersensitivity, such as rashes or anaphylaxis. Patients who are allergic to one penicillin will be allergic to all.
See also
- aminopenicillins
- antipseudomonal penicillins
- beta-lactamase inhibitors
- natural penicillins
- penicillinase resistant penicillins
A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. Each drug can be classified into one or more drug classes.
Phenylpiperazine antidepressants are drugs that act as serotonin (5-HT2) reuptake inhibitors and serotonin receptor blockers, or just as serotonin receptor blockers. There are two drugs in this class of antidepressants and their mechanism of action and side effect profiles are slightly different.
Phenylpiperazine antidepressants are used to treat depression.
See also
Medical conditions associated with phenylpiperazine antidepressants:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fibromyalgia
- Insomnia
- Panic Disorder
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome
- Sedation
A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. Each drug can be classified into one or more drug classes.
Progesterone receptor modulators are agents that act on the progesterone receptors. They act as agonists or antagonists. Some progesterone modulators act as agonists in some tissues and antagonists in other tissues.
Progesterone receptor modulators that have both agonist and antagonist activity can be used for emergency contraception.
Agents that act as progesterone antagonists are used as abortifacients. They block the effects of progesterone, which is essential during pregnancy, therefore leads to termination of the pregnancy.
See also
Medical conditions associated with progesterone receptor modulators:
- Abortion
- Birth Control
- Cushing's Syndrome
- Emergency Contraception
- Uterine Fibroids
A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. Each drug can be classified into one or more drug classes.
Phenothiazine antiemetics inhibit dopamine, muscarinic and histamine (H1) receptors generally in the vomiting center and chemoreceptor trigger zone.
Phenothiazine antiemetics are used to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting caused bycytotoxic drugs and radiotherapy.
See also
Medical conditions associated with phenothiazine antiemetics:
- Agitated State
- Allergic Reactions
- Anaphylaxis
- Anxiety
- Bipolar Disorder
- Hay Fever
- Hiccups
- Light Sedation
- Mania
- Motion Sickness
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Opiate Adjunct
- Opiate Withdrawal
- Porphyria
- Psychosis
- Schizophrenia
- Sedation
- Tetanus
- Urticaria
- Vertigo
A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. Each drug can be classified into one or more drug classes.
Penicillinase resistant penicillins are antibiotics, which are not inactivated by the penicillinase enzyme. Some bacteria produce the enzyme penicillinase that destroys the beta-lactam ring of the antibiotic, making the penicillin ineffective. Penicillinase resistant penicillins are used to treat resistant strains of staphylococci and other infections.
See also
Medical conditions associated with penicillinase resistant penicillins:
- Bacteremia
- Bacterial Infection
- Bladder Infection
- Bone infection
- Bronchitis
- Endocarditis
- Joint Infection
- Meningitis
- Pharyngitis
- Pneumonia
- Septicemia
- Sinusitis
- Skin and Structure Infection
- Skin Infection
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. Each drug can be classified into one or more drug classes.
Peripheral vasodilators are agents which act on the most distal parts of the vascular system i.e. the arterioles and venules. They dilate these distal blood vessels and lower the blood pressure, therefore makes it easier for the heart to pump blood through these peripheral blood vessels (and therefore whole the body).
Peripheral vasodilators are used in the treatment of hypertension, acute myocardial infarction and heart failure.
See also
Medical conditions associated with peripheral vasodilators:
- Cerebrovascular Insufficiency
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Nocturnal Leg Cramps
- Raynaud's Syndrome
- Renal Artery Atherosclerosis
A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. Each drug can be classified into one or more drug classes.
Probiotics are live microorganisms (called
See also
Medical conditions associated with probiotics:
- Clostridial Infection
- Diarrhea
- Dietary Supplementation
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Oral Thrush
- Traveler's Diarrhea
- Urinary Tract Infection
- Vaginal Yeast Infection
Psychotherapeutic agents are used to treat psychosis, which refers to a group of mental disorders for example depression, schizophrenia, manic-depressive disorders and so on. They affect mood and behavior. The different class of psychotherapeutic agents would work differently. They may produce their effects by receptor block, inhibition of transporters, and by other mechanisms. The clinical benefits of these drugs may take weeks to appear.
See also
- antidepressants
- miscellaneous antidepressants
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors
- phenylpiperazine antidepressants
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
- tetracyclic antidepressants
- tricyclic antidepressants
- antipsychotics
- atypical antipsychotics
- phenothiazine antipsychotics
- thioxanthenes
- norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
- norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors
- psychotherapeutic combinations
A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. Each drug can be classified into one or more drug classes.
Psoralen is a light-sensitive drug that absorbs ultraviolet (long wave - UVA) light and acts like ultraviolet radiation. Psoralens are used together with ultraviolet light (PUVA therapy) to treat skin conditions such as vitiligo, eczema, psoriasis and skin problems related to certain lymphomas.
Psoralens are either taken orally or applied topically where the patient soaks in a bath containing the psoralen, then UVA light is applied to treat the skin condition.
See also
Medical conditions associated with psoralens:
- Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma
- Psoriasis
A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. Each drug can be classified into one or more drug classes.
Platelet aggregation inhibitors work in different places of the clotting cascade and prevent platelet adhesion, therefore no clot formation.
Aspirin, the most commonly used antiplatelet drug changes the balance between prostacyclin (which inhibits platelet aggregation) and thromboxane (that promotes aggregation). It irreversibly inhibits the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase, which leads to reduction in thromboxane synthesis in platelets and prostacyclin in vascular endothelial cells. The vascular endothelium recovers and can synthesize more prostacyclin but thromboxane synthesis only recovers after new platelets are formed.
Platelet aggregation inhibitors are used acutely in myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, following coronary bypass, angioplasty and stenting. It is also used as prophylaxis to prevent myocardial infarction and stroke.
See also
Medical conditions associated with platelet aggregation inhibitors:
- Acute Coronary Syndrome
- Acute Coronary Syndrome, Prophylaxis
- Angina
- Angina Pectoris Prophylaxis
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Antiphospholipid Syndrome
- Aseptic Necrosis
- Back Pain
- Cerebral Thrombosis/Embolism
- Fever
- Heart Attack
- High Cholesterol
- Intermittent Claudication
- Ischemic Stroke
- Ischemic Stroke, Prophylaxis
- Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Kawasaki Disease
- Myocardial Infarction, Prophylaxis
- Niacin Flush
A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. Each drug can be classified into one or more drug classes.
Platelet-stimulating agents encourage the body to produce more platelets.
These agents may work by different mechanisms. They can stimulate megakaryocytes, precursors of platelets, to produce platelets faster than normal or they may act as c-mpl (TpoR) receptor agonists. The c-mpl (TpoR) receptor is a target for thrombopoietin, a hormone that stimulates development of megakaryocytes.
Platelet-stimulating agents are used to treat chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.
See also
Medical conditions associated with platelet-stimulating agents:
- Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
- Thrombocytopenia Drug Induced
- Thrombocytopenia Idiopathic
A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. Each drug can be classified into one or more drug classes.
Potassium sparing diuretics increase diuresis by interfering with the sodium-potassium exchange in the distal convoluted tubule in the kidneys or act as an antagonist at the aldosterone receptor (they inhibit the sodium channels associated with the aldosterone-sensitive sodium pump). Aldosterone promotes sodium and water retention so by blocking its effects the potassium sparing diuretics (or aldosterone receptors antagonists) cause more sodium and water to pass into the collecting ducts, increasing diuresis.
Potassium sparing diuretics do not produce hypokalemia so can be used in conjunction with loop and thiazide diuretics.
See also
Medical conditions associated with potassium-sparing diuretics:
- Acne
- Alopecia
- Ascites
- Edema
- Heart Failure
- High Blood Pressure
- Hirsutism
- Hypokalemia
- Primary Hyperaldosteronism
- Primary Hyperaldosteronism Diagnosis
A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. Each drug can be classified into one or more drug classes.
Parathyroid hormone and analogs (a synthetic form of parathyroid hormone) control the distribution of phosphate and calcium in the body. High levels of parathyroid hormone triggers transfer of calcium from the bones to the blood. It increases absorption of calcium by the intestine and increases reabsorption of calcium by the renal tubules. A low level of parathyroid hormone reduces calcium levels in the blood.
Constant high levels of parathyroid hormone cause bone resorption but sporadic administration of exogenous recombinant parathyroid hormone stimulates bone formation.
Clinically used parathyroid hormone analogs are used to build bone mass in patients who have low bone density. They are used to treat or prevent osteoporosis in men and postmenopausal women, who have fractures or are at a high risk of having fractures.
See also
Medical conditions associated with parathyroid hormone and analogs:
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Osteoporosis
A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. Each drug can be classified into one or more drug classes.
Peripheral opioid receptor antagonists bind to the peripheral opioid receptors, such as those in the gastrointestinal tract and block unwanted effects caused by opioids.
They are not able to penetrate the blood brain barrier so do not antagonize central nervous system opioid receptors, therefore the analgesic effects of opioids is not affected.
Peripheral opioid receptor antagonists are given with opioids to prevent opioid-induced constipation.
See also
Medical conditions associated with peripheral opioid receptor antagonists:
- Constipation, Chronic
- Constipation, Drug Induced
- Gastrointestinal Surgery
- Postoperative Ileus