| Question | Answer | example | |
| Ace Inhibitor | vasoconstrictor | -pril | captopril |
| aminoglycoside | serious infections inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis | | |
| analgesic | used to relieve pain. | | |
| anesthetic | reduces or eliminates pain, renders patient unconscious. | | |
| anorexiant | decreases appetite. | | |
| antacid | neutralizes excess gastric acid. | | |
| anthelmintic | eradicates intestinal worms. | | |
| antiacne | controls acne vulgaris | | |
| antianginal | dilates blood vessels, used to treat angina pectoris. | | |
| antianxiety | drugs to treat anxiety disorder | | |
| antiarrhythmic | treats irregular heart rhythms. | | Norpace |
| antiarthritic | reduces inflammation of joints. | | |
| antibacterial | prevents the growth of bacteria. | -cillin
cef- | amoxicillin (amoxil)
cefaclor (ceclor) |
| anticholesterol | lowers cholesterol levels | -statin | Lipitor (atorvastatin) |
| anticholinergic | antagonistic to the action of parasympathetic or other cholinergic nerve fibers. | | |
| anticoagulant | prevents blood clot formation. | -arin | warfarin (coumadin) |
| anticonvulsant | prevents seizures. | | |
| antidepressant | treats depression, SSRI, TCA;s, or MAOI's. | | |
| antidiabetic | treat diabetes | | |
| antidiarrheal | treats diarrhea | | |
| antidiuretic | reduces volume of urine production | | |
| antidote | agent that neutralizes a poison or counteracts its effects. | | |
| antiemetic | drugs that treat the urge to vomit | | |
| entiepileptic | prevents epileptic seizures. | | |
| antiflatulent | reduces gastrointestinal gas | | |
| antifungal | destroys fungi or inhibits its growth. | -zole | fluconazole (diflucan) |
| antigout | treats inflammatory joint condition (gout) | | |
| antihemophillic | allows blood to clot | | |
| antihistamine | tx of allergies or anaphylactic rx | | |
| antihyperlipidemic | lowers high levels of cholesterol | | |
| antihypertensive | reduces elevation in blood pressure. | -lol | metoprolol (lopressor) |
| anti-infective | treat disease produced by microorganisms | | |
| anti-inflammatory | reduces inflammation | | |
| antimigraine | used to treat migraine HA | | |
| antineoplastic | attacks and destroys malignant cells | | |
| antiplatelet | used to prevent clotting | | |
| antiprotozoal | destroys protozoa | | |
| antipruritic | supresses itching | | |
| antipsychotic | reduce symptoms of hallucinations,delusions | | |
| antipyretic | reduces fever | | |
| antiretroviral | attacks any virus of the family Retroviridae | | |
| antispasmodic | prevent muscle spasms | | |
| antitubercular | treats tuberculosis | | |
| antitussive | suppresses coughing | | |
| antivertigo | treats dizziness | | |
| antiviral | interferes with virus replication | -cyclovir | acyclovir (zovirax) |
| anxiolytic | reduces anxiety | | |
| astringent | causes contraction locally after application | | |
| barbiturate | type of sedative | | |
| benzodiazepine | CNS depressing agents with potential for abuse and/or dependence | | |
| beta blocker | blocks response to beta stimulation, results in decreased heart rate, blood pressure. | -olol | Propranolol (Inderal) |
| bronchodilator | relieves bronchospasm, treatment of asthma | | |
| anti-Parkinson's | used to treat Parkinson's disease | | |
| calcium channel Blockers | relax coronary artery smooth muscle to control fast heart rate, treats angina, arrhythmia, hypertension | -dipine | Nifedipine (Procardia) |
| cardiac glycoside | treats mild to moderate heart failure | | |
| cephalosporin | inhibits cell wall formation in bacteria | | |
| corticosteroid | hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex. relieves inflammation and manages autoimmune diseases | | |
| decongestant | causes mucous membrane vasoconstriction, relief of stuffiness and reduces nasal drainage | | |
| diuretic | decreases blood pressure by decreasing blood volume, increases production of urine | -thiazide
-mide | chlorothiazide (diuril)
furosemide (lasix) |
| emetic | causes vomiting | | |
| expectorant | increases production of respiratory secretions and lowers viscosity of secretions | | |
| fluoroquinolone | inhibits dna replication in bacteria | | |
| gastrointestinal agents | treats disorders of the stomach and intestines, ulcer, reflux | | |
| GI stimulant | increases the speed of gastric emptying | | |
| H2 Antihistamine | affects the cells of the GI tract | | |
| Histamine | evokes symptoms of the allergic reaction | | |
| hormone | chemical substance, formed in a tissue or organ and carried in the blood,stimulates or inhibits the growth or function of one or more other tissues or organs | | |
| hypnotic | causes sleep | | |
| macrolide | bacteriostatic agents used to treat pulmonary infections caused by legionella and gram pos organisms | | |
| muscle relaxant | causes skeletal muscle relaxation, reduces muscle spasms | | |
| narcotic | often addictive; relieves pain and induces sleep; includes opium and its derivatives. | | |
| narcotic analgesic | used to relieve severe pain; high abuse potential | | |
| nasal decongestant | constricts vessels in nasal passages | | |
| nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) | used as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory for mild to moderate pain | | |
| opiate | narcotic derived or related to opium | | |
| parasiticide | destroys parasites in the skin | | |
| pediculicide | kills lice | | |
| penicillin | derived from mold penicillium, kills bacteria b preventing them from forming cell wall | | |
| radiopharmaceutical | contains radioactive isotope; for diagnosis or for therapy | | |
| scabicide | destroys skin mites and their eggs | | |
| sedative | depresses CNS causing relaxation | | |
| tetracycline | broad-spectrum bacteriostatic antibiotics that inhibit protein synthesis in bacteria | | |
| tranquilizer | reduces anxiety or disturbance | | |
| vaccine | introduces an antigen into the body to stimulate production of antibodies for protection against a disease causing microorganisms | | |
| vasoconstrictor | narrows vessels and increases blood pressure | | |
| vasodilator | expands vessels and lowers blood pressure | | Nitroglycerin |
