Question | Answer |
Adrenergics | Action:Constricts blood vessels
Example:Epinephrine; pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
Use: Stops superficial bleeding; raises BP; Relieves congestion / bronchospasm |
Adrenergic Blockers | Action: Vasodilation, Decreased BP
Example:Lisinopril; amlodipine; propranolol
Use: Control hypertension and PVD |
Analgesics | Action: Lessens sensory function / blocks pain
Example: ASA; acetaminophen; hydrocodone with APAP
Use: Pain relief |
Anesthetics | Action: Blocks nerve impulses to stop pain and sensation; decreases BP, P,R
Example: Lidocaine (local); Pentothal (general)
Use: Local numbing of area or general for surgery |
Antacids | Action: Decrease stomach acidity
Example:Prilosec; Nexium; Protonix
Use: Tx of gastric hyperacidity; gastric ulcers |
Antianxiety | Action:Reduce anxiety
Example:Librium; Valium
Use:Produces calmness |
Antibiotics | Action:Kills microorganisms (bacteria)
Example:Zithromas, Ceclor, Cipro
Use: Tx of bacterial infections |
Anticholinergics | Action:Parasympatheic blocking agent, reduces spasms in smooth muscle
Example:Scopalamine; atropine
Use:Dry secretions before surgery; GI cramping |
Anticoagulants | Action:Delays clotting of blood
Example:Coumadin; Heparin
Use:Tx of blood clots; stops clot formation |
Anticonvulsants | Action:Prevents seizures
Example:Clonazepam; Neurontin; Dilantin
Use: Tx of epilepsy or other neuro disorders |
Antidepressants | Action:Treats depression
Example:Zoloft; Lexapro; Elavil
Use: Mood elevatins |
Antiemetics | Action: Acts on Hypotalamus
Example:Compazine; Tigan;
Use:Prevents nausea and vomiting (N/V) |
Antifungals | Action:Slows growth of fungi
Example: Monistat; nystatin
Use: Tx of fungal infections |
Antihistamines | Action: Blocks histamines
Example: Zyrtec; Allegra; Benadryl
Use:Relieves allergic responses |
Antihypertensive | Action:Blocks nere impulse that cause arteries to constrict, slows heart rate
Example: Norvasc; Tenormin; Lopressor
Use:Reduces/controls BP |
Anti-inflammatory | Action:Reduces inflammation
Example:Nonsteroidal (NSAID) Ibuprofen; Steroidal - Prednisone
Use: Tx of arthritis or other inflammatory disorder |
Antineoplastic | Action:Inhibits and destroys cancerous cells
Example:Interferon; Hyddrea; Cytoxan
Use:Cancer chemotherapy |
Antipruritic | Action:Relieves itching
Example:Calamin lotion; hydrocortisone cream
Use: Tx of allergies or topical exposures that cause itching. |
Antipyretic | Action:Reduce body temperature
Example:Aspirin (ASA); acetamiophen (APAP)
Use: Reduces fever |
Antitussive | Action:Stops cough
Example:codeine sulfate; robitussin
Use:Supresses non-productive cough |
Bronchodilator | Action:Relaxes smooth muscle of the bronchi
Example:salmeterol, theophylline, albuterol
Use:Tx of asthma,bronchospasm |
Cathartic (laxative) | Action:Increase peristatic activity of large intestine
Example: MOM (milk of magnesia); Dulcolax; Metamucil
Use:Increases and hastens bowel evacuation |
Contraceptive (birth control) | Action:Inhibits contraception
Example:Depo-provera; Tri-cyclen;Lo Ovral
Use:Prevents pregnancy |
Decongestants | Action: Relieve local congestion in the tissues.
Example: ephidrine or pheyleprine (neo-synephrine;(Sudafed); (Afrin); (Nasonex) |
Diuretics | Actions: Inhibit reabsormption of Na and Cl in the kidneys; promote excretion of excess fluid.
Example hydrochlorthiazide (HCTZ) (Dyazide, Esidric, Hydrodiruil) |
Expectorants | Actions: Liquefy Secretions in the bronchial tubes so that they can be coughed out.
Examles: destromethopahn (benylin); guafenesin (Robitussin) |
Hematopoietic Agents | Action:Promote red blood cell production
Example: epoetin alfa (Epogen, Procrit) |
Hemastatic Agent | Action: control bleeding
Example: phytonadione, Vitamin K, absorbable agents (Gelfoam; |
Hormone Replacement | Action: Replace hormones
Example:insulin (humulin); levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid or Levoxyl); extrogen (Premarin; vasopressin (Pitressin) |
Hypnotics (Sedatives) | Action:induce sleep; lessen the activity of the brain
Example:zolpidem tartrate (Ambien); eszopiclone (Lunesta); secobarbital (Seconal); flurazepam (Dalmane; temazepam (Restoril; barbiturates |
Lipid-lowering agents | Action: Reduce blood cholesterol levels
Example:atorvastatin calcium (Lipitor); simvastatin (Zocor); ezetimibe (Vytorin or Zetia); rsuvastatin (Crestor); fenofibrate (Tricor) |
Miotics | Action: cause the pupil to contract
Example: carbachol (Isopto Carbachol); isoflurophate (Floropryl) |
Mydriatic Agents (Anticholinergic) | Action: dilate the pupil
Example: atropine sulfate (Isopto Atropine) |
Narcotics | Action:Debress the CNS, causing insensibility or stupor
Example: Natural narcotics: Opium group (codeine phosphate, morphine sulfate:Synthetic narcotisc: meperidine (Demerol, methadone (dolopine); propoyphene HCl (Darvon) |
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents | Action:Reduce blood glucose level
Example:Piogliatzone (Actos); rosiglitazone (Avandia); metormin HCl (Glucophage; acarbose (Precose); chlorpropamide (Diabinese; glimepiride (Amaryl); glipizide (Glucotrol) |
Osteoporosis Agents | Action:Inhibit bone reabsorption
Example:alendronate (Fosamax); risedonate (Actonel); cacitonin (Miacalcin and Calcimar) |
Antiarrythmic | Action: maintain electrical rhythm through chemical activity Example: lidocaine Hcl (Xylocaine), propranolol Hcl (Inderal) |
Antidiarrheal | Action: prevents or relieves diarrhea or decreases intestinal spasms Example: Lomotil, Pepto-Bilmal, Kaopectate, Imodium |
Antidote | Action: Counteracts poisons and their effects Example: naloxone (Narcan) activated charcoal, atropine |
Antimanic | Action: Treatment of the manic episode of bipolar disorder Example: lithium |
Antiplatelets | Action: Interferes with the stickiness of platelets to preven bloot clots Example: clopidogrel (Plavix) ticlopidine (Ticlid), aspirin (ASA) |
Fibrinolytics | Action: Clot-buster to dissolve blood blots Example: TNK, tPA |
Hypoglycemics | Action: Lowers blood glucose levels by causing beta cells of the pancreas to release insulin Example: glyburide (Diabinese), Glucophage, Amaryl |
Insulin | Action: Lowers blood glucose Example: Lantus, Humulin, Novolin |
Laxative | Action: Relieves constipation Example: Metamucil powder, Dulcolax |
Muscle relaxant | Action: relieves muscle spasms Example: Robaxin, Norflex, Parafles, Skelaxin, Valium |
Vasodilator | Action: Relaxes smooth muscle inside vessel walls to cause dilation Example: isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil, nitroglycerin |
Vasopressor | Action: Causes contraction of the smooth muscles of the vessel walls (increases BP) Example: Neo-Synephrine, norepineprhine (Levophed) |