Pharmacology Drug Classes: Mechanisms, Uses and Examples

Cholinergic Drugs

Muscarinic agonists: Acetylcholine, Muscarine, Carbachol

Muscarinic antagonists: Atropine, Ipratropium, Tiotropium

Anti-AChE: Tacrine, Donepezil (noncovalent)

Physostigmine, Neostigmine, Rivastigmine (reversible)

Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors

Neuromuscular blockers (nondepolarizing): Pancuronium, Atracurium, Mivacurium

Depolarizing: Decamethonium, Succinylcholine

Adrenergic and Serotonergic Drugs

Catecholamines: Adrenaline (AD), Noradrenaline (NA), Dopamine (DA)

Beta agonists: Dobutamine, Isoproterenol, Albuterol

Sympathomimetics: Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, Ephedrine

5-HT agonists: Rizatriptan, Sumatriptan, Naratriptan

5-HT antagonists: Ketanserin, Methysergide, Cyproheptadine

General Anesthetics

Inhalational: Isoflurane, Enflurane, Desflurane

Parenteral: Thiopental, Ketamine, Propofol

Local anesthetics: Cocaine, Procaine, Lidocaine

Therapeutic Gases

Oxygen (hypoxia), carbon dioxide (recovery from anesthesia)

Nitric oxide (pulmonary vasodilator), Helium (caisson disease, hyperbaric therapy)

Sedatives, Hypnotics and Anxiolytics

Benzodiazepines (sedative): Alprazolam, Clonazepam, Diazepam

Benzodiazepines (hypnotic): Temazepam, Flurazepam, Triazolam

Barbiturates: Thiopental, Amobarbital, Pentobarbital

Psychiatric and Neurological Treatments

Depression (5-HT/NA): Imipramine, Amitriptyline, Doxepin

Anxiety: Benzodiazepines, Hydroxyzine, Azapirones

Antipsychotics: Clozapine, Risperidone, Molindone

Mania: Lithium salts, Carbamazepine, Valproic acid

Epilepsy (convulsions): Valproic acid, Carbamazepine, Phenytoin

Absence seizures: Valproic acid

Parkinson disease: Levodopa, Amantadine, Bromocriptine

Alzheimer disease: Donepezil, Rivastigmine, Tacrine

Huntington disease: Tetrabenazine, Reserpine

Opioid analgesics: Morphine, Meperidine, Fentanyl

Alcoholism treatment: Naltrexone, Disulfiram, Acamprosate

Histamine, Eicosanoids and Anti-inflammatory Drugs

Histamine (hypersensitivity) H1 antagonists: Ebastine, Mizolastine, Azelastine

Inhibits kallikrein: Aprotinin

Eicosanoids:

Abortion, gastric cytoprotection: Misoprostol

Impotence: Alprostadil

NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic)

Salicylates: Salicylic acid, Diflunisal, Parapamine, Paracetamol

Acetic acid derivatives: Sulindac, Etodolac

Fenamates: Mefenamic acid, Meclofenamate

Phenylacetic acid derivatives: Diclofenac, Ketorolac

Propionic acid: Naproxen, Ibuprofen

Enolic acids: Piroxicam, Meloxicam

COX-2 inhibitors: Celecoxib, Valdecoxib

Gout treatment: Colchicine, Allopurinol, Benzbromarone

Asthma Treatment

Beta-2 agonists (aerosol): Albuterol, Levalbuterol, Pirbuterol

Glucocorticoids (aerosol): Azmacort, Aerobid, Pulmicort

Leukotriene antagonists: Zafirlukast, Montelukast, Zileuton

Anti-IgE / mast cell stabilizers: Cromolyn, Nedocromil, Theophylline

Diuretics

Loop diuretics: Furosemide, Torsemide, Bumetanide

Thiazide diuretics: Polythiazide, Chlorothiazide, Hydrochlorothiazide

Potassium-sparing: Amiloride, Triamterene (ENaC inhibitors)

Cardiovascular Drugs

ACE inhibitors: Captopril, Enalapril, Lisinopril

Angiotensin II antagonists: Eprosartan, Irbesartan, Losartan

Myocardial ischemia (nitrates): Nitroglycerin, Mono- and di-isopropyl nitrate

Calcium channel blockers: Verapamil, Diltiazem, Nifedipine

Beta blockers: Timolol, Metoprolol, Propranolol

Hypertension: Diuretics, ACE inhibitors, Angiotensin II antagonists

Sympatholytics: Beta blockers, Alpha-A antagonists (Methyldopa, Clonidine)

Vasodilators: Hydralazine, Minoxidil, Nitroprusside

Heart failure: Diuretics, ACE inhibitors, Vasodilators, Beta blockers

Cardiac glycosides: Digoxin, Digitoxin

Shock: Dopamine, Dobutamine

Antiarrhythmics: Quinidine, Amiodarone (Na channel), Verapamil (Ca channel)

Dyslipidemia: Simvastatin, Fluvastatin, Rosuvastatin (statins)

Gastrointestinal Drugs

Proton pump inhibitors (heartburn): Omeprazole, Esomeprazole, Pantoprazole

H2 antagonists: Ranitidine, Nizatidine, Cimetidine

Mucosal protection: Misoprostol, Sucralfate