Drug class
Drug class
A Drug class (/drʌg klɑːs/) is a set of medications and other compounds that have similar chemical structures, the same mechanism of action (i.e., bind to the same biological target), a related mode of action, and/or are used to treat the same disease.
Etymology
The term "Drug class" is derived from the Latin word "classis", which means a group, and the Old French "drogue", which means a 'dry herb'.
Related Terms
- Pharmacology: The branch of medicine that deals with the uses, effects, and modes of action of drugs.
- Medication: A substance used for medical treatment, especially a medicine or drug.
- Therapeutic: Relating to the healing of disease.
- Biological target: A broad term that can mean any molecule in the body that a drug interacts with to produce its effects.
- Disease: A particular abnormal condition that negatively affects the structure or function of all or part of an organism, and that is not due to any immediate external injury.
Drug Classes
There are several different kinds of drug classes, including, but not limited to:
- Analgesics: Also known as painkillers, they are used to relieve pain.
- Antibiotics: They are used to treat infections caused by bacteria.
- Antivirals: They are used to treat infections caused by viruses.
- Antifungals: They are used to treat infections caused by fungi.
- Antipsychotics: They are used to manage psychosis, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
- Antidepressants: They are used to treat depression and anxiety disorders.
Each drug class is designed to treat a specific type of illness or medical condition, and each drug within a class works in a similar way.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Drug class
- Wikipedia's article - Drug class
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