This presentation contains a brief classification of medication on the basis of sources, dosage form, law, affect on body systems, and therapeutic effects. Students of pharmacy, nursing sciences, and medical can benefit from it, for any complain or error, please contact me freely.
2. CLASSIFICATION OF
MEDICATION/DRUGS
• Medication/drugs can be classified through many
ways following are some of them
1. Sources of drugs
2. On the basis of dosage-form/ Method or route of
administration
3. Prescription or Non‐prescription (over the counter‐
OTC)
4. Controlled or Non‐controlled
5. Body system affected
6. Therapeutic Use
3. Classification on the basis of sources
• Natural
Plants
e.g. atropine
Quinine
Animals
e.g. insulin
Immunoglobulins
Microorganisms
e.g. antibiotics
Antifungals
Minerals
E.g. electrolytes
Ferrous sulfate
Others
Synthetic
Co-Trimoxazole
Aspirin
Paracetamol
Semi-synthetic
E.g atropine bromide
Amoxicillin
Genetic engineering
Monoclonal antibodies
Human source
Human chorionic
gonadotropins
Regular insulin
Urokinase etc.
5. According to method or route of
administration
• Oral
– Buccal
– Enteral
– SL
• Topical
– Eye
– Skin
– Ear
• Parenteral
– IV
– IM
– SC
• Others
– Intra vaginal
– Anal
6. Classification on the basis of
prescription
• Prescription only medication
(POM)
– Prescribed for a particular
individual to treat a particular
medical condition
– The effect of the medication on the
individual is overseen by the doctor
• Examples
– Antibiotics e.g.(vancomycin)
– CNS drugs (Alprzolam)
– Cardiovascular medications
(propranolol)
• Over the counter medication
(OTC)
– FDA approved and determined to
be safe to use without the
supervision of a health care
practitioner.
– OTC medications include
medications that are available
without a prescription
– Many people think OTC
medications are safe, but they can
cause harm if used improperly
• Examples
– Pain killers (ibuprofen)
– Paracetamol (panadol)
– Mefanamic acid (ponstan)
– Avil (Pheneramine maleate)
7.
8. Classification according to LAW
• According to international and national Law the
drugs are classified as controlled or non-
controlled
• Here we will discuss about controlled substances
or drugs only all the remaining drugs not
mentioned in the controlled list shall be
considered as non-controlled
• Controlled substance:
– A controlled substance is generally a drug or chemical
whose manufacture, possession, or use is regulated by
a government, such as illicitly used drugs or
prescription medications that are designated by law.
– Controlled substances are further classified into
“schedules” as from schedule-1 to schedule-5
9. • Schedule I Controlled Substances
– Substances in this schedule have no currently
accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of
accepted safety for use under medical supervision,
and a high potential for abuse.
– Some examples of substances listed in Schedule I are:
heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana
(cannabis), peyote, methaqualone, and 3,4-
methylenedioxymethamphetamine (“Ecstasy”).
• Schedule II/IIN Controlled Substances (2/2N)
– Substances in this schedule have a high potential for
abuse which may lead to severe psychological or
physical dependence.
– Examples of Schedule II narcotics include:
hydromorphone (Dilaudid), methadone (Dolophine),
meperidine (Demerol), oxycodone (OxyContin,
Percocet), and fentanyl (Sublimaze, Duragesic). Other
Schedule II narcotics include: morphine, opium, and
codeine.
10. – Examples of Schedule IIN stimulants include: amphetamine
(Dexedrine, Adderall), methamphetamine (Desoxyn), and
methylphenidate (Ritalin).
– Other Schedule II substances include: amobarbital,
glutethimide, and pentobarbital.
• Schedule III/IIIN Controlled Substances (3/3N)
– Substances in this schedule have a potential for abuse less than
substances in Schedules I or II and abuse may lead to moderate
or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
– Examples of Schedule III narcotics include: combination
products containing less than 15 milligrams of hydrocodone per
dosage unit (Vicodin), products containing not more than 90
milligrams of codeine per dosage unit (Tylenol with Codeine),
and buprenorphine (Suboxone).
– Examples of Schedule IIIN non-narcotics include:
benzphetamine (Didrex), phendimetrazine, ketamine,
and anabolic steroids such as Depo-Testosterone.
• Schedule IV Controlled Substances
– Substances in this schedule have a low potential for abuse
relative to substances in Schedule III.
11. – Examples of Schedule IV substances include:
alprazolam (Xanax), carisoprodol (Soma), clonazepam
(Klonopin), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium),
lorazepam (Ativan), midazolam (Versed), temazepam
(Restoril), and triazolam (Halcion).
• Schedule V Controlled Substances
– Substances in this schedule have a low potential for
abuse relative to substances listed in Schedule IV and
consist primarily of preparations containing limited
quantities of certain narcotics.
– Examples of Schedule V substances include: cough
preparations containing not more than 200 milligrams
of codeine per 100 milliliters or per 100 grams
(Robitussin AC, Phenergan with Codeine), and
ezogabine.
12. Classification on the basis of affecting the body system
and
Therapeutic Use
• A common type of
medication classification
• Following are the types
a. Drugs affecting the
autonomic nervous
system:
a. Cholinergic Drugs,
b. Anticholinergic Drugs,
c. Drugs Acting on Autonomic
Ganglia,
d. Adrenergic Drugs,
e. α-Adrenergic Blocking
Agents,
f. β-Adrenergic Blocking
Agents,
b. Drugs Acting on Central
Nervous System
a) General Anaesthetics,
b) Preanaesthetic Medication,
c) Sedative-Hypnotics,
d) Antiepileptic Drugs,
e) Antiparkinsonian Drugs,
f) Antipsychotic Drugs,
g) Drugs for Mania and Manic-
Depressive(Bipolar) Disorder,
h) Antidepressants,
i) Antianxiety Drugs,
j) Opioid Analgesics, Complex
Action Opioids and Opioid
Antagonists,
k) Central Nervous System
Stimulants,
l) Cognition Enhancers
13. – Autacoids and Related Drugs:
• Histaminergic Agonists,
• H1-Antagonists,
• 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) Antagonists,
• Drugs for Migraine,
• Prostaglandins (PGs)and their Analogues,
• Antipyretic-Analgesics and
• Non steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs),
• Anti rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs,
• Anti gout Drugs
– Drugs for Respiratory Disorders
• Drugs for Cough,
• Drugs for Bronchial Asthma
14. – Hormones and
Related Drugs
• Anterior Pituitary
Hormones and Related
Drugs,
• Thyroid Hormone,
• Thyroid Inhibitors,
• Anti diabetic Drugs,
• Corticosteroids,
• Androgens and Related
Drugs,
• Drugs for Erectile
Dysfunction,
• Estrogens and Related
Drugs, Progestin's,
• Oral Contraceptives,
• Uterine Stimulants,
• Uterine Relaxants
• Drugs Acting on
Peripheral
(somatic)Nervous
System
• Skeletal Muscle
Relaxants,
• Local Anesthetics
