CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS

REGULATION OF MEDICINES
NAMING OF DRUGS.
1
E. A. OGBOLE
BINGHAM UNIVERSITY,JOS CAMPUS
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Definition.

• A very broad definition of a drug would include all chemicals other than food that
affect living processes.

• Chemotherapeutic agents – used to cure infectious diseases and cancer.

(antibiotics ,etc)

• If the effect helps the body, the drug is a medicine, if a drug causes harmful
effects on the body, the drug is a poison.

• A drug can also be defined as medicinal agents used for

diagnoses,prevention,treatment of symptoms and cure of diseases.
• Contraceptives would be outside of this definition unless pregnancy were considered a
disease.
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Drug classification.

Drugs can be classified according to various criteria :

 Chemical structure

 pharmacological action.

 Pharmacodynamic agents – used in non-infectious

diseases(cholinergic, adrenergic, hallucinogenic, )
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 Sites of drug action.

 Enzyme inhibition.
 Drugs act within the cell by modifying normal biochemical reactions.
 Enzyme inhibition may be reversible or non reversible, competitive or non-
competitive.
 Drug-receptor interaction
 Drugs act on the cell membrane by physical and/or chemical
interactions.
 This is usually through specific drug receptor sites known to be located
on the membrane.
 A receptor is the specific chemical constituents of the cell with which a
drug interacts to produce its pharmacological effects.
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Non-specific interactions.
• Drugs act exclusively by physical means outside of cells.
• These sites include external surfaces of the skin and gastrointestinal tract.

• Drugs also act outside of cell membranes by chemical interactions.

• Neutralization of stomach acid by antacids is a good example.

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CHEMICAL STRUCTURE
• Nitroimidazole
 Metronidazole, Secnidazole, Tinidazole, Ornidazole.

• 4 – aminoquinolines
 Chloroquine, amodiaquine, Quinine,Piperaquine(bisquinoline),Mefloquine

• 8 – aminoquinolines
 Primaquine,

• Quinolones
 Nalidixic acid, Ciprofloxacin, Ofloxacin, Levofloxacin
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• Sesquiterpenes
 Artemether, Artesunate, Arteether, Dihydroartemisinin

• Sulphonamides
 Cotrimoxazole, Pyrimethamine, Glucophage

• Penicillines
 Ampicillin, Cloxacillin, Cephalexin, Ceftriaxone, Ceftazidime, Cefotaxime

• Amino glycosides
 Gentamycin, Kanamycin, Streptomycin, Neomycin.
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• Macrolides
 Erythromycine, Clarithromycin, Azithromycine.

• Salicylates
 Aspirin, Mefenamic acid, Ibuprofen, Piroxicam

• Opiates
 Pentazocine, Morphine, Codeine, Pethidine

• Benzodiazepine
 Lorazepam, Diazepam, Midazolam, Nitazepam, Bromazepam.
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Pharmacological action
 Alimentary system

• Antacids
 Sodium Bicarbonate, Magnesium hydroxide, Aluminium hydroxide.
 H 2 - inhibitors - Cimetidine, Ranitidine, Nizatidine, Famotidine
 PPIs - Omeprazole, Lanzoprazole, Rabiprazole

• Gastro intestinal sedatives

 Hyoscine, Atropine, Scopolamine, Domperidone
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• Laxatives and Purgatives
 Bisacodyl, Docusates,Lactulose,Senna

• Anthelmintics
 Albendazole, Mebendazole, Levamisole, Bephenium
hydroxynaphthoate, Pyrantel pamoate

• Antidiarrhoeals
 Hyoscine, Loperamide, Diphenoxylate HCL,
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• Drugs acting on the cardiovascular system

• Cardiac reactants
 Digoxin, Propranolol, Amiodarone, Atenolol

• Reactants on vascular system

• Antihypertensives
• Calcium channel blockers
 Nifedipine, Amlodipine,Felodipine, Diltiazem, Verapamil
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• B – Blockers
 Propranolol, Atenolol, Labetalol,Timolol
• Vasodilators
 Methyldopa, Hydrallazine
• Anticoagulants
 Warfarin, Heparin
• Antiplatelet
 Aspirin, Clopidogrel
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 Drugs affecting the CNS
• Analgesics/Antipyretics
 Paracetamol, Aspirin, Dipyrone(metamizol).

 NSAIDS
 Ibuprofen, Piroxicam, Tramadol, Diclofenac

 Opiate analgesics
 Pentazocine, Morphine,Pethilophan,Petidine
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• Hypnotics
 Phenobarbitone, Flunitrazepam
• Sedatives/Tranquilizers( anxiolytics)
 Diazepam, Nitrazepam, Triazolam,
Bromazepam
• Antipsychotics
 Thioridazine, Chlorpromazine, Fluphenazine
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• Anticonvulsants
 Phenytoin sodium, Sodium valproate, Clonazepam.
• Muscle relaxants
 Methocarbamol, Orphenadrine, Suxamethonium
• Antihistamines
 Chlorpheniramine, Prometazine,
Loratadine,Mepyramine,
Astemizole,Diphenhydramine,
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• Antidepressants
 Imipramine, Amitriptyline, Clomipramine
• Corticosteroids
 Prednisolone, Dexamethasone,
Betamethasone.
• Antibiotics
 Ampicillin, Amoxycillin,Doxycycline,
Erythromycin.
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• DIURETICS
 Frusemide, Amiloride,Hydrochlorothiazide,
Spironolactone.
• Antivirals
 Acyclovir, Lamivudine, Ganciclovir
• Antiretrovirals
• Zidovudine, Nevirapine, Stavudine etc.
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The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System.

• ATC/DDD.

Definition
• The ATC/DDD system classifies therapeutic drugs.

Purpose
• The purpose of the ATC system is to serve as a tool for drug utilization research in order to improve
quality of drug use.

Classification Structure .

• In the ATC classification system, the drugs are divided into different groups according to –

 The organ or system on which they act

 Their chemical, pharmacological and therapeutic properties.

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• In this system, drugs are classified into groups at different levels.
First level.
• This first level of the code indicates the anatomical main group and
consists of one letter. These are 14 main groups.
code
A Alimentary tract $ metabolism
B Blood $blood forming organs
C Cardiovascular system
D dermatologicals
G genito-urinary sys. $ sex hormones
H Systemic hormonal preps excluding sex hormones $insulin

J Anti-infectives for systemic use.

L Antineoplastic $ immunomodulatory agent.
M Musculo-skeletal system
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Second level.
• The second level of the code indicates the therapeutic main group and consists
of two digits.
• Example : CO3 diuretics.

Third level
• The third level of the code indicates the therapeutic/pharmacological subgroup
and consists of one letter.
• Example : CO3C high ceiling diuretics.

Fourth level
The fourth level of the code indicates the chemical/therapeutic/pharmacological
subgroup and consists of one letter.
Example : CO3CA sulphonamides.
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Fifth level.
• The fifth level of the code indicates the chemical substance and consists of
two digits.
• Example : CO3CA01 furosemide.
The DDD.
• Defined Daily Dose is the assumed average maintenance dose per day for
a drug used for its main indication in adults.
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Drug names.

Chemical names.
• The chemical name is assigned according to rules of nomenclature of chemical
compounds.

Brand or trade name.

• The brand name is always capitalized and is selected by the manufacturer.

The generic name.

• The generic name refers to a common established name irrespective of its manufacturer.

• In most cases a drug bearing a generic name is equivalent to the same drug with a brand
name.

• This equivalency is not always true.

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• Drugs are chemically equivalent, different manufacturing processes may
cause difference in pharmacological actions.

• Several differences may be crystal size or form,isomers,crystal hydration,

purity(type and number of impurities),
vehicles,binders,coatings,dissolution rate and storage stability.
 REGULATION OF MEDICINES. 24.

NAFDAC.
• The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control was
established as a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Health by decree No.
15 of 1993.

• It has the mandate to regulate medicine products intended for use in the
diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of diseases.

• Operators of all indigenous and non-indigenous drug establishments that

engage in the manufacture , preparation, propagation, compounding or
processing of drugs are required to register and submit a list of every drug
in commercial distribution.
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• Electronic drug registration and listing system (eDRLS).

• Pharmacovigilance.