Nclex para la Enfermera Hispana Drug Classifications The following is a list of the major drug classifications, Memory tricks" are included where applicable (Retrieved from https://ncsbn.com) A Antianemics: prevention and treatment of anemias Antianginals o Nitrates: used to treat and prevent attacks of angina; acute treatment o Calcium Channel blockers and beta blockers are used prophylactically for longer-term management Antianxiety agent o benzodiazepines: better for intermittent or snort-term use in the management of anxiety o buspirone, paroxetine, venlafaxine: better for long-term use Antiarrhythmics: suppression of cardiac arrhythmias o generally classified by their effects on cardiac conduction tissue (Class IA, IB, IC, II, III & IV) o atropine and digoxin: also used as antiarrhymics Antiasthmatics: management of acute and chronic episodes of reversible bronchoconstriction Anticholinergics o atropine: bradyarrnytnmias o ipratropium: bronchospasm o atropine: also used as ophthalmic mydriatic o benztropine: management of Parkinson's disease Anticoagulants: prevention and treatment of thromboembolic disorders Anticonvulsants: decrease the incidence and severity of seizures due to different etiologies Antidepressants Antidiabetics o insulin: type 1 diabetes mellitus o oral agents used primarily in type 2 diabetes mellitus Antidiarrheals: for control and symptomatic relief of acute and chronic nonspecific diarrhea Antiemetics: used to manage nausea and vomiting due to many causes, including surgery, anesthesia, and antineoplastic and radiation therapies Antifungals: memory trick - most end with "AZOLE" Antihistamines o used for relief of symptoms associated with allergies and as adjunctive therapy in anaphylactic reactions NCLEX PARA LA ENFERMERA HISPANA 1
o some are used to treat insomnia and Parkinsonlike reactions Antihypertensives: including, but not limited to, the following o ACE inhibitors: treatment of choice for hypertension; memory trick most end with "PRIL" o angiotension receptor blockers: memory trick - most end with "SARTAN", including losartan, valsartan o beta blockers (see below) o calcium channel blockers (see below) Anti-infectives: treatment and prophylaxis of various bacterial infections Antineoplastics: used in the treatment of various solid tumors, lymphomas, and leukemias Antiplatelet agents: used to treat and prevent thromboembolic events, e.g.-, stroke, myocardial infarction Antipsychotics Antipyretics: used to lower fever of many causes, including infection, inflammation, and neoplasms Antirheumatics: used to manage symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and slow down joint destruction and preserve joint function Antituberculars: used in the treatment and prevention of tuberculosis Antiulcer agents o used in the treatment and prophylaxis of peptic ulcer and gastric hypersecretory conditions, e.g., Zollinger-Ellison syndrome o memory trick - most end with "PRAZOLE", including omeprazole, pantoprazole, esomeprazole Antivirals: memory trick - many end with "CY[I]CLOVIR", including acyclovir, valacyclovir B Beta blockers: o used in the management of hypertension, angina pectoris, tachyarrhythmias, migraine headache (prophylaxis), MI (prevention), glaucoma (opthlalmic use), CHF (carvedilol and sustained-release metoprolol only), hyperthyroidism (management of symptoms only) o memory trick - most end with 'OLOL", "ALOL" or "ILOL" Bone resorption inhibitors o used to treat and prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women o also used to treat osteoporosis due to corticosteriod therapy, treatment of Paget's disease of the bone, and management of hypercalcemia NCLEX PARA LA ENFERMERA HISPANA 2
C Calcium channel blockers o used in the treatment of hypertension (amlodipine, diltiazem, felodipine, isradipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, nisoldipine, verapamil) o also used in the treatment and prophylaxis of angina pectoris or coronary artery spasm (amlodipine, diltiazem, felodipine, nicardipine, verapamil) o memory trick - most end with "DIPINE" Corticosteriods: o used in replacement doses (20 mg of hydrocortisone or equivalent) systematically to treat adrenocortical insufficiency o larger doses are usually used for their anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, or antineoplastic activity D Diuretics o thiazide diuretics and loop diuretics are used alone or in combination in the treatment of hypertension or edema due to CHF or other causes o potassium-sparing diuretics have weak diuretic and antihypertensive properties and are used to conserve potassium in clients receiving thiazide or loop diuretics o osmotic diuretics are often used in the management of cerebral edema H Hormones o used in the treatment of deficiency states including diabetes (insulin), diabetes insipidus (desmopressin), hypothyroidism (thyroid hormones), and menopause (estrogens or estrogens/progestins) o hormones may be used to treat hormonally sensitive tumors (androgens, estrogens) I Immunosuppressants: o most are used in the prevention of transplantation rejection reactions o others are used in the management of selected autoimmune diseases (nephrotic syndrome of childhood and severe rheumatoid arthritis) L Laxatives: used to treat or prevent constipation or to prepare the bowel for radiologic or endoscopic procedures NCLEX PARA LA ENFERMERA HISPANA 3
Lipid-lowering agents: o used as a part of a total plan, including diet and exercise, to reduce blood lipids in an effort to reduce the morbidity and mortality of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and its sequelae o memory trick - many end with "STATIN", e.g.-, atorvastatin, simvastatin, Rosuvastatin M Minerals/electrolytes/pH modifiers o used in the prevention and treatment of deficiencies or excesses of electrolytes and maintenance of optimal acid/base balance for homeostasis acidifiers and alkalinizers are also used to promote urinary excretion of substances that accumulate in some disease states, e.g.-, kidney stones N Nonopioid analgesics: used to control mild to moderate pain and/or fever Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents: used to control mild to moderate pain, fever, and various inflammatory conditions, e.g.-, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis O Opioid analgesics: used in the management of moderate to severe pain S Sedative/hypnotics o used to provide sedation, usually prior to procedures o selected agents are useful as anticonvulsants, skeletal muscle relaxants, adjuncts in general surgery and adjuncts for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome Skeletal muscle relaxants o used to treat spasticity (associated with spinal cord diseases or lesions) o used as adjunctive therapy in the symptomatic relief of acute painful musculoskeletal conditions o IV dantrolene is also used to treat and prevent malignant hyperthermia T Thrombolytics: used for the acute management of coronary thrombosis (Ml), massive pulmonary emboli, deep vein thrombosis, and arterial thromboembolism NCLEX PARA LA ENFERMERA HISPANA 4
V Vascular headache suppressants o used for the treatment of vascular headaches, e.g. migraine and cluster headaches; memory trick - many end with "TRIPTAN", including sumatriptan o other agents are used for suppression of frequently occurring vascular headaches, e.g. some beta blockers and calcium channel blockers NCLEX PARA LA ENFERMERA HISPANA 5