A pharmaceutical drug, also referred to as medicine or medicament, can be loosely defined as

any substance intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of
disease.Other synonyms include pharmacotherapy, pharmacotherapeutics, and drug
treatment.

Classification
Medications can be classified in various ways[3], such as by chemical properties, mode of
administration, biological system affected, or therapeutic effects. An elaborate and widely used
classification system is the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System (ATC
system). The World Health Organization keeps a list of essential medicines.
A sampling of classes of medicine includes:
1. Antipyretics: reducing fever (pyrexia/pyresis)
2. Analgesics: painkillers
3. Antimalarial drugs: treating malaria
4. Antibiotics: inhibiting germ growth
5. Antiseptics: prevention of germ growth near burns, cuts and wounds

Types of medications (type of pharmacotherapy)

For the gastrointestinal tract or digestive system

Upper digestive tract: antacids, reflux suppressants, antiflatulents, antidopaminergics,

proton pump inhibitors, H2-receptor antagonists, cytoprotectants, prostaglandin
analogues

Lower digestive tract: laxatives, antispasmodics, antidiarrhoeals, bile acid sequestrants,

opioid...gatartic drugs

For the cardiovascular system

General: beta-receptor blocker or beta blocker, calcium channel blockers, diuretics,

cardiac glycosides, antiarrhythmics, nitrate, antianginals, vasoconstrictor, vasodilator,
peripheral activator

Affecting Blood pressure: ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, alpha blocker

Coagulation: anticoagulant, heparin, antiplatelet drug, fibrinolytic, anti-hemophilic factor,

haemostatic drugs

Atherosclerosis/cholesterol agents: hypolipidaemic agents, statins.

For the central nervous system

See also: Psychiatric medication
hypnotic, anaesthetics, antipsychotic, antidepressant (including tricyclic antidepressants,
monoamine oxidase inhibitor, lithium salt, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), anti-emetic,
anticonvulsant and antiepileptic, anxiolytic, barbiturate, movement disorder drug, stimulant
(including amphetamines), benzodiazepine, cyclopyrrolone, dopamine antagonist, antihistamine,
cholinergic, anticholinergic, emetic, cannabinoids, 5-HT antagonist

For pain & consciousness (analgesic drugs)

Further information: Analgesic
The main classes of painkillers are NSAIDs, opioids and various orphans such as paracetamol,
tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsants.

For musculo-skeletal disorders

NSAIDs (including COX-2 selective inhibitors), muscle relaxant, neuromuscular drug
anticholinesterase

For the eye

General: adrenergic neurone blocker, astringent, ocular lubricant

Diagnostic: topical anesthetics, sympathomimetics, parasympatholytics, mydriatics,

cycloplegics

Anti-bacterial: antibiotics, topical antibiotics, sulfa drugs, aminoglycosides,

fluoroquinolones

Anti-viral:

Anti-fungal: imidazoles, polyenes

Anti-inflammatory: NSAIDs, corticosteroids

Anti-allergy: mast cell inhibitors

Anti-glaucoma: adrenergic agonists, beta-blockers, carbonic anhydrase

inhibitors/hyperosmotics, cholinergics, miotics, parasympathomimetics, prostaglandin
agonists/prostaglandin inhibitors. nitroglycerin

For the ear, nose and oropharynx

sympathomimetic, antihistamine, anticholinergic, NSAIDs, steroid, antiseptic, local anesthetic,
antifungal, cerumenolyti

For the respiratory system

bronchodilator, NSAIDs, anti-allergic, antitussive, mucolytic, decongestant
corticosteroid, beta-receptor antagonist, anticholinergic, steroid

For endocrine problems

androgen, antiandrogen, gonadotropin, corticosteroid, human growth hormone, insulin,
antidiabetic (sulfonylurea, biguanide/metformin, thiazolidinedione, insulin), thyroid hormones,
antithyroid drugs, calcitonin, diphosponate, vasopressin analogues

For the reproductive system or urinary system

antifungal, alkalising agent, quinolones, antibiotic, cholinergic, anticholinergic,
anticholinesterase, antispasmodic, 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, selective alpha-1 blocker,
sildenafil, fertility medication

For contraception

Hormonal contraception

Ormeloxifene

Spermicide

For obstetrics and gynecology

NSAIDs, anticholinergic, haemostatic drug, antifibrinolytic, Hormone Replacement Therapy,
bone regulator, beta-receptor agonist, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, LHRH

gamolenic acid, gonadotropin release inhibitor, progestogen, dopamine agonist, oestrogen,

prostaglandin, gonadorelin, clomiphene, tamoxifen, Diethylstilbestrol

For the skin

emollient, anti-pruritic, antifungal, disinfectant, scabicide, pediculicide, tar products, vitamin A
derivatives, vitamin D analogue, keratolytic, abrasive, systemic antibiotic, topical antibiotic,
hormones, desloughing agent, exudate absorbent, fibrinolytic, proteolytic, sunscreen,
antiperspirant, corticosteroid

For infections and infestations

antibiotic, antifungal, antileprotic, antituberculous drug, antimalarial, anthelmintic, amoebicide,
antiviral, antiprotozoal

For immunology
vaccine, immunoglobulin, immunosuppressant, interferon, monoclonal antibody

For allergic disorders

anti-allergic, antihistamine, NSAIDs

For nutrition
tonic, iron preparation, electrolyte, parenteral nutritional supplement, vitamins, anti-obesity drug,
anabolic drug, haematopoietic drug, food product drug

For neoplastic disorders

cytotoxic drug, therapeutic antibody, sex hormones, aromatase inhibitor, somatostatin inhibitor,
recombinant interleukins, G-CSF, erythropoietin

For diagnostics
contrast media

For euthanasia
An euthanaticum is used for euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, see also barbiturates.
Euthanasia is not permitted by law in many countries, and consequently medicines will not be
licensed for this use in those countries.