General Drug Categories (Part 3)

[ Narc/o/tic = Narc/o is a combining form that pertains to "sleep" or "stupor", -tic is a suffix term that means "pertaining to".] In addition to opioid pain relievers, narcotics are also called opiates. They should only be used for severe pain that cannot be alleviated by other types of painkillers. Narcotics block the feeling of pain by binding to brain receptors. Codeine, fentanyl, and morphine are among the examples.

[ Anti/convuls/ant = Anti- is a prefix term that means "against", convuls is a word root that refers to "seizure", and -ant is a suffix that turns the word into a noun as an agent or person.] Drugs that prevent epileptic seizures are anticonvulsants. During seizures, they suppress the excessive firing of neurons. Carbamazepine and gabapentin are common anticonvulsants.

[ Anti/neo/plas/tic = Anti- is a prefix term that means "against", neo- is another prefix that refers to "new", plas is a word root that pertains to "growth" or "formation" and -tic is a suffix that means "pertaining to".] Antineoplastic drugs are used to treat cancer. Associated terms for antineoplastic drugs include chemotherapy, cytotoxic, and hazardous drugs. A few examples of antineoplastic drugs are carmustine, chlorambucil, and cyclophosphamide. [ Anti/neo/plas/tic = Anti- is a prefix term that means "against", neo- is another prefix that refers to "new", plas is a word root that pertains to "growth" or "formation" and -tic is a suffix that means "pertaining to".] Antineoplastic drugs are used to treat cancer. Associated terms for antineoplastic drugs include chemotherapy, cytotoxic, and hazardous drugs. A few examples of antineoplastic drugs are carmustine, chlorambucil, and cyclophosphamide.

[ Anti/tuss/ive = Anti- is a prefix term that means "against", tuss is a word root that pertains to "cough" and -ive is a suffix that means "pertaining to".] It is called an antitussive or cough suppressant since it is a substance that suppresses coughing itself. These drugs include codeine, pholcodine, dextromethorphan, noscapine, and butamirate.

[ Anti/sept/ic = Anti- is a prefix term that means "against", sept is a word root that pertains to "infection" and -ic is a suffix that means "pertaining to".] Applied to living tissue/skin, an antiseptic reduces the chance of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction. Antiseptics include peroxides, iodine, and phenols.

[ Anti/histamine = Anti- is a prefix term that means "against", histamine is a substance that is responsible for many allergic reactions.] Antihistamines are drugs used mostly to counteract the effects of histamine, a chemical that plays a role in allergic reactions. Antihistamine drugs include brompheniramine & cetirizine.

[ Anti/hyper/tens/ive = Anti- is a prefix term that means "against", hyper- is another prefix term that means "above normal", tens is a word root that pertains to "stretched" or "strained", and -ive is a suffix term for "pertaining to".] Antihypertensive drugs lower blood pressure. Current antihypertensives include diuretics, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors, centrally-acting antihypertensives, and sympatholytics.

[ Anti-/inflammat/o/ry = Anti- is a prefix term that means "against", inflammat/o is a combining form that pertains to "flame", and -ry is a suffix term for "pertaining to".] Anti-inflammatory drugs are used to treat inflammation caused by conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout. Corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) both reduce inflammation in the body.

[ Anti/a/r/rhythm/ic = Anti- is a prefix term that means "against", a is another prefix term that means "without", rhythm is a word root that pertains to "rhythm", and -ry is a suffix term for "pertaining to".] An antiarrhythmic drug controls irregular heartbeats. Among the most common antiarrhythmics are amiodarone, flecainide & procainamide.

[ Beta-/adren/ergic = Beta- indicates the second of a series of compounds, adren is a word root that pertains to "adrenal gland", and -ergic is a suffix term that refers to "activated or produced by".] Beta-blockers, or beta-adrenergic blocking agents, reduce the heart's oxygen requirement by reducing heartbeat rate while also lowering blood pressure. Generally, beta blockers are used to manage abnormal heart rhythms, and to prevent a second heart attack after the first. Acebutolol, atenolol & metoprolol are commonly prescribed beta-blockers.