General Drug Categories (Part 5)

[ Anti/psych/o/tic = Anti- is a prefix term that means "against", psych/o is a combining form that refers to "mind", and -tic is a suffix term that means "pertaining to".] Antipsychotics are drugs used to treat severe psychiatric disorders, particularly schizophrenia, which produces symptoms of psychosis (delusions, hallucinations, paranoia or disordered thinking). They are also known as major tranquilizers. Haloperidol, loxapine, and thioridazine are some examples of antipsychotic drugs.

[ Bronch/o/dilat/o/r = Bronch/o is a combining form that refers to "bronchial tube", dilat/o is a combining form that pertains to "expand", and -or is a suffix term that turns a word into a noun (agent or person).] Bronchodilators are drugs used to open up the bronchial tubes in the lungs when they have become narrowed by muscle spasms. These drugs ease asthmatic symptoms. Examples of bronchodilators include albuterol and theophylline.

[ Tranquil/izer = Tranquil is a word root that refers to "quiet" or "calm", -izer is a suffix term that turns a word into a noun (agent or person).] Any drug that has calming or sedative effects is commonly referred to as a tranquilizer. A minor tranquilizer is usually an anxiolytic, while a major tranquilizer might be an antipsychotic.

[ Ant/acid = Ant- (a variant form of anti-) is a prefix that means "against", acid is a word root that refers to "acid".] By neutralizing stomach acid, antacids relieve indigestion and heartburn. A few examples of antacids are magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide.

[ Anti/pyret/ic = Anti- is a prefix that means "against", pyret is a word root that refers to "fever", and -ic is a suffix term that means "pertaining to".] Antipyretics are medications that reduce fever. Antipyretics cause the hypothalamus to override prostaglandins as a trigger for increased temperature. The most commonly used antipyretics are acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

As a central nervous system depressant, barbiturates cause relaxation and drowsiness. Despite their effectiveness as anxiolytics, hypnotics, and anticonvulsants, barbiturates have physical and psychological addiction potential. Amobarbital and phenobarbital are examples of barbiturates.

[ Cyt/o/tox/ic = Cyt/o is a combining form that refers to "cell", tox is a word root that pertains to "poison", and -ic is a suffix term that means "pertaining to".] A cytotoxic drug kills or damages cells. Cytotoxic drugs are used both as antineoplastics (drugs that treat cancer) and as immunosuppressives. Doxorubicin and dacarbazine are examples of cytotoxic drugs.

[ Immun/o/suppress/ive = Immun/o is a combining form that refers to "immune", suppress is a word root that pertains to "restrain" or "repress", and -ive is a suffix term that means "pertaining to".] An immunosuppressive drug prevents or reduces the body's normal response to invasion by diseases or foreign tissue. It is used to treat autoimmune diseases as well as to prevent organ transplant rejection. Tofacitinib and prednisone are examples of such drugs.

[ Vit/amin = Vit is a word root that refers to "life", -amin is a suffix term that refers to "amine (nitrogen compound) ". ] Vitamins are chemicals essential in small quantities for good health. People whose diets are inadequate or who have digestive tract or liver disorders may need to take supplementary vitamins.