Drug Classes
Explore Drug Classes
A comprehensive pharmacological classification of medicines organized by therapeutic use, mechanism of action, drug class, and clinical application. Explore major drug categories and discover detailed information about individual medicines.
Major Pharmacological Drug Classes
Browse medicines according to their therapeutic category and pharmacological action.
Antihypertensive Drugs
Medicines used to lower elevated blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications.
- ACE inhibitors
- ARBs
- Beta blockers
- Calcium channel blockers
- Diuretics
Antiarrhythmic Drugs
Drugs used to prevent, control, or treat abnormal cardiac rhythms.
- Class I sodium-channel blockers
- Class II beta blockers
- Class III potassium-channel blockers
- Class IV calcium-channel blockers
Diuretics
Drugs that increase renal excretion of sodium and water and are widely used in hypertension and fluid overload.
- Loop diuretics
- Thiazide diuretics
- Potassium-sparing diuretics
- Osmotic diuretics
Antibacterial Drugs
Medicines used to treat bacterial infections through different mechanisms of antimicrobial action.
- Penicillins
- Cephalosporins
- Macrolides
- Fluoroquinolones
- Tetracyclines
Antiviral Drugs
Drugs that inhibit viral replication and are used against a variety of viral infections.
- Anti-herpes drugs
- Anti-influenza drugs
- Antiretrovirals
- Anti-hepatitis drugs
Antifungal Drugs
Medicines used to treat superficial and systemic fungal infections.
- Azole antifungals
- Polyenes
- Echinocandins
- Allylamines
Analgesics
Medicines used for the relief and management of pain.
- Non-opioid analgesics
- NSAIDs
- Opioid analgesics
- Adjuvant analgesics
Antidepressants
Medicines primarily used in depressive disorders and several other neuropsychiatric conditions.
- SSRIs
- SNRIs
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- MAO inhibitors
Antipsychotic Drugs
Medicines used primarily for schizophrenia, psychosis, and related psychiatric disorders.
- Typical antipsychotics
- Atypical antipsychotics
- Dopamine receptor antagonists
Antidiabetic Drugs
Medicines used to control blood glucose in patients with diabetes mellitus.
- Biguanides
- Sulfonylureas
- DPP-4 inhibitors
- SGLT2 inhibitors
- GLP-1 receptor agonists
- Insulins
Corticosteroids
Steroid hormones and synthetic derivatives with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.
- Glucocorticoids
- Mineralocorticoids
- Systemic corticosteroids
- Topical corticosteroids
Gastrointestinal Drugs
Medicines used to treat disorders involving the stomach, intestine, acid secretion, motility, and nausea.
- Proton pump inhibitors
- H2 receptor antagonists
- Antacids
- Antiemetics
- Laxatives
What information can you find?
Each drug class can be developed into a detailed pharmacology reference containing classification, mechanism of action, therapeutic uses, examples, adverse effects, contraindications, interactions, pharmacokinetics, and related drug monographs.
Therapeutic & pharmacological subclasses
Molecular and physiological actions
Generic names and related medicines
Understanding Drug Classification
Drug classes organize medicines according to their pharmacological properties, therapeutic effects, chemical structure, or mechanism of action.
Pharmacological Classification
Pharmacological classification groups drugs according to their mechanism of action or physiological effect.
- Receptor agonists and antagonists
- Enzyme inhibitors
- Ion-channel modulators
- Transporter inhibitors
- Hormonal agents
Therapeutic Classification
Therapeutic classification groups medicines according to the medical conditions or therapeutic purposes for which they are used.
- Antihypertensive drugs
- Antidiabetic drugs
- Antibiotics
- Analgesics
- Antidepressants
What is a Drug Class?
A drug class is a group of medicines that share one or more important characteristics, such as mechanism of action, chemical structure, therapeutic effect, or clinical use.
Drug Class vs Drug Monograph
A drug class page provides information about a group of related medicines, while a drug monograph focuses on an individual medicine and provides detailed information about that specific drug.