This presentation is about the classification of drugs

1. NOMENCLATURE AND
CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS

2. NOMENCLATURE OF DRUGS
The term drug nomenclature implies that there are several names that
can be used to identify a drug
 Drugs have three different names;
1. Chemical Name
2. Non Proprietary name
3. Proprietary name.

3. CHEMICAL NAME
A chemical name is given when a new chemical entity
(NCE) is developed.
It is the name given to drug in accordance with rules of chemical
nomenclature established by International Union of Pure and
Applied Chemistry.
It is useful for chemists or technical personnel as it provides the
precise arrangement of atoms and atomic groups in the molecule.
It is not used to identify the drug in a clinical or marketing
situation.

4. NON PROPRIETARY NAME
It is a short name given to a drug that is not subject to proprietary
rights. The nonproprietary name should always be concise and
meaningful. This is used in discussion and textbooks.
There are two classes of non proprietary names;
1. Approved Name
2. Official Names
APPROVED NAME: This name is given to drug by bodies like United
Stats Adopted Name Council (USAN) and British Approved Name
(BAN) soon after its introduction.
This name sometime referred to as generic name however this
term is used to designate a chemical or pharmacological class of
drugs such as Sulphonamide, Penicillin.

5. OFFICIAL NAMES: It is the name approved by the National
Pharmacopeia Commission and included in the official book i.e.
Pharmacopeia.
The official name must be identical with approved name.
PROPRIETARY NAME
It is the name given to a drug by the pharmaceutical firm which
sell the drug.
Thus a single drug is sold under many proprietary names by
different firms.
They are written with capital initial letter and are often further
distinguished by superscript R in circle ®
Clinicians usually described drug by their proprietary names.

6. EXAMPLE
Paracetamol
CHEMICAL NAME: N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetamide.
NON-PROPRIETARY NAME:
Approved Name: British Approved Name (BAN): paracetamol
United States Adopted Name (USAN): acetaminophen
Official Name: Acetaminophen
PROPRIETARY NAME: Panadol, Calpol, Adol

7. CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS
It is essential because it allows several thousand of drugs to be
reduced to a manageable number of group.
There is no uniform or homogenous system of classifying drugs
that suits all purposes.
Drugs are classified according to the convenience of the person
discussing them. Chemist, Pharmacologist , Pharmacist and
Clinician
We classify the drugs based on

8. CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS
1. Chemical Nature
2. Source
3. Target organ/Site of Action
4. Mode of Action
5. Therapeutic Uses
6. Physiological system
7. Physical Effects

9. 1. CLASSIFICATION BASED ON CHEMICAL
NATURE
Chemical Nature of drug is discussed by a Chemist and based on
chemical nature we divide drugs into
INORGANIC DRUGS
Metals and their Salts (Ferrous Sulphate, Zinc Sulphate,
Magnesium Sulphate.
Non Metals Includes Sulphur.
ORGANIC DRUGS
Alkaloids (atropine, Morphine, Strychnine)
Glycosides (Digitoxin, Digoxin).
Proteins(Insuline, Oxytocin)
Esters, Amide, Alcohol, Glycerides.

10. 2. CLASSIFICATION BASED ON SOURCE
Natural Source
Plants (Morphine, Atropine,
Digitoxin)
Animals (Insuline, eCG)
Micro organism (Penicillin)
Mineral (Sodium Chloride)
Synthetic Source
(Sulphonamide, Procaine).
Semi-synthetic Source
Amoxicillin, Ampicillin,
Doxycycline
Bios-ynthetic Source
Recombinant Human
erythropiotin, Recombinant
bovine somattotropine
Sources of drugs are discussed by a Pharmacologist and Pharmacist

11. 3. CLASSIFICATION BASED ON TARGET ORGAN
Drugs acting on CNS (Diazepam, Phenobarbitone).
Drugs acting on Respiratory System (Bromhexaine).
Drugs acting on CVS (Digitoxin, Digoxin).
Drugs acting on GIT (Omeprazole, Kaoline, Sulphadimidine).
Drugs acting on Urinary System (Magnesium Sulphate,
Lasix
Drugs acting on reproductive system (Oxytocin, Estrogen)
Classification based on target organs are done by the Physicians.

12. 4. CLASSIFICATION BASED ON MODE OF
ACTION
Inhibitor of bacterial cell wall synthesis (penicillin)
Inhibitor of bacterial protein synthesis (Tetracycline)
Calcium Channel blocker (Verapamil, nifedipine)
5. CLASSIFICATION BASED ON
THERAPEUTIC USE
Classification based on mode of action is done by Physicians & Pharmacologists.
Antimicrobials/Antibacterials (Penicillin, Streptomycin,
Quinolones, Macrolides).
Antihypertensive (Clonidine, hydralazine, Enalpril).
Classification based on mode of action is done by Physicians & Pharmacologists.

13. Antidiarrheals (Lopramide, Kaoline).
Antiemetics (Domperidone, Meclizine and Metoclopramide).
6. CLASSIFICATION BASED ON
PHYSIOLOGICAL SYSTEM
Sympathomimetics (Adrenaline, Noradrenaline).
Parasympathomimetics (Carbachol, Pilocarpine, Neostigmine).
Neuromuscular blockers Suxamethonium, Gallamine).
7. CLASSIFICATION BASED ON PHYSICAL EFFECTS
Emollients (Lanolin, Vaseline)
Caustics (Silver nitrate)
Demulcents (Zinc Oxide, Tannic Acid).