Drug class: Difference between revisions
imported>Fire Created page with "{{Short description|Category of drugs used to classify a drug according to certain criteria}} {{about|pharmacological drug classification}} A '''drug class''' is a set of medications and other compounds that have a similar chemical structures, the same mechanism of action (i.e. binding to the same biological target), a related mode of action, and/or are used to treat the same disease.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Mahoney A, Evans J | title = Compa..." |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
{{about|pharmacological drug classification}} | {{about|pharmacological drug classification}} | ||
A '''drug class''' is a set of [[medication]]s and other compounds that have a similar [[chemical structure]]s, the same [[mechanism of action]] (i.e. binding to the same [[biological target]]), a related [[mode of action]], and/or are used to treat the same disease. | A '''drug class''' is a set of [[medication]]s and other compounds that have a similar [[chemical structure]]s, the same [[mechanism of action]] (i.e. binding to the same [[biological target]]), a related [[mode of action]], and/or are used to treat the same disease. | ||
In several dominant drug classification systems, these four types of classifications form a hierarchy. For example, the [[fibrate]]s are a chemical class of drugs (amphipathic carboxylic acids) that share the same mechanism of action ([[PPAR agonist]]) and mode of action (reducing blood [[triglyceride]]s), and that are used to prevent and treat the same disease ([[atherosclerosis]]). Conversely, not all PPAR agonists are fibrates, not all triglyceride lowering agents are PPAR agonists, and not all drugs used to treat atherosclerosis are triglyceride-lowering agents. | In several dominant drug classification systems, these four types of classifications form a hierarchy. For example, the [[fibrate]]s are a chemical class of drugs (amphipathic carboxylic acids) that share the same mechanism of action ([[PPAR agonist]]) and mode of action (reducing blood [[triglyceride]]s), and that are used to prevent and treat the same disease ([[atherosclerosis]]). Conversely, not all PPAR agonists are fibrates, not all triglyceride lowering agents are PPAR agonists, and not all drugs used to treat atherosclerosis are triglyceride-lowering agents. | ||
| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
== Mechanism of action == | == Mechanism of action == | ||
This type of categorisation is from a [[Pharmacology|pharmacological]] perspective and categorises them by their biological target. Drug classes that share a common molecular [[mechanism of action]] modulate the activity of a specific [[biological target]]. | This type of categorisation is from a [[Pharmacology|pharmacological]] perspective and categorises them by their biological target. Drug classes that share a common molecular [[mechanism of action]] modulate the activity of a specific [[biological target]]. The definition of a mechanism of action also includes the type of activity at that biological target. For receptors, these activities include [[agonist]], [[receptor antagonist|antagonist]], [[inverse agonist]], or [[selective receptor modulator|modulator]]. Enzyme target mechanisms include [[enzyme activator|activator]] or [[enzyme inhibitor|inhibitor]]. Ion channel modulators include [[channel opener|opener]] or [[channel blocker|blocker]]. The following are specific examples of drug classes whose definition is based on a specific mechanism of action: | ||
{{div col|colwidth=33em}} | {{div col|colwidth=33em}} | ||
* [[5-alpha-reductase inhibitor|5-Alpha-reductase inhibitor]] | * [[5-alpha-reductase inhibitor|5-Alpha-reductase inhibitor]] | ||
| Line 78: | Line 78: | ||
==Amalgamated classes== | ==Amalgamated classes== | ||
Some drug classes have been amalgamated from these three principles to meet practical needs. The class of [[nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs]] (NSAIDs) is one such example. Strictly speaking, and also historically, the wider class of anti-inflammatory drugs also comprises [[Corticosteroid|''steroidal'' anti-inflammatory drugs]]. These drugs were in fact the predominant anti-inflammatories during the decade leading up to the introduction of the term "nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs." Because of the disastrous reputation that the corticosteroids had got in the 1950s, the new term, which offered to signal that an anti-inflammatory drug was not a steroid, rapidly gained currency. | Some drug classes have been amalgamated from these three principles to meet practical needs. The class of [[nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs]] (NSAIDs) is one such example. Strictly speaking, and also historically, the wider class of anti-inflammatory drugs also comprises [[Corticosteroid|''steroidal'' anti-inflammatory drugs]]. These drugs were in fact the predominant anti-inflammatories during the decade leading up to the introduction of the term "nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs." Because of the disastrous reputation that the corticosteroids had got in the 1950s, the new term, which offered to signal that an anti-inflammatory drug was not a steroid, rapidly gained currency. The drug class of "nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs" (NSAIDs) is thus composed by one element ("anti-inflammatory") that designates the mechanism of action, and one element ("nonsteroidal") that separates it from other drugs with that same mechanism of action. Similarly, one might argue that the class of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD) is composed by one element ("disease-modifying") that albeit vaguely designates a mechanism of action, and one element ("anti-rheumatic drug") that indicates its therapeutic use. | ||
* [[Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug]] (NSAID) | * [[Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug]] (NSAID) | ||
* [[Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug]] (DMARD) | * [[Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug]] (DMARD) | ||
==Other systems of classification== | ==Other systems of classification== | ||
| Line 92: | Line 92: | ||
*For the Canadian legal classification, see [https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-38.8/index.html Controlled Drugs and Substances Act] | *For the Canadian legal classification, see [https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-38.8/index.html Controlled Drugs and Substances Act] | ||
* [[Pregnancy category]] is defined using a variety of systems by different jurisdictions | * [[Pregnancy category]] is defined using a variety of systems by different jurisdictions | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||