PHARMACOLOGICAL TERMS
Sialogogues: Drugs that increase the secretion
of flow of saliva
Eg:pilocarpine,physostigmine,bitters like
Gentian,alcohol etc.
Anti-sialics: Drugs that diminish the secretion of
Saliva. Eg:Atropine,Potassium ehlores,
Borax etc.
Demulscents: Drugs that protect and soothen mucous
Membrane when irritated or inflamed,
Usually mucilaginous in nature .
Eg:syrups,honey,gruel,gums.
Stomachichs:Agents that increase or stimulate the flow
of gastric juice and promote appetite
Eg:bitters(gentian,ealumba),condiments
Like mustard, ginger.
Digestive adjuvants: which compensate defective
Gastric secretions.
Eg:Dilute Hcl,pepsin etc.
Emetics: Agents that produce vomitings in
[Link] of vomition.
Eg:apomorphine(central emetics)
Sic sulph,sodium sulph,sodium
Chloride.
Antiemetics or gastric sedatives:
Agents that relieve gastric pain and
Control vomiting.
Eg:Bismuth preperations ,kaolin,
Chlorotone.
Carminative (Anti-spasmodics):
Agents that assist in expulsion of
Gases from stomach and intestines
by regulating the action of
musculature of stomach and
intestines,lessening spa and
reflexing spinchters.
Eg:aromatic oils,chloroform etc.
Antacids: agents that nuetralise excess acidity
And continue to exert their action.
Eg: Aluhydroxide,Mg trisilicate etc.
Purgatives(cathartics): Agents which increase
Evacuation of bowel contents.
[Link]: agents which produce almost normal
stools without [Link]:liquid paraffin,ascara sagrade
etc.
[Link] purgatives: produce frequent and
abundant stools without much criping.
Eg: oleum,recini,aloes,mag sulph.
[Link] purgatives:causes energetic and frequent
evacuation accompanied by stanning and griping.
Eg: croton oil,Bacl2
4. Hydragogue purgatives:agents that cause profuse
,frequent watery stools,
Eg: large doses of Mgso4
Intestinal astringent or sedatives: agents which limit
the the action of bowels and correct excessive fluidity
of intestinal contents,
Eg:opium,kaolin,bismuth preperations,creta
Catechu etc.
Antizymotics: Drugs that control excess fermentation
In the stomach and intestins.
Eg: eleum terebinthinae,formaldehyde.
Intestinal antiseptics: Agents that diminish the activity
Of bacteria in intestines and are
Prescribed in diarrhoea and dysnetry
depending on the bacteria.
Eg: sulphonamides ,nitrofurans.
Anti-helmenthics: drugs acting against worms both
Intestinal and tissue but commonly
applied to drugs used against
intestinal parasites.
[Link]: drugs which kill the parasites
Without necessarily expelling them.
Eg: oleum,tetrachloroethylene etc.
[Link]:drugs which expel the parasites
Without necessarily killing them.
Eg: arecoline,kamala etc.
Cholagogues: Agents which increase the secretion of
flow of bile into the alimentary tract.
[Link] cholagogues(choleretics):agents that
Increase the secretion of bile eg: fel
bovinum,bile salts etc.
[Link] : increase the flow of bile by
increasing the intestinal action ,thus reflexly
stimulating the gall bladder and bile ducts to contract.
Eg: saline purgatives,calomel etc.
Diuretics: agents that increase the secretion and flow
of urine.
1. Cardiovascular diuretics:agents that
increase the efficiency of heart and cause
diuresis eg:digitalis,caffeine etc.
[Link] diuretics:Agents that act by increasing osmotic
tension of blood thereby promoting
glomerular filteration. Eg:potassium
nitrates,potassium acetates etc.
3)Irritant diuretics: Agents that irritate the tubules and
interfering with tubular reabsorption.
Eg:volatile cils.
Vesical sedatives: (Urinary sedatives) – Agents that
relieve irritability of bladder and
urethra Eg: hyoscyamus preperations,
belladona, barley water etc.
Lithontryptics : Agents which are supposed to prevent
deposition of solids fron urine and
tendency for calculi formation
Eg: Vitamin “A” : - which acts by
maintaining the continuity of urinary
epithelium ,Lithium salts which form
soluble salts with uric acid and urates
adequate fluid intake.
Aphrodisiacs : Agents which stimulates the sexual
activity and [Link]:Hormones like
Androgens (Testosterone) and
oestrogens (Stilbestrol), Yohimbine
hydrochloride etc.
Anaphrodisiacs: Agents that diminish sexual desire.
Eg:central sedatives like Bromides ,
purgatives , castration etc.
Ecbolics or Agents that stimulate or promote
Oxytocics : contractions of uterine musculature
chiefly of gravid or recently gravid
uterus thus facilitating expulsion of
uterine [Link]:- Ergot, Posterior
pituitary extract.
Galactagogues: Agents which stimulate or increased
secretion or flow of milk. Eg:prolactin
stilbestrol etc.
Antigalactagogues:-
Agents that decrease secretion of flow
of milk. Eg:- Saline purgatives, alum ,
withdrawal of milking , harmones.
Cardiac : Agents which increase either the rate
stimulants or force of contraction of heart or
both. Eg:-Adrenaline, caffeine, etc.
Cardiac tonics : Agents wich increase the ( force )
efficiency of heart in a sustained
manner and generally indicated in
cardiac irregularities or diseases.
Eg: Digital strophanthus etc.
Cardiac
depressants: Drugs that depress heart’s function
or sedatives by slowing down the rate or force
of contraction or both . Eg:-
Physostigmine, Aconite ,Narcotics
and anaesthetics, in cardiac
arrthymias.
Vaso–constrictors : Agents that cause contraction of
blood vessels chiefly arterioles,
thereby causing an raise of B.P.
Eg:Adrenaline,Nor–adrenalin etc.-
Vaso – dillators :- Agents that dilate blood vessels
chiefly arterioles,resulting in fall
of B.P. Eg:Nitrities, Narcotics Etc..
Expectorants : Agents that cause either an
increase of bronchial secretion or
render the secretion more fluid
thus facilitating expulsion, the
being confined to the mm
lining trachea, bronchi and
bronchioles. Eg:- Tpecacuanha in
small doses, ammonia carbonate
iodides, volatile oils. Etc.
Respiratory Agents which augment the
stimulants: number and depth of respirations,
indicated (analeptics) in
respiratory failure . Eg: Leptazol ,
Nikethamide,Camphor–in
oil,Ammonia vapour inhalation etc.
Respiratory Agents which lessen the irritability
sedatives: of the cough centre either by a
selective action on the cough
centre ( codeine , Morphine ) by a
local demuloent action on Pharynx
(Glycerine , Liquorice etc.)
Bronchial relaxants Agents that overcome spasm of
or Antispasmodics : bronchial musculasure causing
relaxation of
bronchioles,indicated in bronchial
[Link]:-Atropine, Nitrites.
Bronchial These that cause constriction of
constrictors : bronchioles. Eg:-Physostigmine,
Barium chloride etc.
cerebral stimulants : Agents that stimulate sensory
areas of cerebral cortex . Eg:-
Caffeine,Cocaine etc..
Cerebral depressants Agents that depress the
or sedatives : functional activity of the CNS.
1)General Anaesthetics :Agents which produce a
condition of insensibility to
pain associated with loss. Of
consciousness. Eg:Chloroform,
ether, N20, barbiturates.
2)Narcotics : Agents that induce prefound
sleep and also marked
depression of circulatory and
respiratory mechanisms . Eg :-
Morphine,chloral hydras etc. in
larger doses.
Narcosis: A term often loosely applied to any
condition involving CNS depression.
Hypnotics : Agents which induce sleep. Eg:chloral
hydras , bromides , morphine in
moderate doses.
Analgesics: Agents employed for relief of pain may be
(Anodynes)
Narcotic: i)Local: Poultices , belladonna liniment etc.
ii)General: Many belong to hypnotics group
morphine etc.
Non – Narcotic: Others : Are non – narcotic in nature –
salicylates , Phenacetin etc.
Local Agents which cause a local loss of
anaesthetics : sensibility by paralyzing the sensory
Nerve endings et. Procaine cocaine etc.
Spinal Agents which in medicinal doses,
stimulants: increase the conductivity and reflex
excitability indicated in paralysis. Eg:
Strychnine.
Analeptics: (Medullary stimulants) Agents which
cause a revival of the dying (although
the revival may be temporary) by
stimulating both respiratory and
vasomotor centres. Eg: picrotoxin ,
Nikethemide , leptazel etc.
Mydriatics: Agents that dilate the pupil. Eg:
Atropine, Homatropine , cocaine.
Myotics: Agents that contract the pupil. Eg:
Pilocarpine , Physostigmine.
Haematonics: Agents that improve the quality of
blood either by increasing the
number of R.B.C. or the percentage
of haemaglobin.
Eg:B12,liver extract,Iron preparations.
Nervine tonics: Drugs that are used to increase the
Tonus of nervous system . Eg: Nux
vomica, glycerophsophates, Arsenical
preparations.
Alteratives: Term loosely applied to agents which
are believed to produced favourable
changes in the processes of nutrition
and repair , indicated in general
debility chronic skin affections .Eg:
Arsenical prep, calcium , iron and
Antimony preparations, Sulphur etc.
Febrifuges or Antipyretics: Drugs which
lower abnormal temperature .Eg:
Quinine,coaltar antipyretics like
phenacetin , salicylates etc. Aspirin.
Diaphoretics: Drugs which increase cutaneous
(sweat) secretions – not of much
importance in Veterinary [Link]:
Nitrites.
Sudorifics: term refers to diaphoretics which act
Powerful. eg:pilocarpine
Anhydrotics: agents which lessen the secretion of
[Link]:atropine
Counter-irritants: terms used to indicate agents which
are used to counteract against an existing
[Link] the agents used are irritants
by themselves under used either to
promote blood supply to effected part or
to convert a chronic inflammatory process
into acute one to facilitate resolution.
Rubifacients: these cause redness of skin by
Vasodilation. eg: liniments containing
Ammonia precipitations,turpentine etc.
Vesicant: agents that cause formation of vesicles
or blisters on skin. Eg: mustard paste,
canthetredin preperations etc.
pustulants or suppurants:agents which cause
inflammation of deep rooted structures
also cause [Link]:biniedibe of Hg
croton oil etc.
caustics(corrosives): agents which destroy living
tissues with which they come into
[Link]: AgNo3,CuSo4 ,acids etc.
Escharotics : agents that cause excessive destruction
of tissues. Eg: nitric acid
styptics or local heamostats(coagulants):
agents which arrest or control
haemorrhage. Eg: alum,ferric perchloride
adrenaline locally,actual cautery.
Local astringents : agents which when applied to
wounds cause contaction of capillaries,
coagulate albumin lessen discharges
and check formation of exuberant
[Link]: zinc sulph,
alum,lead acetate etc.
Emollients : agents that soften an allay irritation of
Skin .eg:fixed oils,soft paraffin etc.
Parasiticides: it refers to drugs which destroy
Ectoparasites on skin like mange mites
Ring [Link]: sulphur ,gammaxene,acid
Salicylic acid.
[Link]: those that act against mange
Eg: sulphur,gammaxene
[Link]: those used for fungus infections-iodine
preparation etc,.
[Link]: agents used against insects like flies
mosquitoes etc.
eg: pyrethrin,D.D.T, Gammaxine etc.
antiprurutics: drugs used to allay itching and local
irritation .eg: phenol,chinosel ,etc.
keratolytics: agents that dissolve scales on the surface
of skin those are usually employed as
ointments. Eg: acid salycilic,resorcin etc.
Deodrants: agents that absorb gases and nuetralise
foul odours. Eg: charcoal ,formalin,starch
etc.
Antiseptics: agents which inhibit or arrest the growth
of [Link]: acriflavine
Disinfectants or germicides: agents that destroy
Bacteria and their species
Eg:bleaching powder carbolic acid etc
Detergents:agents used for cleansing effect of skin and
[Link]:soaps, cetrimide etc.
Depilatories: agents used to remove superfluous hair
eg:barium sulphide
Dessicants: agents which absorb moisture and keep
wound [Link]: chalk,starch etc.
Antispasmodics: drugs used to overcome spasms of
Internal [Link]:pethidine,belladona
Hyoscyanus.
Parasympathomimetics: (or cholinergic drugs)
Drugs which mimic the effects of
Parasympathetic stimulation or effects
resembling those of cholinergic
[Link]: pilocarpine,physostigmine
Arecoline.
Sympathomimetics: (or adrenergic drugs)
Drugs mimicig the action of sympathetic
Stimulation or effects of adrenergic
[Link]:epinephrine,ephedrine
Parasympatholytic or cholinergic blocking drugs:
Drugs that block cholinergic impulses
Eg:atropine,hyoscyanine.
Sympatholytic or adrenergic blocking drugs:
Drugs that block adrenergic impulses
Eg:ergots and its alkaloids yohimbine.
Ganglion stimulating and blocking drugs:
Drugs that stimulate and block
Autonomic impulses at ganglionic
Sites both sympathetic and
Parasympathetic branches of
Autonomous nervous system.
Eg: nicotine