PHARMACOLOGY: CLASSIFICATIONS OF MEDICATIONS OBJECTIVES: At the conclusion of the course, the learner will be able to: 1.Detail the actions, uses, side effects, adverse reactions, contraindications, implications and examples of medications within various medication classifications. 2.Describe the usefulness of medication classifications systems. INTRODUCTION Medications can be classified according to their use or function, the system that they treat and thei r chemical makeup. For example, they can be classified according to system, as follows: •respiratory medications •cardiac medications •nervous system medications, etc. They can also be classified according to their function or use. For example, they can be classified as below: •nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications •narcotic analgesics •antidepressants, etc. Lastly they can be classified according to their chemical makeup. Examples include: •aminoglycosides •estrogens •opioids, etc. Most of the medications within a classification group, like alpha- adrenergic blockers, are quite similar although they are not identical. Classification systems enable us to readily identify the similarities and differences among a large number of medicati ons within and outside ofa particular classification. One of the best and most efficient ways to master pharmacology is to become familiar with the classifications ofmedications and then to focus on the similarities and differences ofmedications within the same classification.
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