What does PG, NHP mean
- PG: prostaglandin
-NHP: natural health product
Factors of complexity within drug classes
- Large volume of drugs: these is over 10,000 agents available
- Each drug within the specific class has distinct characteristics
- Each drug can have more than one indication and mechanism
- They may have different responses depended on individual factors
- Lack of consistency between classification, professions, languages…
Chemical name
- A direct description of the chemical structure
NaCL
Generic name
-the unique name that is given to chemical structure that somewhat describes the structure
- Remains the same across languages
-Mostly used
Brand/ trade name
The marketed name given to a drug
What is the best nomenclature to use and why
- Generic name
-Reduces errors
What is bioequivalence
-a generic company needs to prove that there product is chemically identical within the active ingredients to be able to sell it
-Can change the non medicinal ingredients
3 types of classification
- Therapeutic
- Pharmacological
-Family
Therapeutic classification
- Organizing drugs based on their therapeutic usefulness in treating a particular disease
-Example is anti inflammatory (reduce inflammation)
Pharmacological classification
- Organizes drugs based on the way a drug works at a molecular level, tissue and body system level
- Example: calcium channel blocker (blocks calcium channels)
- Addresses a drugs mechanism of action
- Example: calcium channel blocker (blocks calcium channels)
Family classification
- Organizing drugs according to its chemical structure in some way
-Corticosteroids (contain the ring structure)
What are the 3 important documents within government drug classification
- Narcotic control regulations
- Controlled drugs and substances act
- Food and drugs act and regulations
What is under federal vs provincial control
- Federal control: controlled substances (narcotics)
-Provincial control: all other drugs including Rx, OTC, NHPs (schedule I,II, III or unscheduled)
What is a controlled substance
Any drug in whose manufacture, possession or use is regulated by the government
Governance structure
- Food and drug act & regulation-> health Canada-> health Canada-> health products and food branch_> therapeutic products directorate (prescription drugs and medical devices), biologics and genetic therapies directorate (biologics and radiopharmaceuticals), natural and non prescription health products directorate (NHPs, and OTCs)
What are stimulants
- Classification: therapeutic
- Common trait: stimulate the CNS
- Pathophysiology: The body needs a fight or flight response
- Pharmacology: stimulate adrenergic or cholinergic receptors
- Clinical result: fight or flight depending on specificity of drug
Depressants
- Classification: therapeutic
- Common trait: slow down the CNS
- Pathophysiology: the nervous system is in need of rest
- Pharmacology: stimulate inhibitory pathways or block stimulation
- Clinical result: slowing down of process specifically targeted
Opioids
- Classification: family
- Common traits: all stimulate opioid receptors
- Pathophysiology: pain
- Pharmacology: stimulated opioid receptors cause an altered perception of pain
- Clinical result: “I still can feel pain but I don’t care about it”
NSAIDs (non steroidal anti inflammatory
- Classification: family
- Common trait: reduce inflammation while not being a steroid
- Pathophysiology: mild to moderate inflammation
- Pharmacology: inhibit cyclooxygenase which reduces PG synthesis
- Clinical result: reduction in inflammation
Corticosteroids
- Classification: family
- Common trait: steroid structure
- Pathophysiology: moderate to severe inflammation or immune response
- Pharmacology: modulate immune function through various effects
- Clinical result: rapid reduction of inflammation and or immune response
Anabolic steroids
- Classification: family
- Common trait: possess the steroid structure and stimulate androgen receptors
- Pathophysiology: delayed puberty, andropause, low test levels
- Pharmacology: stimulate androgen receptors
- Clinical result: masculine appearance and features
