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
animals.Capable 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.
1.laxatives: agents which produce almost normal
stools without griping.eg:liquid paraffin,ascara sagrade
etc.
2.simple purgatives: produce frequent and
abundant stools without much criping.
Eg: oleum,recini,aloes,mag sulph.
3.Drastic 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.
1.vermicides: drugs which kill the parasites
Without necessarily expelling them.
Eg: oleum,tetrachloroethylene etc.
2.vermifuges: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.
1.direct cholagogues(choleretics):agents that
Increase the secretion of bile eg: fel
bovinum,bile salts etc.
2.indirect : 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.
2.Saline 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 desire.Eg: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 contents.Eg:- 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
constriction.Eg:-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 Practice.Eg:
Nitrites.
Sudorifics: term refers to diaphoretics which act
Powerful. eg:pilocarpine
Anhydrotics: agents which lessen the secretion of
Sweat.eg:atropine
Counter-irritants: terms used to indicate agents which
are used to counteract against an existing
irritation.often 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 pustules.eg:biniedibe of Hg
croton oil etc.
caustics(corrosives): agents which destroy living
tissues with which they come into
contact.eg: 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
granulations.eg: 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 worm.eg: sulphur ,gammaxene,acid
Salicylic acid.
1.acaricides: those that act against mange
Eg: sulphur,gammaxene
ii.Fungicides: those used for fungus infections-iodine
preparation etc,.
iii.insecticides: 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 microrganisms.eg: 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
tissues.eg:soaps, cetrimide etc.
Depilatories: agents used to remove superfluous hair
eg:barium sulphide
Dessicants: agents which absorb moisture and keep
wound dry.eg: chalk,starch etc.
Antispasmodics: drugs used to overcome spasms of
Internal organs.eg:pethidine,belladona
Hyoscyanus.
Parasympathomimetics: (or cholinergic drugs)
Drugs which mimic the effects of
Parasympathetic stimulation or effects
resembling those of cholinergic
impulses.eg: pilocarpine,physostigmine
Arecoline.
Sympathomimetics: (or adrenergic drugs)
Drugs mimicig the action of sympathetic
Stimulation or effects of adrenergic
Impulses.eg: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
