Group of medicines

Veterinary drugs are classified based on their formulation, type of action, receptor or site of action, etc. in Group of medicines. A single medicine or drug may be included in many groups.

For example, Meloxicam can be grouped in NSAID, Immunosuppressant and Anti-Inflammatory. In this article, you will be able to differentiate different drugs that come under different groups.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or NSAIDs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs  are drugs widely used in veterinary clinics. These have properties of anti-inflammatory, analgesic (skeletal pain and sometimes visceral pain), fever, etc. These properties and intensities vary from drug to drug.

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or NSAIDs are–
  1. Meloxicam
  2. Piroxicam
  3. Phenylbutazone
  4. Naproxen
  5. Aspirin
  6. Carprofen
  7. Robenacoxib
  8. Deracoxib
  9. Tepoxalin
  10. Etodolac
  11. Dipyrone
  12. Firocoxib
  13. Flunixin meglumine
  14. Ibuprofen
  15. Indomethacin
  16. Ketoprofen
  17. Ketorolac tromethamine
  18. Meclofenamate sodium
  19. Meclofenamic acid

Anti-ulcer agents

Anti-ulcer agents are medicine which used for ulceration in oesophagus and stomach. these are Proton Pump Inhibitors and H₂ Blockers.

• Proton Pump Inhibitors Antiulcer agents-
  1. Pantoprazole
  2. Esomeprazole
  3. Omeprazole
• H₂ Blocker Antiulcer agents-
  1. Ranitidine
  2. Nizatidine
  3. Famotidine
  4. Cimetidine

Diuretics drugs

Diuretic drugs increase fluid and electrolytes through urine. These are classified as below:

• Diuretics drugs are-
  1. Frusemide
  2. Torsemide
  3. Spironolactone
  4. Mannitol
  5. Acetazolamide
  6. Amiloride
  7. Isosorbide
  8. Glycerol

Antiemetic drugs

Antiemetic agents are used to control vomiting in animals by various mechanisms-

• Antiemetic drugs–
  1. Ondansetron
  2. Trimethobenzamide
  3. Aprepitant
  4. Dolasetron mesylate
  5. Dronabinol
  6. Granisetron
  7. Maropitant
  8. Meclizine
  9. Mirtazapine

Antibiotics

Antibiotics or anti-bacterial are used to stop the growth of bacteria in animal systems by various mechanisms.

• Beta Lactam Antibacterial drugs are-
  1. Amoxicillin
  2. Ceftriaxone
• Aminoglycosides–
  1. Gentamicin
  2. Amikacin

Antiparasitic

Antiparasitic drugs are used to treat and prevent the parasite infestation in animals.

• Avermectin Class
  1. Ivermectin

Antihistamines

There are several types of Antihistamines are present (based on the histamine receptors- H₁, H₂, H₃ and H₄) , these are-

1. Antihistamine (H₁-blocker) or Conventional Antihistamines
2. Antihistamine (H₂-blocker) or Anti acidic Drugs
3. Antihistamine (H₃-blocker)
4. Antihistamine (H₄-blocker)

1. Antihistamine (H₁-blocker) or Conventional Antihistamine-

Antihistamine (H₁-blocker) or Conventional Antihistamine block H₁ receptor and suppresses inflammatory reactions caused by histamine. these are- Chlorpheniramine Maleate, pheniramine, diphenhydramine, cetirizine, Levocetirizine and hydroxyzine.

2. Antihistamine (H₂-blocker) or Anti acidic Drugs-

Antihistamine (H₂-blocker) or Anti acidic Drugs block H2 receptors and reduce the acidity of Stomach. these drugs are- Ranitidine, Nizatidine, Famotidine, Cimetidine.

3. Antihistamine (H₃-blocker)-

H₃ Antihistamine (H₃-blocker) are not have any clinical significance. Example to this is Thioperamide.

4. Antihistamine (H₄-blocker)-

H₄ receptor antagonists may be used to treat allergies and asthma. Mast cell and eosinophil activity are both inhibited by the highly specific histamine H4 antagonist VUF-6002 when taken orally. This substance also possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperallergic properties. H₄ receptor antagonists also not used widely in clinics.

Cholinergic Agents

Drugs that produce actions similar to acetylcholine (ACh) either by interacting with cholinergic receptors or by increasing availability of ACh at the receptor sites are called Cholinergic drugs.

Directly acting drugs act directly either on muscarinic or nicotinic receptors:

1. Choline esters: Acetylcholine, Methacholine, Carbachol, Bethanechol
2. Alkaloids: Muscarine, Pilocarpine, Arecoline

Indirectly acting drugs act by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase and thereby increasing the concentration of ACh:

1. Reversible inhibitors of cholinesterase: Physostigmine, Neostigmine, Edrophonium
2. Irreversible inhibitors of cholinesterase: Organophosphorus compounds like  Di-isopropyl flurophosphate, Tetra ethylpyrophosphate, Parathion, Malathion, Sarin

Anticholinergic Agents

Drugs or agents which block the action of acetylcholine by blocking its receptors are known as cholinoceptor antagonists or anticholinergic drugs or cholinergic blockers.

Examples of Anticholinergic Agents are-

• Atropine

Vasodilators

Vasodilators are medicines that dilate (open or increase the diameter) of blood vessels.

Examples of Vasodilators are-

• ACE Inhibitors
  1. Benazepril
  2. Captopril
  3. Enalapril
  4. Fosinopril
  5. Lisinopril
  6. Moexipril
  7. Perindopril
  8. Quinapril

Plasma Volume Expanders

These are medicine or infusions that increase in circulatory volume in the body and help in the shock condition. examples are-

1. Hydroxyethyl Starch

Anaesthetic agents

Anaesthetic agents are medications are used to induce anaesthesia during surgery. these are-

• Dissociative anaesthetics
  • Ketamine
  • Tiletamine