Group of Medicines

Group of Medicines in Veterinary Pharmacology: Classification with Examples

Drugs used in veterinary medicine can be categorized into various groups according to their therapeutic indications, mechanism of action, pharmacological effects, or site of action. These classifications help simplify the study of pharmacology and improve the rational selection of drugs for different clinical conditions.

In this article, you will find the major groups of medicines commonly used in veterinary practice, along with examples of drugs belonging to each category.

For example, Meloxicam can be classified as an NSAID, an anti-inflammatory drug, and an analgesic. In this article, you will learn to differentiate the various drugs that belong to different groups.

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used in veterinary practice. They possess anti-inflammatory, analgesic (mainly for musculoskeletal pain and, in some cases, visceral pain), and antipyretic properties. However, the intensity of these effects varies among different NSAIDs.

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) include:

1. Meloxicam
2. Piroxicam
3. Phenylbutazone
4. Naproxen
5. Aspirin
6. Carprofen
7. Robenacoxib
8. Firocoxib
9. Flunixin meglumine

Opioid Analgesics

Opioid analgesics are drugs that relieve pain by binding to opioid receptors in the central and peripheral nervous systems. They are primarily used for the management of moderate to severe pain and are also commonly employed as preanesthetic medications and adjuncts to general anaesthesia in veterinary practice. Common opioid analgesics include:

• Tramadol
• Buprenorphine
• Butorphanol

Corticosteroid Agents

Corticosteroid agents are steroid hormones or their synthetic analogues that possess potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. They are widely used in veterinary medicine for the management of inflammatory, allergic, autoimmune, and endocrine disorders.

1. Budesonide
2. Dexamethasone
3. Prednisolone

Anticonvulsant Agents

Anticonvulsant agents are drugs used to prevent and control seizures by reducing abnormal electrical activity in the brain. They are widely used in veterinary medicine for the management of epilepsy, status epilepticus, and other seizure disorders in animals. Common anticonvulsant drugs include:

1. Diazepam
2. Midazolam
3. Phenobarbital
4. Levetiracetam

Anti-ulcer Agents

Anti-ulcer agents are medications used to treat and prevent ulceration of the oesophagus and stomach. They are primarily classified into Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) and H₂ receptor blockers.

• Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)
  1. Pantoprazole
  2. Esomeprazole
  3. Omeprazole
• H₂ Receptor Blockers
  1. Ranitidine
  2. Nizatidine
  3. Famotidine
  4. Cimetidine

Diuretic Drugs

Diuretic drugs increase the excretion of water and electrolytes in the urine. The following drugs are classified as diuretics:

1. Frusemide
2. Torsemide
3. Spironolactone
4. Mannitol
5. Acetazolamide
6. Amiloride
7. Isosorbide
8. Glycerol

Antiemetic Drugs

Antiemetic agents are drugs used to prevent and control vomiting in animals. The following are common antiemetic drugs:

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

Antibiotic (Antibacterial) Agents

Antibiotics (antibacterial agents) are drugs used to inhibit the growth of or kill bacteria in animals through various mechanisms of action. The following drugs are classified as antibiotics:

• Amoxicillin
• Ceftriaxone
• Gentamicin
• Amikacin

Antiparasitic Drugs

Antiparasitic drugs are used to treat and prevent parasitic infestations in animals. The following drugs are classified as antiparasitic agents:

1. Ivermectin
2. Doramectin
3. Selamectin
4. Sarolaner

Antihistamine Drugs

Antihistamines are classified into several types based on the histamine receptor they target (H₁, H₂, H₃ and H₄). These are as follows:

• Antihistamine (H₁-blocker) or Conventional Antihistamines
  1. Chlorpheniramine Maleate
  2. Pheniramine
  3. Diphenhydramine
  4. Cetirizine
  5. Levocetirizine
  6. Hydroxyzine
• Antihistamine (H₂-blocker) or Antacid Drugs
  1. Ranitidine
  2. Famotidine
  3. Cimetidine
• Antihistamine (H₃-blocker)
  1. Thioperamide
• Antihistamine (H₄-blocker)
  1. JNJ 7777120

Cholinergic Agents

Drugs that produce effects similar to those of acetylcholine (ACh), either by directly interacting with cholinergic receptors or by increasing the availability of ACh at receptor sites, are known as cholinergic drugs.

1. Neostigmine
2. Physostigmine
3. Acetylcholine

Anticholinergic Agents

Drugs or agents that block the action of acetylcholine by antagonizing cholinergic receptors are known as cholinoceptor antagonists, anticholinergic drugs, or cholinergic blockers.

1. Atropine
2. Glycopyrrolate
3. Scopolamine (Hyoscine)
4. Tropicamide

Vasodilators

Vasodilators are drugs that dilate (widen) blood vessels by relaxing the vascular smooth muscle. The following drugs are classified as vasodilators:

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

Plasma Volume Expanders

Plasma volume expanders are medications or infusion fluids that increase the circulating blood volume and are used in the management of hypovolaemia and shock. Examples include:

1. Hydroxyethyl Starch
2. Dextran 40
3. Dextran 70

Anaesthetic Agents

Anaesthetic agents are medications used to induce anaesthesia during surgical or diagnostic procedures. They are classified as follows:

1. Ketamine
2. Xylazine
3. Lidocaine (Lignocaine)
4. Propofol
5. Sevoflurane

Hepatoprotective Agents

Hepatoprotective agents are substances that help protect the liver from toxins, oxidative stress, inflammation, and other forms of injury. In veterinary medicine, they are commonly used as supportive therapy for acute and chronic liver diseases to promote hepatocyte function and aid liver recovery.

1. Silymarin (Milk Thistle)
2. S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe)
3. Ursodeoxycholic Acid (Ursodiol)
4. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC)
5. Vitamin E
6. Phosphatidylcholine
7. Glutathione

Chondroprotective Agents

Chondroprotective agents are drugs that help protect articular cartilage, support joint repair, improve synovial fluid quality, and slow the progression of degenerative joint diseases such as osteoarthritis. They are commonly used as part of the long-term management of osteoarthritis in animals.

1. Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium (PPS)
2. Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan
3. Glucosamine
4. Chondroitin Sulfate
5. Hyaluronic Acid (Sodium Hyaluronate)