Classification of drugs
The name of the medicine should generally meet at least three basic requirements - it should be unequivocal, unique and simple. At present, we can meet the names of drugs according to three nomenclature principles - chemical, generic and INN. Medicines can be classified according to various aspects, classification according to ATC and rough classification into indication groups are common.
Drug Nomenclature[edit | edit source]
Chemical name[edit | edit source]
The chemical name is unique and unequivocal, but for the vast majority of drugs it is a name so complicated that it cannot be used. An example of a name used is Aluminii hydroxidum, Kalii chloridum or Magnesii oxidum. An example of an unused (and practically unusable) name is (2RS)-2-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]tetrahydro-2H-1,3,2-oxazaphosphinane-2-oxide (i.e. the cytostatic drug cyclophosphamide)
Generic name[edit | edit source]
A generic name is a similar to a trivial chemical name. Generic names were created by research teams without fixed rules, so there was a risk of duplicates or different names for the same substance. Perhaps the best-known example of double naming is, for example, acetaminophen and paracetamol.
INN names[edit | edit source]
INN (International Nonproprietary Name) is a modern similar to generic names. In order to avoid duplication, the new name is subject to a comment procedure. Relatively simple, but non-binding, rules are defined for creating a name:
- based on chemical structure, purpose of use or natural origin,
- one-word names are preferred,
- morphemes are recommended for some indicator groups (see table).
INNs are set in English, Latin, Spanish and French, other language variants can also be created.
morpheme description andr- androgenic hormones -azepam diazepines -buzone phenylbutazone NSPZL -caine local anesthetic cef- cephalosporins ATB -cilin ATB derived from 6-aminopenicilanic acid -kort- corticoid -cyclin ATB of the tetracycline series -ester- estrogennally active substance -gest- gestagens -ium quaternary ammonium salt -mycin ATB produced by the genus Streptomyces -olol β blocker of the propanolol group -profen ibuprofen NSPZL prost- prostacyclin sulfa- bactericidal sulfonamide -verin papaverine spasmolytic -mab monoclonal antibody -pril ACE inhibitor gli- oral antidiabetic drug – sulfonylurea derivative -vastatin statins -am benzodiazepine
Production Names[edit | edit source]
Product names are the names of specific preparations. Product names of drugs are property of the manufacturer and usually their creation is governed by marketing rules. If the substance's patent protection expires, other companies can also manufacture it under their trade names. Often the trade name is created from a generic or INN name combined with the manufacturer's name. Such a drug is sometimes referred to as a true generic.
ATC drug classification[edit | edit source]
However, the above-mentioned classification is not particularly suitable for statistical processing, which is why the hierarchical (five-level) ATC (Anatomically Therapeutic Chemically) classification was developed. Substances are classified according to the organ system they affect, according to the effect on the organism and according to the structure. The principle of ATC classification is summarized in the table:
ATC code' description example C N C C N two digits - active substance N05BA01 - diazepam one letter - chemotherapy group N05BA01 - benzodiazepines one letter - indicator group N05BA01 - anxiolytic two digits - main therapeutic group N05BA01 - psycholeptics one letter - anatomical group N05BA01 - central nervous system
The list of drug classification systems would not be complete if there was no mention of the "natural" classification into indication groups (e.g. antibiotics, β-blockers, nootropics, etc.). This division is usually used in textbooks because it is very simple and illustrative, yet has a clear internal logic.
An example of the problematic use of such a system is a fairly common group of antibiotics. They are usually understood as medicines against infections. In fact, it should refer to the natural products of microorganisms acting against other living organisms; after all, cytotoxic antibiotics are also used in the therapy of tumors (e.g. doxorubicin) or in the therapy of osteoporosis (e.g. plikamycin). On the other hand, there are also substances that can be used to treat infections produced by higher plants, which are usually also called antibiotics, but the purist knows and uses the correct term - phytoncides.
Links[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- World Health Organization. world health organization [online]. [cit. 2010-04-27]. <http://www.who.int/medicines/services/inn/innquidance/en/>.
Recommended reading[edit | edit source]
- VEJRAŽKA, Martin – SVOBODOVÁ, Dana. Terminologiae medicae ianua : Chemické a farmakologické názvosloví: Názvy léčiv. reprint 1 edition. Academia, 2006. 434 pp. Chapter 12.2. pp. 329-330. ISBN 80-200-1459-4.
