| Drug Name |
Category |
Mechanism, Indications, Adverse
Effects, Unique Properties |
| Glipizide |
Diabetes
Sulfonylurea |
"Second-generation" sulfonylurea. |
| Glyburide |
Diabetes
Sulfonylurea |
"Second-generation" sulfonylurea. More
potent ad fewer side-effects. Short half-life, yet it has a long action
of about 24 hrs.
Contraindicated in hepatic or renal impairment. |
| Glycopyrrolate |
Cholinergic Antagonist, Direct
Muscarinic Antagonist
4 Amine |
Does not cross BBB |
| Gonadorelin (Gonadotropin-Releasing
Hormone, GnRH) |
Hormone
GnRH |
Very short half-life of 4 minutes. Can be
given intranasally, IV, or SQ. Pulsatile administrated every 3 or 4 hrs.
Used to treat hypogonadism in men or women, delayed puberty, and
cryptorchidism. |
| Guanabenz |
Adrenergic Agonist, Direct
alpha2-selective |
It is an indirect adrenergic antagonist, as
it decreases sympathetic outflow. |
| Guanadrel |
Adrenergic Antagonist, Indirect
NE-depleting agent |
Similar to Guanethidine but has a shorter
duration of action. |
| Guanethidine |
Adrenergic Antagonist, Indirect
NE-depleting agent |
Inhibits NE release and gradually depletes
NE storage granules. Uptake I is required, so its effects are blocked by
Cocaine. After 1-2 weeks of treatment, reduction of b.p., and often CO
stays near normal. |
| Guanfacine |
Adrenergic Agonist, Direct
alpha2-selective |
It is an indirect adrenergic antagonist, as
it decreases sympathetic outflow. |
| Hemicholinium |
Cholinergic Antagonist, Indirect |
Prevents the sequestration of ACh into
vesicles |
| Hexame thonium |
Cholinergic Antagonist, Direct
Ganglionic Blocker
Blocks NG receptors |
Prototypical ganglionic blocker. Blocks all
autonomic reflex responses (generally, a reflex tachycardia or
bradycardia) |
| Homatropine |
Cholinergic Antagonist, Direct
Muscarinic Antagonist
3 Amine |
Crosses BBB |
| Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) |
Hormone
Menotropin |
Obtained from urine of pregnant women.
Closely related to LH. Given IM at mid-cycle (or whenever follicle is
adequate developed) to mimic the luteal surge, to try to induce
ovulation and treat infertility. |
| Human Menopausal Gonadotropins
(hMG) |
Hormone
Menotropin |
Partially degraded mixture of both FSH +
LH. They still retain some FSH + LH activity. Administered IM to promote
follicular growth, treat infertility.
Can be used to treat infertility in both men and women. |
| Humulin |
Diabetes
Insulin
Short-acting |
Regular insulin, clear solution. Rapid
onset and duration of a few hours. It is taken before meals for its
immediate effects. |
| Hydrocortisone (same as endogenous
Cortisol) |
Glucocorticoid
Short-acting |
|
| Imipramine |
Adrenergic Agonist, Indirect
NE-Potentiating Agent
Uptake-I Inhibitor, Tri-Cyclic Antidepressant |
|
| Iodide, I- |
Hormone
Anti-Thyroid |
Exogenous I- temporarily
(short-term) inhibits the proteolysis of thyroglobulin, preventing
release of T4. Used to treat acute thyroid storm.
Also used before surgery, to make the Thyroid smaller and more firm. |
| Ipratropium |
Cholinergic Antagonist, Direct
Muscarinic Antagonist
4 Amine |
Does not cross BBB |
| Isoethanine |
Adrenergic Agonist, Direct
beta2-selective |
Bronchodilator |
| Isoflurophate (DFP) |
Cholinergic Agonist, Indirect
Cholinesterase Inhibitor
Organophosphate (Irreversible) |
Can be used in glaucoma treatment. |
| Isophane (NPH) Insulin |
Diabetes
Insulin
Intermediate-acting |
Cloudy solution. Protease reacts with the
protamine to release the insulin. Later onset and longer duration. |
|
| Isoproterenol |
Adrenergic Agonist, Direct
beta-selective (beta1, beta2) |
Given sublingually or by inhalation.
Produces hypotension (beta2), tachycardia (beta1),
and higher CO. Rapidly metabolized by COMT in liver. |
| l-Norgestrel |
Contraceptive
Progestin |
Norplant implanted
contraceptive. Used in combined oral contraceptives. Can have androgenic
side-effects (acne, hirsutism). Has the most potent progestin
properties. |
| Labetalol |
Adrenergic Antagonist
alpha-Antagonist, alpha1-Selective
beta-Antagonist, non-selective |
Causes hypotension, but is accompanied by
less tachycardia than other alpha-antagonists, because it also has
beta-antagonizing activity.
Local anesthetic membrane-stabilizing activity. |
| Lente Insulin |
Diabetes
Insulin
Intermediate-acting |
Cloudy solution. Insulin precipitated with
Zinc in acetate buffer. |
| Leuprolide |
Hormone
GnRH Analogue |
Longer half-life of about 3 hrs. Can be
given in pulsatile fashion, or continuously.
Continuous administration: used to slow down precocious puberty, or
used to supress endogenous GnRH release in in-vitro fertilization. |
| Levobunolol |
Adrenergic Antagonist
beta-Antagonist, non-selective |
Decrease aqueous humour production, used to
treat open-angle glaucoma. |
| Lo/ovral |
Contraceptive
Combined Oral Contraceptive |
Ethinyl estradiol + dl-Norgestrel |
| Loestrin |
Contraceptive
Combined Oral Contraceptive |
Ethinyl estradiol + norethindrone |
| Malathion |
Cholinergic Agonist, Indirect
Cholinesterase Inhibitor
Organophosphate (Irreversible) |
Common insecticide. |
| Mecamylamine |
Cholinergic Antagonist, Direct
Nicotinic Blocker |
|
| Medroxypro gesterone |
Contraceptive
Progestin |
When given IM, it is the Depo
Provera contraceptive shot. Very resistant to metabolism when
given IM (long lasting). It is close in structure to Progesterone and
has no androgenic side-effects.
It is the only progestin used in combined post-menopausal hormone
replacement therapy. |
| Meprednisone |
Glucocorticoid
Short-acting |
Some salt-retaining activity (i.e.
Aldosterone cross-reactivity) |
| Mestranol |
Contraceptive
Estrogen |
Metabolic precursor to Ethinyl Estradiol. |
| Metaproterenol |
Adrenergic Agonist, Direct
beta2-selective |
Bronchodilator |
| Metaraminol |
Adrenergic Agonist, Indirect
Mixed-receptor agonist |
Used for the treatment of hypotension.
Overall effects similar to NE, but it is less potent and longer acting.
Because of reflex bradycardia, it actually slightly decreases cardiac
output, but increases force of contraction.
Has direct effects (alpha1, beta1, beta2),
and indirect effects (potentiate NE release).
Uptake I is required for the indirect effects. Cocaine eliminates
this response. |
| Metformin |
Diabetes
Biguanide |
Mechanism of action unknown. Their
hypoglycemic activity does not depend on the presence of functional
beta-cells. |
| Methacholine |
Cholinergic Agonist, Direct
Muscarinic
Choline ester |
Resistant to Acetylcholinesterase, but
susceptible to other cholinesterases, thus it has an intermediate
half-life.
Primarily used as a diagnostic agent.. If muscarine is present, then
SQ Methacholine will not produce expected cholinergic effects. |
| Metham phetamine |
Adrenergic Agonist, Indirect
NE-Releasing Agent
Amphetamine |
Promotes release of NE from pre-synaptic
neuron. More pronounced CNS effects than amphetamine. |
| Methimazole |
Hormone
Anti-Thyroid
Thionamide |
Inhibits organification (iodination) steps
of Thyroid synthesis. Therapeutic effect is delayed.
This is the metabolic by-product of Carbimazole. |
| Methoxamine |
Adrenergic Agonist, Direct
alpha1-selective |
Used to maintain blood pressure during
anesthesia. Produces fewer arrhythmias than other drugs. |
| Methscopolamine |
Cholinergic Antagonist, Direct
Muscarinic Antagonist
4 Amine |
Does not cross BBB |
| Methyldopa |
Adrenergic Agonist, Direct
alpha2-selective |
alpha-methyl-NE is the
active form, converted by DOPA-decarboxylase and
Dopamine-beta-Hydroxylase into the active form. alpha-methyl-NE slowly
replaces endogenous NE in pre-synaptic neurons, to induce the inhibitory
physiologic effect of decreasing sympathetic outflow. |
| Methylph enidate |
Adrenergic Agonist, Indirect
NE-Releasing Agent
Amphetamine |
Similar to Methamphetamine, with abuse
potential. |
| Methylpre dnisolone |
Glucoco rticoid
Short-acting |
Some salt-retaining activity (aldosterone
cross-reactivity) |
| Metoprolol |
Adrenergic Antagonist
beta-Antagonist, beta1-Selective |
Local anesthetic membrane-stabilizing
activity. Cardioselective: safer for use with asthmatics. |
| Metyrapone |
Hormone
Anti-Cortisol |
Inhibits 11beta-Dehydroxylase,
the final step in the formation of Cortisol, thus preventing formation
of Cortisol.
Used diagnostically to confirm secondary adrenal
insufficiency. Give Metyrapone, and look for increase in ACTH
levels. No increase in ACTH indicates secondary adrenal insufficiency. |
| Mifepristone |
Contraceptive
Anti-Progestin |
RU-486 morning-after pill.
It is a weak partial agonist of progestin receptors. It induces abortion
in first trimester (or morning after) by causing luteolysis, embryo
detachment, and inducing menstruation. |
| Muscarine |
Cholinergic Agonist, Direct
Muscarinic
Alkaloid |
Prototype muscarinic agonist. Poison found
in mushrooms, causing cholinergic hyper-activation. |
| Nadolol |
Adrenergic Antagonist
beta-Antagonist, non-selective |
Has particularly long half-life and
duration of action. |
| Nafarelin |
Hormone
GnRH Analogue |
Longer half-life of about 3-hrs. |
| Naphazoline |
Adrenergic Agonist, Direct
alpha1-selective |
Used to induce mydriasis before ophthalmic
exam. |
| Neostigmine |
Cholinergic Agonist, Indirect
Cholinesterase Inhibitor
Carbamate (Reversible) |
Has a quaternary nitrogen and does enter
CNS.
Can be used to treat Myasthenia Gravis. |
| Nicotine |
Cholinergic Agonist, Direct
Nicotinic |
Increases all autonomic outflow (nicotinic
ganglionic stimulation). Also stimulates adrenal medulla to release NE
and Epi, further increasing sympathetics.
Found in insecticides as well as cigarette smoke.
At high (toxic) doses, it can cause depolarizing blockade of smooth
and skeletal muscle. |
| Norepinephrine |
Adrenergic Agonist, Direct
alpha1, alpha2, beta1 |
Increase b.p. ------> reflex
bradycardia.. If reflexes are blocked by Hexamethonium, then you
see a direct tachycardia. |
| Norethindrone |
Contraceptive
Progestin |
Used in combined oral contraceptives. Can
have androgenic side-effects (acne, hirsutism) |
| Norethynodrel |
Contraceptive
Progestin |
Used in combined oral contraceptives. Can
have androgenic side-effects (acne, hirsutism). Has no androgenic
effects. Most extensive estrogenic activity, with the least
progestin activity. |
| Ortho-Novum |
Contraceptive
Combined Oral Contraceptive |
Ethinyl Estradiol + Norethindrone |
| Ovulen |
Contraceptive
Combined Oral Contraceptive |
Mestranol + ethynodiol diacetate |
| Oxymetolazine |
Adrenergic Agonist, Direct
alpha1, alpha2 |
Topical nasal decongestant (via action on
alpha1 receptors). In high doses, can paradoxically produce
hypotension, probably via alpha2 receptors. |
| Oxytocin |
Hormone
Oxytocin |
Given IV to induce labor in mild eclampsia
or incomplete abortion. Given IM to control post-partum bleeding. Given
intranasally as needed to induce lactation. |
