| antitubercular agents | Drugs used in the treatment of tuberculosis. They are divided into two main classes: "first-line" agents, those with the greatest efficacy and acceptable degrees of toxicity used successfully in the great majority of cases; and "second-line" drugs used in drug-resistant cases or those in which some other patient-related condition has compromised the effectiveness of primary therapy. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| antitussive agents | Agents that suppress cough. They act centrally on the medullary cough centre. Expectorants, also used in the treatment of cough, act locally. (12 Dec 1998) |
| anti-ulcer agents | Various agents with different action mechanisms used to treat or ameliorate ulcers or irritation of the gastrointestinal tract. (12 Dec 1998) |
| antiviral agents | Agents used in the prophylaxis or therapy of virus diseases. They may act to prevent viral replication by inhibiting viral DNA polymerase; binding to specific cell-surface receptors and inhibiting viral penetration or uncoating; inhibiting viral protein synthesis; blocking late stages of virus assembly; etc. (12 Dec 1998) |
| autonomic agents | Agents affecting the function of, or mimicking the actions of, the autonomic nervous system and thereby having an effect on such processes as respiration, circulation, digestion, body temperature regulation, certain endocrine gland secretions, etc. (12 Dec 1998) |
| bronchodilator agents | Drugs that cause expansion of the lumina of the air passages of the lungs. (12 Dec 1998) |
| carbohydrates and hypoglycaemic agents | A collective term for carbohydrates and agents used to lower the level of glucose in the blood. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cardiovascular agents | Agents that affect the rate or intensity of cardiac contraction, blood vessel diameter, or blood volume. (12 Dec 1998) |
| gaba agents | Substances used for their pharmacological actions on gabaergic systems. Gabaergic agents include agonists, antagonists, degradation or uptake inhibitors, depleters, precursors, and modulators of receptor function. (12 Dec 1998) |
| radiation-protective agents | Drugs used to protect against ionizing radiation. They are usually of interest for use in radiation therapy but have been considered for other, e.g. Military, purposes. (12 Dec 1998) |
| radiation-sensitizing agents | Drugs used to potentiate the effectiveness of radiation therapy in destroying unwanted cells. (12 Dec 1998) |
| vasoconstrictor agents | Drugs used to cause constriction of the blood vessels. (12 Dec 1998) |
| vasodilator agents | Drugs used to cause dilation of the blood vessels. (12 Dec 1998) |
| gastrointestinal agents | Drugs used for their effects on the gastrointestinal system, as to control gastric acidity, regulate gastrointestinal motility and water flow, and improve digestion. (12 Dec 1998) |
| reducing agents | Materials that add an electron to an element or compound, that is, decrease the positiveness of its valence. (12 Dec 1998) |