| 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) |
|---|---|
| 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) |
| renal agents | Drugs used for their effects on the kidneys' regulation of body fluid composition and volume. The most commonly used are the diuretics. Also included are drugs used for their antidiuretic and uricosuric actions, for their effects on the kidneys' clearance of other drugs, and for diagnosis of renal function. (12 Dec 1998) |
| reproductive control agents | Substances used either in the prevention or facilitation of pregnancy. (12 Dec 1998) |
| central nervous system agents | A class of drugs producing both physiological and psychological effects through a variety of mechanisms. They can be divided into "specific" agents, e.g., affecting an identifiable molecular mechanism unique to target cells bearing receptors for that agent, and "non-specific" agents, those producing effects on different target cells and acting by diverse molecular mechanisms. Those with non-specific mechanisms are generally further classed according to whether they produce behavioural depression or stimulation. Those with specific mechanisms are classed by locus of action or specific therapeutic use. (12 Dec 1998) |
| glycine agents | Substances used for their pharmacological actions on glycinergic systems. Glycinergic agents include agonists, antagonists, degradation or uptake inhibitors, depleters, precursors, and modulators of receptor function. (12 Dec 1998) |