Question

Why do we need to classify drugs in different ways?

Answer 1

The classification of drugs and the reasons for classification are as follows:

(i) On the basis of pharmacological effect:

This classification provides doctors the whole range of drugs available for the treatment of a particular type of problem. Hence, such a classification is very useful to doctors.

(ii) On the basis of drug action:

This classification is based on the action of a drug on a particular biochemical process. Thus, this classification is important.

(iii) On the basis of chemical structure:

This classification provides the range of drugs sharing common structural features and often having similar pharmacological activity.

(iv) On the basis of molecular targets:

This classification provides medicinal chemists the drugs having the same mechanism of action on targets. Hence, it is the most useful to medicinal chemists.

Answer 2

Drugs are classified in following different ways:

(a)Based on pharmacological effect.

(b)Based on action on a particular biochemical process.

(c)Based on chemical structure.

(d)Based on molecular targets.

Each classification has its own usefulness.

(а)Classification based on pharmacological effect is useful for doctors because it provides them the whole range of drugs available for the treatment of a particular disease.

(b)Classification based on action on a particular biochemical proc*ess is useful for choosing the correct compound for designing the synthesis of a desired drug.

(c)Classification based on chemical structure helps us to design the synthesis of a number of structurally similar compounds having different substituents and then choosing the drug having least toxicity.

(d)Classification on the basis of molecular targets is useful for medical chemists so that they can design a drug which is most effective for a particular receptor site.