Drug categories N

Drug Category Names, Results, and Descriptions

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• Narcotics  (77) • Agents that induce NARCOSIS. Narcotics include agents that cause somnolence or induced sleep (STUPOR); natural or synthetic derivatives of OPIUM or MORPHINE or any substance that has such effects. They are potent inducers of ANALGESIA and OPIOID-RELATED DISORDERS.

• Nasal Decongestants  (12) • Drugs designed to treat inflammation of the nasal passages, generally the result of an infection (more often than not the common cold) or an allergy related condition, e.g., hay fever. The inflammation involves swelling of the mucous membrane that lines the nasal passages and results in inordinate mucus production. The primary class of nasal decongestants are vasoconstrictor agents. (From PharmAssist, The Family Guide to Health and Medicine, 1993)

• Natriuretic Agents  (87) • Endogenous or exogenous chemicals that regulate the WATER-ELECTROLYTE BALANCE in the body. They consist of peptides and non-peptide compounds.

• Natriuretic Effect  (0) see Natriuretic Agents

• Natriuretic Hormones  (0) see Natriuretic Agents

• Neurohormones  (0) see Neurotransmitter Agents

• Neurohumors  (0) see Neurotransmitter Agents

• Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists  (20) • Compounds that inhibit or block the activity of NEUROKININ-1 RECEPTORS.

• Neuromodulators  (0) see Neurotransmitter Agents

• Neuromuscular Agents  (61) • Drugs used for their actions on skeletal muscle. Included are agents that act directly on skeletal muscle, those that alter neuromuscular transmission (NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCKING AGENTS), and drugs that act centrally as skeletal muscle relaxants (MUSCLE RELAXANTS, CENTRAL). Drugs used in the treatment of movement disorders are ANTI-DYSKINESIA AGENTS.

• Neuromuscular Blocking Agents  (30) • Drugs that interrupt transmission of nerve impulses at the skeletal neuromuscular junction. They can be of two types, competitive, stabilizing blockers (NEUROMUSCULAR NONDEPOLARIZING AGENTS) or noncompetitive, depolarizing agents (NEUROMUSCULAR DEPOLARIZING AGENTS). Both prevent acetylcholine from triggering the muscle contraction and they are used as anesthesia adjuvants, as relaxants during electroshock, in convulsive states, etc.

• Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents  (9) • Drugs that interrupt transmission at the skeletal neuromuscular junction by causing sustained depolarization of the motor end plate. These agents are primarily used as adjuvants in surgical anesthesia to cause skeletal muscle relaxation.

• Neuromuscular Effect  (0) see Neuromuscular Agents

• Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents  (19) • Drugs that interrupt transmission at the skeletal neuromuscular junction without causing depolarization of the motor end plate. They prevent acetylcholine from triggering muscle contraction and are used as muscle relaxants during electroshock treatments, in convulsive states, and as anesthesia adjuvants.

• Neuroprotective Agents  (71) • Drugs intended to prevent damage to the brain or spinal cord from ischemia, stroke, convulsions, or trauma. Some must be administered before the event, but others may be effective for some time after. They act by a variety of mechanisms, but often directly or indirectly minimize the damage produced by endogenous excitatory amino acids.

• Neuroprotective Effect  (0) see Neuroprotective Agents

• Neuroregulators  (0) see Neurotransmitter Agents

• Neurosteroids  (0) see Neurotransmitter Agents

• Neurotoxins  (21) • Toxic substances from microorganisms, plants or animals that interfere with the functions of the nervous system. Most venoms contain neurotoxic substances. Myotoxins are included in this concept.

• Neurotransmitter Agents  (1151) • Substances used for their pharmacological actions on any aspect of neurotransmitter systems. Neurotransmitter agents include agonists, antagonists, degradation inhibitors, uptake inhibitors, depleters, precursors, and modulators of receptor function.

• Neurotransmitter Agentssss  (1)

• Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors  (75) • Drugs that inhibit the transport of neurotransmitters into axon terminals or into storage vesicles within terminals. For many transmitters, uptake determines the time course of transmitter action so inhibiting uptake prolongs the activity of the transmitter. Blocking uptake may also deplete available transmitter stores. Many clinically important drugs are uptake inhibitors although the indirect reactions of the brain rather than the acute block of uptake itself is often responsible for the therapeutic effects.

• Neurotransmitters  (0) see Neurotransmitter Agents

• Neutrophil-Derived Relaxant Factor  (0) see Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors

• Nicotinic Agents  (0) see Cholinergic Agents

• Nicotinic Agonists  (8) • Drugs that bind to and activate nicotinic cholinergic receptors (RECEPTORS, NICOTINIC). Nicotinic agonists act at postganglionic nicotinic receptors, at neuroeffector junctions in the peripheral nervous system, and at nicotinic receptors in the central nervous system. Agents that function as neuromuscular depolarizing blocking agents are included here because they activate nicotinic receptors, although they are used clinically to block nicotinic transmission.

• Nicotinic Antagonists  (26) • Drugs that bind to nicotinic cholinergic receptors (RECEPTORS, NICOTINIC) and block the actions of acetylcholine or cholinergic agonists. Nicotinic antagonists block synaptic transmission at autonomic ganglia, the skeletal neuromuscular junction, and at central nervous system nicotinic synapses.

• Nicotinic Effect  (0) see Cholinergic Agents

• Nitric Oxide Donors  (20) • A diverse group of agents, with unique chemical structures and biochemical requirements, which generate NITRIC OXIDE. These compounds have been used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and the management of acute myocardial infarction, acute and chronic congestive heart failure, and surgical control of blood pressure. (Adv Pharmacol 1995;34:361-81)

• Nootropic Agents  (29) • Drugs used to specifically facilitate learning or memory, particularly to prevent the cognitive deficits associated with dementias. These drugs act by a variety of mechanisms. While no potent nootropic drugs have yet been accepted for general use, several are being actively investigated.

• Noxae  (494) • Agents capable of exerting a harmful effect on the body.

• Nucleic Acid Probes  (2)

• Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors  (85) • Compounds that inhibit cell production of DNA or RNA.

Drug Category Names, Results, and Descriptions

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Comprehensive list of medications or pharmaceutical drugs used in the United States with their NDC or national drug code, brand name, dosage, forms of administration etc. sorted alphabetically.

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External links

The following is the collection of detailed information and links to the National Institute of Health (NIH) comprehensive drug information portal and other reliable sources of information. Select the drug name below to show drug description, drug classification, other common drug names, and information on the reasons why prescribed, how medication should be used, and what possible side effects could occur.

Drug names

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