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There are several systems of drug classification. One is based on the body system that is most affected (e.g., respiratory drugs, cardiac drugs); another is based on the therapeutic action (e.g., antihypertensive, antacid); and another is based on the chemical action of the drug (e.g., cholinergic, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). As the following table indicates, most drugs fall into several classes.
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This table contains a list of the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States. The first column lists the drugs alphabetically according to generic names, followed by the common brand names in the second column. The third column lists the drugs’ therapeutic classifications, and the fourth column lists the most common uses of the drugs.
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