Drugs in Motion

Welcome to Drugs in Motion where we show you what drug mechanisms look like.

See how the drug gets to the site of action.

CARBONIC ANHYDROUS INHIBITORS: Acetazolamide

LOOP DIURETICS: Furosemide, Torsemide, Bumetanide, Ethacrynic Acid

THIAZIDES: Hydrochlorothiazide, Indapamide, Metolzaone, Chlorthalidone, Chlorothiazide

POTASSIUM SPARING: Triamterene, Amiloride

ALDOSTERONE ANTAGONISTS: Spironolactone, Eplerenone.

Notable Side Effects

Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors: Metabolic Acidosis and Paresthesias

Loop Diuretics: HyPOnatremia, HyPOkalemia, and Ototoxicity

Thiazides: HyPOnatremia, HyPOkalemia, and HyPERglycemia

Potassium Sparing Diuretics: HyPERkalemia and Kidney Stones

Aldosterone Antagonists: HyPERkalemia, impotence, and gynecomastia

ACE Inhibitors: Benazepril, Captopril, Enalapril, Fosinopril, Lisinopril, Moexepril, Preindopril, Quinapril, Ramiprl, Trandolopril

Notable Side Effects: Cough, HyPERkalemia, Acute Renal Failure

ARBs: Azilsartan, Candesartan, Eprosartan, Irbesartan, Losartan, Olmesartan, Telmisartan, Valsartan

Notable Side Effect: HyPERkalemia

Non-Dihydropyridine CCBs: Diltiazem and Verapamil

Dihydropyridine CCBs: Amlodipine, Clevdipine, Felodipine, Isardipine, Nicardipine, Nifedipine, Nimodipine, Nisoldipine

Notable Side Effects

Nondihyropyridines: Heart block, Edema, bradycardia

Dihydropyridines: Palpitations, Flushing, Edema

Selective B1 Beta Blockers: Acebutolol, Atenolol, Betaxolol, Bisoprolol, Esmolol, Metoprolol, Nebivolol

Nonselective B1/B2 Beta Blockers: Carteolol, Carvediolol, Labetalol, Nadolol, Penbutolol, Pindolol, Propranolol, Sotalol, Timolol

Notable Side Effects: Bradycardia, HyPOtension, Heart Block, Heart Failure

Notable Side Effects: Bradycardia, Anorexia

Digoxin toxicity: Nausea, Vertigo, Vomiting, Fatigue, Malaise, Blurred vision, Yellow Vision, Arrythmia, Heart Block

Alpha Blockers: Doxazosin, Prazosin, Terazosin (Carvediolol and Labetalol have both alpha and beta blocker activity)

Notable Side Effects: Orthostatic HyPOtension, Dizziness, Syncope, Fluid Retention

Class III Antiarrhythmics: Amiodarone, Dofetilide, Dronedarone, Ibutilide, and Sotalol

Notable Side Effects: QT Prolongation/Torades de Pointes, Bradycardia, Heart Failure, Pulmonary Toxicity

Class Ia: Disopyramide, Procainamide, and Quinidine

Class Ib: Lidocaine and Mexiletine

Class Ic: Flecainide, Moricizine, and Propafenone

Notable Side Effects: QT Prolongation/Torades de Pointes, Bradycardia, Heart Failure, Pulmonary Toxicity

Nitrates: Isosorbide Dinitrate, Isosorbide Mononitrate, Nitroglycerin, and Sodium Nitroprusside

Notable Side Effects: Severe HyPOtension, Postural HyPOtension, Headache, Lightheadedness

Sympathomimetics: Dobutamine, Dopamine, Ephedrine, Epinepherine, Norpinephrine, Phenylephrine

Notable Side Effects: HyPERtension, Arrhythmias, Mycoardial Infarction, Stroke

Notable Side Effects: HyPOtension, Headache, Anorexia

Notable Side Effects: Heart Failure, Bradycardia, Arrhythmia

Statins: Atorvastatin, Fluvastatin, Lovastatin, Pitavastatin, Pravastatin, Rosuvastatin, Simvastatin

Notable Side Effects: Rhabdomyolsis, Liver enzyme (LFT) abnormalities, Muscle pain

Bile Acid Sequestrants: Cholestyramine, Colesevelam, Colestipol

Notable Side Effects: Constipation, Diarrhea, Bloating, Flatulence, Vitamin A, D, K, and folic acid deficiency

Notable Side Effects: Flushing, Hepatotoxicity, Liver enzyme (LFT) abnormalities, Rhabdomyolysis

Fibrates: Fenofibrate, Fenofibric Acid, Gemfibrozil

Notable Side Effects: Myopathy, Gallstones, Stomach Pain, Rhabdomyolysis

Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors: Ezetimibe

Notable Side Effects: LFT abnormalities, Rhabdomyolysis, Myopathy

Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors for Myasthenia Gravis: Pyridostigmine

Notable Side Effects: Retroperitoneal fibrosis/Retropulmonary fibrosis, Left side cardiac valve dysfunction

Non-Depolarizing Neuromuscular Blockers: Atacurium,Doxacurium, Cisatracurium, Vecuronium, Rocuronium, Pancuronium

Notable Side Effects: Paralysis, Hypotension, Paralysis of Diaphragm, Flushing, Tachycardia, Malignant Hyperthermia

Depolarizing Neuromuscular Blockers: Succinylcholine

Notable Side Effects: Paralysis, Hypotension, Paralysis of Diaphragm, Flushing, Tachycardia, HyPERkalemia, Malignant Hyperthermia

Notable Side Effects: Increased intracranial pressure, Hallucinations, Delirium, Nystagmus, Spontaneous limb movement

Notable Side Effects: Burning and Stinging, Apnea, Bradycardia, HyPOtension

Notable Side Effects: Transient venous pain, Transient skeletal muscle movements, HyPOtension, Apnea, Laryngospasm

Local Anesthetics: Cocaine, Benzocaine, Bupivicaine, Dibucaine, Lidocaine, Mepivicaine, Pramoxine, Prilocaine, Procaine, Ropivacaine, Tetracaine

Notable Side Effects: Parasthesia, Tinnitus, Metallic taste, Arrhythmia, Methemoglobinemia

Barbiturates: Butabarbital, Butalbital, Methohexital, Pentobarbital, Phenobarbital, Primidone, Secobarbital

Notable Side Effects: Fetal Withdrawal Syndrome, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Tolerance and Dependance

Benzodiazepines: Alprazolam, Chlordiazepoxide, Clobazam, Clonazepam, Clorazepate, Diazepam, Estazolam, Flurazepam, Lorazepam, Midazolam, Oxazepam, Temazepam, Triazolam

Benzodiazepine-like drugs: Zolpidem, Zaleplon

Notable Side Effects: Drowsiness, Dizziness, Erectile Dysfunction, Anterograde amnesia, Tolerance and Dependance

Withdrawl Symptoms: Insomnia, Gastrointestinal issues, Tremors, Agitation, Muscle Spasms

Triptans: Almotriptan, Eletriptan, Frovatriptan, Naratriptan, Rizatriptan, Sumatriptan, Zolmitriptan

Notable Side Effects: Well tolerated. Parasthesia, Warm/Cold sensation, Chest pain, Vertigo, Fatigue

Hydantoins: Phenytoin, Fosphenytoin

Iminostilbenes: Carbamazepine, Oxcarbazepine, Eslicarbazepine

Lamotrigine, Lacosamide, Rufinamide

Notable Side Effects

Hydantoins: Hepatotoxicity, Bone marrow suppression, Toxic Epidermal Necrosis (TEN), Hirsutism, Arrythmias, Gingival Hyperplasia

Iminostilbenes: Drowsiness, Vertigo, Aplastic Anemia, Agranulocytosis, HyPOnatremia

Lamotrigine: Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, DRESS Syndrome, Toxic Epidermal Necrosis (TEN), Dizziness, Ataxia, Blurred Vision

Lacosamide: Dizziness, Ataxia, Diplopia, Blurred Vision

Rufinamide: QT shortening, Somnolence, Fatigue, Dizziness

Valproic Acid Derivatives: Valproic Acid, Divalproex

Notable Side Effects: Hepatotoxicity, Pancreatitis, Fetal Abnormalities, Encephalopathy

Succinimides: Ethosuximide, Methsuximide

Notable Side Effects: Blood Dyscrasias, Abnormal Liver Function Test, Suicidal Ideation, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, DRESS Syndrome

Notable Side Effects: Drowsiness, Diplopia, Vision loss, Psychosis, Weight gain, Neurotoxicity, Fatigue

Notable Side Effects: Well Tolerated. Somnolence, Dizziness, Fatigue

Notable Side Effects: Dizziness, Parasthesia, Somnolence, Fatigue, Weight loss

Notable Side Effects: Well Tolerated. Somnolence, Asthenia, Dizziness

Notable Side Effects: Dizziness, Somnolence, Tremor, Memory impairment, Aphasia

Notable Side Effects: Well Tolerated. Somnolence, Ataxia, Anorexia, Fatigue, Diplopia

Notable Side Effects: Psychiatric and Behavioral changes, Dizziness, Suicidal Ideation, DRESS syndrome, Somnolence

Notable Side Effects: Retinal abnormalities and Vision loss, Urinary retention, Skin discoloration, Dizziness, Somnolence, Fatigue

Notable Side Effects: "Weaning off" effect, "On-Off"phenomena, Nausea, Hallucinations, Orthostatic HyPOtension, Dyskinesias

Dopamine Receptor Agonists for Parkinson's Disease: Apomorphine, Bromocriptine, Pramipexole, Ropinorole, Rotigotine

Notable Side Effects: Asthenia, Hallucinations, Orthostatic HyPOtension, Dyskinesias, Extrapyramidal syndrome

COMT Inhibitors: Entacapone, Tolcapone

Notable Side Effects: Orthostatic HyPOtension, Vivid dreams, Hallucinations, Hepatotoxicity (Tolcapone), Dyskinisea, Diarrhea, Change in urine color

MAO Inhibitors for Parkinson's Disease: Selegeline, Rasagiline

Notable Side Effects: Well Tolerated. Dyskinesia, Nausea, Orthostatic HyPOtension, Abnormal dreams

Muscarninic Receptor Antagonists for Parkinson'sDisease: Benztropine, Diphenhydramine, Trihexyphenidyl

Notable Side Effects: Dry mouth, Blurred Vision, Urinary Retention, Tachycardia

Notable Side Effects: Hepatic Injury, Neutropenia, Interstitial Lung Disease, Asthenia, Nausea, Decreased Lung Function