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the amount of urine produced by the kidneys. Used to treat high blood pressure and disorders of the heart, kidneys, and liver. Include thiazide diuretics (which cause a moderate increase in urine production and are appropriate for long-term use), loop diuretics (which are fast-acting and often used in emergency treatment of congestive heart failure), and potassium-sparing diuretics (which are used to help prevent potassium loss in urine).

dopamine-boosting drugs Help raise abnormally low levels of the chemical messenger dopamine in the brain by converting to dopamine in the brain. Used to treat Parkinson’s disease.

dopamine-releasing drugs Increase the availability of the chemical messenger dopamine in the brain without increasing dopamine levels. Used to treat Parkinson’s disease

E

emetics Induce vomiting by acting directly on the stomach lining or by stimulating the part of the brain that controls vomiting. Used to treat poisoning or drug overdose.

enteric-coated drugs Pills or tablets covered with a substance that prevents them from dissolving and releasing their contents until they reach the small intestine, where the contents are absorbed. Used to protect the stomach lining or prevent stomach acid from neutralizing the medication’s intended effects.

estrogens Hormone drugs. Used to treat menstrual disorders and to relieve symptoms of menopause. In oral contraceptives, used to prevent pregnancy.

expectorants Help bring up mucus and other secretions. Used in over-the-counter cough remedies to treat coughs that produce phlegm (called productive coughs).

F

fertility drugs Hormone drugs. Used to treat female infertility.

fibrinolytics Increase blood levels of plasmin, a substance that dissolves fibrin (the insoluble protein that gives blood clots their form). Used to help dissolve blood clots.

fungicidals See antifungals.

G

generic drugs Drugs marketed under their official chemical names rather than under a patented brand name. For example, sildenafil is the generic name for Viagra.

H

H1 (histamine) blockers Antihistamines. Prevent the release of histamine (a substance released during an allergic reaction). Used to treat allergic reactions.

H2 (histamine) blockers Antihistamines. Prevent histamine (a substance that stimulates stomach acid production) from triggering production of stomach acid. Used to treat peptic ulcers.

hemostatics Enable blood to clot normally, reducing the risk of excessive bleeding. Used to stop bleeding in disorders such as hemophilia.

heterocyclic antidepressants Antidepressants. Balance neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain), particularly serotonin and norepinephrine. Used to treat depression. Cause more side effects than antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

hormone antagonists Block the actions of specific hormones. For example, the hormone antagonist tamoxifen, which is used to treat breast cancer, blocks the actions of estrogen on breast tissue.

hormone drugs Synthetic or natural hormones that replace the hormones that are produced naturally by the endocrine glands and released into the bloodstream. Used to treat disorders or conditions (such as diabetes or menopause) in which the body does not produce enough of a specific hormone.

hypnotics See sleep medications.

hypoglycemics See antidiabetic drugs.

I

immunostimulants Increase the efficiency of the immune system. Used to treat viral infections, some types of cancer, and immune system disorders such as AIDS.

immunosuppressants Reduce the activity of the immune system. Used to treat autoimmune diseases (in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues) and to help prevent rejection of a transplanted organ or tissues. Most are anticancer drugs or corticosteroids. Include antirheumatics.

interferons Anticancer drugs. Boost the body’s immune response. Used to treat viral infections and some types of cancer. Prepared from blood proteins.

interleukins Anticancer drugs. Boost the body’s immune response. Used to treat some types of cancer. Prepared from