Pharmacological Classification Of Drugs Apr 2026

: The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system, maintained by the World Health Organization (WHO) , is the global standard that combines anatomical, therapeutic, and chemical criteria for research and clinical use. Common Classification Categories

The of drugs organizes medications based on their mechanism of action (how they work at a molecular level) and their physiologic effect (what they do to the body) . This differs from therapeutic classification , which groups drugs by the clinical disease or condition they are intended to treat. Key Classification Principles

: Identifies the specific molecular target, such as a receptor agonist/antagonist (e.g.,

Drugs can be categorized using several distinct frameworks depending on the context:

: Describes the resulting change in the body's function, such as a "diuretic" or "sedative".