Common Drug Classes — Overview & What They’re Used For

What is a Drug Class?

Medications are often grouped into classes (also called therapeutic classes) — sets of drugs that treat similar conditions, act on similar targets, or behave chemically in related ways. Organizing by class helps patients, providers, and pharmacists understand how drugs work, what they treat, and what to watch out for (common risks, interactions, etc.).

This table acts as a high‑level reference: a glossary of common, widely used drug classes, with a short description of what they treat and examples of well-known medications.

Drug Class	Typical Use / What It Treats	Example Drugs (Generic / Common Brand)
ACE Inhibitors (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors)	Used to lower high blood pressure and treat heart failure by relaxing blood vessels and reducing fluid volume.	Lisinopril (Zestril / Prinivil), Enalapril (Vasotec), Ramipril (Altace), Captopril (Capoten)
Beta-Blockers (Beta-Adrenergic Blockers)	Manage high blood pressure and various heart conditions; reduce heart rate and workload.	Metoprolol (Lopressor), Atenolol (Tenormin), Bisoprolol (Zebeta), Propranolol (Inderal)
Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs)	Used for hypertension and certain heart conditions; relax blood vessels by affecting calcium flow.	Amlodipine (Norvasc), Diltiazem (Cardizem), Verapamil (Calan)
Diuretics (“Water Pills”)	Help lower blood pressure and treat fluid buildup by removing excess salt and water from the body.	Hydrochlorothiazide, Furosemide (Lasix), Spironolactone, Chlorthalidone
Statins (HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors)	Lower cholesterol and reduce risk of heart disease and stroke.	Atorvastatin (Lipitor), Simvastatin (Zocor), Rosuvastatin (Crestor), Pravastatin (Pravachol)
Biguanides	Oral medications for type 2 diabetes; reduce glucose production in the liver and improve insulin sensitivity.	Metformin (Glucophage)
SGLT2 Inhibitors (Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors)	Used in type 2 diabetes; lower blood sugar by blocking glucose reabsorption in the kidneys.	Empagliflozin (Jardiance), Dapagliflozin (Farxiga), Canagliflozin (Invokana)
DPP-4 Inhibitors	Oral diabetes meds that prolong incretin hormones, stimulating insulin release and lowering blood glucose.	Sitagliptin (Januvia), Saxagliptin (Onglyza), Linagliptin (Tradjenta)
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists	Type 2 diabetes medications; enhance insulin secretion, suppress glucagon, slow digestion, often help with weight loss.	Semaglutide (Ozempic / Rybelsus), Liraglutide (Victoza), Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
Insulins	Used for type 1 and type 2 diabetes; multiple formulations provide blood sugar control.	Insulin glargine (Lantus), Insulin lispro (Humalog), Regular insulin, NPH insulin
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)	Common pain relievers used to reduce pain, inflammation, and fever.	Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), Naproxen, Diclofenac, Aspirin
Antibiotics (Penicillins, Cephalosporins, Macrolides, Fluoroquinolones)	Used to treat bacterial infections — respiratory, urinary, skin, and more.	Penicillin, Amoxicillin, Cephalexin, Azithromycin, Ciprofloxacin
Antipsychotics	Used to manage psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, and sometimes as adjuncts in depression or dementia-related behaviors.	Olanzapine (Zyprexa), Risperidone (Risperdal), Quetiapine (Seroquel)
Antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, others)	Treat depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders by altering neurotransmitter levels.	Sertraline (Zoloft), Fluoxetine (Prozac), Escitalopram (Lexapro)

Common Drug Classes: Overview & What They’re Used For

What is a Drug Class?

Common Drug Classes:
Overview & What They’re Used For