Compound Interest: Medicinal Chemistry

Brief Guide to Common Painkillers [2018]

A Brief Guide to Common Painkillers

September 25, 2014 20Comments 1Like 314Views

Following on from the previous post on antibiotics, it seemed logical to also take a look at the drugs we take to relieve pain. Painkilling drugs, or analgesics, come in a number of forms, but fall broadly into two main classes: non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids. This graphic takes a look at a selection of common painkillers, their common brand names, and how they work. The mechanism of action is in many cases not fully understood, but we have a broad idea of how the two classes exert their effects.

A Brief Overview of Classes of Antibiotics

September 8, 2014 14Comments 6Likes 389Views

A Guide to Different Classes of Antibiotics. Twelve different classes of antibiotic are shown in this graphic with discovery dates indicated, from approximately 1930 through to 1990. Whether the classes are bacteriostatic agents (chloramphenicol, oxazolidinones, sulfonamides, tetracyclines and macrolides) or bactericidal agents (beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, glycopeptides, quinolones, ansamycins, streptogramins and lipopeptides) is also indicated. — Click to enlarge

When we’re suffering from a bacterial infection, a trip to the doctor to be prescribed antibiotics is commonplace. However, there is a wide range of antibiotics available, and they vary both in their usage and their mechanism of action. This graphic summarises the major classes, and also gives a brief insight into how they combat bacterial infections; we’ll also consider each of the groups in turn, as well as bacterial resistance to each.

The Chemistry of Hay Fever – How Do Hay Fever Medications Work?

June 20, 2014 3Comments 0Likes 332Views

With the arrival of summer comes a rather less welcome arrival – that of seasonal allergic rhinitis, more commonly known as hay fever. In the UK, an estimated 10-15% of the population are affected, a figure that is also on the rise. Despite the pollens of trees, grasses and weeds being the origin of hay fever, it’s a chemical produced in our bodies that’s actually to blame for the symptoms – and we’ve got the chemicals in medications for hay fever to thank for relief from these symptoms.