Introduction to the nervous system and medications

The nervous system is the body’s main control and communication system. It coordinates muscle movement and speech, supports thinking and emotions, and helps with everyday tasks like planning and learning.

It also helps regulate other organs in two main ways:

Through peripheral nerves, which carry signals between the brain/spinal cord and the rest of the body
Through hormonal secretion, which influences body functions over longer time periods

The nervous system includes the following structures:

Brain
Spinal cord
Cranial nerves
Peripheral nerves

Common nervous system diseases include stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.

Tables showing common drug classes and examples of the nervous system

Analgesics

Drug class	Generic name	Brand name(s)	Primary use
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)	Ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac	Voltaren, Advil, Motrin, Aleve	Pain, fever, inflammation
COX 2 inhibitors	Celecoxib, rofecoxib	Celebrex, Vioxx	Arthritis, pain, inflammatory conditions
Narcotic analgesics	Morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone, methadone	OxyContin, Fentora, Vicodin, Kadian	Pain relief, de-addiction therapy
Salicylates	Aspirin	Bayer Aspirin	Pain, fever, inflammation, ischemic heart disease

Antidepressants

Drug class	Generic name	Brand name(s)	Primary use
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)	Citalopram, fluoxetine, sertraline	Celexa, Prozac, Zoloft	Depression, anxiety, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, PTSD
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)	Duloxetine, venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine	Cymbalta, Effexor, Pristiq	Depression, anxiety, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, PTSD
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)	Amitriptyline, doxepin, imipramine	Elavil, Tofranil, Sinequan	Depression, anxiety, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, PTSD

Other drug classes of the nervous system

Drug class	Generic name	Brand name(s)	Primary use
Antiepileptics	Carbamazepine, gabapentin, phenytoin, valproic acid	Tegetrol, Gralise, Dilantin, Depakote	Prevention and treatment of epilepsy and seizures
Antipsychotics	Haloperidol, loxapine, pimozide	Haldol, Adasuve, Orap	Treatment of schizophrenia and psychosis
Anxiolytics	Buspirone	BuSpar, Vanspar	Treatment of anxiety, phobias, and panic disorder
Sedative-hypnotics	Zolpidem, phenobarbital, alprazolam, diazepam	Ambien, Sezaby, Xanax, Valium	Treatment of insomnia, to decrease stress and anxiety
Topical anesthetics	Lidocaine, bupivacaine, dibucaine, pramoxine	Xylocaine, Marcaine, Nupercainal, Pramox	To numb skin before local surgery