Browse UK medicines by category
What are medicine categories?
Medicine categories are simple groupings that help you explore UK medicines and drug information by the type of problem they are often used for — for example blood pressure, diabetes, mental health, or pain relief.
They are a way to organise treatment types on DrugABC so you can move from a broad topic to individual medicine pages with uses, side effects, and safety topics.
Categories are not a diagnosis tool and do not tell you which tablet you should take — your GP or pharmacist uses your history, tests, and national guidance to choose medicines that are appropriate for you.
Popular categories explained
Each link opens a full hub with definitions, quick answers, and every medicine we list in that treatment area — plus safe wording throughout for UK patients.
Blood pressure, cholesterol & related
Explore UK medicines for high blood pressure, cholesterol lowering, and medicines that reduce clot risk when prescribed — including ACE inhibitors, ARBs, calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, statins, and anticoagulants. Ideal if you want drug information on heart and circulation treatment types before or after speaking to your clinician.
Example drug guides
Mental health medicines
Antidepressants, medicines for anxiety and sleep, and antipsychotics used in UK practice — with links to patient-friendly drug information on SSRIs, SNRIs, and related treatment types. Useful if you are researching what your GP or mental health team might discuss alongside talking therapies.
Example drug guides
Diabetes medicines
Type 2 diabetes medicines in one place: metformin, sulfonylureas, SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 injections, and more. These hubs summarise common UK treatment types and link to detailed drug pages; your diabetes team personalises doses and monitoring.
Example drug guides
Stomach acid & reflux
Proton pump inhibitors and other acid-related drug information for reflux, indigestion, and ulcers — how PPIs fit into UK care and when to seek GP review for persistent symptoms or red-flag signs.
Example drug guides
Asthma and COPD inhalers
Inhaler medicines for asthma and some COPD care plans — relievers such as salbutamol and context for preventer treatment types. Technique and reviews with your nurse or pharmacist are key alongside written drug information.
Example drug guides
Antibiotics (selected)
Selected antibiotic medicines and how they are used for bacterial infections in the UK — not for viral colds. Helps you understand treatment types your GP may mention and why resistance matters.
Example drug guides
Pain relief
Paracetamol, NSAIDs, opioid-related painkillers, and nerve-pain options: drug information across common UK pain treatment types, with reminders to check combinations safely with your pharmacist.
Example drug guides
Common questions
Straight answers to broad searches about types of medicines and using drug information safely alongside your GP or pharmacist.
- What are the main types of medicines?
- Commonly used groups include medicines for blood pressure and the heart, diabetes, mental health, stomach acid and reflux, infections (antibiotics), pain and inflammation, asthma and lung conditions, and many others. Each group contains different drug classes — for example blood pressure care may use ACE inhibitors, ARBs, or beta-blockers. Your prescriber chooses based on your condition and overall health.
- How do I know which medicine I need?
- You cannot tell from a website alone — a GP, nurse, or pharmacist assesses your symptoms, examination, tests, and other tablets you take. They follow UK guidance to recommend a specific medicine and dose. Use DrugABC for background drug information before or after that conversation, not instead of it.
- Can different medicines be taken together?
- Often yes, but some combinations need extra checks — for example NSAID painkillers with blood pressure tablets, or several mental health medicines together. Always use one pharmacy where possible, read patient information leaflets, and ask your GP or pharmacist before adding new prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal products.
- Why browse medicines by category instead of A–Z?
- Categories help when you know the treatment area (such as diabetes or pain) but not the exact drug name. The A–Z list suits you when you already have a medicine on your label. Both link to the same patient-friendly drug information.
- Is DrugABC a substitute for NHS advice?
- No — it offers general UK-oriented drug information to support understanding. Diagnosis, prescribing, and urgent symptoms always belong to NHS services, your GP, or 111/999 as appropriate.