Classification based on drug characteristics is called what?

• A. Clinical Classification
• B. Pharmacologic Classification
• C. Numerical Classification
• D. Chemical Class

Answer: (C)

Pharmacologic classification groups drugs by how they work in the body—the mechanism of action—and the resulting physiological effects. This focuses on drug characteristics that drive their use, interactions, and side effects. For example, drugs that block specific receptors or enzymes are placed in that mechanism-based class because they produce similar actions and responses, regardless of their chemical structure or therapeutic label.

Other ways of classifying drugs exist but answer the question about characteristics most directly: clinical classification sorts by therapeutic use (what the drug treats), chemical class sorts by chemical structure, and numerical classification is just a coding system.