What type of medication are brompheniramine and terfenadine classified as?

Brompheniramine and terfenadine are classified as antihistamines, which are a group of medications used primarily to relieve allergic symptoms. They work by blocking the action of histamine, a substance in the body that causes allergic reactions such as itching, sneezing, runny nose, and hives.

Brompheniramine is often used to treat cold and allergy symptoms, while terfenadine was historically used for allergies but is now largely replaced by newer agents due to safety concerns. The effectiveness of these drugs is rooted in their ability to bind to histamine receptors, thereby preventing histamine from eliciting its effects.

In this context, antipyretics are medications that reduce fever, analgesics relieve pain, and antacids neutralize stomach acid, making them unrelated to the function of brompheniramine and terfenadine. Antihistamines are specifically tailored to combat the symptoms arising from allergic reactions, making them the correct classification for these drugs.