Essentially there are two types of chiral inversion, unidirectional and bidirectional. Inversion process is dependent on species and substrate.
;Unidirectional: chiral inversion (enzyme mediated) was described only with 2-arylpropionate nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), namely ibuprofen, ketoprofen, fenoprofen, benoxaprophen, etc. For this group, only        S-enantiomer (eutomer) is active i.e. has  analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. In the body, only inactive R-enantiomer can undergo chiral inversion by hepatic enzymes into the active S-enantiomer and not vice versa. The “inactive” R-isomer (distomer) may be responsible for the gastrointestinal irritation and related side-effects associated with NSAIDs. In certain situations, carbenicillin, ethiazide, etoposide, zopiclone, pantoprazole, clopidogrel, ketorolac, albendazole-sulfoxide, lifibrol, and 5-aryl-thiazolidinedione also go through unidirectional chiral inversion.   Chiral inversions were found to happen in a group of important compounds called α-amino acids. Amino acids exist in two mirror-image versions (D- and L- configurations). Several D-amino acids, like D-methionine, D-proline, D-serine, D-alanine, D-aspartate, D-leucine, and D-phenylalanine, have been shown to go through unidirectional chiral inversion in mammals.
;Bidirectional: chiral inversion or racemization type of inversion is shown by pharmaceutical drugs including 3-hydroxy-benzodiazapine class of drugs (oxazepam, lorazepam, temazepam), thalidomide, and tiaprofenic acid.  A brief list of select pharmaceutical drugs that go through chiral inversion are presented in Table below..