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Pharmacology
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Usage | application or administration of a medication for a given purpose. |
Indication | reason to use a particular drug for a particular disorder. |
Therapeutic | pertaining to beneficial treatment. |
Diagnostic | medication used to assist in diagnosing diseases. |
Destructive | substance that destroys cells and tissues, from bactericidals to chemotherapy. |
Pharmacodynamics | interactions of drugs and living tissues. |
Prophylactic | drugs used to prevent pregnancy or illness. |
Replacement Therapy | medication therapy used to replace missing chemicals in the body including hormones, electrolytes and fluids. |
Supplemental Medication | medication used to avoid deficiencies or achieve levels of existing body chemicals. |
Maintenance Medication | medication prescribed to maintain a condition of health; usually used with a chronic disease process. |
Supportive Medication | medication prescribed to assist with maintenance of homeostasis until a disease process can be resolved. |
Palliative | alleviating a symptom without curing the condition causing the symptom. |
Agonists | medication that binds to the receptor site and stimulates the function of that site. *mimics the function of the body* |
Antagonists | medication that binds at receptor sites to prevent other medications from binding to those same sites. |
Chelators | agent used to treat metal poisonings. |
Local Action | drug action of a medication at the site of administering or in the surrounding areas. |
Systemic Action | drug action found at more than the site of administration, usually tissues throughout the body. |
Synergism | working together of two or more drugs to produce a stronger effect. |
Potentiation | prolongation of or increased in the effect of a drug by another drug. |
Antagonism | cancellation or reduction of one's drug's effect by another drug. |
Drug Idiosyncrasies | unexpected, unusual response to a drug. |
Cumulative Effect | the state at which repeated administration of a drug may produce effects that are more pronounced than those produced by the first dose. |
Ideal Drug | drug that is both effective and save, producing no side effects or adverse reactions; only a theoretical construct. |
Safe Drug | drug that causes no harmful effects when taken in high doses over long period of time. |
Recombinant DNA Technology | genetic engineering technology used to create new drugs. |
Synthetic Drugs | drug that has been created chemically in the laboratory without the use of plant or animal products. |
Alkaloids | organic compound that is alkaline in nature and is combined with acids to make salts. |
Pharmacognosy | branch of pharmacology dealing with the origins of drugs (natural or manufactured sources). |
Pharmacokinetics | the processing of drugs by the body. |
Pharmacotherapeutics | effects of drugs in the treatment of disease. |
Toxicology | study of poisonous effects of drugs. |
Cumulation (accumulation) | increasing storage of a medication in the body caused by the body's inability to metabolize or excrete before another dose. |
Summation | combining of drugs to achieve the expected effect of each drug. |
Tolerance | decreased response to a medication after prolonged use. |
Desired Effect | intended response to a medication. |
Side Effect | a common undesirable response to a medication. |
Adverse Reaction | unintended, undesirable and unpredictable effect of a medication that can cause pain, discomfort, or unwanted symptoms. *more severe than side effects* |
Toxicity | the quality of being poisonous or toxic. |
Allergic Reaction | hypersensitivity to a drug that may occur after only one dose. |
Chemical Name | the exact designation of the chemical structure of a drug as determined by the rules of accepted systems of chemical nomenclature. |
Trade Name | the brand name given to a drug by its manufacturer. |
Generic Name | drug not protected by a trademark but regulated by the FDA. |
Official Name | the title under which a drug is listed in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) or the National Formulary (NF). |
OTC Drug | drug that does not require a prescription; non legend drug. |
Tablets | dried powder form of medication that has been compressed into a small disk. |
Enteric-Coated Tablets | tablet coated with a film, formulated to pass through the stomach to intestines for absorption; prevents irritation of gastric mucosa. |
Sustained-Release Tablets | tablet form of medication in which the medicine is released over a period of time. *AKA "controlled-release tablets* |
Troches | hard disk of medication designed to dissolve in the mouth for local effect; similar to lozenge. |
Buffered Tablets | medication combined with an antacid to reduce irritation to the stomach when digested. |
Sublingual Tablets | tablet designed to dissolve under the tongue. |
Chewable Tablets | tablet with a sugar or flavored base, designed to be chewed. |
Buccal Tablets | tablet placed in the mouth between cheek and gum (buccal area) for absorption. |
Gelcaps | soft gelatin shell filled with liquid medication. |
Capsules | small gelatin container filled with medication in powder or granule form. |
Delayed-Action Capsules | capsules prepared to release drug at a particular site or provide a steady release of medicine over a period of time. |
Time-Released Capsules | dissolves the drug over time in order to be released slower and steadier into the bloodstream. |
Elixir | clear, sweetened, flavored medication containing alcohol and water. |
Tincture | alcohol based liquid used as a skin disinfectant. |
Suspension | medication in the form of undissolved particles dispersed in a liquid vehicle. |
Emulsion | water and oil mixture containing medication. |
Effervescent Powders | coarsely ground medicinal agent that has been mixed with an effervescent salt to release carbon dioxide when a liquid is added. |
Liniments | medication that combines oil, soap, water or alcohol and is placed on the skin to produce heat. |
Lotions | free-flowing liquid or formulation with ingredients suspended in water for application to the skin. |
Creams | semi-solid preparation in a base that is absorbed into the tissue for slow, sustained release. |
Gels | semi-solid in a water base with a thickening agent for absorption through the skin. |
Ointments | semi-solid in greasy base that is not absorbed into the skin, only the medication is absorbed. |
Parenteral Drugs | route by which medications are given through the skin by injection, such as intramuscular, intradermal, subcutaneous, and intravenous. |
Suppositories | medication carried in cocoa butter, vegetable oil, or gelatin and inserted into the vagina, urethra or rectum. |
Implants | form of medication placed under the skin for long-term, controlled-release; also called a "pellet". |
Nasogastric | pertaining to the nose and stomach. |
Rectal | pertaining to the rectum. |
Oral | pertaining to the mouth; taken through or applied in the mouth. |
Transdermal | through the skin; medications that are applied to the skin for local or systemic effect. |
Topical | medications applied to the surface area or locally to the skin or mucous membrane. |
Inhalation | the drawing of air into the lungs. |
Dispense | to give medications to a patient to be taken at a later time. |
Prescribe | to indicate, either in writing or orally, a medication has been given. |
Administer | to give to or apply medication to a person. |
Medication Order | written or verbal order for administration of a medication in a health care setting. |
Standing Order | request for a procedure that is routine for certain medical treatments under certain conditions. |
Superscription | portion of a prescription designated with the symbol Rx. |
Signa (signature) | part of prescription that indicates the proper dosage of medication to be taken. |
Inscription | part of the prescription that indicates the name of a drug and the dosage prescribed. |
Subscription | part of the prescription containing the directions for the pharmacist with the information for compounding ingredients if necessary. |
Schedule I | highest potential for abuse, severe physical or psychological dependence. (heroin, meth) |
Schedule II | high potential for abuse (narcotics= opium, morphine, dilaudid, Demerol) |
Schedule III | moderate potential for abuse, low physical dependence |
Schedule IV | lower potential for abuse than Schedule III. |
Schedule V | lowest potential for abuse. |