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Pharmacology
Module 1
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Absorption | The process by which a drug is taken into the body and moves from the site of administration into the blood. |
Adverse effect | Undesired, potentially harmful side effects of drugs. |
Agonist | Drugs that bind to or have an affinity (attraction) for a receptor and cause a particular response. |
Antagonist | Drugs that bind to a receptor and prevent a response. |
Bioavailability | The degree to which the drug molecule reaches the site of action to exert its effects. |
Biotechnology | Refers to the concepts of genetic engineering and recombinant DNA technology. |
Biotransformation | AKA metabolism. The goal of biotransformation is to change lipid-soluble drug molecules into water-soluble molecules that can be more easily excreted. |
Bolus | A concentrated mass of pharmaceutical preparation |
Contraindication | Any special symptom or circumstance that renders the use of a remedy or the carrying out of a procedure inadvisable, usually because of risk. |
Distribution | The location of medications in various organs and tissues after administration. |
Duration | The time between onset and disappearance of drug effects. |
Emulsion | Medication is contained in a mixture of water and oil bound together with an emulsifier. |
Enteral | Medication is taken into the gastrointestinal tract, primarily by mouth (orally). |
Excretion | The act or process of discharging waste matter from the blood, tissues, or organs. |
Hypersensitivity | Abnormal sensitivity, a condition in which there is an exaggerated response by the body to the stimulus of a foreign agent. |
Idiosyncratic effect | Rare and unpredictable adverse reactions to drugs. |
Indication | The reason or purpose for giving a medication. |
Local effect | An agent that works at the site of the application. |
Onset | The time between administration of a drug and the first appearance of effects. |
Parenteral | Any administration route other than the digestive tract, the most common of which are subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous. |
Pharmacodynamics | The study of how drugs exert their effects on the body, at both the molecular and physiological levels. |
Pharmacokinetics | The study of what the body does to drugs (how the body processes drugs). |
Plasma protein binding | Drug molecules that bind to proteins (albumins and globulins) contained in plasma—the liquid portion of blood. |
Reconstituted | When a powder form of drug needs to be mixed with a liquid so that it can be administered via injection. |
Side effect | A predictable but unintended effect of a drug. |
Solubility | A drugs ability to be dissolved. |
Solution | A mixture of drug particles (called the solute) fully dissolved in a liquid medium (called the solvent such as water or saline). |
Suspension | A form in which solid undissolved particles float (are suspended) in a liquid. |
Synergist | A drug that enhances the effect of another drug. |
Systemic effect | The effect of a topical medication has on the entire body. |
Topical | Medication that is applied to the skin or mucous membrane lined cavity. |
Controlled substances | Classification of medications that have the potential for abuse. |
Narcotics | Any drug that cause stupor. The term is used also of sedatives and hypnotics, particularly the opiates. |
DEA | The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of the Department of Justice. |
FDA | The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services that consists of centers and offices. |
The Joint Commission | The Joint Commission (formerly known as The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, or JCAHO) evaluates and accredits approximately 16,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. |
OTC | Over the counter drugs. |
PDR | The Physicians Desk Reference. |
USP-NF | The United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary. |