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Pharm Terms ch1
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Pharmacology | study of medicine |
Therapeutics | prevention of disease and treatment of suffering |
Pharmacotherapy | application of drugs for the purpose of treating diseases and alleviating human suffering |
Drug | chemical agent capable of producing biologic responses within the body |
Medication | Once a drug is administered, it is called this |
Biologics | agents naturally produced in animal cells, by microorganisms, or by the body itself |
CAM therapies | involve natural plant extracts, herbs, vitamins, mineral, dietary supplements, and additional techniques outside of the realm of conventional techniques |
Therapeutic classification | a drug's therapeutic usefulness in treating a particular disease or disorder |
Pharmacologic classification | the way a drug works at the molecular, tissue, or body system level |
Mechanism of action | how a drug produces its physiological effect in the body |
Chemical name | assigned by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) - can help determine the substance's physical and chemical properties |
Generic name | assigned by the U.S. Adopted Name Council - less complicated and easier to remember, often what is used to describe the medication - usually lowercase |
Trade name | assigned by the company marketing the drug |
Combination drug | contains more than one active ingredient - usually capitalized |
Bioavailability | physiological ability of the drug to reach its target cells and produce its effect |
Pharmacoeconomics | subdiscipline of health economics broadening application of a drug therapy |