Term | Definition |
Angina | Condition characterized by the attack of chest pain caused by an insufficient supply of oxygen to the heart. |
Anticonvulsant | Substance that stops brain nerve firing to suppress convulsive seizures. |
Antineoplastic | Substances that are used to kill cancer. |
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) | Mental disorder characterized by developmentally inappropriate levels of attention, concentration, activity distractibility, and impulsivity. |
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) | Mental disorder characterized by constant impulsive behavior, difficulty in concentration, and hyperactivity that decreases social, academic, or occupational functioning. |
Bronchodilator | Substances that relaxes the bronchial smooth muscles in the respiratory system. |
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) | Potentially fatal condition of the cardiovascular system wherein the heart has lost it's ability to pump blood in and out. |
Cream | Dosage form of a medication that is a semisolid preparation, usually applied externally to soothe, lubricate, or protect. |
Diagnosis | Process by which a health care professional (doctor, nurse, or technician) determines the patient's condition or disease, following test and examinations. |
Distribution | Process following absorption by which a drug is passed to the cells of various organs. |
Excretion | Process by which the body eliminates waste after metabolism and distribution. |
Indication | Refers to the use of a drug for treating a particular disease (example: insulin is used to treat diabetes). |
Intradermal | Withing the dermis. |
Intramuscular | Administration of a medication withing or into a muscle. |
Intranasal | Medications administered through being inhaled through the nose and then being absorbed into the bloodstream. |
Intravenous | Administration of a medication withing or into the veins. |
Local | Refers to a small area or single part of the body (example: local anesthetic). |
Narcotic | Drug that is potentially highly abused as a pain reliever, causing dependency and tolerance. |
Nausea | Feeling of sickness to the stomach, usually accompanied by the urge to vomit., |
Ointment | Semisolid (mixture of a liquid and solid) dosage form that is applied externally to deliver medication, lubricate, and protect. |
Opthalmic | Administration of a medication through the eye. |
Oral | Administration of a medication through the mouth. |
Patch | Dosage form in which the medication is delivered through a solid application applied to the skin and absorbed into the bloodstream. |
Pharmacology | Study of drugs and their effects on the body. |
Rectally | Administration of a solid or liquid medication given through the rectum. |
Sedative | Relieves anxiety and tension, calms and relaxes. |
Side effects | Are predicted, unwanted reactions to a substance or combination of substances. |
Spasm | Involuntary muscle contraction. |
Subcutaneous | Beneath the skin. |
Sublingual Tablet | Tablet that is dissolved under the tongue instead of being swallowed whole. |
Suppository | Denotes the administration through the vagina or rectum of a solid medication. |
Suspension | Liquid dosage form in which the solid particles are not completely dissolved. |
Syrup | Liquid form that consist of water and sugar mixed with the medication. |
Tablet | Solid dosage form in which the ingredients are compacted into a small, formed shapes. |
Topical | Substance used externally for relief of swelling, itching, or infections. |
Transdermal | Administration of a medication through the skin (example: patches). |
Vaginally | Administration of a solid or liquid medication through the vagina. |
Vasodilator | Substances that caused the blood vessels to widen. |
Virus | A very small infectious organism that requires a living cell to reproduce. |