Pharmaceutical Terms Flashcards
(161 cards)
1
Q
Pharmacology
A
the study of drugs and their actions.
2
Q
drugs
A
chemical substances that affect body function.
3
Q
pharmacist
A
a health professional who prepares, dispenses, and ensures the effective use of drugs.
4
Q
pharmaceutical drugs
A
substances that have medicinal properties and affect body function.
5
Q
prophylaxis
A
using pharmaceutical drugs to prevent disease.
6
Q
chemical name
A
the name of a drug that describes its molecular structure.
7
Q
diagnostic use
A
use of pharmaceutical drugs with medical tests to provide evidence of a disease process.
8
Q
generic name
A
drug name chosen by the drug manufacturer.
9
Q
pharmacy
A
a facility that deals with preparing and dispensing drugs.
10
Q
trade name
A
brand name for a drug.
11
Q
pharmacodynamics
A
the study of how drugs produce their effects.
12
Q
pharmacotherapy
A
the study of the medical uses of drugs.
13
Q
pharmacokinetics
A
the study of what happens to a drug while in the body.
14
Q
toxicology
A
the study of harmful effects of drugs.
15
Q
pharmacogenetics
A
the study of how genetic variations among people affect their responses to drugs.
16
Q
pharmacogenomics
A
using genome technology to discover new drugs.
17
Q
genome
A
the sum of all of an organism’s DNA.
18
Q
Food and Drug Administration (FDA
A
government agency that evaluates the safety of drugs and regulating their testing, manufacturing, labeling, advertising, marketing, and efficacy.
19
Q
compassionate use IND
A
application to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to allow physicians to prescribe an investigational drug before the FDA officially approves it (also known as Emergency Treatment Investigational New Drug Application).
20
Q
postmarket surveillance
A
Phase IV clinical trials that take place after the FDA has approved the drug for use.
21
Q
pharmaceutical drugs
A
substances that have medicinal properties and affect the body function.
22
Q
off-label use
A
prescription of drugs for uses other than those specified in the FDA approval.
23
Q
clinical trials
A
human testing of a new drug.
24
Q
placebo
A
a form of a drug that exerts no pharmacologic effect, has no therapeutic effect, and has no side effects when administered.
25
control group
group of patients in a clinical trial that receive the placebo form of the drug.
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experimental group
group of patients in a clinical trial that receive the active form of the drug.
27
double-blind study
experiment in which neither the patients nor the investigators know which patients receive the drug and which patients receive the placebo.
28
Durham-Humphrey Amendment
the 1951 legislative act that defined prescription drugs as those drugs that could only be given to patients under the care of a physician.
29
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
the 1938 United States law that requires that drug manufacturers provide scientific evidence of the safety of their products, bans false claims in drug labeling, and authorizes factory inspections.
30
over-the-counter (OTC) drugs
drugs that can be used without a prescription; the FDA approves these drugs as safe when used according to the label’s directions and warnings.
31
prescription drug
a drug that one can only obtain with a written prescription or verbal order from a physician or licensed health care provider.
32
Kefauver-Harris Amendment
the 1962 legislative act that required that manufacturers show drugs to be both safe and effective before marketing them.
33
controlled substances
drugs with potential for addiction, abuse, or dependence, which the Controlled Substances Act regulates
34
Controlled Substances Act
the 1970 United States law that established the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and divided potentially addictive drugs into five categories based on their potential for dependence.
35
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
the government agency that enforces the Controlled Substances Act.
36
schedule drugs
drugs with potential for addiction, abuse, or dependence, regulated by the Controlled Substances Act.
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Schedule I drugs
a type of drug with no known medicinal uses that is extremely addictive and not medically available.
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Schedule II drugs
a type of drug with medicinal uses that is highly addictive and only available with a prescription.
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Schedule III drugs
a type of drug with medicinal uses that is moderately to highly addictive and only available with a prescription.
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Schedule IV drugs
a type of drug with medicinal uses that is moderately addictive and only available with a prescription.
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Schedule V drugs
a type of drug with medicinal uses that is not very addictive and only available with a prescription.
42
toxicology
the study of harmful effects of drugs.
43
frequency distribution curve
a chart that describes the number of animals that respond to a drug at each dose.
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half-life
the time required for the drug concentration in the blood to decrease from 100% to 50%.
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median effective dose (ED50)
the dose of a drug that produces a therapeutic response in 50% of the animals tested.
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therapeutic index (TI)
the ratio of the dose of a drug that produces a therapeutic effect and the dose that produces a lethal effect in animals (ED50/TD50).
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median toxicity dose (TD50)
the dose of a drug at which 50% of the animals tested have toxic levels of the drug.
48
powder
a finely ground drug; may be in capsules or a canister, such as an inhaler.
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gas
a drug that has more separation of particles, allowing it to be more widely dispersed.
50
suppository
a drug mixed in a solid base, such as glycerin, cocoa butter.
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transdermal patch
a drug embedded in a solid patch form, which is then absorbed into the blood through the skin.
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cream
a thick, semisolid mixture of a drug in a base of about 50% oil and 50% water.
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liquid
a drug that has no solid shape.
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lotion
a thick, liquid mixture of a drug in a water base.
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ointment
a thick, semisolid mixture of drug in a base of about 80% oil and 20% water.
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caplet
a tablet that is coated to avoid irritating the stomach.
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capsule
a hard or soft shell with a liquid, powdered, or granular drug inside.
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tablet
a drug in powder form mixed with inert ingredients (e.g., binders) and pressed into a solid.
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bead
a drug fashioned into small, round objects that dissolve gradually to release the drug slowly.
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pellet
a drug fashioned into small, bullet-shaped objects that dissolve gradually to release the drug slowly.
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wafer
a drug fashioned into a thin disk that dissolves gradually to release the drug slowly.
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route of administration
the path by which a drug contacts the body.
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receptor
a protein to which drugs and other molecules can bind.
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device
any appliance designed to assist with the administration of a drug.
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dermis
the layer of skin just below the epidermis.
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epidermis
the outermost layer of the skin.
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hypodermis
the layer of connective tissue beneath the dermis
68
endotracheal tube
a tube passing from the trachea (windpipe) to the outside of the body.
69
gastrostomy
a surgically implanted tube from the stomach to the outside of the body.
70
route of administration
the path by which a drug contacts the body.
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subcutaneous administration
administration of a drug into the layer of connective tissue beneath the skin.
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topical administration
application of a drug to the skin or mucous membranes.
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transdermal administration
application of a drug in patch form, which is then absorbed into the blood through the skin.
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intradermal administration
injection of a drug in between the epidermis and dermis.
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intramuscular administration
injection of a drug into a large muscle.
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intravenous administration
injection of a liquid drug directly into a vein.
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parenteral administration
delivery of a drug into the blood through broken skin, usually injected through a needle.
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oral administration
placing a drug in the mouth and swallowing.
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sublingual administration
placing a drug under the tongue.
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buccal administration
placing a drug between the cheek and the lower teeth.
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inhalation
breathing in a drug in liquid, powder, or gas form.
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nasal administration
spraying a liquid drug into the nasal cavity for absorption into the blood.
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nasogastric administration
delivery of drug into the stomach through a tube that enters the body at the mouth and passes through the esophagus into the stomach.
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rectal administration
delivery of drugs through insertion into the rectum.
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vaginal administration
delivery of drugs such as contraceptive foams and antifungal creams directly into the vagina.
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computerized prescription
prescription entered into a device and printed out.
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electronic prescription
prescription entered into a device, signed, and sent electronically.
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prescription
set of instructions from a qualified healthcare professional to a pharmacist.
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verbal prescription
prescription given by a physician to the pharmacist over the phone.
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written prescription
prescription handwritten on a preprinted form.
91
p.r.
by rectum or rectally; the delivery of medication by inserting it into the rectum.
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top.
topical/topically; medication that is applied to the skin.
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tab
tablet: solid pills that are taken orally or rectally.
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cab
capsule; a pill containing powder or liquid medication inside a shell.
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gtt(s)
drops; liquid medication applied in small doses into the eyes, mouth, or ears.
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Rx
abbreviation for prescription.
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q
every; this abbreviation is added to other abbreviations to quantify frequency.
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qd
every day; means that a medication should be taken every day.
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prn
as needed, whenever necessary; some medications are taken on an as-needed basis, depending on how a person feels.
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a.c.
before meals; some medications need to be taken with food to avoid stomach irritation.
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inj.
injection; a medication that is delivered by needle directly into the bloodstream.
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IV
intravenous; the injection of medication directly into the bloodstream.
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IM
intramuscular; the injection of medication directly into a muscle.
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PO
abbreviation meaning “by mouth”.
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e.m.p.
use as directed; this means patients must take the medication exactly as directed.
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NPO
nothing by mouth; this means that patients cannot ingest anything by mouth.
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Admov
apply; this direction is used for medications that need to be applied topically.
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D.A.W.
dispense as written; this means the person filling the prescription may not substitute a generic brand.
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NR
no refill; this means that a prescription can be filled only once.
110
cubic centimeter
standard measurement of drug volume.
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gram
standard unit of weight measurement.
112
fluid ounce
unit of liquid volume.
113
metric system
official system of drug measurement.
114
microgram
unit equal to one thousandth of a milligram.
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milligram
unit equal to one thousandth of a gram.
116
tablespoon
unit of measurement that is about .5 of a fluid ounce.
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teaspoon
unit of measurement that is about .16th of a fluid ounce.
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cubic centimeter
standard measurement of drug volume.
119
gram
standard unit of weight measurement.
120
fluid ounce
unit of liquid volume.
121
metric system
official system of drug measurement.
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microgram
unit equal to one thousandth of a milligram.
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milligram
unit equal to one thousandth of a gram.
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tablespoon
unit of measurement that is about .5 of a fluid ounce.
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teaspoon
unit of measurement that is about .16th of a fluid ounce.
126
drug class
a way of organizing medicines into different categories.
127
diuretic drugs
drugs that increase the rate of urination.
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thiazide drugs
diuretic drugs that block sodium and potassium from being absorbed from kidney tubules back into the blood.
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antispasmodic drugs
drugs that inhibit hydrochloric acid secretion, smooth muscle contraction, and peristalsis in the gastrointestinal tract to limit muscle spasms.
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proton pump inhibitors
drugs that inhibit the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
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analgesic drugs
drugs that produce relief from pain while the patient remains conscious.
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anesthetic drugs
drugs that produce a reversible loss of sensation to prevent pain during surgical procedures.
133
epidural anesthesia
regional anesthesia injected into the space between the spinal cord and the vertebrae.
134
acetaminophen
drug that reduces pain through the inhibition of COX enzymes necessary for prostaglandin production.
135
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
drugs that inhibit prostaglandin production, thereby reducing pain and inflammation.
136
beta blockers
hypertension drugs that block beta receptors, to prevent epinephrine from binding, decrease heart rate, and dilate blood vessels.
137
digitalis
drug that makes the heart pump more slowly, but more strongly.
138
statin drugs
hyperlipidemia drugs that reduce cholesterol by blocking the enzyme necessary for cholesterol production in the liver; HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor drugs.
139
platelet aggregation inhibitors
anticoagulant drugs that reduce blood clotting by preventing platelets from sticking to injury sites or clumping together.
140
thrombolytic drugs
drugs for dissolving blood clots within blood vessels.
141
estrogen
hormone produced by the ovaries that can be used as a medication to treat hormone imbalances.
142
oxytocin
hormone released by the pituitary gland that stimulates smooth muscle contraction of the uterus and can be used as medication to induce labor or strengthen contractions during labor.
143
spermicidals
contraceptive drugs that kill sperm.
144
corticosteroid drugs
drugs that suppress inflammation by mimicking glucocorticoid hormones.
145
insulin
hormone secreted by the pancreas that can be used as a medication to increase the body's ability to remove glucose from the blood stream and transport it into the cell, lowering blood glucose levels.
146
oral antihistamines
orally administered drugs that block histamine receptors to decrease inflammation, redness, and itching.
147
retinoid drugs
drugs used to treat acne by causing epidermal cells to divide rapidly, preventing pores from clogging, and decreasing inflammation.
148
miotic drugs
drugs used to treat glaucoma by constricting the pupil to increase the outflow of fluid.
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mydriatic drugs
drugs used during eye examinations and surgery or to treat inflammation of the iris and surrounding areas.
150
prostaglandin F agonist
drug used to treat glaucoma by stimulating prostaglandin F receptors to increase the outflow of fluid.
151
amphetamines
drugs used to decrease hyperactivity in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
152
anticonvulsant drugs
drugs used to treat epilepsy by mimicking gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitters and inhibiting nerve impulses.
153
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
antidepressant drugs that inhibit the reuptake of serotonin to reduce symptoms of depression.
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alkylating chemotherapy drugs
cancer drugs that prevent the growth of cancer by interfering with DNA synthesis and, therefore, with cancer cell division.
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anti-androgens
hormonal chemotherapy drugs that block testosterone receptors to treat prostate cancer.
156
anti-estrogens
hormonal chemotherapy drugs that block estradiol receptors to treat breast cancer.
157
dextrose
intravenous fluid containing dextrose sugar to provide energy for body cells
158
vasopressors
drugs that increase blood pressure by decreasing the diameter of blood vessels and increasing the heart rate.
159
whole blood, citrated
normal blood, with red and white blood cells, platelets, and plasma, that is treated with an agent called citrate that prevents it from clotting and treats blood loss.
160
sodium (saline)
intravenous fluid containing sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) electrolytes necessary for cell function.
161
total parenteral nutrition
intravenous fluid containing electrolytes, vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids used to provide nutrition.
