Terms

Question 1

Addiction

Answer 1

Acquired dependence on a drug

Question 2

Additive

Answer 2

Sum of the action of two (or more) drugs given. In this case, the total strength of the medications is equal to the sum of the strength of each individual drug

Question 3

Antidote

Answer 3

Substance that will neutralize poisons or their side effects

Question 4

Broad Spectrum

Answer 4

Ability of a drug to be effective against a wide range of microorganisms

Question 5

Contraindication

Answer 5

Condition in which a particular drug should not be used

Question 6

Cumulative Action

Answer 6

Action that occurs in the body when a drug is allowed to accumulate or stay in the body

Question 7

Drug Interation

Answer 7

Occurs when the effect of one drug is altered because it was taken at the same time as another drug

Question 8

Drug Tolerance

Answer 8

Decrease in susceptibility to a drug after continued use of the drug

Question 9

Habituation

Answer 9

Development of an emotional dependence on a drug due to repeated use

Question 10

Iatrogenic

Answer 10

Usually an unfavorable response resulting from taking a medication

Question 11

Idiosyncrasy

Answer 11

Unusual or abnormal response to a drug or food

Question 12

Placebo

Answer 12

Inactive, harmless substance used to satisfy a patient’s desire for medication. This is also used in research when given to a control group of patients in a study in which another group receives a drug. The effect of the placebo versus the drug is then observed

Question 13

Potentiation

Answer 13

Giving a patient a second drug to boost (potentiate) the effect of another drug. The total strength of the drugs is greater than the sum of the strength of the individual drugs

Question 14

Prophylaxis

Answer 14

Prevention of disease. For example, an antibiotic can be used to prevent the occurrence of a disease

Question 15

Side Effect

Answer 15

Response to a drug other than the effect desired. Also called an ‘adverse reaction’

Question 16

Tolerance

Answer 16

Development of a capacity for withstanding a large amount of a substance, such as foods, drugs, or poison, without any adverse effect. A decreased sensitivity to further doses with develop

Question 17

Toxicity

Answer 17

Extent or degree to which a substance is poisonous

Question 18

Unit Dose

Answer 18

Drug dosage system that provides prepackaged, pre-labeled, individual medications that are ready for immediate use by the patient