Adverse Reaction
An unexpected harmful reaction to a drug
Agonist
A drug that produces a response in the body by binding to a receptor
Allergy
Hypersensitivity to a substance, a response produced by the immune system
Antagonist
A drug or chemical that blocks a receptor mediated response
Antibiotics
Drug that inhibit the growth of or kill bacteria
Bioavailability
The extent and rate at which a drug or its metabolites enter the systemic circulation and reach the site of action
Metabolites
Products of breakdown
Chemical name
The name of a drug that reflects its molecular structure
Concentration
A measure of the quantity of a substance per unit of volume or weight
Contraindications
Circumstances that make the use of a protocol, drug, or procedure be inadvisable because it increases the risk of injury or harm
Contrast media
Radiopaque solutions that are introduced into body cavities and vessels to outline their inside surfaces
Controlled Substancesd
Drugs that have the potential for abuse; rated according to their risk potential; ratings are called schedules
Diluent
The liquid component of a drug that must be reconstituted from a powder to a solution for purposes of administration
Dosage
The regulated administration of prescribed amounts of a drug; expressed as a quantity of drug per unit of time
Dose
The quantity of a drug to be taken at one time or the stated amount of drug per unit of distribution (0.5mg per millimeter of solution)
Drug
A chemical substance that when taken into the body, changes one or more of the body's functions
Drug administration
The giving of a drug to a person by any route
Generation
In pharmacology, refers to a drug group that was developed from a previous prototype
Generic name
The formulary name of a drug that is assigned by the US Adopted Names Council
Half-life
The time required for one half of a drug to be cleared from the body
Hypersensitivity
Allergic immune response to a substance causing a range of symptoms from mild inflammation to anaphylactic shock and death
Intraosseous
Refers to administration of a drug directly into the bone marrow
Intrathecal
Refers to administration of a drug directly into the spinal canal
Parenteral
Refers to administration of a drug by injection
Peak effect
The period of maximum effect of a drug
Pharmacodynamics
The biochemical and physiological effects of drugs and their mechanisms of action in the body
Pharmacokinetics
The movement of a drug through the tissues and cells of the body, including the process of absorption, distribution, and localization in tissues; biotransformation; and excretion by mechanical and chemical means
Pharmacology
The study of drugs and their action in the body
Prescription
An order for a drug written by a qualified medical staff member
Proprietary name
The patented name given to a drug by its manufacturer
Side effects
Anticipated effects of a drug other than those intended; may be uncomfortable for the patient or may have a positive outcome
Therapeutic window
Range of drug doses that can treat disease effectively while staying with in the safety range
Topical
Refers to application of a drug to the skin or mucous membrane
Trade name
The name given to a drug by the company that produces and sells it
Transdermal
Refers to administration of a drug by absorption through the skin
US Pharmacopeia
An organization that establishes standards for drug approval by the US FDA for their label use. All approved drugs have been tested for consumer safety, and written information is available about their pharmacological action, use, risks, and dosage
Biotechnology
Drug manufacturing process that uses genetically modified microorganisms for the production of chemical that are purified to form a product
The Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR)
Contains detailed information about prescription and over the counter drugs needed for safe administration
The United States Pharmacopia-National Formulary (USP-NF)
The complete reference of all drugs, dietary supplements, and devices marketed fro medical use in the US; composed of many different standards sections, which describe packaging, storage, and labeling requirements for drugs
The American Hospital Formulary Service
Publishes a number of products related to safe use of drugs, including drug handbooks and references related to prescribing, consumer drug resources, indexing and categories of drugs, drug licensing, and processing
Active ingredient
The chemical in a drug
Inactive ingredients
Have no therapeutic effect; added for preservation, color, or as a binding agent
Dosage form
Therapeutic presentation - liquid, cream or tablet
Indication
The labeled purpose of a drug
Lot number
Assigned when each drug batch is mixed in the drug laboratory
Medication process
A prescribed way of handling drugs in the health care environment
Drug error
Mistake made at any stage in the medication process
Drug "rights
A verification tool used to guide the health care worker in the medication process
High-alert drugs
Those that have been implicated in a n extraordinarily high number of errors
Drug order
Issued verbally, written, emailed, faxed, or over the phone by a licensed health care provider to administer medication
Standing order
Order that remains in effect until the prescriber withdraws it
Stat order
The drug is to be administered right away
PRN order
The drug is to be given as needed
Glass ampule
Small, hollow, one-piece container with a narrow neck
Irrigation fluid
Used during surgery to clear away blood and tissue debris in the surgical wound and to keep tissues moist
Topical normal saline
Used for general irrigation in body cavities and large wounds
Intramuscular (IM)
Injection into muscle
Subcutaneous (SubQ)
Injection into the connective tissue directly beneath the skin
Intradermal (ID)
Injection between the dermis and epidermis
Allergic Reaction Type I
Characterized by tissue inflammation caused by the release of histamine in the body
Allergic Reaction Type II
Called a cytotoxic reaction, the results of interaction between two antibodies and cell surface antigens
Allergic Reaction Type III
Caused by antigen -antibody complexes, which cause tissue damage when they trigger immune response
Allergic Reaction Type IV
cell mediated (not related to antibodies) reactions that occur- 24-72 hours after exposure to the antigen
Absorbption
The process by which a drug enters the body tissues following administration
Biotransformation
Drug metabolism; the chemical breakdown of a drug in the body
Drug synergy
Occurs when drugs given simultaneously cause an effect that is greater than any one of the drugs would have by itself
Bacteriostatic agents
Those that arrest the proliferation of bacteria
Penicillin: Broad Spectrum
Effective on gram-positive and some gram-negative bacteria
Penicillin: Narrow Spectrum
Effective only on gram-positive bacteria
Cephalosporins
Each subsequent group has been broader in spectrum that the previous group;
Macrolides
Broad spectrum but most active against gram-positive bacteria; bacteriostatic at low levels and bactericidal at high doses; Arithromycin, Clarithromycin, Erythromycin
Tetracyclines
Broad-spectrum antimocrobials that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis; Doxycycline, Minocycline, Tigecycline
Aminoglycosides
Inhibit the synthesis of gram-negative bacteria; Gentamicin, Paromomycin, Amikacin
Quinolones
Broad-spectrum antibacterial that inhibits DNA synthesis; Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin
Sulfonamides
Bacteriostatic only; used to treat acute urinary tract infections; Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim
Antifungals
Used for superficial and systemic fungal disease; Amphotericin, Miconazole, Flucytosine
Antineoplastic drugs
Anti-cancer drugs
Autonomic drugs
Alter nerve transmission in cardiac, respiratory, and ophthalmic medicine
Noradrenalin
Primary neurotransmitter for the sympathetic nervous system
Acetylcholine
The primary neurotransmitter of the parasympathetic nervous system
Cholinergic Receptors
Receptors for the parasympathetic nervous system
Andrenergic agonists
Increase the effect of the sympathetic neurotransmitter; sympathomimetic
Adrenergic antagonists
Block the effect of the sympathetic neurotransmitter; sympathomimetic
Cholinergics
Increase the effect oft he parasympathetic neurotransmitter acetycholine
Anticholinergics
Block the effects of acetylcholine; used during general anesthesia; Atropine sulfate, Scopalamine, Glycopyrolate
Whole blood
Contains serum and blood cells plus anticoagulant and preservative
Packed red blood cells (PRBC)
Administered to increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood
Washed red blood cells
Normal RBCs that have been washed to remove the plasma
Leuloreduced red blood cells
Contain leukocytes in reduced volume within RBCs
Platelets
Contain coagulation factors, RBCs, and white blood cells
Granulocytes
Neutrophils; obtained from ABO-Rh compatible donor
Fresh frozen plasma (FFP)
Extracted from whole blood and and contains normal amounts of coagulation factors; used for active bleeding and those with coagulation disorders
Cryoprecipitate
A concentration of of several hemostatic proteins that have been prepared from whole blood; used in fibrin glue, orthopedic, ent, and neurosurgical procedures
Factor concentrates
Contain factor VIII, IS, and antithromibin III; patients with hemophilia
Anticoagulants
Inhibit blood clot formation; Heparins, Warfarin (Coumadin), Thrombolytic agents