Upgrade to remove ads
Only $35.99/year

Pharm Exam 1: Vocab

Terms in this set (90)

Pharmacology
The study of drugs and their interactions within living systems
Generic name of a drug
The nonproprietary name of a drug
OTC (over the counter) drug
A drug that does not require a prescription
Trade name of a drug
The proprietary name that is assigned by the company marketing the drug
Teratogenesis
The potential of a drug to cause developmental defects in the somatic tissues of a fetus
Drug schedules
Classification of drugs according to their potential for abuse
Orphan drugs
Financially non-viable drugs developed for diseases in which the expected number of patients is small
Pregnancy risk categories
A classification of drugs according to their probable effects on a fetus
Clinical trial phases 1 - 3
Before a drug is marked, it undergoes testing on humans during this time
Generic drug
A drug that is no longer protected by patent
FDA black box warning
A strong warning placed on drug label that describes potential for serious adverse effects
Pharmacogenomics
A common mechanism by which genetic differences modify an individual's response to a drug
Off-label drug utilization
The use of a drug for an indication that is not approved by the FDA
Absorption
the process of moving a drug across body
Agonist
drug capable of binding with receptors to induce a cellular response
Antagonist
drug that blocks response of another drug
Bioavailability
availability of drug to reach the bloodstream and its target tissues
Biotransformation
(aka metabolism)
the process of chemically converting a drug to a form that is usually more easily removed from the body
Blood brain barrier
anatomical structure that prevents certain substances from gaining access to the brain
Buccal
administration of a tablet/capsule by placing it in the oral cavity between gum and cheek
Creatinine clearance
Normal creatinine clearance 100 - 120 mL/min
Cytochrome P450 system
(aka hepatic microsomal enzyme system)
most metabolism in liver accomplished by this
named after Cytochrome P450 (CYP-450), a key component of the system

primary actions of hepatic microsomal enzymes are to inactivate drugs and accelerate their excretion
Distribution
process of transporting drugs though the body
ED50
median effective dose (average/standard dose)

dose required to produce therapeutic effect in 50% of group of patients
Enterohepatic recirculation
recycling of drugs and other substances by the circulation of bile through the intestine and liver
Epidural
injection into the epidural space of the spinal cord
most commonly used in obstetrics during labor and delivery
Excipient
inactive ingredients in a drug
Excretion/elimination
process of removing substances from the body
First pass effect
mechanism whereby drugs are absorbed across the intestinal wall and enter into the hepatic portal
Generic/trade/chemical drug name
generic: nonproprietary

chemical name: strict chemical nomenclature used for naming drugs established by the IUPAC
Half life
the length of time required for the plasma concentration of a drug to decrease by half after administration
Hydrophilic
water-soluble
Intrathecal
occurring within or administered into the spinal theca.
LD50
median lethal dose
Minimum effective concentration
amount of drug required to produce a therapeutic effect
Onset/peak/duration
onset: time it takes for therapeutic effect of a drug to appear

peak plasma level: highest amount of drug in the bloodstream

duration: length of time that therapeutic drug actions last
P-glycoprotein
pumps drugs back into capillaries
-present in BBB
Peak/trough
peak: highest drug concentration in the blood

trough: lowest drug concentration in blood
PR
per rectum
Pharmaceutic phase
Disintegration & dissolution of a medication that is administered in a solid form

The medication must first become a liquid so it can cross cellular membranes
Pharmacodynamics
study of how the body responds to drugs
Pharmacogenetics
area of pharmacology that examines the role of genetics in drug response
Pharmacogenomics
influence of genetic variation on drug response in patients by correlating gene expression or actual variants of the human genome
Pharmacokinetics
study of how drugs are handled by the body
Pharmacotherapeutics
the study of the therapeutic uses and effects of drugs

the beneficial and desired effects and uses.
Prodrug
drug that becomes more active after it is metabolized
"Rights" of drug administration
1. Right individual
2. Right medication
3. Right dose
4. Right time
5. Right route
6. Right documentation
Subcutaneous
medication administered beneath the skin
Sublingual
medication administered under the tongue and allowed to dissolve
Therapeutic index
ratio of drug's LD50/ED50
closer to 1 it is, the more dangerous
Therapeutic range
dosage range or serum concentration that achieves desired effects
Toxic concentration
level of drug that will result in serious adverse effects
Transdermal
a route of administration wherein active ingredients are delivered across the skin for systemic distribution.

Examples include transdermal patches used for medicine delivery
Acetylcholine (ACh)
primary neurotransmitter of the parasympathetic nervous system

also present at somatic neuromuscular junctions and at sympathetic preganglionic nerves
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE)
enzyme that degrades acetylcholine within the synaptic cleft, enhancing effects of the neurotransmitter
Adrenergic
relating to nerves that release norepinephrine or epinephrine
Alpha-1, Beta-1, Beta-2 receptors
the subtypes of adrenergic receptors (sympathetic nervous system receptors for adrenalin)...

a1:
Anhydrosis
the deficiency or absence of perspiration
Autonomic nervous system
portion of the peripheral nervous system that governs involuntary actions of the smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands
Bradycardia
decreased heart rate
Catecholamine
class of agents secreted in response to stress that include epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine
Central nervous system
division of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord
Cholinergic/anticholinergic
cholinergic: relating to nerves that release acetylcholine

anticholinergic: drug that blocks the actions of the parasympathetic nervous system
Dyspepsia
mild discomfort in the upper belly or abdomen,it occurs during or right after eating
Enteric nervous system
(intrinsic nervous system)
one of the main divisions of the nervous system and consists of a mesh-like system of neurons that governs the function of the gastrointestinal system.
Extravasation
Extravasation is the leakage of a fluid out of its container.

can happen with IV
Ganglia
a structure containing a number of nerve cell bodies, typically linked by synapses, and often forming a swelling on a nerve fiber.
Glycogenolysis
breakdown of glycogen
Heart block
Heart block is a type of arrhythmia

An arrhythmia is any problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat.
Micturition
urination
Miosis/mydriasis
miosis: pupil constriction
mydriasis: pupil dilation
Monoamine oxidase (MAO)
enzyme that destroys norepinephrine in the nerve terminal
Muscarinic
type of cholinergic receptor found in smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands
Neurogenic bladder
a problem in which a person lacks bladder control due to a brain, spinal cord, or nerve condition.
Nicotinic
type of cholinergic receptor found in ganglia of both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
Norepinephrine
primary neurotransmitter for the sympathetic nervous system
Orthostatic hypotension
also called postural hypotension — is a form of low blood pressure that happens when you stand up from sitting or lying down.

Orthostatic hypotension can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded, and maybe even faint.
Organophosphate (poisoning)
Organophosphate poisoning results from exposure to organophosphates (OPs), which cause the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), leading to the accumulation of acetylcholine (ACh) in the body.

Organophosphate poisoning most commonly results from exposure to insecticides or nerve agents.
Parasympathetic nervous system
portion of the ANS that is active during periods of rest and that results in the rest-or-relaxation response
Parasympathomimetic/parasympatholytic
parasympathomimetic: drug that mimics the actions of the parasympathetic nervous system

parasympatholytic:
Peripheral nervous system
division of the nervous system that containing all nervous tissue outside the CNS, including the autonomic nervous system
Pheochromocytoma
Catecholamine-secreting tumor derived from cells of the sympathetic nervous system
Preganglionic/postganglionic
preganglionic: neuron that creates an action potential and sends it to a postganglionic neuron

postganglionic: neuron that receives an action potential from a preganglionic neuron
Somatic nervous system
nerve division that provides voluntary control over skeletal muscle
Sympathetic nervous system
portion of the autonomic that is active during periods of stress and results in fight-or-flight response
Sympathomimetic/sympatholytic
sympathomimetic: drug that stimulates or mimics the sympathetic nervous system
Tachycardia
increased heart rate
Vasoconstriction
constriction of the blood vessels
Vasopressor
antiHYPOtensive agent
Xerostomia
dryness of the mouth
Sets with similar terms