Pharm Tech Ch 5

absorption

the taking in of nutrients and drugs into the body from food and liquids

behind the counter (BTC)

nonprescription drugs that are kept behind the pharmacy counter; limited amounts may be sold, or the customer may require the permission of a pharmacist to purchase them

bioavailability

the degree to which a drug or other substance becomes available to the target tissue after administration

bioequivalence

the relationship between two drugs that have the same dosage and dosage form and that have similar bioavailability.

distribution

the movement of a medication throughout the blood organs tissues after administration

elimination

the final evacuation of a drug or other substance from the body by normal body processes such as kidney elimination (urine), biliary excretion (bile to stool), sweat, respiration, or saliva

enteral

a route of administration by way of the intestine, such as orally, rectally, or sublingually

first-pass effect

a process in which a portion of the drug dose is metabolized before the drug has a chance to be distributed systematically

half-life

the time required for a chemical to be decreased by half; the time required for half the amount of a substance, such as a drug in a living system, to be eliminated or disintegrated by natural processes; the time required for the concentration of a substance in a body fluid (blood plasma) to decrease by half

instill

to place into; ____ instructions are commonly used for opthalamic or otic drugs

legend drugs

drugs that require a prescription; these drugs carry the federal legend: “Federal law prohibits the dispensing of this medication without a prescription

metabolism

the processes by which the body breaks down or converts medications to active or inactive substances. The primary site of drug metabolism in humans is the liver; however select drugs are metabolized through other processes

over the counter (OTC)

medication that can be purchased without a prescription

parenternal

a term used to describe a medication that is usually given by injection into a vein, the skin, or muscle that bypasses the gastrointestinal system

pharmacokinetics

the study of the absorption, metabolism, distribution, and elimination of drugs

prodrug

an inactive substance that is converted to a drug in the body by the action of enzymes or other chemicals