Common Terms Related to Medications

Vocabulary flashcards covering common pharmacological terms, drug naming conventions, and methods of drug classification as presented in the lecture by Fathimath Jaleela.

Abbreviation

Letters or numbers written in a shortened way on a prescription.

Acute

A short, severe illness or disease.

Addiction

To be physically or emotionally dependent on a drug.

Administration

How a medicine is given to a patient.

Adverse Drug Reactions

Unwanted effects of a drug.

Analgesic / painkiller

A drug which produces relief of pain.

Antacid

Drug which neutralizes acid or acts against acid.

Anthelmintics

A drug given against worms.

Antibacterial

A substance that kills bacteria or acts against bacteria.

Anticoagulant

A substance that thins the blood by preventing clotting or acts against clotting.

Contraindication

Due to a patient’s condition, a drug cannot be given.

Chronic

Long term, ongoing illness or disease.

Indication

The condition as diagnosed suggests that a particular drug be used.

Dispensing

The process of preparing medicines from a prescription with directions labeled.

Dose

The intended amount of medicine to be taken at one time.

Therapeutic dose

Amount needed for a drug to bring a therapeutic effect.

Toxic dose

Amount at which the body is threatened, possibly fatal.

Overdose

More than the recommended amount of medication.

Dosage forms

The form by which pharmaceutical products are available for administration, e.g., tablets, creams.

Interaction

When more than one drug is used at the same time and the effects combine to cause greater action or lesser action.

Prophylaxis

Medicine or treatment used to prevent the occurrence of an illness.

Hypnotic

A drug given to help promote sleep.

Local

When a drug is administered onto its site of action directly.

Strength

Amount or concentration of the active ingredient per dose form.

Systemic

When a drug is administered into the body and is distributed through the circulation.

Chemical name

Describes the drug’s chemical composition and molecular structure, for example: $2$-Acetoxybenzoic acid.

Generic name

The name assigned by United States Adopted Name Council; it is less complicated, easy to remember, and commonly used, e.g., Aspirin.

Brand name

The name assigned by the pharmaceutical company marketing the drug, e.g., Despirine.

Target of action

Classification of drugs according to where the drug works or where the action is targeted, such as Cardiovascular drugs.

Therapeutic classification

The purpose of the drug or the main physiological change induced by the drug, such as antipyretics or analgesics.

Pharmacological classification

The mechanism of action or what the drug does at the molecular level, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers.

Therapeutic effect

How a drug brings its therapeutic result, such as lowering blood pressure or treating allergy symptoms.

Mechanism of action

The specific process by which a drug produces its effect, such as lowering plasma volume (Diuretics) or dilating the airway (Bronchodilators).