Pharm

Absorption

The process by which drugs are taken into the body and enter the bloodstream.

Bioavailability

The proportion of a drug or other substance which enters the circulation when introduced into the body and is available for use or storage.

Distribution

The dispersion or spreading of substances throughout the fluids and tissues of the body.

Metabolism

The chemical processes that occur within a living organism to maintain life, including the breakdown of substances.

Elimination

The removal of drugs from the body, primarily through the kidneys and liver.

First-pass effect

The metabolic process in which a substance is metabolized at a specific location, reducing the amount of active drug that reaches the systemic circulation.

Half-life

The time required for the concentration of a drug in the body to be reduced by half.

Clearance

The volume of plasma from which the drug is completely removed per unit time.

Volume of distribution

A pharmacological parameter that quantifies the distribution of a drug between plasma and the rest of the body after oral or intravenous dosing.

Steady state

The condition in which the overall intake of a drug is in balance with its elimination.

Loading dose

A higher dose of a drug administered at the beginning of treatment to rapidly achieve therapeutic levels.

Maintenance dose

A dose of a drug that maintains the desired level of medication in the bloodstream.

Therapeutic index

The ratio between the toxic and therapeutic doses of a drug.

Agonist

A substance that activates a receptor to produce a biological response.

Antagonist

A substance that binds to a receptor but does not activate it, blocking the action of agonists.

Partial agonist

A drug that binds to and activates a receptor but has only partial efficacy at the receptor.

Competitive inhibition

A type of enzyme inhibition where the inhibitor competes with the substrate for binding to the active site.

Non-competitive inhibition

A type of enzyme inhibition where the inhibitor binds to an enzyme at a site other than the active site.

Efficacy

The ability of a drug to produce the desired therapeutic effect.

Potency

The strength of a drug or its ability to produce a desired effect at a certain dose.

Affinity

The degree to which a drug is attracted to its receptor.

Tachyphylaxis

A rapidly decreasing response to a drug following its initial administration.

Tolerance

A decreased response to a drug after repeated doses.

Dependence

A state in which an individual feels compelled to continue using a substance to function normally.

Addiction

A chronic condition characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences.

Bioequivalence

The property wherein two drugs with identical active ingredients or active moieties have comparable bioavailability.

Therapeutic window

The range of drug dosages which can treat disease effectively while staying within the safety range.

Pharmacogenomics

The study of how genes affect a person's response to drugs.

Onset of action

The time it takes for a drug to start having its effect after administration.

Duration of action

The length of time a drug effect lasts.

Beta-blockers

A class of medications that reduce blood pressure and heart rate.

ACE inhibitors

Medications that help relax blood vessels and reduce blood pressure.

ARBs (Angiotensin Receptor Blockers)

Drugs that block the action of angiotensin II, helping to lower blood pressure.

Calcium channel blockers

Medications that prevent calcium from entering cells of the heart and blood vessel walls, leading to lower blood pressure.

Diuretics

Drugs that help the body eliminate excess sodium and water through urine.

NSAIDs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and lower fever.

Opioids

A class of drugs used to treat pain, derived from opium or synthesized.

Antidepressants

Medications used to treat major depressive disorder and other conditions.

SSRIs

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, a class of antidepressants that increase serotonin levels.

SNRIs

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, used to treat depression and anxiety.

TCAs

Tricyclic antidepressants, an older class of antidepressants affecting multiple neurotransmitters.

MAO inhibitors

Monamine oxidase inhibitors, a class of antidepressants that block monoamine oxidase.

Antipsychotics

Medications used to manage psychosis, including delusions and hallucinations.

Benzodiazepines

A class of drugs primarily used for treating anxiety, insomnia, and seizures.

Barbiturates

Sedative drugs that can be used for anesthesia, seizures, and insomnia.

Stimulants

Drugs that increase alertness, attention, and energy.

Antiepileptics

Medications used to prevent seizures.

Antihistamines

Drugs used to treat allergic reactions by blocking histamine.

Corticosteroids

Anti-inflammatory medications that mimic the effects of hormones produced by adrenal glands.

Antacids

Medications that neutralize stomach acid.

PPIs

Proton pump inhibitors, drugs that block acid production in the stomach.

H2 blockers

Histamine-2 receptor antagonists that decrease acid production in the stomach.

Insulin

A hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.

Sulfonylureas

Diabetic medications that increase insulin production.

Metformin

A medication primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes.

DPP-4 inhibitors

Drugs that help lower blood sugar levels in diabetes.

GLP-1 agonists

Medications that stimulate insulin secretion and decrease appetite.

SGLT2 inhibitors

Drugs that help the body eliminate excess glucose through urine.

Statins

Medications used to lower cholesterol levels.

Fibrates

Drugs that activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors to lower triglycerides.

Niacin

A B vitamin that can lower cholesterol levels.

Bile acid sequestrants

Drugs that bind bile acids and lower cholesterol levels.

Antiplatelets

Medications that prevent blood clots by inhibiting platelets.

Anticoagulants

Drugs that prevent coagulation or blood clotting.

Heparin

An anticoagulant that helps prevent the formation of blood clots.

Warfarin

An anticoagulant used to prevent blood clots.

DOACs

Direct oral anticoagulants used to manage blood clotting issues.

Thrombolytics

Drugs that dissolve blood clots.

Antibiotics

Medications that treat bacterial infections.

Penicillins

A group of antibiotics derived from Penicillium fungi.

Cephalosporins

A class of antibiotics used to treat a variety of bacterial infections.

Carbapenems

Broad-spectrum antibiotics used for severe or high-risk bacterial infections.

Macrolides

Antibiotics that are effective against a wide range of bacteria.

Tetracyclines

Antibiotics used to treat infections by inhibiting protein synthesis.

Aminoglycosides

A class of antibiotics effective against aerobic Gram-negative bacteria.

Fluoroquinolones

Antibiotics that interfere with bacterial DNA replication.

Sulfonamides

Antibacterial agents that inhibit the bacterial synthesis of folic acid.

Clindamycin

An antibiotic used to treat a wide variety of infections.

Vancomycin

An antibiotic used to treat serious infections caused by gram-positive bacteria.

Antivirals

Medications used to treat viral infections.

Antifungals

Drugs that treat fungal infections.

Antiparasitics

Medications used to treat parasitic infections.

Chemotherapy

The treatment of disease, especially cancer, using chemical substances.

Monoclonal antibodies

Laboratory-made proteins that can bind to substances in the body and are used as therapy.

Immunosuppressants

Drugs that reduce the strength of the body’s immune system.

Vaccines

Biological preparations that provide acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease.

Antitoxins

Antibodies that neutralize toxins.

Anticholinergics

Drugs that block the action of acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter.

Cholinomimetics

Drugs that mimic the action of acetylcholine.

Sympathomimetics

Medications that mimic the effects of the sympathetic nervous system.

Parasympatholytics

Drugs that inhibit the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system.

Local anesthetics

Medications that provide local numbness to a specific area.

General anesthetics

Drugs that induce a complete loss of sensation and consciousness.

Muscle relaxants

Medications that relieve muscle spasms.

Neuromuscular blockers

Drugs that cause temporary paralysis by blocking nerve impulses.

Serotonin agonists

Drugs that activate serotonin receptors.

Dopamine agonists

Medications that stimulate dopamine receptors.

Histamine antagonists

Drugs that block the effects of histamine.

GABA agonists

Drugs that enhance the effects of the neurotransmitter GABA.

NMDA antagonists

Agents that inhibit the activity of the NMDA receptor.