Language of Medicine Chapter 21

ACE inhibitor

Drug that lowers blood pressure (antihypertensive).

addiction

Physical and psychologic dependence on and craving for a drug.

additive action

Combination of two similar drugs is equal to the sum of the effects of each.

aerosol

Particles of drug suspended in air.

amphetamine

Central nervous system stimulant.

analgesic

Drug that relieves pain.

anaphylaxis

Exaggerated or unusual hypersensitivity to foreign protein or other substance.

androgen

Male hormone responsible for developing and maintaining male secondary sex characteristics.

anesthesia

Absence of nervous feeling or sensation.

anesthetic

Drug that reduces or eliminates nervous sensation.

angiotensin II receptor antagonist

Drug that lowers blood pressure by preventing angiotensin from acting on receptors in blood vessels.

antacid

Drug that works against acid in the stomach.

antagonistic action

Combination of two drugs gives less than the sum of the effects of each together.

antiandrogen

Drug that slows the uptake of androgens or interferes with their effect in tissues.

antiarrhythmic

Drug that treats abnormal heart rhythms.

antibiotic

Chemical substance that has the ability to inhibit or destroy foreign organisms in the body.

anticoagulant

Substance that prevents blood clotting.

anticonvulsant

Drug that prevents convulsions and seizures.

antidepressant

Drug that relieves symptoms of depression.

antidiabetic

Drug given to prevent or treat diabetes mellitus.

antidiarrheal

Drug that prevents diarrhea.

antidote

Agent given to counteract an unwanted effect of a drug.

antiemetic

Drug that prevents nausea and vomiting.

antihistamine

Drug that blocks the action of histamine and helps prevent symptoms of allergy.

antinauseant

Drug that relieves nausea and vomiting; antiemetic.

antiplatelet

Drug that reduces the tendency of platelets to stick together and form a clot.

antipruritic

Drug that acts against itching (pruritus).

antipyretic

Drug that lowers fever.

antiulcer

Drug that inhibits the secretion of acid by cells lining the stomach.

antiviral

Drug that acts against viruses such as the herpes virus and HIV.

aromatase inhibitor

Drug that reduces estrogen in the blood by blocking the enzyme aromatase.

bactericidal

Pertaining to killing bacteria.

bacteriostatic

Pertaining to inhibiting bacterial growth.

beta-blocker

Drug used to treat high blood pressure and control heart rate.

bisphophonate

Drug that prevents bone loss in osteoporosis and osteopenia.

brand name

Commercial name for a drug; trade or trademark name.

bronchodilator

Agent that dilates (widens) blood vessels and relieves bronchospasm.

caffeine

Central nervous system stimulant.

calcium channel blocker

Drug used to treat chest pain (angina) and high blood pressure (hypertension).

cardiac glycoside

Increases the force of contraction of the heart.

cardiovascular drug

Drugs that treat the heart and blood vessels. Cardiovascular drugs act on the heart and blood vessels; ACE inhibitors, diuretics, beta-blockers, and statins.

cathartic

Drug that relieves constipation.

chemical name

Chemical formula for a drug.

chemotherapy

Treatment using drugs.

cholesterol-binding drug

Binds to dietary cholesterol and prevents its uptake from the gastrointestinal tract.

cholesterol lowering drug

Lowers cholesterol by preventing its production by the liver; statin.

contraindications

Factors in a patient's condition that prevent the use of a particular drug or treatment.

controlled substances

Drugs that produce tolerance and dependence and have potential for abuse or addiction.

dependence

Prolonged use of a drug that may lead to physiologic need for its actions in the body.

diuretic

Drug that promotes or increases the production of urine (diuresis).

dose

Amount of drug administered, usually measured in milligrams.

emetic

Drug that promotes vomiting.

endocrine drug

Hormone or hormone-like drug; androgens, estrogens, and glucocorticoids.

erythromycin

Antibiotic that is extracted from a red (erythr/o) mold (-mycin).

estrogen

Female hormone that promotes secondary sex characteristics and supports reproductive tissues.

gastrointestinal drug

Drug that treats conditions of the stomach and intestinal tract.

generic name

Legal, noncommercial name for a drug.

glucocorticoid

Hormone from the adrenal cortex that raises blood sugar and reduces tissue inflammation.

hypnotic

Drug that promotes sleep or a trance-like state (hypnosis).

hypodermic

Pertaining to under the skin.

iatrogenic

Pertaining to produced by a treatment or a procedure.

idiosyncrasy

Unexpected effect produced in a particularly sensitive individual, but not seen in most patients.

idiosyncratic reaction

Unexpected effect produced in a particularly sensitive patient but not seen in most people.

inhalation

Administration of drugs in gaseous or vapor form through the nose or mouth.

intrathecal

Pertaining to within the membranes (meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

laxative

Weak cathartic; promotes movement of feces through the colon.

medicinal chemistry

Study of new drug synthesis and the relationship between the chemical structure of a drug and its biologic effect.

molecular pharmacology

Study of the interaction of drugs and their target molecules, enzymes, or cell surface receptors.

narcotic

Habit-forming drug that relieves pain by producing stupor and insensibility; morphine and opium.

oral administration

Drugs that are given by mouth.

parenteral administration

Drugs or nourishment are given intravenously (within a vein), or by any other route besides the intestinal tract.

pharmacist

Specialist in preparing and dispensing drugs.

pharmacodynamics

Study of the effects and strength of a drug within the body.

pharmocokinetics

Calculation of drug concentration in tissues and body fluids over a period of time.

pharmacologist

Specialist in the study of the properties, uses, and actions of drugs.

pharmacology

Study of the properties, uses, and actions of drugs.

pharmacy

Location for preparing and dispensing drugs; study of preparing and dispensing drugs.

progestin

Hormone that stimulates the uterine lining during pregnancy and is used in treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding and hormone replacement therapy.

purgative

Drug that relieves constipation and is a strong cathartic.

receptor

Target substance with which a drug interacts in the body.

rectal administration

Drugs are inserted through the anus into the rectum.

resistance

Lack of beneficial drug response.

respiratory drug

Treats asthma, emphysema, and infections that affect breathing; bronchodilators are respiratory drugs.

response

A desired and beneficial effect of a drug.

schedule

The exact timing and frequency of drug administration.

sedative

Mild sleep-inducing agent that relaxes a patient without necessarily producing sleep.

side effect

Adverse effect that routinely results from the use of a drug.

stimulant

Drug that excites and promotes activity.

subcutaneous

Pertaining to under the skin.

sublingual

Pertaining to under the tongue.

synergism

Drug action in which the combination of two drugs causes an effect that is greater than the sum of the individual effects of each drug.

synergistic

Pertaining to synergism.

syringe

Instrument for introducing or withdrawing fluids from the body.

thyroid hormone

Secretion from the thyroid gland that stimulates cellular metabolism.

tolerance

Drug action in which larger and larger doses must be given to achieve a desired effect.

topical application

Drugs are applied locally on the skin or mucous membranes of the body; ointments, lotions, and creams are examples.

toxicity

Harmful effect of a drug.

toxicology

Branch of pharmacology that studies harmful chemicals and their effects on the body.

tranquilizer

Drug that controls anxiety and severe disturbances of behavior.

transport

Movement of a drug across a cell membrane into body cells.