General definitions (Module 1, 3, 4, 5)

Pharmacokinetics

• Defined as the study of the time course of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.

• A mathematical description of the temporal changes in the concentration of the drug.

Clinical pharmacokinetics

The application of pharmacokinetic principles to the safe and effective therapeutic management of drugs in an individual patient. It is the quantitative study of drug concentrations in the tissues of the body.

Pharmacodynamics

• Considers the relationship between drug concentration and pharmacological effect. It involves discussions of the mechanism/s of action (MOA), organ system effects, therapeutic effects, and side effects or toxicities.

• A scope of pharmacology that deals with the fate and action of the drug

Pharmacy

Is the science and technique of preparing and dispensing drugs

USP (United States Pharmacopeia)

Is a pharmacopeia (compendium of drug information) for the US published annually by the USP convention

Single dose

• The quantity to be administered at one time, as a specified amount of medication

• Is commonly applied to vials of medicine as single dose vials contain enough medicine for one dose. Where one dose is one serving amount that you are supposed to give to your patient at one time.

Daily dose

The total amount of therapeutic substance that is to be taken within 24 hours

Divided dose

A fraction of the total quantity prescribed to be given at intervals, usually during a 24-hour period

Dosage regimen

• The schedule of doses of a therapeutic agent per unit of time

• Including the time between doses, the duration of treatment, and the amount to be taken each time, also include how a medicine is to be taken, and in what formulation

Loading dose

Is an initial dose of a drug that may be given at the beginning of a course of treatment before dropping down to a lower level

Maintenance dose

The amount of medication administered to maintain a desired level of medication in the blood

Pharmacology

The scientific study of drugs, including their origin, properties, effects, and mechanisms of action on living organisms to treat or prevent diseases

Pharmacotherapy

Also known as drug therapy, refers to the treatment or management of diseases and conditions through the use of drugs

Posology

Branch of medical science concerned with determining the appropriate drug dosage for a patient

Materia Medica

Latin term referring to the body of knowledge about the source, preparation, and properties of substances used for healing

Experimental Pharmacology

Branch of pharmacology that studies the effects and mechanisms of drugs on living organisms through experimentation

Chemotherapy

Involves the use of drugs to treat diseases, such as cancer, by killing fast-multiplying cells

Metrology

The science of measurement used in drug compounding and dosing

Veterinary prescription

An instruction written by a veterinary practitioner authorizing a client to be provided a medicine for the treatment of their animals. It is a piece of paper on which a vet writes the details of the medicine or drugs that the patient needs

Veterinary prescription writing

Is one of the crucial tasks performed by the licensed veterinarian.The use of proper format for prescription writing ensures appropriate use of drug and helps in minimizing errors

Rx in prescription

• Superscription

• “Take thou”

Inscription in prescription

Medication provided

Body of prescription

Provides the name, quantities, and concentration of the chief ingredients of the prescription

Subscription in prescription

Dispensing instructions to the pharmacist

Transcription in prescription

• Signal/Sig

• Directions to the client

Special instruction

• Optional

• Gives purpose of the prescription and/or warnings