Radi 211: Pharmacology for Radiographers

Vocabulary practice flashcards generated from Radi 211 lecture covering core pharmacology terms, drug classifications, mechanisms, and common medical abbreviations.

Pharmacology

The study of drugs in living systems.

Biopharmaceutics

The area of pharmacology that studies the methods for achieving effective drug administration.

Pharmacodynamics

The study of drugs' effects on the body.

Chemical Name

The IUPAC designation that identifies the chemical structure of a compound.

Proprietary Name

The brand or trade name assigned to a drug by a manufacturer (e.g., Tylenol).

Generic Name

The nonproprietary name identifying a drug's chemical family, used when a patent expires (e.g., acetaminophen).

Drug

Any chemical substance that produces a biological response in a living system, used to aid in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.

Physician's Desk Reference (PDR)

An annual publication containing drug product information, identifying drugs by generic and brand name, as well as accepted uses, side effects, and dosages.

Controlled Substance Act

U.S. legislation that divides drugs and other controlled substances into five schedules according to their potential for abuse.

Norepinephrine

A drug commonly found in emergency crash carts that functions as a vasopressor to raise blood pressure.

Heparin

An anticoagulant used to prevent intravascular clotting, treat thromboembolic disorders, and prolong blood clotting time.

Nitroglycerin

A vasodilator given sublingually that relaxes blood vessel walls and increases circulation to relieve angina pectoris.

Lidocaine

A drug used as a local anesthetic or as an antidysrhythmic to treat ventricular arrhythmias.

Antiarrhythmic

A class of drugs affecting the electrical conduction system of the myocardium to prevent or treat cardiac arrhythmias (dysrhythmias).

Antihypertensive

A class of drugs that lowers blood pressure to safe, long-term goals and treats hypertension.

Diuretics

Medications designed to eliminate excess fluid and sodium from the bloodstream, increasing urine flow to reduce overall vessel pressure.

Anticoagulant

A class of drugs used in patients with a history or risk of blood clot formation to prolong blood clotting time.

Antiplatelet

Medications given to patients who have experienced an acute ischemic event to the heart or brain (e.g., Aspirin, Plavix).

Thrombolytic

A class of drugs used to actively break up newly formed blood clots in acute myocardial infarction, acute stroke, or lower leg ischemia.

Analgesic

A drug classification used to relieve acute and chronic pain syndromes such as arthritis, headaches, trauma, or surgical pain.

Narcotics

A subclass of analgesics that stimulate CNS receptors to decrease pain perception (e.g., Morphine, Codeine).

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Analgesic drugs used to treat pain associated with inflammation, such as in arthritis, muscle tears, or traumatic wounds (e.g., Ibuprofen, Naproxen).

Anesthetics

Agents that act on the central nervous system to produce a loss of sensation (e.g., Novacaine, Lidocaine).

Laxatives

Drugs that act to promote the passage and elimination of feces from the rectum.

Cathartics

Strong bowel-evacuating agents that cause complete colon evacuation, usually producing watery stool for exam preparations.

Bronchodilators

Medications used to dilate the airways of the lungs when treating asthma or severe bronchospasms (e.g., Albuterol).

Antiemetics

Drugs used to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting (e.g., Zofran, Compazine).

Emetics

Agents used to induce or promote vomiting (e.g., Ipecac syrup).

Antiulcer Agents

Medications used to treat peptic ulcers (e.g., Zantac, Prevacid).

Antihyperlipidemic Agents

Drugs used to decrease the buildup of fat in the arteries (e.g., Lipitor, Zocor).

Antihistamines

Drugs used to block histamine from producing adverse allergic responses such as itching, inflammation, and respiratory distress.

Antidiabetic

Medications required for patients who cannot maintain proper balance between blood sugar and tissue sugar.

Hypoglycemic Reaction

A condition caused by low blood sugar in fasting diabetic patients, characterized by restlessness, fatigue, weakness, and irritability.

Thyroid Medications

Drugs used to treat primary or secondary hypothyroidism resulting from lack of hormone production or surgical gland removal.

Antiseizure (Anticonvulsant)

Class of drugs used to prevent and treat seizure disorders (e.g., Phenytoin, Diazepam).

Antipsychotic

Drugs used to treat psychotic episodes and conditions such as schizophrenia, paranoid behaviors, hallucinations, and mania.

Antidepressant

Class of drugs used to treat clinical depression resulting from neurotransmitter deficiencies (e.g., Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft).

Antianxiety

Medications used for treating acute and chronic anxiety states (e.g., Diazepam, Valium, Xanax).

Antibiotics

Agents used to kill or suppress pathologic bacterial microorganisms causing infectious disease (e.g., Penicillin, Amoxil).

Antifungals

Drugs used to kill mycotic (fungal) organisms (e.g., Amphotericin B, Fluconazole).

Antiviral

Class of drugs used to suppress and limit the spread or shedding of viruses invading the body (e.g., Acyclovir, Zovirax).

Chemotherapy Drugs

Extremely toxic compounds designed to kill rapidly growing cancer cells by altering or destroying stages of mitosis.

Antipyretic

A drug used to reduce fever (e.g., acetaminophen / Tylenol).

Antitussives

Medications used to inhibit coughing.

Urticaria

The medical term for hives; a vascular reaction causing dilated capillaries and edema, commonly treated with antihistamines.

bid

Medical abbreviation for 'two times a day'.

tid

Medical abbreviation for 'three times a day'.

qid

Medical abbreviation for '4 times a day'.

pc

Medical abbreviation for 'after meals'.

prn

Medical abbreviation for 'whenever necessary'.

NPO

Medical abbreviation for 'nothing by mouth'.

PO

Medical abbreviation for 'by mouth'.