CSON J1 Pharm Ch.2 key terms

01/08/2026- Completed. Instructions: Recommended to use learn mode and preferably definition answer only. However, with these flashcards you can also decide to answer with term.

Agonist

A drug that binds to and stimulates the activity of one or more receptors in the body.

Antagonist

A drug that binds to and inhibits the activity of one or more receptors in the body. are also called inhibitors.

Antagonistic effects

Drug interactions in which the effect of a combination of two or more drugs is less than the sum of the individual effects of the same drugs given alone (1 + 1 equals less than 2); it is usually caused by an antagonizing (blocking or reducing) effect of one drug on another.

Bioavailability

A measure of the extent of drug absorption for a given drug and route (from 0% to 100%).

Biotransformation

One or more biochemical reactions involving a parent drug; occurs mainly in the liver and produces a metabolite that is either inactive or active. Also known as metabolism.

Contraindication

Any condition, especially one related to a disease state or patient characteristic, including current or recent drug therapy, which renders a particular form of treatment improper or undesirable.

Cytochrome P--450

The general name for a large class of enzymes that plays a significant role in drug metabolism and drug interactions.

Dissolution

The process by which solid forms of drugs disintegrate in the gastrointestinal tract and become soluble before being absorbed into the circulation.

Drug-induced teratogenesis

The development of congenital anomalies or defects in the developing fetus caused by the toxic effects of drugs.

Duration of action

The length of time the concentration of a drug in the blood or tissues is sufficient to elicit a response.

First-pass effect

The initial metabolism in the liver of a drug absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract before the drug reaches systemic circulation through the bloodstream.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency

A hereditary condition in which red blood cells break down when the body is exposed to certain drugs.

Half-life

In pharmacokinetics, the time required for half of an administered dose of drug to be eliminated by the body, or the time it takes for the blood level of a drug to be reduced by 50% (also called elimination half-life).

Idiosyncratic reaction

An abnormal and unexpected response to a medication, other than an allergic reaction, that is peculiar to an individual patient.

Incompatibility

The characteristic that causes two parenteral drugs or solutions to undergo a reaction when mixed or given together that results in the chemical deterioration of at least one of the drugs.

Intraarterial

Within an artery (e.g., intraarterial injection).

Intraarticular

Within a joint (e.g., intraarticular injection).

Intrathecal

Within a sheath (e.g., the theca of the spinal cord, as in an intrathecal injection into the subarachnoid space).

Metabolite

A chemical form of a drug that is the product of one or more biochemical (metabolic) reactions involving the parent drug. Active metabolites are those that have pharmacologic activity of their own, even if the parent drug is inactive. Inactive metabolites lack pharmacologic activity and are simply drug waste products awaiting excretion from the body (e.g., via the urinary, gastrointestinal, or respiratory tract).

Onset of action

The time required for a drug to elicit a therapeutic response after dosing.

P-glycoprotein

A transporter protein that moves drugs out of cells and into the gut, urine, or bile.

Parent drug

The chemical form of a drug that is administered before it is metabolized by the body into its active or inactive metabolites (see metabolite). A parent drug that is not pharmacologically active itself is called a prodrug. A prodrug is then metabolized to pharmacologically active metabolites.

Peak effect

The time required for a drug to reach its maximum therapeutic response in the body.

Peak level

The maximum concentration of a drug in the body after administration, usually measured in a blood sample for therapeutic drug monitoring.

Pharmaceutics

The science of preparing and dispensing drugs, including dosage form design.

Pharmacodynamics

The study of the biochemical and physiologic interactions of drugs at their sites of activity. It examines the effect of the drug on the body.

Pharmacogenomics

The study of the influence of genetic factors on drug response that result in the absence, overabundance, or insufficiency of drug-metabolizing enzymes.

Pharmacognosy

The study of drugs that are obtained from natural plant and animal sources.

Pharmacokinetics

The study of what happens to a drug from the time it is put into the body until the parent drug and all metabolites have left the body. Pharmacokinetics represent the drug absorption into, distribution and metabolism within, and excretion from the body.

Pharmacotherapeutics

The treatment of pathologic conditions through the use of drugs.

Prodrug

An inactive drug dosage form that is converted to an active metabolite by various biochemical reactions once it is inside the body.

Prototypical drug

The first form of a drug, or first in a class of drugs. Throughout this book, prototypical drugs will be denoted as a “key drug.”

Steady state

The physiologic state in which the amount of drug removed via elimination is equal to the amount of drug absorbed with each dose.

Synergistic effects

Drug interactions in which the effect of a combination of two or more drugs with similar actions is greater than the sum of the individual effects of the same drugs given alone. For example, 1 + 1 is greater than 2.

Therapeutic drug monitoring

The process of measuring drug levels to identify a patient’s drug exposure and to allow adjustment of dosages with the goals of maximizing therapeutic effects and minimizing toxicity.

Therapeutic index

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

Toxicity

The condition of producing adverse bodily effects because of poisonous qualities.

Trough level

The lowest concentration of drug reached in the body after it falls from its peak level, usually measured in a blood sample for therapeutic drug monitoring.

Biosimilars

Biotherapeutic products that are highly similar in quality, safety, and efficacy to an already licensed reference biological product. Ex. Humira (brand name; adalimumab is generic) vs Biosimilar Hulio (adalimumab-fkjp)

therapeutic equivalence

Two drug products are considered to be this if they are pharmaceutical equivalents (same active ingredient, strength, and dosage form) and can be expected to have the same clinical effect and safety profile when administered to patients.

Off label prescribing

The use of drugs for non-FDA approved indications.

Gastric dumping

When stomach contents are delivered to the intestines more rapidly than usual. This can alter medication absorption.

Depot drugs

Specially formulated long-acting intramuscular dosage forms of drugs that have been designed for slow absorption over a period of several days to a few months or longer.

Enzyme inhibitors

Decreases drug metabolism. This results in the accumulation of the drug and prolongation of the effects of the drug. Can lead to drug toxicity.

Enzyme inducers

Stimulate drug metabolism. Can cause decreased pharmacologic effects. This often occurs with the repeated administration of certain drugs that stimulate the formation of new microsomal enzymes.

Biliary excretion

Drugs that are eliminated by this route are taken up by the liver, released into the bile, and eliminated in stool.

Enterohepatic recirculation

The process where fat-soluble drugs in bile may be reabsorbed into the bloodstream, returned to the liver, and again secreted into the bile. These type of drugs persist in the body for much longer periods.

Acute therapy

Involves more intensive drug treatment and is implemented in the acutely ill or critically ill. ex. administration of vasopressors to maintain blood pressure.

Maintenance therapy

Prevents progression of a disease or condition. ex. medication for hypertension.

Supplemental therapy (or replacement therapy)

Supplies the body with a substance needed to maintain normal function. ex. administration of insulin to diabetic patients.

Palliative therapy

Focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness. ex. the use of high-dose opioid analgesics to relieve pain in the final stages of cancer.

Supportive therapy

Maintains the integrity of body functions while the patient is recovering from illness or trauma. ex. administration of blood products to a patient who has lost blood during surgery.

Prophylactic therapy

Provided to prevent illness or other undesirable outcome during planned events. ex. using pre-operative antibiotic therapy for surgical procedures.

Empirical therapy

Based on clinical probabilities. Involves drug administration when a certain pathologic condition has a high likelihood of occurrence based on the patient’s initial presenting symptoms.

• Most commonly associated with a specific infection before the results of the culture and sensitivity reports are available.

Adverse drug event (ADE)

A broad term for any undesirable occurrence involving medications.

• Can be external or internal.

  • External: medication errors by caregivers or equipment.

  • Internal: Patient induced like when a patient fails to take the medication as prescribed or drinks alcoholic beverages when not advised to.

Adverse drug reaction (ADR)

Any reaction to a drug that is unexpected and undesirable and occurs at the therapeutic drug dosages.

• May or may not be caused by medication errors.