Pharmacology Basics for Medical Coding and Billing

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the foundational principles of pharmacology for medical coding and billing, including drug classifications, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, routes of administration, and payer-related terminology.

Pharmacology

The study of medications and of the effects those medications produce in the body.

Medication (Drug)

A substance used to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent, or manage disease or symptoms.

Therapeutic effect

The intended beneficial result of a medication, such as lowering fever, reducing pain, or controlling blood glucose.

Side effect

An additional effect that may occur during treatment; it may or may not be harmful.

Adverse effect

An unwanted and harmful response to a medication.

Contraindication

A reason a medication should not be used because it may create serious risk in a particular patient or circumstance.

Onset

How quickly a medication begins to work.

Peak

When a medication reaches its strongest effect.

Duration

How long the effect of a medication lasts.

Local effect

Action that occurs mainly where the medication is applied, such as a topical medication on the skin.

Systemic effect

Action that occurs when a medication travels through the bloodstream and affects multiple organs or tissues.

Pharmacokinetics

What the body does to a drug, often summarized by the letters ADME: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.

Absorption

The movement of a medication from the site of administration into the bloodstream.

Distribution

The movement of a medication through body fluids and tissues.

Metabolism

The chemical change of a medication, usually occurring in the liver or other tissues.

Excretion

The removal of a drug from the body, commonly through the kidneys but also through bile, stool, lungs, or sweat.

Pharmacodynamics

The description of the effect a medication has on the body and how that effect is produced.

Mechanism of action

How a medication works to produce its effect.

Potency

The amount of drug needed to produce an effect.

Efficacy

How well a drug can produce the desired effect.

Tolerance

A state where the body becomes less responsive over time and a higher dose may be needed for the same effect.

Resistance

A term used in anti-infective therapy when bacteria or other organisms no longer respond well to treatment.

Therapeutic classification

A system that groups medications by what they are used to treat or accomplish, such as antihypertensives or antidiabetics.

Pharmacologic classification

A system that groups medications by how they work, such as beta blockers or proton pump inhibitors.

Generic name

The standard nonproprietary name of a medication.

Brand name (Trade name)

The proprietary name of a medication chosen by the manufacturer.

Combination products

Medications that contain two or more active ingredients in one product.

Formulary

The payer or facility list of preferred drugs.

Biosimilar

A highly similar product to an already approved biologic medication.

PO

Abbreviation for oral administration, meaning tablets, capsules, or liquids swallowed through the mouth.

Sublingual

A route where medication is dissolved under the tongue.

Buccal

A route where medication is placed inside the cheek.

Parenteral

Routes that involve injection or infusion, such as intradermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous.

Intramuscular (IM)

An injection into muscle tissue.

Intravenous (IV)

Administration directly into a vein.

Subcutaneous (SC or SQ)

Administration into tissue beneath the skin.

Dosage form

The physical form in which a medication is supplied, such as a tablet, ointment, or infusion bag.

Depot formulation

An injection that slowly releases medication from a tissue site over time.

Dose

The amount of medication given at one time.

Strength

The amount of active ingredient in a dosage form, such as a $500\,mg$ tablet or $40\,mg\,mL^{-1}$ injection.

Concentration

The amount of drug in a given liquid volume.

Indication

The clinical reason or diagnosis for which a medication is used.

Maintenance therapy

Ongoing treatment used to keep a condition controlled.

Rescue therapy

Medication used for the relief of sudden symptoms.

Loading dose

A larger initial dose given to achieve a therapeutic level more quickly.

Taper

The process of gradually reducing a medication dose.

Titration

Adjusting a dose gradually according to response, effect, or laboratory results.

PRN

A frequency abbreviation meaning "as needed" based on symptoms or clinical instructions.

Medication reconciliation

The active process of reviewing, comparing, and updating the patient medication list for safety and continuity.

HCPCS drug descriptor

The official definition of a code which may represent a specific amount such as $1\,mg$, $10\,mg$, $100\,\text{units}$, or $1\,\text{dose}$.

Vaccines

Products used to stimulate the immune system to protect against infectious disease.

Biologics

Complex products often derived from living systems, including monoclonal antibodies and immune globulins.

Infusion

Medication or fluid administered over time through controlled delivery.

Hydration

Fluid administration intended to address dehydration or related clinical needs.

Intravenous push

Medication introduced directly into a venous line over a short period.

Allergy

An immune-related hypersensitivity reaction to a drug or its components.

Interaction

Occurs when another drug, food, supplement, or disease state changes the effect of a medication.

Intolerance

When a patient cannot continue a drug because of unwanted effects.

Therapeutic failure

When a drug does not produce sufficient control of a condition.

Breakthrough symptoms

Symptoms that occur despite ongoing treatment for a condition.

Controlled substances

Medications regulated because of their potential for misuse, abuse, dependency, or diversion.

Polypharmacy

The use of multiple medications concurrently, common in geriatric therapy.

-olol

A suffix clue often suggesting a medication belongs to the beta blocker class.

-pril

A suffix clue often suggesting an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor.

-sartan

A suffix clue often suggesting an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB).

-prazole

A suffix clue often suggesting a proton pump inhibitor (PPI).

-mab

A suffix clue usually indicating a monoclonal antibody or other biologic therapy.

-statin

A suffix clue indicating a lipid-lowering medication.

Prior authorization

A payer process requiring clinical review and approval before coverage is granted for a medication.

Step therapy

A payer rule requiring that preferred drugs be tried before a more expensive or specialized product is approved.

Quantity limit

A payer rule that restricts how much of a product may be dispensed over a certain period.