medical terminology- chapter 14

pharmacology

the study of the sources and uses of chemicals and how they may interact with the human body to treat diseases

pharmacy

practice of preparing and dispensing medications

aer/o

air

bucc/o

cheek

chem/o

drug

cutane/o; derm/o

skin

enter/o

small intestine

hal/o

to breathe

iatr/o

physician, medicine, treatment

idi/o

distinctive

lingu/o

tongue

muscul/o

muscle

or/o

mouth

pharmac/o

drug

rect/o

rectum

topic/o

a specific area

toxic/o

poison

vagin/o

vagina

ven/o

vein

-genic

producing

-phylaxis

protection

anti-; contra-

against

in-

inward

intra-

within

non-

not

para-

beside

pro-

before

sub-

under

trans-

across

chemical name

name for a drug based on its chemical formula or molecular structure

generic name

recognized and accepted official name for a drug; each drug has only one generic name; this name is not subject to trademark, so may be used by any pharmaceutical manufacturer, also called nonproprietary name

original pharmaceutical company has exclusive rights

to market it from three to seven years depending on the nature of the drug

brand name

name a pharmaceutical company chooses as trademark or market name for its drug; also called proprietary or trade name

prescription drug

can only be ordered by licensed physician, dentist, or veterinarian

prescription

written explanation to pharmacist regarding name of medication, dosage, and times of administration

over-the-counter

accesible in drugstores without prescription = nonprescription drug

controlled substances

drugs that have potential for being addictive or can be abused

Schedule I through Schedule IV

indicate their potential for abuse, with I being the most addictive and V being the least addictive

Schedule I

drugs with the highest potential for addiction and abuse; they are not accepted for medical use, e.g. heroin and LSD

Schedule II

drugs with a high potential for addiction and abuse accepted for medical use in the US, e.g. codeine, cocaine, morphine, option, and secobarbital

Schedule III

drugs with a moderate to low potential for addiction and abuse, e.g. butabarbital, anabolic steroids, and acetaminophen with codeine

Schedule IV

drugs with a lower potential for addiction and abuse than schedule III drugs, e.g. chloral hydrate, phenobarbital, and diazepam

Schedule V

drugs with a low potential for addiction and abuse, e.g. low-strength codeine combined with other drugs to suppress coughing

oral

include all drugs given by mouth

advantages: ease of adminsistration and slow rate of absoption via the stomach and intestinal wall

disadvantages: slowness of absorption and destruction of some chemical compounds by gastric juices; some medications, such as aspirin, can have corrosive action on stomach lining

sublingual

sl, SL; includes drugs held under tongue and now swallowed; medication is absorbed by blood vessels on the underside of tongue as saliva dissolves it; rate of absorption is faster than oral

nitroglycerin to treat angina pectoris (chest pain) is adminstered this way

inhalation

inhaled directly into nose and mouth; aerosol sprays are administered by this route

parenteral

an invasive method of adminstering drugs as it requires an injection, a puncture through the skin by a needle; needle with syringe attached is introduced either under skin or into a muscle, vein, or body cavity

intradermal

very shallow parentral injection just under top layer of skin; commonly used in skin testing for allergies and tb testing

intramuscular injection angle is 90; subcutaneous is about 45, intravenous angle is about 20 degrees to reach the vein (in the dermis layer); intradermal angle is about ten degrees to reach between the dermis and epidermis layers

intramuscular

IM; parenteral injection directly into muscle of buttocks, thigh, or upper arm; used when there is a large amount of medication or it is irritating

intravenous

IV; parenteral injection into veins; route may be set up to deliver medication very quickly or to deliver continuous drip of medication

subcutaneous

SUBQ; parenteral injection into subcutaneous layer of skin; usually outer part of upper arm or abdomen, like for insulin injection

transdermal

include medications that coat underside of a patch, which is applied to the skin where it is then absorbed, e.g. birth control, nicotine patches, and sea sickness patches

rectal

includes medications introduced directly into rectal cavity in the form of suppositories (suppos, supp) or solution; drugs may be administered by this route if patient is unable to take them by mouth due too nausea, vomiting, or surgery

topical

top; includes medications applied directly to skin or mucous membranes; distributed in ointment, cream, or lotion form; used to treat skin infections and eruptions

vaginal

includes tablets and suppositories inserted vaginally to treat vaginal yeast infections and other irritations

eyedrops

includes liquid or gel drops placed in eye to treat infections or control eye pressure in glaucoma; also used during eye examinations to dilate pupil of eye for better examination of interior of eye

eardrops

include drops placed directly into ear canal as liquid drips for purpose of relieving pain or treating infection

buccal

includes drugs in the form of sprays, liquids, or tablets that are placed under the lip or between the cheek and gum; may be used to treat opioid addiction, pain, seizures, or psychoses

addiction

development of physical dependence on a drug

adverse reaction

unintended or undesirable consequence to treatment or procedure; also called side effect

antidote

substance that neutralizes poison or their side effects

broad spectrum

ability of a drug to be effective against wide range of microorganisms

compliance

how consistently and accurately patient follows through with prescribed treatment

contraindication

condition in which a particular drug should not be used

drug interaction

occurs when effect of one drug is altered because it was taken at same time as another drug

efficacy

capacity for success of a treatment

habituation

development of emotional dependence on drug due to repeated use

iatrogenic

usually an unfavorable response resulting from physician’s actions or taking of medication

idiosyncrasy

unusual or abnormal response to drug or food

overdose

taking more than recommended quantity of a medication; may be accidental or intentional

paradoxical reaction

effect of drug that is opposite of the expected

placebo

inactive, harmless substance used to satisfy patients’s desire for medication; also used in research when given to control group of persons in a study in which another group receives a drug; effect of placebo versus drug is then observed

prophylaxis

prevention of disease; for example, antibiotic can be used to prevent occurrence of bacterial infection

side effect

response to drug other than effect desired; also called adverse reaction

tolerance

decrease in effectiveness of drug after its continued use

toxicity

extent or degree to which a substance is poisonous

withdrawal

physical or psychological symptoms associated with abrupt stoppage of a drug in addicted or habituated patient

ac

before meals

ad lib

as desired

ante

before

APAP

acetaminophen

aq

aqueous

ASA

aspirin

bid

twice a day

cap(s)

capsules

d

day

d/c, DC, dc

discontinue

DEA

drug enforcement administration

disp

dispense

dtd

give of such a dose

Dx, DX, dx

diagnosis

et

and

FDA

Food and Drug Administration

gm

gram

gt

drop

gtt

drops

ID

intradermal

IM

intramuscular

inj

injection

IV

intravenous