Module 1

Active Ingredient

the component of a drug which produces the intended beneficial effect

Adverse drug reaction

(ADR)

any adverse reaction either within the therapeutic range (side effects) or as the result of toxic accumulation of drug

Black box warning

Warning that contains adverse effects that have a significant risk for severe or life-threatening effects

-strongest warning from FDA

Nonproprietary name

(Generic Name)

the official generic name assigned to a drug that is no longer subject to trademark rights

Over the counter

(OTC)

drugs that don't require a prescription from a veterinarian

Proprietary name

(Trade name/Brand name)

Unique name given to drug by manufacturers

-identified by (R) or TM symbols

Ampules

Dosage form in which the drug is contained within a small, airtight, thin class bottle that is opened by snapping the narrow neck of the ampule bottle

Aqueous solution

A water medium i which the drug has been dissolved

Caplet

A solid dosage form that is elongated to facilitate easy swallowing

Capsules

Powdered drug surrounded by a capsule made of gelatin, modified starch, or cellulose

Elixir

Alcohol based solutions used for oral or topical application

Emulsion

Liquid suspension composed of two liquids that do not readily mix together

Enteric coating

Coating designed to protect the active ingredient from the harsh acidic environment of the stomach by not allowing the tablet to dissolve until it reached the more alkaline environment of the small intestine

Extract

A therapeutic agent composed of prepared plant or animal parts rather than synthesized chemicals in a lab

Gel caps

Powdered drug surrounded by a capsule made of gelatin

Liniments

An oily liquid preparation to be used on the skin

Ointment

A semisoild preparation for external application to the skin or mucous membranes

-suspensions or solutions that liquefy at body temperatures (creams/gels)

Pastes

A semisolid preparation containing one or more drug substances for topical application

-fatty pastes: thick, stiff ointments that do not flow at body temp

-gel: made form a single phase aqueous gel

Suppositories

Dosage form designed to be placed in the rectum

Suspension

A liquid preparation consisting of solid particles dispersed throughout a liquid medium in which they are not soluble

Sustained release drugs

Controlled release, coated drugs

Syrups

Drugs dissolved in a liquid sugar solution

Tablets

Solid dosage form of a medicinal substances, of varying weight, size, and shape, which may be molded or compressed

Tinctures

An alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solution prepared from vegetable materials or from chemical substances

Pharmacology

the study of how drugs behave in the body

Pharmacokinetics

Study of how drugs move through the body (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion)

Pharmacodynamics

what a drug does to the body

Applied Pharmacology

applying pharmacology to specific treatments

Clinical pharmacology

applying how drugs behave in the body to a specific patient for a specific disease/treatment

Food and Drug Administration

(FDA)

The federal agency responsible for protecting public health by controlling and supervising safety standards for food, drugs, and cosmetic products

Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA)

Federal agency dedicated to protecting human health and the environment

Label use

Use of a drug in an animal in a manner that is in accordance with the approved labeling

Extra label

(Off-label)

Use of a drug in an animal in a manner that is not in accordance with the approved labeling

Package insert

Contains info mandated by FDA regulations for veterinary drugs

-will only contain information for which the manufacturer has done the mandated testing or otherwise documented in compliance with FDA requirements

Precaution

A protective measure taken in advance

-includes ADRs

Rx symbol

Symbol indication a prescription

Side effects

reactions to medicine other than the one intended

Therapeutics

The branch of medical science concerned with the treatment of disease

TM

Indicates that the name is a registered trademark owned by the company and cannot be used by other manufacturers

VCPR

Veterinary client patient relationship

-The veterinarian has examined or has adequate medical knowledge of the patient and has agreed to assume responsibility for veterinary care of the patient

Warning

More serious or frequent side effects than those found in the precautions sections

-adverse drug effects that could potentially do significant harm to the patient

Withdrawal time

Time between last dose and when the animal can be slaughtered for meat or food products

Xylitol

Artificial sweetener that causes massive release of insulin, causing hypoglycemia and liver necrosis in dogs

Contraindication

Circumstances/conditions in which a drug should not be used

Drug formularies

A collection of recipes, formulas, and prescriptions

Generic equivalent

Drugs produced or marketed by companies other than the original "brand" developer

Generic name

(Nonproprietary name)

A more concise name given to the specific chemical compound

Dosage form

Description of a drug's physical appearance

-included in the package insert/drug label

-solid, liquid, semisolid, injectable

Injectable dosage forms

Drugs administered by a needle and syringe (ampules, multidose vial, single dose vial)

Indications

specific signs or circumstances under which it is appropriate to administer a drug to a patient

Legend drugs

Drugs limited to being dispensed by a licensed prescriber (veterinarian)

-contain ingredients that have toxic effects, potential to be abused, potential to harm the patient/handler of the drug

Liquid dosage forms

drugs that are in a liquid form (syrups, suspensions, liniments, tinctures, elixirs, emulsion)

Multidose vials

Vials in which multiple doses can be withdrawn over time

Semisolid dosage forms

Drugs that are neither liquid nor solid (gels, ointments, creams, pastes)

Single dose vials

Vial in which all the drug is used at once

Solid dosage forms

Drugs that are in a solid form (tablets, capsules, caplet, suppositories)

4 Rules of safe drug usage

1. All drugs are poisons (have potential to cause harm)

2. No drug is a silver bullet (no drug will magically cure a disease)

3. All doses are guesses

4. Complacency kills

Chemical name

Describes the chemical composition or molecular structure of a drug

-used by chemists, pharmacologists