Pharmacy Definitions: Simple Terms

Flashcards covering key foundational pharmacy definitions, drug administration routes, dosage terms, and medical concepts.

Solution

A liquid made by completely dissolving a solid (or another liquid) in a liquid; it is clear, with nothing settling at the bottom.

Elixir

A clear, sweet liquid that contains alcohol and flavoring, taken by mouth.

Syrup

A thick, sweet liquid medicine with lots of sugar that hides the bad taste of the drug.

Suspension

A liquid with tiny solid particles floating in it that are NOT dissolved; it looks cloudy and must be shaken before use.

Buccal

A medicine placed between the cheek and gum, where it dissolves and is absorbed through the mouth lining (Buccal = cheek).

Enteric coated

A tablet with a special coating that does not dissolve in the stomach, but dissolves in the intestine, protecting the stomach from the drug, or the drug from stomach acid.

Suppository

A solid medicine inserted into the rectum (or vagina) that melts at body temperature to release the drug.

Dependency

When the body or mind needs a drug to feel or function normally, and stopping it causes withdrawal or cravings.

Analgesic

A drug that relieves pain ('no pain'). Example: paracetamol.

Anticoagulant

A drug that stops blood from clotting; a 'blood thinner' (Anti = against, coagulant = clotting). Example: warfarin.

Diuretic

A drug that makes you pass more urine, removing extra water and salt from the body; often called a 'water pill'.

Dose

The amount of medicine taken at one time.

Laxative

A drug that helps you empty your bowels; it relieves constipation.

Dosage

The full plan for giving a medicine: how much, how often, and for how long.

Contraindication

A reason NOT to use a drug because it could harm a particular person (for example, aspirin in someone with a stomach ulcer).

Pharmacology

The study of drugs: how they work in the body and what effects they have.

Drug

Any substance that changes how the body or mind works, used to treat, prevent, or diagnose disease.

Injection

A liquid medicine put into the body with a needle and syringe (for example into a muscle, vein, or under the skin).

Oral

Taken by mouth and swallowed.

Prescription

A written order from a doctor telling the pharmacist which medicine to give a patient, with the dose and instructions.

Tablet

A solid medicine pressed into a small hard disc or shape, usually swallowed with water.

Sublingual

A medicine placed under the tongue to dissolve and be absorbed quickly into the blood (Sub = under, lingual = tongue).

Usual indication

The main reason a drug is normally used, i.e. the condition it usually treats (for example, insulin's usual indication is diabetes).

Diabetes mellitus

A long-term disease where blood sugar (glucose) is too high, because the body makes too little insulin or cannot use it properly.