Medical Terminology Chapter 22- Pharmacology System (Extended)

Pharmacology

The study of the nature, uses, and effects of drugs for medical purposes.

Pharmac

Word part meaning drug

Pharmacodynamics

The study of the effects of drugs on the human body.

Pharmacokinetics

The study of how drugs move through the human body from the time of administration to the time of elimination from the body.

Toxicology

The study of the nature, effects, and treatments of poisons and harmful substances.

Drug

Any substance that has a psychological or physiological effect on the human body.

Medication

A drug with proven benefit that is used for medical treatment.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The federal agency responsible for ensuring the quality and safety of all prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, minerals, and other dietary supplements sold in the United States.

United States Pharmacopeia-National Formulary (USP-NF)

A continuously updated set of quality standards for prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and dietary supplements. It is primarily used by drug manufacturers.

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

A federal law enforcement agency responsible for fighting the distribution of illegal and illicit drugs by licensing and tracking the prescription and dispensing of controlled substances.

Controlled substances

Addictive prescription medicines and illicit drugs whose manufacture, possession, and use are highly regulated by the government.

Controlled Substances Act

A law regulating the manufacture, possession, distribution, and use of drugs by classifying them into five groups called schedules according to their potential for abuse

Schedules

The five groups in which the Controlled Substances Act classify drugs under.

Schedule I

Accepted Medical Use: No

Potential for Abuse and Addiction: High

Examples: Heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (commonly known as LSD), 3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (commonly known as ecstasy), methaqualone, peyote

Schedule II

Accepted Medical Use: Yes, but considered High dangerous

Potential for Abuse and Addiction: Considered dangerous

Examples: Combination products with less than 15 mg of hydrocodone per dosage unit, hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Vicodin®), oxycodone (OxyContin®), fentanyl (Sublimaze®), hydromorphone (Dilaudid®), meperidine (Demerol®), methadone (Dolophine®), cocaine, methamphetamine, dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®), racemic amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall®), methylphenidate (Ritalin®)

Schedule III

Accepted Medical Use: Yes

Potential for Abuse and Addiction: Moderate

Examples: Products with less than 90 mg of codeine per dosage unit, acetaminophen with codeine (Tylenol #3®), ketamine (Ketalar®), anabolic steroids, testosterone

Schedule IV

Accepted Medical Use: Yes

Potential for Abuse and Addiction: Low

Examples: Alprazolam (Xanax®), diazepam (Valium®), lorazepam (Ativan®), zolpidem (Ambien®), carisoprodol (Soma®), propoxyphene (Darvon®), propoxyphene/acetaminophen (Darvocet®), pentazocine/naloxone (Talwin®), tramadol (Ultram®)

Schedule V

Accepted Medical Use: Yes

Potential for Abuse and Addiction: Lowest

Examples: Cough syrup with less than 200 mg of codeine (Robitussin AC®), pregabalin (Lyrica®), diphenoxylate/atropine (Lomotil®), difenoxin/atropine (Motofen®)

Illicit/Street drugs

controlled substances without known medical benefit (or with side effects that outweigh any medical benefit) that are obtained illegally and are usually addictive. (Obtained illegally and all Schedule I)

Addiction

Compulsive, uncontrollable dependence on a drug, alcohol, or other substance. It can also be a habit or practice that cannot be stopped without causing severe emotional, mental, or physiologic reactions

Marijuana

A Schedule I drug that is legal to grow, purchase, and possess in certain quantities in some states without a prescription; legal in some states with a prescription and illegal in other states.

Prescription drug

A medication that can legally only be dispensed by a licensed pharmacist with an order from a licensed prescriber such as a physician or dentist. These include Schedule II-V

Prescription

A written order from a licensed medical professional such as a physician or dentist that specifies a medication or product to be dispensed to a patient.

Pharmacy

A place where medications are prepared and sold. It sells medications through a brick-and-mortar store, an online store, or both, and may also offer mail order service.

Formulary

A list of prescription drugs covered by a specific health care plan. The term originally referred to a book listing ingredients and formulas for making medicines.

Prescriber’s Digital Reference

The most commonly used drug information guide. It is an online resource that is updated monthly. (PDR)

Durable medical equipment

Products prescribed by a physician that are not medications. These include things like wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, CPAP devices, blood sugar monitors, home oxygen equipment and nebulizers. These may or may not be covered by insurance. (DME)

Over-the-counter drug (OTC)

A medication that can be purchased without a prescription. (OTC)

Dietary supplement

A product containing nutrients intended to be beneficial for health. All are considered to be foods and are regulated differently than medications by the FDA. Some can interact with prescription medications. In order to provide the best care, medical providers must always obtain an accurate list of all illicit, prescription, and over-the-counter drugs a patient is taking. The FDA is not required to confirm the safety of these before they are offered for sale. It is illegal to market them as treatments or cures for specific diseases or symptoms.

Vitamin or mineral

a dietary supplement containing one or more substances that are beneficial for humans and can be obtained from food or in supplement (pill, liquid, beverage) form.

Herbal supplement

A dietary supplement containing one or more substances derived from plants.

Brand name drug

Medication sold under the name given to the drug by the manufacturer. It is always spelled with a capital letter. Some hit at the purpose of the drug while some may have more than one.

Generic Drug

Name for medication that is usually named for its chemical structure and is not protected by a brand name or trademark.

Chemical Name

Name given to medication for a chemical compound, created according to international guidelines to avoid confusion. For example, the chemical name of diazepam is 7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-1-methyl-5-phenyl-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one. It is rarely used in medical terminology.

Drug class / Drug category

A group of drugs with similar features. Drugs can be classified based on their mechanisms of action, physiological effects on the body, or similar chemical structures.

Drugs may fall into more than one class. For example, metoprolol (Lopressor®) is classified as a beta-blocker, antihypertensive, and anti-arrhythmic.

Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification system

a five-level drug classification system developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The levels become increasingly specific from the first level, which indicates the body system upon which the drug works, down to the fifth level, which indicates the chemical structure of the drug. (ATC)

For example, the ATC code for metoprolol is C07AB02. The ATC code is rarely used in medical terminology.

United States Pharmacopeia

classifies drugs by therapeutic category, pharmacologic class, and subgroup. (USP)

For example, metoprolol is in the cardiovascular agent category, beta-adrenergic blocking agent class, and cardioselective beta-adrenergic blocking agent subgroup.

Pharmacist

A medical professional with a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree who formulates and dispenses prescribed medications at a pharmacy.

Pharmacy technician

A licensed professional who helps run a pharmacy under the supervision of a pharmacist. Their duties may include medication preparation and maintaining inventory and patient medical records.

Medical toxicologist

A physician who specializes in the care of patients who have been exposed to toxic levels of drugs or other substances, either by overdose or accidental exposure.

Syringe / hypodermic syringe

A plastic tube with markings along the side, which is used to measure and administer liquid medication, either by mouth or by injection.

Tablet/pill

A round or oval object containing medication in solid form which is designed to be swallowed or dissolved under the tongue.

Capsule

A round or oval object containing medication in solid or liquid form covered in a dissolvable gelatin or starch casing which is designed to be swallowed.

Suppository

Medication in a semisolid form that is placed in the rectum, vagina, or urethra

Enema

Liquid medication placed in rectum.

Placebo

An inactive substance, such as a sugar pill or liquid, that is administered only for its suggestive effects. In medical research. It is sometime administered to a control group, while the drug being studied is administered to the other group in order to determine whether the drug is effective or not.

Inhalation Administration

Vapors, gases, or powders taken in through the nose or mouth and absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs. One example is the use of a metered-dose inhaler to treat asthma or the gases used for general anesthesia.

Oral administration

Medications taken by mouth to be absorbed through the walls of the stomach or small intestine. These drugs can be in the form of liquids, tablets, or capsules. Medications designed to be released in the small intestine are covered with an enteric coating to prevent them from being absorbed as they pass through the stomach.

Enteric coating

A barrier that cannot be dissolved by gastric acid which coats some medications.

Rectal administration

The insertion of medication in the rectum in the form of either a suppository or a liquid. The suppository melts at body temperature, and the medication is absorbed through the surrounding tissues

Vaginal administration

The insertion of medication in the vagina in the form of either a suppository or a liquid. The suppository melts at body temperature, and the medication is absorbed through the surrounding tissues.

Sublingual administration

The placement of medication under the tongue, where it is allowed to dissolve slowly. The surface is highly vascular, thus the medication is absorbed directly into the bloodstream.

Highly vascular

Word meaning containing many blood vessels.

Buccal administration

Administration of medication between the gums and cheek.

Topical application

A method for applying liquid or ointment by rubbing it into the skin on the area to be treated.

Cortisone ointment

ointment that is applied topically to relieve itching and to speed healing.

Antibiotic ointments

Ointments that are applied over minor wounds to prevent and treat infection.

Transdermal

Medication is administered from a patch that is applied to unbroken skin. The medication, which is continuously released by the patch, is absorbed through the skin and transmitted to the bloodstream so that it can produce a systemic effect. These multilayered patches are used to convey medications, such as nitroglycerin for angina or hormones for hormone replacement therapy.

trans

Word part meaning across

derm

Word part meaning skin

Parenteral administration

Taken into the body or administered in a manner other than through the digestive tract. Most common is via injection through a syringe.

par

Word part meaning outside

Subcutaneous injection

A injection made into the fatty layer just below the skin. (SC, SQ)

cutan/e

Word part meaning skin

Intradermal injection

Injection made into the middle layer of the skin

intra

Word part meaning within

intravenous injection

Injection made into a vein (IV)

IV infusion

Administered into a vein over a period of time.

PICC line / peripherally inserted central catheter

Frequently used for a patient who will need IV therapy for more than seven days.

Bolus / Bolus infusion

A single, concentrated dose of a drug usually injected into a blood vessel over a short period of time. The term is also used in relation to the digestive system.

Intrathecal administration

the injection of medication directly into the cerebrospinal fluid.

thec

Word part meaning sheath

Dose

A measured quantity of a medication ordered to be given at one time.

Therapeutic dose

The amount of medication necessary to achieve the desired outcome.

Therapeutic

Relating to the treatment or curing of a disorder or disease.

Therapeutic level

A blood test showing whether the amount of medication circulating in the blood is sufficient to achieve the desired outcome.

Loading dose

An initial, higher dose of medication is given to achieve therapeutic levels when a patient is started on a medication. This is used for medications that have a long half-life , meaning that they are cleared slowly from the body, or for medications such as anti-convulsants, where it is important to achieve therapeutic levels immediately.

Half-life

Amount of time for half of the medication to disappears. The longer the time the more slowly it clears from the body

Maintenance dose

The regular dose of medication given on an ongoing basis to maintain therapeutic levels.

Medication regimen

A course of treatment involving taking certain medications on a regular basis as instructed by a physician or other health care professional.

Adherence / compliance

The patient’s consistency and accuracy in following the regimen prescribed by a physician or other health care professional.

Overdose

A deliberate or accidental ingestion of more medication than has been prescribed or is safe. (OD)

Adverse drug reaction

An undesirable reaction that accompanies the principal response for which the drug was taken. ADRs can include side effects, idiosyncratic reactions, and drug toxicity. (ADR)

Side effects

A secondary response that accompanies the principal response for which the drug was taken. They can be beneficial or undesirable.

Idiosyncratic reaction

An unexpected reaction to a drug that is particular to the individual.

Toxicity

Harmful dose of a drug builds up in the body, either because of overdose or slowed removal of the drug from the body.

Contraindication

A factor of the patient’s condition that makes the use of a medication or specific treatment dangerous or ill advised. For example, a patient with a history of bleeding from stomach ulcers should not take blood thinners or other medications that will increase their risk of bleeding.

Drug interaction

The result of drugs reacting with each other, often in ways that are unexpected or potentially harmful. Such interactions can occur when medications are taken along with herbal supplements or over-the-counter drugs, or when more than one prescription drug is taken at the same time.

Synergism

The interaction of two drugs taken together that enhances the effectiveness of both. The term comes from the Greek term for working together.

Paradoxical reaction

The result of medical treatment that yields the opposite of normally expected results.

Paradoxical

Meaning not being normal or the usual kind.

Drug tolerance

When the body has become accustomed to a medication after taking it for a length of time, and higher doses are required to achieve the desired effect.

Dependence

The body has become accustomed to a medication or substance after repeated use, and experiences physical and/or psychological withdrawal symptoms if its use is stopped.

Sedative

A blanket term for controlled substances that relax the body by suppressing neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. Many are Schedule IV drugs. In low doses they have a relaxing, anxiolytic effect while in higher doses induce sleep and can lead to unconsciousness and death in cases of overdose.

Anxiolytic

Anxiety reducing / relaxing effect

benzodiazepines such as lorazepam (Ativan®)

barbiturates such as phenobarbital (Luminal®).

Other medications, such as opioids, can also have a sedative effect.

Classes of sedatives

Hypnotic / Sleeping pill

A drug that helps induce or sustain sleep.

Sedative-hypnotics

Sedatives that have a hypnotic effect in higher doses are known as

Sedation

The use of sedative medication to induce a calm, relaxed state in order to perform a medical procedure.

Reversal agent

A drug that immediately reverses the effect of another drug, such as a sedative or opioid. They are used in the case of overdose.