vocabulary

generic

nonproprietary name of a drug assigned by the government

trade

proprietary name of a drug assigned by the manufacturer; also called the brand/product name

proprietary

suggests ownership

ex. in US, drug developer is given exclusive rights to name and market a drug for 17 years after a New Drug Application is submitted to the FDA

brand

controlled substance

a drug whose use is restricted by the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act

potency

the strength of a drug at a specified concentration or dose

efficacy

the ability of a drug to produce a desired response

therapeutic effect

loading dose

comparatively large dose given at the beginning of treatment to rapidly obtain the therapeutic effect a drug

maintenance dose

dose that keeps the plasma drug concentration continuously in the therapeutic range

additive

synergistic

agonist

drug that is capable of binding with receptors to induce a cellular response

antagonist

drug that blocks the response of another drug

half life

how much it takes for 50% of medications to be excreted from the body

absorption

the process of moving a drug across body membranes

distribution

the process of transporting drugs through the body after they have been absorbed or injected

excretion

the process of removing substances from the body

first pass effect

mechanism whereby drugs are absorbed across the intestinal wall and enter into the hepatic portal circulation

therapeutic index

the ratio of a drug’s LD50 to it ED50

toxicity

level of drug that will result in serious adverse effects

metabolism

total of all biochemical reactions in the body