Chapter 3 - Introduction to Basic Pharmacology and Other Common Therapies

Question 1

anaphylaxis

Answer 1

a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction

Question 2

antagonist (drugs)

Answer 2

a substance that stops the action or effect of another substance

Question 3

aromatherapy

Answer 3

the use of aromatic plant extracts and essential oils in massage or baths

Question 4

Ayurveda

Answer 4

The system of medicine that originated in India and is still practiced today. Its goal is to balance body doshas or factors so that a healthy mind and body result. Special dietary plans, yoga, and herbal remedies are commonly used in ayurvedic medicine.

Question 5

contraindication

Answer 5

a specific situation in which a drug, procedure, or surgery should not be used because it may be harmful to the person

Question 6

controlled substance

Answer 6

a drug or chemical whose manufacture, possession, or use is regulated by a government, such as illicitly used drugs or prescription medications

Question 7

Controlled Substances Act (CSA)

Answer 7

a 1971 federal statute establishing federal U.S. drug policy under which the manufacture, importation, possession, use, and distribution of certain substances is regulated; it created the five schedules of controlled substances

Question 8

craniosacral therapy

Answer 8

(considered a pseudoscience) a form of alternative therapy that uses gentle touch to palpate the synarthrodial joints of the cranium

Question 9

dosage

Answer 9

the total amount of the drug given over a period of time

Question 10

dose

Answer 10

the amount of a drug given at a single time

Question 11

dosha

Answer 11

(in Ayurveda) any one of the three categories or types of substances that are believed to be present in a person’s body

Question 12

drug interactions

Answer 12

something that occurs when a drug’s effect is modified by combining it with another drug, food, herbal compounds, or other material

Question 13

four categories of drug effects

Answer 13

Once a drug is administered to the human body it will produce a series of effects, which can be divided into four categories: (1) the effect the dose has on the body, (2) the time the drug is in the system, (3) the variables that influence how the drug interacts with the body, and (4) toxic effects of the drug

Question 14

generic name

Answer 14

A unique, official, simple name for a specific drug. This name is considered easy to remember accurately and is used in many circumstances

Question 15

herbs

Answer 15

plants commonly derived from the leafy green or flowering parts of a plant that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal purposes, or for fragrances

Question 16

holistic

Answer 16

(in regards to medicine) characterized by the treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the symptoms of a disease

Question 17

homeopathy

Answer 17

(considered a pseudoscience) the treatment of disease by minute doses of natural substances that in a healthy person would produce symptoms of disease

Question 18

iatrogenic reaction

Answer 18

a negative effect on the body caused by a medication error, drug overdose, or unusual response

Question 19

idiosyncratic reaction

Answer 19

also called paradoxic reaction; it is an unexpected or unusual response to a drug

Question 20

illicit

Answer 20

forbidden by law, rules, or custom

Question 21

indication

Answer 21

a valid reason to use a certain test, medication, procedure, or surgery

Question 22

meridians

Answer 22

(in acupuncture and Chinese medicine) each of a set of pathways in the body along which vital energy is said to flow. There are twelve such pathways associated with specific organs

Question 23

naturopathy

Answer 23

a system of alternative medicine based on the theory that diseases can be successfully treated or prevented without the use of drugs, by techniques such as control of diet, exercise, and massage

Question 24

non-contact therapeutic touch

Answer 24

an alternative medicine practice that involves placing the hands over a patient, purportedly to manipulate an energy field that surrounds the body

Question 25

occupational therapy

Answer 25

a healthcare profession that involves the use of assessment and intervention to develop, recover, or maintain the meaningful activities, or occupations, of individuals, groups, or communities

Question 26

osteopathy

Answer 26

a branch of alternative medical practice that emphasizes the treatment of medical disorders through the manipulation and massage of the bones, joints, and muscles

Question 27

parenteral drug administration

Answer 27

any non-oral means of administration, but is generally interpreted as relating to injecting directly into the body, bypassing the skin and mucous membranes

Question 28

patient compliance

Answer 28

patient’s adherence to medical directions

Question 29

pharmacokinetics

Answer 29

the branch of pharmacology concerned with the movement of drugs within the body

Question 30

pharmacology

Answer 30

the study of drugs, their actions, dosage, therapeutic uses (indications), and adverse effects

Question 31

pharmacotherapeutics

Answer 31

the study of the therapeutic uses and effects of drugs

Question 32

physiotherapy

Answer 32

also called physical therapy; a treatment method that focuses on the science of movement and helps people to restore, maintain and maximize their physical strength, function, motion and overall well-being by addressing the underlying physical issues

Question 33

placebo

Answer 33

a substance or treatment which has no therapeutic value, but may have a psychological impact

Question 34

placental barrier

Answer 34

a semipermeable membrane made up of placental tissues and limiting the kind and amount of material exchanged between mother and fetus

Question 35

potentiation

Answer 35

a description of what happens when one drug does not elicit a response on its own but enhances the response to another drug

Question 36

prescription

Answer 36

a signed legal document that must include the patient’s personal information, the prescriber’s personal information, the name and amount of the drug, any permissions for additional drugs, and the dosage, route of bodily entry, and directions for taking the drug

Question 37

reflexology

Answer 37

a form of alternative medicine that involves the application of pressure to areas on the feet (or the hands). The theory behind reflexology is that areas of the foot correspond to organs and systems of the body.

Question 38

Schedule I drug

Answer 38

a drug with no medicinal qualities that has the highest potential for abuse and dependence (e.g. Heroin)

Question 39

Schedule II drug

Answer 39

a drug with limited medicinal qualities that has a high potential for abuse and dependence (e.g. Morphine)

Question 40

Schedule III drug

Answer 40

a drug that has accepted medicinal qualities with moderate potential for abuse and dependence (e.g. Tylenol with Codeine)

Question 41

Schedule IV drug

Answer 41

a drug that has accepted medicinal qualities with low potential for abuse and dependence (e.g. Valium)

Question 42

Schedule V drug

Answer 42

a drug that has accepted medicinal qualities with the least potential for abuse and dependence (e.g. Robitussin AC, a cough syrup)

Question 43

shiatsu

Answer 43

a form of therapy of Japanese origin based on the same principles as acupuncture, in which pressure is applied to certain points on the body using the hands instead of needles

Question 44

spice

Answer 44

a seed, fruit, root, bark, or other plant substance primarily used for flavoring or coloring food

Question 45

synarthrodial joint

Answer 45

a joint that connects bones by fibrous tissue and allows little or no movement

Question 46

synergism

Answer 46

the working together of two or more drugs to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects; this is often harmful and most drug overdoses and fatalities are caused by it

Question 47

synthetic drug

Answer 47

drugs created using man-made chemicals rather than natural ingredients

Question 48

teratogenic reaction

Answer 48

a drug reaction that leads to harmful effects on the fetus, leading to developmental defects

Question 49

the complexity of drug names

Answer 49

a reference to the fact that chemical names for drugs tend to be complex and difficult to remember and are therefore limited primarily to scientific or manufacturing groups. Each drug can be identified by two additional names: the generic name and the trademark name

Question 50

toxicant

Answer 50

a toxic substance introduced into the environment

Question 51

toxicology

Answer 51

the branch of science concerned with the nature, effects, and detection of poisons

Question 52

toxin

Answer 52

a harmful substance produced within living cells or organisms

Question 53

trademark name

Answer 53

also called the trade name, proprietary name, or brand name; it is a name assigned to a drug by a particular manufacturer, and only allowed to be used by that manufacturer; many trade names have an equivalent generic name version, and differ in name only (e.g. the generic ibuprofen and the brand name Advil, but they are the same)

Question 54

yoga

Answer 54

an ancient Indian discipline of various forms that combines physical activity in the form of body stretching postures (asanas) with meditation