Chapter 4 - Drug Administration & Dosage Forms Flashcards
capsule (cap)
A pill with a gelatin coating, making it easier to swallow.
elixir (elix)
Liquid drug mixed with an alcohol base.
emulsion
Liquid drug preparation containing fats and oils in water.
enema
Liquid solution instilled into the rectum with an applicator bottle.
enteral route
Giving drugs by way of the GI tract.
enteric-coated tablet
Coated pill that prevents disintegration by gastric juices.
lozenge (troche)
Flavored tablet held in the mouth, where it slowly dissolves.
oral route (PO)
Taken by mouth.
rectally (PR) -or- (R)
Administering a drug by inserting into the rectum.
nasogastric tube (NG)
Narrow tube passed through the nose to the stomach.
nothing by mouth (NPO)
No food, beverage, or medication to be given orally.
solution
Usually clear in appearance, the drug is in liquid form that is completely dissolved within the fluid.
suppository (supp)
Drug is suspended in a solid substance and inserted into the rectum.
suspension (susp)
A liquid drug form that must be shaken before using to mix the drug in the fluid.
sustained-release capsule -or- tablet
Medication with a coating to deliver a dose over an extended period time.
syrup
Sweetened, colorful liquid drug often masked with palatable flavors.
tablet (tab)
Form of compressed drug that comes in a variety of colors and shapes.
breath-actuated nebulizer (BAN)
A type of nebulizer able to deliver an aerosol continuously or on inspiration only.
buccal tablet
A tablet that is kept between the cheek and gum.
creams
Thin semisolid topical drug form applied to the skin.
dermal patches (transdermal patches)
Deliver medication externally through the skin.
douche solution
A solution used to irrigate the vaginal canal.
drops (gtt)
Liquid drops of medication that can be instilled in eyes, ears, and nose.
dry powder inhaler (DPI)
A device used to administer a dry powder inhalant aerosol to lungs.
epidural
Injection into the epidural space of the spinal cord.
eye ointment
Semisolid substance used for ophthalmic purposes.
injectable routes
The ways in which a substance can be injected directly into the body.
intracapsular (intra-articular)
injection into the joint
intradermal (ID)
injection right below the skin
intramuscular
Administering a drug directly into a muscle.
intraosseus
Injecting medication into the patient’s marrow of the long bones for immediate systemic effect.
intraspinal
injection into the spinal cord
intravenous (IV)
Directly injecting into a blood vessel.
intraventricular route
Medications are given through a catheter into the ventricle of the brain.
liniment
Medicated preparation used to soothe aches and muscle pains.
lotion
Topical cream that comes in both medicated and nonmedicated forms.
metered dose inhaler (MDI)
Uses a propellant to propel the aerosolized drug from a canister into the airways; this form can be used to give both maintenance and rescue doses.
ointments
Thick semisolid drug form applied on skin or mucosal membranes.
parenteral route
Any route that does not go through the GI tract, but term is commonly used for an injectable route.
powder drug form
Drug in powdered form that must be mixed with fluid for oral or injection. In addition, fine powdered drugs can be administered via the inhalation route.
reconstituted
Act of mixing fluid with a powdered drug form to create a solution.
small volume nebulizer (SVN)
Deliver a continuous aerosolized solution to the airways.
solution form
Solution that does not need shaken and the drug is uniformly distributed within the mixture.
spacer
Reservoir that can be added to an MDI to assist in treatment administration.
subcutaneous (subcu)
Injection of a drug into the fatty tissue layer located just below the skin.
sublingual tablet
Placed under the tongue to slowly disintegrate and absorb into the mucosa under the tongue.
suspension form
Occurs when a drug is suspended in a solution mixture and must be shaken up to mix the particles sitting on the bottom of the bottle.
vaginal creams
Medicated creams inserted into the vagina.
vaginal suppositories
Drugs suspended in a substance that melts at body temperature after being inserted into the vagina.
ampules
A glass bottle that is fused closed and must be broken to open.
gauge
The diameter or width of a needle.
hypodermic syringes
Commonly used to inject medication.
insulin syringes
Special syringes used only to give insulin preparations to diabetics.
mortar and pestle
Used to crush pills into a powder.
oral syringes
Needleless syringe used to deliver medication orally.
paper medicine cups
Disposable containers used to hold pills, tablets, and capsules.
pill crushers
Used to crush tablets into powder.
pill splitter
used to split a pill in half
plastic medicine cups
Disposable containers used to give liquid medications orally.
prefilled syringes
Used to deliver a premeasured amount of a substance.
syringes
Devices used to inject substances into or withdraw substances from the body.
tuberculin (TB) syringes
Used to deliver a small quantity of a substance intradermally.
vial
Glass container with a lid and rubber stopper to hold one dose or many doses depending on bottle size.
medication error
A preventable mishandling of medication.
medication reconcilliation
Comparing the patient’s medications to the drugs currently ordered by the physician when a change of care occurs.
telephone order repeated back (TO/RB)
Verbally repeating the physician’s order over the phone; used to increase accuracy and reduce error.
telephone order
Used to receive physician orders via telephone when the physician is not present.
