General Pharmacology

Question 1

Adverse drug event

Answer 1

Harm to a patient caused by a therapeutic or preventive intervention. Could be due to medication error or adverse drug reaction.

Question 2

Adverse drug reaction

Answer 2

An undesirable response to a drug by a patient. May vary in severity from mild to fatal.

Question 3

Agonist

Answer 3

A drug that brings about a specific action by binding with the appropriate receptor.

Question 4

Antagonist

Answer 4

A drug that inhibits a specific action by binding with a particular receptor.

Question 5

Bioavailability

Answer 5

Measure of the degree to which a drug is absorbed and reaches systemic circulation.

Question 6

Compounding

Answer 6

Any manipulation (e.g.: diluting, combining) performed to produce a dosage-form drug, other than the manipulations described in the directions for use on the labeling of an approved drug product.

Question 7

Drug

Answer 7

A substance used to diagnose, prevent, or treat disease.

Question 8

Efficacy

Answer 8

The extent to which a drug causes the intended effects in a patient.

Question 9

Extralabel use

Answer 9

The use of a drug that is not specifically listed on the FDA-approved label.

Question 10

First-pass effect

Answer 10

Some orally administered drugs are rapidly metabolized in the liver; the concentration of the drug is greatly reduced before it reaches systemic circulation.

Question 11

Half-life

Answer 11

The amount of time (usually expressed in hours) that it takes for the quantity of a drug in the body to be reduced by 50%.

Question 12

Legend

Answer 12

Legend drugs are required by law to be dispensed on or by the order or a licensed veterinarian or physician.

Question 13

Loading dose

Answer 13

It is an initial higher dose of a drug given at the beginning of a treatment to rapidly achieve a therapeutic concentration in the body.

Question 14

Manufacturing

Answer 14

The bulk production of drugs for resale outside of the veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

Question 15

Metabolism (biotransformation)

Answer 15

The biochemical process that alters a drug from an active form to a form that is inactive or that can be eliminated from the body.

Question 16

Over-the-counter drugs

Answer 16

A drug that can be purchased without a prescription; these drugs contain ingredients that are safe or have low concentrations of an active ingredient.

Question 17

Parenteral

Answer 17

The route of administration of injectable drugs.

Question 18

Partition coefficient

Answer 18

The ratio of the solubility of substances (e.g.: gas anesthetics) between two states in which they may be found (e.g.: blood and gas, gas and rubber goods).

Question 19

Prescription (legend) drug

Answer 19

A drug that is limited to use under the supervision of a veterinarian because of potential danger, difficulty of administration, or other considerations. A legend that designated a prescription drug states the following: “Caution: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.”

Question 20

Regimen

Answer 20

A program for administration of a drug that includes the route, the dose, the frequency, and the duration of administration.

Question 21

Residue

Answer 21

The amount of a drug still present in animal tissue or products (e.g.: meat, milk, eggs) at a particular point (slaughter or collection).

Question 22

Therapeutic index

Answer 22

Relationship between a drug’s ability to achieve the desired effect and its tendency to produce toxic effects.

Question 23

Veterinarian-client-patient relationship

Answer 23

The set of circumstances that must exist between the veterinarian, the client, and the patient before the dispensing of prescription drugs is appropriate.

Question 24

Withdrawal time

Answer 24

The period of time from when the last dose of medication is administered to when the animal can be slaughtered for food or milk and eggs can be consumed safely.