Key Terms 1

Question 1

Additive effects

Answer 1

Drug interactions in which the effect of a combination of two or more drugs with similar actions is equivalent to the sum of the individual effects of the same drugs given alone

Question 2

Adverse effects

Answer 2

Any undesirable bodily effects that are a direct response to one or more drugs.

Question 3

Agonist

Answer 3

A drug that binds to and stimulates the activity of one or more biochemical receptor types in the body

Question 4

Allergic reaction

Answer 4

An immunologic hypersensitivity reaction resulting from the unusual sensitivity of a patient to a particular medication

Question 5

Antagonist

Answer 5

A drug that binds to and inhibits the activity of one or more biochemical receptor types in the body.

Question 6

Bioavailability

Answer 6

A measure of the extent of drug absorption into systemic circulation for a given drug and route (from 0% to 100%).

Question 7

Chemical name

Answer 7

The name that describes the chemical composition and molecular structure of a drug

Question 8

Contraindication

Answer 8

Any condition, especially one related to a disease state or other patient characteristic, including current or recent drug therapy, that renders a particular form of treatment improper or undesirable.

Question 9

Drug

Answer 9

Any chemical that affects the physiologic process of a living organism.

Question 10

Drug-induced teratogenesis

Answer 10

The development of congenital anomalies or defects in the developing fetus caused by the toxic effects of drugs.

Question 11

Duration of action

Answer 11

The length of time the concentration of a drug in the blood or tissues is sufficient to elicit a therapeutic response.

Question 12

First-pass effect

Answer 12

The initial metabolism in the liver of a drug absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract before the drug reaches systemic circualtion through the bloodstream.

Question 13

Generic name

Answer 13

The name given to a drug by the United States Adopted Names Council. The generic name is generally much shorter and simpler than the chemical name and is not protected by trademark.

Question 14

Half-life

Answer 14

In pharmacokinetics, the time required for half of an administered dose of drug to be eliminated by the body.

Question 15

Idiosyncratic reaction

Answer 15

An abnormal and unexpected response to a medication, other than an allergic reaction, that is peculiar to an individual patient.

Question 16

Metabolite

Answer 16

A chemical form of a drug that is the product of one or more biochemical (metabolic) reactions involving the parent drug.

Question 17

Onset of action

Answer 17

The time required for a drug to elicit a therapeutic response after dosing.

Question 18

Pharmacodynamics

Answer 18

The study of the biochemical and physiologic interactions of drugs at their sites of activity.

Question 19

Pharmacognosy

Answer 19

The study of drugs that are obtained from natural plant and animal sources.

Question 20

Pharmacokinetics

Answer 20

The rate of drug distribution among various body compartments after a drug has entered the body. It includes the phases of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs.

Question 21

Pharmacology

Answer 21

Broadest term for the study or science of drugs

Question 22

Pharmacotherapeutics

Answer 22

The treatment of pathologic conditions through the use of drugs.

Question 23

Prodrug

Answer 23

An inactive drug dosage form that is converted to an active metabolite by various biochemical reactions once it is inside the body

Question 24

Receptor

Answer 24

A molecular structure within or on the outer surface of a cell. Receptors bind specific substances (e.g. drug molecules) and one or more corresponding cellular effects occurs as a result of this drug-receptor interaction.

Question 25

Steady state

Answer 25

The physiologic state in which the amount of drug removed via elimination is equal to the amount of drug absorbed with each dose.

Question 26

Synergistic effects

Answer 26

Drug interactions in which the effect of a combination of two or more drugs with similar actions is greater than the sum of the individual effects of the same drugs given alone

Question 27

Therapeutic effect

Answer 27

The desired or intended effect of a particular medication.

Question 28

Therapeutic index

Answer 28

The ratio between the toxic and therapeutic concentrations of a drug.

Question 29

Toxicology

Answer 29

The study of poisons. It deals with the effects of drugs and other chemicals in living systems, their detection and treatments to counteract their poisonous effects.

Question 30

Trade name

Answer 30

The commercial name given to a drug product by its manufacturer (also called the proprietary name or brand name).

Question 31

Active transport

Answer 31

The active energy-requiring movement of a substance between different tissues via biomolecular pumping mechanisms contained within cell membranes.

Question 32

Diffusion

Answer 32

The passive movement of a substance (e.g. a drug) between different tissues from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration.

Question 33

Polypharmacy

Answer 33

The use of many different drugs concurrently in treating a patient, who often has several health problems.

Question 34

Drug therapy during pregnancy

Answer 34

fetus exposed to many of same substances as mother
•
first trimester

Question 35

Iatrogenic effects

Answer 35

Unintentional adverse effects that are caused by the actions of a physician or other health care professional or by a specific treatment.

Question 36

Legend drugs

Answer 36

Medications that are not legally available without a prescription from a licensed prescriber. Prescription drugs.

Question 37

Over-the-counter drugs

Answer 37

Metications that are legally available without a prescription.