Pharm-Ch. 1 Flashcards
Introduction to Drugs
Adverse Effects
drug effects that are not the desired therapeutic effects; may be unpleasant or even dangerous.
Brand Name
name given to a drug by the pharmaceutical company that developed it; also called a trade name.
Chemical Name
name that reflects the chemical structure of a drug.
FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
federal agency responsible for the regulation and enforcement of drug evaluation and distribution policies.
Generic Drugs
drugs sold by their generic name; not brand (or trade) name products.
Generic Name
the original designation that a drug is given when the drug company that developed it applies for the approval process.
Genetic Engineering
process of altering DNA, usually of bacteria, to produce a chemical to be used as a drug.
Orphan Drugs
drugs that have been discovered but would not be profitable for a drug company to develop; usually drugs that would treat only a small number of people; these orphans can be adopted by drug companies to develop.
OTC (Over-the-Counter) Drugs
drugs that are available without a prescription for self-treatment of a variety of complaints; deemed to be safe when used as directed.
Pharmacology
the study of the biological effects of chemicals.
Pharmacotherapeutics
clinical pharmacology-the branch of pharmacology that deals with drugs; chemicals that are used in medicine for the treatment, prevention, and diagnosis of disease in humans.
Phase I Study
a pilot study of a potential drug done with a small number of selected, healthy human volunteers.
Phase II Study
a clinical study of a proposed drug by selected physicians using actual patients who have the disorder the drug is designed to treat; patients must provide informed consent.
Phase III Study
use of a proposed drug on a wide scale in the clinical setting with patients who have the disease the drug is thought to treat.
Phase IV Study
continual evaluation of a drug after it has been released for marketing.
