Pharmacology Definitions Flashcards
Additive Effects
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.
Adverse Effects
Any undesirable bodily effects that are a direct response to one or more drugs
Agonist
A drug that binds to and stimulates the activity of one or more biochemical receptor types in the body.
Allergic reaction
An immunologic hypersensitivity reaction resulting from the unusual sensitivity of a patient to a particular medication
Antagonist
A drug that binds to and inhibits the activity of one or more biochemical receptor types in the body
Bioavailability
A measure of the extent of drug absorption into systemic circulation for a given drug and route (from 0% to 100%)
Chemical name
The name that describes the chemical composition and molecular structure of a drug
Contraindication
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
Drug
Any chemical that affects the physiologic process of a living organism
Drug-Induced teratogenesis
The development of congenital anomalies or defects in the developing fetus caused by the toxic effects of drugs
Duration of Action
The length of time the concentration of a drug in the blood or tissues is sufficient to elicit a therapeutic response.
First Pass Effect
The initial metabolism in the liver of a drug absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract before the drug reaches systemic circulation through the bloodstream
Generic Name
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.
Half-life
In pharmacokinetics, the time required for half of an administered dose of drug to be eliminated by the body.
Idiosyncratic reaction
An abnormal and unexpected response to a medication, other than an allergic reaction, that is peculiar to an individual patient
Metabolite
A chemical form of a drug that is the product of one or more biochemical (metabolic) reactions involving the parent drug
Onset of Action
The time required for a drug to elicit a therapeutic response after dosing
Pharmacodynamics
The study of the biochemical and physiologic interactions of drugs at their sites of activity.
Pharmacognosy
The study of drugs that are obtained from natural plant and animal sources
Pharmacokinetics
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
Pharmacology
Broadest term for the study or science of drugs
Pharmacotherapeutics
The treatment of pathologic conditions through the use of drugs
Prodrug
An inactive drug dosage form that is converted to an active metabolite by various biochemical reactions once it is inside the body
Receptor
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.
Steady State
The physiologic state in which the amount of drug removed via elimination is equal to the amount of drug absorbed with each dose.
Synergistic Effects
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.
Therapeutic Effect
The desired or intended effect of a particular medication
Therapeutic Index
The ratio between the toxic and therapeutic concentrations of a drug
Toxicology
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
Trade Name
The commercial name given to a drug product by its manufacturer (also called the proprietary name or brand name)
Active Transport
The active energy-requiring movement of a substance between different tissues via biomolecular pumping mechanisms contained within cell membranes
Diffusion
The passive movement of a substance (e.g. a drug) between different tissues from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentrations
Polypharmacy
The use of many different drugs concurrently in treating a patient, who often has several health problems.
Drug Therapy During Pregnancy
- Fetus exposed to many of the same substances as mother
* First trimester
Iatrogenic Effects
Unintentional adverse effects that are caused by the actions of a physician or other health care professional or by a specific treatment
Legend Drugs
Medications that are not legally available without a prescription from a licensed prescriber. Prescription drugs.
Over-the-counter drugs
OTC Medications that are legally available without prescription
Acute Pain
Pain that is sudden in onset, usually subsides when treated, and typically occurs over less than a 6-week period
Agonist
A substance that binds to a receptor and causes a response
Allopurinol
Drug Profile- A xanthine oxidase inhibitor which prevents uric acid production and is useful in preventing gout attacks
Analgesics
Medications that relieve pain without causing loss of consciousness.
Anesthesia
Loss of the ability to feel pain, resulting from the administration of an anesthetic drug or other medical interventions.
Anesthetics
Drugs that depress the central nervous system to produce diminution of consciousness, loss of responsiveness to sensory stimulation, or muscle relaxation.
Antagonist
A drug that binds to a receptor and prevents (blocks) a response.
Arthritis
Inflammation of the joints
Balanced Anesthesia
The practice of using combinations of drugs rather than a single drug to produce anesthesia
Chronic Pain
Pain resulting from any disorder that is often difficult to treat. Typically it is pain that lasts 3-6 months
Gate Theory
The most common and well described theory of pain transmission and pain relief.
General Anesthesia
A drug-induced state in which the CNS is altered to produce varying degrees of pain relief throughout the body as well as depression of consciousness, skeletal muscle relaxation, and diminished or absent reflexes.
Gout
Hyperuricemia; the arthritis caused by tissue build up or uric acid crystals
Inflammation
A localized protective response stimulated by injury to tissues that serves to destroy, dilute, or wall off both the injurious agent and the injured tissue.
Local Anesthetics
Drugs that render a specific portion of the body insensitive to pain at the level of the peripheral nervous system, normally without affecting consciousness. (May also be called regional anesthetics)
Malignant Hyperthermia
A genetically linked major adverse reaction to general anesthesia, characterized by a rapid rise in body temperature, as well as tachycardia, tachypnea, and sweating
Morphine Sulfate
Drug Profile A naturally occurring alkaloid derived from the opium poppy, is the drug prototype for opioids and narcotics
NSAIDS
Non Steroidal Antinflammatory Drugs (abbreviation) A large, chemically diverse group of drugs that are analgesics and also possess antinflammatory and antipyretic activity but are not steroids
Neuromuscular Blocking Drugs
NMBA (abb) A group of drugs that prevent nerve transmission in certain muscles, leading to paralysis of the muscles. They are often used with anesthetics for surgical procedures.
Neuropathic Pain
Pain that results from a disturbance of function or pathologic change in a nerve.
Opiate Analgesic
Natural narcotic drug containing or derived from opium that binds to opiate receptors in the brain to relieve pain.
Opioid Analgesics
Synthetic narcotic drugs that bind to opiate receptors to relieve pain but are not themselves derived from the opium plant.
Opioid Tolerance
A normal physiologic condition that results from long-term opioid use, in which larger doses of opiods are required to maintain the same level of analgesia and in which abrupt discontinuation of the drug results in withdrawal symptoms
Overton-Meyer Theory
A theory that describes the relationship between the lipid solubility of anesthetic drugs and their potency
Pain Threshold
The level of a stimulus that results in the perception of pain.
Pain Tolerance
The amount of pain a patient can endure without its interfering with normal function
Phantom Pain
Pain experienced in the area of a body part that has been surgically or traumatically removed.
Physical Dependence
The physical adaption of the body to the presence of an opioid or other addictive substance.
Referred Pain
Pain occurring in an area away from the organ of origin.
Rheumatism
General term for any of several disorders characterized by inflammation, degeneration, or metabolic derangement of connective tissue structures, especially joints and related structures.
Salicylism
The syndrome of salicylate toxicity, including such symptoms as tinnitus (ringing sound in the ears), nausea and vomiting.
Somatic Pain
Pain that originates from skeletal muscles, ligaments, or joints
Succinylcholine
Drug Profile The only currently available depolarizing NMBA
Superficial Pain
Pain that originates from the skin or mucous membranes
Topical Anesthetics
A class of local anesthetics that are applied directly to the skin and mucous membranes. They consist of solutions, ointments, gels, creams, powders, ophthalmic drops, and suppositories.
Visceral Pain
Pain that originates from organs or smooth muscles.
