Relevant Terminology Flashcards
Absorption
The process by which a drug is transferred from it’s site of entry into the body to the bloodstream.
Adverse Drug Event
Any undesirable occurrence related to administering or failing to administer a prescribed medication.
Adverse Effect
A general term for any undesirable effects that are a direct response to one or more drugs.
Adverse Reaction
Any unexpected, unintended, undesired, or excessive response to a medication given at therapeutic dosages.
Affinity
The degree to which a drug attaches to and binds with a receptor.
Agonist
A drug that binds to and stimulates the activity of one or more receptors in the body.
Allergies
Immune system response that occurs when the body interprets the administered drug as a foreign substance and forms antibodies against the drug.
Analgesic
Medications that relieve pain without causing loss of consciousness.
Antagonist
A drug that binds to and inhibits the activity of one or more receptors in the body. Also called “inhibitors”.
Bioavailability
The availability of a drug (or any other substance) for activity in the target tissue.
Biotransformation
The chemical changes s substance undergoes in the body, as by the action of enzymes, metabolism, etc…
Classification
The way drugs are classified. Can be classified by either the chemical type of the active ingredient, or the way it is used to treat a condition.
Compatibility
.
Controlled Substance
Any drugs listed on one of the “schedules” of the Controlled Substance Act. Dangerously addictive drugs.
Diluent
Inactive ingredients that are added to tablets and capsules. They can have several actions such as binders, disintegrants, and flavor enhancers.
Dissolution
The process by which solid forms of drugs disintegrate in the gastrointestinal tract and become soluble before being absorbed into circulation.
Distribution
Movement of drugs by the circulatory system to the site of action.
Drug Interactions
Alteration in the pharmacologic activity of a given drug caused by the presence of one of more additional drugs.
Duration of Action
The length of time the concentration of a drug in the blood or tissues is sufficient to elicit a response.
Efficacy
The capacity for beneficial change of a given intervention. Measures how well the treatment works in clinical trials or laboratory studies.
Excretion
Removal of a drug from the body.
Free Drug
Drug that is not bound to protein. It is therefore available to act on receptors.
Generic Name
A nonproprietary name assigned to a drug usually derived from it’s chemical name. Sometimes called the “official name.”
Half-life
The time required for the body to eliminate one half of the amount of drug in the blood stream by regular physiological process.
Hives (urticaria)
A skin rash that consists of pale red, raised, itchy bumps. Frequently caused by allergic reactions.
Hospital Formulary
List of drugs that are readily available in the hospital. Specific to each hospital.
Iatrogenic
Unintentional adverse effects that are caused by the actions of a prescriber or other health care professional or by a specific treatment.
Idiosyncrasy
Any abnormal and unexpected response to a medication, other than an allergic reaction, that is peculiar to an individual patient.
Indications
A valid reason to use a certain test, medication, procedure, or surgery.
Intradermal
Within the skin.. i.e Intradermal injection (injection just below the epidermis)
Intramuscular
Within the muscle. i.e intramuscular injection
Intravenous
Within the vein. i.e intravenous infusion (IV)
KVO
“Keep Vein Open” A medical acronym for an IV drip that is flowing just enough to keep the IV open for future use. Same as TKO.
Loading Dose
Dose given when an immediate response is desired. Gives minimum of effective concentration.
Macrodrop
IV infusion system that can deliver 10, 15, or 20 drops/mL. Used to deliver measured amounts of IV solutions, not typically used to deliver small amounts of fluid.
Maintenance Dose
The rate of drug administration that is equal to the rate of elimination of the drug from the body.
Medication Administration
.
Record (MAR)
Record documenting all medications administered to the patient, the nurse administering the drugs, and sometimes the reason the drug was administered and it’s effectiveness.
Microdrop/Microdrip
IV infusion system that delivers 60 drops/mL. Used when small volumes are being delivered.
Metabolism
1) Chemical changes in the body by which energy is provided. 2) breakdown of a drug to an inactive form.
Mechanism of Action
The way that a drug modifies the target tissue. The mechanism can be through receptors, enzymes, or nonselective interactions.
Nursing Implications
.
Onset of Action
The time required for a drug to elicit a therapeutic response after dosing.
Quality Improvement
The commitment and approach used to continuously improve every process in every part of an organization, with the intent of meeting and exceeding customer expectations and outcomes.
Peak
The maximum concentration of a drug in the body after administration, usually measured in a blood sample for therapeutic drug monitoring.
Peak of Action
The time in which the effect of a drug is at optimal strength.
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.
Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR)
A commercially published compilation of manufacturers’ prescribing information on prescription drugs, updated annually.
Protein Binding
The degree to which drugs bind to serum proteins such as albumin. Drug molecules that are bound to protein can not exert any pharmacological activity.
Prototype
.
Pyxis
A line of medication and medical supply automated dispensing cabinets.
Receptor
A specialized area on the surface of a cell that a particular drug can bind to.
Side Effect
A usually unwanted but predictable secondary effect of a drug. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with adverse reaction.
Solute
Substance dissolved into a solution.
Solution
Combination of solute (dissolved substance) and solvent (liquid holding the solute)
Subcutaneous
Tissue that anchors the skin layers to the underlying tissues of the body.
Sublingual
Area in the mouth under the tongue.
Synergism
Two drugs working simultaneously and enhancing each other’s effects, so that their combined effect is greater than that of the sum of the two individual effects.
Therapeutic Index
The ratio of a drug’s toxic dose to it’s minimally effective dose. High therapeutic index has wide margin (can increase dose without much danger of lethality) While low therapeutic index has small margin (small increases in dose can prove fatal)
TKO
“To Keep Open” A medical acronym for an IV that is flowing just enough to keep the IV open for future use. Same as KVO.
Tolerance
Reduced response to a drug after prolonged use.
Topical
Application of a substance directly to a body surface.
Trade Name
The commercial name given to a drug product by it’s manufacturer. Also called the proprietary name.
Trough
The lowest concentration of drug reached in the body after it falls from its peak level, usually measured in a blood sample for therapeutic drug monitoring.
