Chapter 17 Vocabulary

Front 1

absorption

Back 1

• The process by which drug molecules are moved from the site of entry into the body into the general circulation.

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adrenergic

Back 2

• Of or pertaining to the sympathetic nerve fibers of the autonomic nervous system, which use epinephrine or epinephrine-like substances as neurotransmitters.

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agonists

Back 3

Drugs that combine with receptors and initiate the expected response.

Front 4

antagonists

Back 4

Agents designed to inhibit or counteract the effects of other drugs or undesired effects caused by normal or hyperactive physiological mechanisms.

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anticholinergic

Back 5

Of or pertaining to the blocking of acetylcholine receptors, resulting in inhibition of transmission of parasympathetic nerve impulses.

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biological half-life

Back 6

The time required to metabolize or eliminate half the total amount of a drug in the body.

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biotransformation

Back 7

The process by which a drug is converted chemically to a metabolite.

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chemical name

Back 8

The exact designation of a chemical structure as determined by the rules of chemical nomenclature.

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cholinergic

Back 9

Of or pertaining to the effects produced by the parasympathetic nervous system or drugs that stimulate or antagonize the parasympathetic nervous system.

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contraindications

Back 10

Medical or physiological factors that make it harmful to administer a medication that would otherwise have a therapeutic effect.

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controlled substances

Back 11

Any drug defined in the categories of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act (also known as the Controlled Substances Act) of 1970.

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cumulative action

Back 12

The effect that occurs when several doses of a drug are administered or when absorption occurs more quickly than removal by excretion or metabolism or both.

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distribution

Back 13

The transport of a drug through the bloodstream to various tissues of the body and ultimately to its site of action.

Front 14

drug

Back 14

Any substance taken by mouth; injected into a muscle, blood vessel, or cavity of the body; or applied topically to treat or prevent a disease or condition.

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drug interaction

Back 15

Modification of the effects of one drug by the previous or concurrent administration of another drug, thereby increasing or diminishing the pharmacological or physiological action of one or both drugs.

Front 16

drug receptors

Back 16

Parts of a cell (usually an enzyme or large protein molecule) with which a drug molecule interacts to trigger its desired response or effect.

Front 17

excretion

Back 17

The elimination of toxic or inactive metabolites, primarily by the kidneys; the intestines, lungs, and mammary, sweat, and salivary glands also may be involved.

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first-pass metabolism

Back 18

The initial biotransformation of a drug during passage through the liver from the portal vein that occurs before the drug reaches the general circulation.

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generic name

Back 19

The official, established name assigned to a drug.

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idiosyncrasy

Back 20

An abnormal or peculiar response to a drug.

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loading dose

Back 21

A large quantity of drug that temporarily exceeds the capacity of the body to excrete the drug.

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maintenance dose

Back 22

The amount of a drug required to keep a desired steady state of drug concentration in tissues.

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official name

Back 23

The name of a drug that is followed by the initials USP (United States Pharmacopeia) or NF (National Formulary), denoting its listing in one of the official publications; usually the same as the generic name.

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parenteral

Back 24

Of or pertaining to any medication route other than the alimentary canal.

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pharmaceutics

Back 25

The science of dispensing drugs.

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pharmacodynamics

Back 26

The study of how a drug acts on a living organism.

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pharmacokinetics

Back 27

The study of how the body handles a drug over a period of time, including the processes of absorption, distribution, biotransformation, and excretion.

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placental barrier

Back 28

A protective biological membrane that separates the blood vessels of the mother and the fetus.

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potentiation

Back 29

Enhancement of the effect of a drug, caused by concurrent administration of two drugs in which one drug increases the effect of the other.

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summation

Back 30

The combined effects of two drugs that equal the sum of the individual effects of each agent.

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synergism

Back 31

The combined action of two drugs that is greater than the sum of each agent acting independently.

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therapeutic action

Back 32

The desired, intended action of a drug.

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therapeutic index

Back 33

A measurement of the relative safety of a drug.

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tolerance

Back 34

A physiological response that requires that a drug dosage be increased to produce the same effect formerly produced by a smaller dose.

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trade name

Back 35

The trademark name of a drug, designated by the drug company that sells the medication.

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untoward effects

Back 36

Side effects that prove harmful to the patient.