C
Terms in this set (486)
Nurse practitioner A health care professional with major responsibility for
prescribing drugs.
Licensed nurse Has the primary responsibility for administering drugs,
although may dispense prescribed drugs under certain
circumstances.
Pharmacy technician Has the major responsibility of dispensing prescribed drugs
under the direction of a licensed pharmacist.
Intended action The effect of a drug that improves body function, also known
as a therapeutic response.
Adverse reaction An unwanted or harmful reaction that occurs after the
administration of a drug.
Idiosyncratic response An unusual or abnormal reaction to a drug that is specific to
an individual.
Trade name The name provided and owned by a specific drug's
manufacturer.
Chemical name A drug's exact chemical composition.
Generic name The name assigned to the drug by the U.S. Adopted Names
Council, not owned by anyone.
High alert drug A drug in which harm is likely to result if given at the wrong
dose, to the wrong patient, or not given to the correct patient.
,Agonist A drug that has the same action as a naturally occurring body
hormone or enzyme.
Blocking agent A drug that inhibits or blocks the action of a receptor.
Duplicator A term that does not have a defined role in pharmacology.
NSAIDs Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are not considered
high alert drugs.
Insulin A high alert drug that regulates blood sugar levels.
Penicillin An antibiotic that is not classified as a high alert drug.
Calcium A mineral that is not classified as a high alert drug.
Potassium A high alert drug that can cause harm if not administered
correctly.
Narcotics (opioids) High alert drugs that can cause significant harm if misused.
Cancer chemotherapy drugs High alert drugs that require careful administration.
Heparin A high alert drug that strongly affects blood clotting.
Pharmacodynamics Refers to how a drug works to change body function.
Pharmacokinetics Refers to drug metabolism and how the body changes a drug.
Drug potency Refers to how strongly or to what degree a drug exerts its
effects.
Therapeutic effect Closer to pharmacodynamics, meaning how a drug works to
change body function.
Food and Drug Administration Responsible for enforcing established standards for drug
manufacturing.
U.S. Pharmacopeia Establishes standards for drug manufacture.
Transdermal drug delivery route A method where drugs must be sterile and absorption is
dependent on adequate circulation.
Intrinsic drugs Hormones, enzymes, and other chemicals made by the body
that change cell activity.
Extrinsic drugs Manufactured from chemical, animal, or plant sources and
must have a means of entering the body.
, Parenteral route A method of drug administration that bypasses the digestive
system.
Oral route A method of drug administration that involves taking drugs by
mouth.
Trade names Different names that indicate different dosages or
formulations of a drug.
Generic name A standard name for a drug that is not protected by
trademark.
First pass drug loss The extensive loss of drug potency when it passes through
the liver before reaching systemic circulation.
Sterile drugs Drugs that must be free from all living microorganisms.
Clean drugs Drugs that may not require sterility but must be free from
contaminants.
Drug absorption The process by which a drug enters the bloodstream.
Target tissue The specific area in the body where a drug exerts its effects.
Cognitive Level: Remembering A classification indicating basic recall of facts.
Cognitive Level: Understanding A classification indicating comprehension of material.
Generic Name The actual official drug name assigned to the drug by the U.S.
Adopted Names Council and is not owned by anyone.
Trade Name A brand name owned by a specific manufacturer for a drug.
Medication Used to treat health problems.
Drug Can be misused and may not always be prescribed.
Diphenhydramine An antihistamine used to relieve symptoms of allergies,
available over-the-counter as Benadryl.
OTC Over-the-counter; refers to medications that can be
purchased without a prescription.
Herbal Supplements Natural products used to enhance health, which may interact
with prescribed drugs.
Botanicals Plant-derived substances that can have medicinal effects and
may interact with other medications.