NAPSRx CNPR Chapter 21:
Pharmaceutical Terminology
A.A. - ANS-dosage "of each"
A.C. - ANS-dosage, "before meals"
AAHP - ANS-American Association of Health Plans, includes health maintenance
organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPO), other forms of managed
care, and utilization review organizations (UROs)
absorption rate - ANS-the rate at which a drug is taken into a persons bloodstream with in a
specified time period. can vary by person.
AC - ANS-Anti Cholinergic
;side effect (dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, etc.)
accelerated approval - ANS- Created in early 1990's, an expedited approval of drugs that
represent a major advance in addressing serious or life-threatening diseases for which no
effective alternative treatments exist.
-Under accelerated approval, the FDA accepts a surrogate endpoint as evidence of
effectiveness, and requires post-marketing studies to confirm the drug's benefits
A.C.E. inhibitors - ANS-Angiotensin Converting Enzyme inhibitors.
-A class of drugs used to treat cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension and chronic
heart failure
action letters - ANS-OFFICIAL FDA RESPONSE to NDA. the message may be an approval
letter, approvable letter, or a non-approvable letter
active metabolite - ANS-A biological active PRODUCT of a medication's metabolism
acute illness - ANS-a condition or illness that only lasts for a short period of time. (e.g.
common cold)
acute - ANS-abrupt is onset and short term
AD LIB - ANS-dosage, "freely"
additions - ANS-TWO OR MORE medications are used together and the clinical effect is
equal to the sum of their individual effects
adherence - ANS-overall PROPER USE of medication (time, schedule, technique, etc. )
Pharmaceutical Terminology
A.A. - ANS-dosage "of each"
A.C. - ANS-dosage, "before meals"
AAHP - ANS-American Association of Health Plans, includes health maintenance
organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPO), other forms of managed
care, and utilization review organizations (UROs)
absorption rate - ANS-the rate at which a drug is taken into a persons bloodstream with in a
specified time period. can vary by person.
AC - ANS-Anti Cholinergic
;side effect (dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, etc.)
accelerated approval - ANS- Created in early 1990's, an expedited approval of drugs that
represent a major advance in addressing serious or life-threatening diseases for which no
effective alternative treatments exist.
-Under accelerated approval, the FDA accepts a surrogate endpoint as evidence of
effectiveness, and requires post-marketing studies to confirm the drug's benefits
A.C.E. inhibitors - ANS-Angiotensin Converting Enzyme inhibitors.
-A class of drugs used to treat cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension and chronic
heart failure
action letters - ANS-OFFICIAL FDA RESPONSE to NDA. the message may be an approval
letter, approvable letter, or a non-approvable letter
active metabolite - ANS-A biological active PRODUCT of a medication's metabolism
acute illness - ANS-a condition or illness that only lasts for a short period of time. (e.g.
common cold)
acute - ANS-abrupt is onset and short term
AD LIB - ANS-dosage, "freely"
additions - ANS-TWO OR MORE medications are used together and the clinical effect is
equal to the sum of their individual effects
adherence - ANS-overall PROPER USE of medication (time, schedule, technique, etc. )
