Dosage Forms
This liquid dosage form consists of one or more active ingredients dissolved in a solvent.
Solution
This abbreviation means “twice a day” and comes from the Latin bis in die.
BID
This is the process by which a drug enters the bloodstream after administration.
Absorption
This is the federal department responsible for helping Canadians maintain and improve their health, regulating drugs, natural products, and medical devices.
Health Canada
This category of drugs does not require a prescription but must be requested from a pharmacist and is kept behind the counter.
Schedule II drugs (BTC)
This semisolid dosage form is applied externally and contains medicinal substances in a water-in-oil or oil-in-water emulsion.
Cream
This abbreviation indicates a medication should be given “by mouth.”
PO
This term describes how a drug spreads throughout the body’s tissues and fluids after it enters circulation.
Distribution
This agency, abbreviated as PHAC, monitors disease outbreaks, promotes healthy lifestyles, and prepares Canada for public health emergencies.
Public Health Agency of Canada
Every prescription and over-the-counter drug approved in Canada has this unique 8-digit number assigned by Health Canada.
DIN (Drug Identification Number)
This dosage form is designed to dissolve slowly in the mouth, releasing medication over time.
Lozenge or Troche
This abbreviation is used when a medication is to be taken “as needed.”
PRN
This organ is the primary site of drug metabolism, where enzymes like CYP450 break down medications.
Liver
This federal legislation, abbreviated as CDSA, governs the possession, distribution, and sale of controlled drugs and substances in Canada.
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
Besides physicians, this group of healthcare providers may prescribe controlled substances if authorized under the CDSA and by their provincial college.
Nurse Practitioner, Dentists, Veterinarian
This dosage form is injected into the body and bypasses the gastrointestinal tract entirely.
Parental
This abbreviation means “before meals” and comes from the Latin ante cibum.
AC
This pharmacokinetic parameter refers to the time it takes for the concentration of a drug in the body to decrease by 50%.
Half Life (t1/2)
This law, abbreviated PIPEDA, governs how private-sector organizations collect, use, and disclose personal information in the course of commercial activities.
Personal Information Protection and Electronic Data Act
This is the defined temperature range for storing medications that require refrigeration in a pharmacy.
2°C to 8°C
This advanced oral dosage form uses multiple polymer layers to control the rate and location of drug release in the GI tract.
CR (Controlled Release)or MR (Modified Release)
This abbreviation, meaning “right eye,” should be avoided due to potential confusion with dosage instructions.
OD
This term is defined as the volume of plasma from which a drug is completely removed per unit time, and is used to determine dosing intervals.
Clearance (Cl)
This Health Canada division, abbreviated TPD, is responsible for evaluating the safety, efficacy, and quality of pharmaceutical drugs before market authorization.
Therapeutic Products Directorate
This abbreviation, often seen on prescriptions, means “take every hour” and is derived from the Latin quaque hora.
QH