key term
Antibiotics
A chemical substance with the ability to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria by interfering with bacteria life processes.
Antihyperlipidemic Drugs
A class of cardiovascular drugs that fight high cholesterol and triglycerides.
atypical antipsychotics drugs
First-line, clozapine-like drugs for bipolar disorder that address specific neurotransmitters.
Corticosteroids
Adrenal hormone produced by the adrenal cortex often used to reduce inflammation and pain.
Analgesia
Substance used to relieve pain.
Anticonvulsants
A group of drugs that work to lift moods and/or change perceptions.
Antihypertensive Agents
Drugs that work against high blood pressure.
Benzodiazepines
A class of drugs that acts as a sedative, hypnotic, anti-anxiety medication, and anticonvulsant. Many of these drugs share the suffix -pam.
Depression
A condition characterized by anxiety, hopelessness, irritability, intense sadness, lack of interest in surrounding life, and problems with eating and sleeping.
Bioequivalent drugs
Two versions of a patented drug, a brand drug, and a generic drug are modeled from the FDA as biologically comparable and very much like the original biological drug.
Antidepressants
Drugs that treat the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and sleep problems.
Anti-inflammatory drug
A drug that removes swelling from skin and internal organs
Beta-adrenergic blockers (beta blockers)
A class of drugs that slow the fight-or-flight response to stress and make the heart beat slower with less force by blocking the hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. Many of these drugs share the suffix -olol, as in atenolol and metoprolol.
Muscle relaxants
Drugs that reduce or prevent skeletal muscle contraction and pain.
GERD
A GI disease characterized by radiating burning or pain in the chest and an acid taste, caused by backflow of acidic stomach contents across an incompetent lower esophageal sphincter, also referred to as heartburn.
Anti-diabetic drugs
A class of drugs that supply insulin to lower sugar or stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin. The sul fonylureas class of drugs are the most common ones.
Antipsychotic drugs
Medications used to manage disordered thought and personality behaviors, such as delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, and severe agitation.
Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs)
This class of drugs blocks calcium from entering the cells of the blood vessels to keep them from gaining rigidity.
Narcotic
A drug that is either derived from opium or synthetically produced to resemble opium (opiates) chemically.
HDL (High Density Lipoprotein)
A cholesterol that has a large or equal therapeutic, or medicinal, effect.
Antihistamines
Common term for drugs that block or lessen the symptoms of drug treatment and overexposure to allergies.
ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
A disorder that manifests itself in difficulty focusing or concentrating, over activity, and difficulty with impulse control.
Cephalosporin antibiotics
Antibiotic drug developed to act like penicillin against bacteria.
NSAID
A class of drugs that provide pain, swelling, and fever reduction. (Abbreviation for Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs)
Hyperthyroidism
A condition caused by excessive thyroid hormone and marked by increased metabolic rate; also called thyrotoxicosis.