Pharmacology Definitions
How medications transported into and out of body – what the body does to the medication.
What is pharmacokinetics?
In this phase of a drug trial, the new medication is tested on a limited population.
What is Phase 2?
The time from administration until medication reaches its minimum effective concentration.
What is onset of action?
Medications in this class act at mu receptors to cause pain relief and a sense of euphoria.
What are opioids?
This FDA classification of a drug designates a drug used to treat rare medical conditions.
What is an orphan drug?
Medication effects once they reach target tissues – what the medication does to the body.
What is pharmacodynamics?
In this phase of a drug trial, data are collected on side effects after the drug has been approved.
What is Phase 4?
The lethal dose for 50% of the population.
What is LD50?
This drug given multiple times per day for Parkinson's disease is converted to dopamine in the brain.
What is Levodopa?
This term describes a drug that can harm a developing fetus if given to a pregnant woman, especially in the first trimester.
What is a teratogen?
Transformation of a medication into an active or inactive drug, mostly facilitated by CYP450 enzymes.
What is metabolism?
In this Phase of a drug trial, a new medication is tested on a large group in order to refine the therapeutic dose and collect data on side effects.
What is Phase 3?
Time body takes to clear one-half of medication dose.
What is biologic half life?
Imipramine, amitriptyline and nortriptyline are medications in this class of drugs, which are used for depression and as an adjunct for pain relief.
What are tricyclic antidepressants?
If two drug products are given to the same patient in the same route and dose, the effect should be the same. This is known as this term.
What is bioequivalence?
A medication that binds to a receptor. It does not cause an action but blocks receptors from other normal processes.
What is an antagonist?
The FDA assigns new medications a letter and a number classification. This letter means the treatment new drug provides is like other drugs on the market.
What is S or Similar?
The difference in the dose for desired effect vs dose for toxic effect.
What is the therapeutic index?
Both 1st and 2nd generation antipsychotics may cause these - characterized by muscle tremors, tics.
What are extrapyramidal symptoms?
When the effects of two drugs given together are much larger than than for each drug individually.
What is synergism?
A medication binds to the same receptor at a different site → Causes a change in the shape of the receptor preventing the agonist from binding
What is a non-competitive antagonist?
The FDA assigns medications a letter and a number classification. This number means the drug is moving from prescription to OTC.
What is 8?
This term describes when a medication's level drops below the minimum effective concentration.
What is termination of action?
This CNS stimulant is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is a Schedule II drug and has a similar mechanism as amphetamines.
What is Methylphenidate (Ritalin)?
Patients taking MAOIs should avoid foods containing this.
What is tyramine?