Key terms
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 trigylcerides
Benzodiazepines
a class of drugs that acts as a sedative, hypnotic, anti-anxiety medication, and anticonvulsant. Many of these drugs share the suffix -pam.
Muscle relaxants
drugs that reduce or prevent skeletal muscle contaction 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
Anticonvulsants
a drug to control substances
Antihypertensive Agents
drugs that work against high blood pressure
Calcium Channel Blockers
this class of drugs block clacium from entering the cells of the blood vessels to keep them from gaining rigidity
Narcotic
class of drugs that numb or blunt the senses, induces sleep, or has other psychoactive properties, including the opium-based and opium-like drug
HDL
the “good cholesterol” that picks up floating low-density lipoproteins and sweeps them away through the blood stream
Antidepressants
drugs that work to life moods and/or change prescriptions
Anti-inflammatory drugs
a dtug that removes swelling from skin and internal organs
Cephalosporin antibiotics
antibiotic drugs developed to act like penicillin against bacteria
NSAID
a class of drugs that provide pain, swelling, and fever reduction
Hyperthyroidism
a condition caused by excesive thyroid hormone and marked by increased metabolic rate; also called thyrotoxicosis
Anti-diabetic drugs
a class of drugs that supple insulin to lower sugar or stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin. The sulfonuluread class of drugs are the most common ones
Antipsychotic drugs
medications used to manage disordered though and personality behaviors, such as delusions, hallucinations, mania, and sever agitation
Corticosteroids
steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex often used to reduce inflammation and pain
analgesia
substance used to relieve pain
Hypothyroidism
a condition caused by excesive thyroid hormone and marked by increased metabolic ratel also called thyrotoxicosis
Antihistamines
common term for drugs that block the H1 receptors; drugs used to treat and lesson the symptoms of allergies
ADHD
a disorder that manifests itself in difficulty focusing or concentrating, over-activity, and difficulty with impulse control
Depression
a condition characterized by anxiety, hoplessness, irritability, intense sadness, loss of concentration, pessimism, and problems with eating and sleeping
bioequivalent drugs
a generic drug that delivers approximately the same amount of active ingredient into a health volunteer’s blood-stream in the same ampount of time as the innovator or brand name drugs.
indications
the common intended uses of the drug to treat specific diseases, symptoms, or conditions