key terms
Antibiotics
a chemical substance with the ability to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria by interfering with bacterial life processes
Antihyperlipidemic Drugs
a class of cardiovascular drugs that fight high cholesterol and triglycerides
atypical antipsychotic drugs
first-line therapy for schizophrenia and other psychoses that address specific neurotransmitters
Corticosteroids
steroid hormones produced by the adrenal cortex, often used to reduce inflammation and pain
Analgesia
a substance used to relieve pain
Anticonvulsants
a drug to control seizures
Antihypertensive Agents
a drug that works against high blood pressure
Benzodiazepines
a class of drugs that act as sedatives, hypnotics, anti-anxiety medications, and anticonvulsants.
Depression
a condition characterized anxietyety, hopelessness, irritability, intense sadness, loss of concentration, obsessiveness, and problems with eating and sleeping
bioequivalent drugs
a generic drug that delivers approximately the same amount of active ingredients into a healthy volunteer’s bloodstream in the same amount of time as the innovator or brand-name drug
Antidepressants
a drug that works to lift moods and/or change perceptions
Anti-inflammatory drugs
a drug that removes swelling from the skin and internal organs
Beta-adrenergic 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.
Muscle relaxants -
drugs that reduce or prevent skeletal muscle contraction and pain
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) -
a GI disease characterized by radiating burning or pain in the chest and an acidic 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 sulfonylurea class of drugs is are most common one.
. Antipsychotic drugs
- medications used to manage disorders s thought and personality behaviors, such as delusions, hallucinations, mania, and severe agitation
Calcium Channel Blockers
this class of drug blocks calcium from entering the cells of the blood vessels to keep them from gaining rigidity
Narcotic -
a class of drugs that numb or blunt the senses, induce sleep, or have psychoactive properties.
HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein)
the “good cholesterol” that picks up floating low-density lipoproteins and sweeps them away through the bloodstream
Antihistamines
a common term for drugs that block the H1 receptors; a drug used to treat and lessen the symptoms of allergies
ADHD
a disorder that manifests itself in difficulty focusing or concentrating, overactivity, and difficulty with impulse control
Cephalosporin antibiotics -
antibiotic drugs developed to act like penicillin against bacteria
NSAID
a class of drugs that provides pain, swelling, and fever reduction
Hyperthyroidism
a condition caused by excessive thyroid hormones and marked by increased metabolic rate; also called thyrotoxicosis