Pharmaceutical Terminology
These have: A main word part and give central meaning
What is a Root Word?
Twice a day
What is BID?
What is Blood Pressure?
Oral drugs come in these two forms
What is solid and liquid?
These don't need a presription
What is an OTC? (over the counter)
These are: At beginning of a word and modify the root
What is a Prefix?
The order doctors give when they mean "IMMMEDIATELY!"
What is STAT?
When documenting what is wrong according to the patient.
What is c/o?
Don't break these kinds of pills!
What is enteric coated?
The kind of order when made through a phone call
What is a telephone order?
These are: Similar in function to a prefix and appear at the end of a word
What is a Suffix?
The abbreviation is QID
What is 4 times a day?
We get these to see the lungs - also to confirm a diagnosis of TB
What is a CXR? (chest x-ray)
Elixirs, tinctures, and spirits contain this
What is alcohol?
Usually the first thing about a patient on their prescription
What is Name?
The prefix for muscle
What is myo-?
Ouch! I got an IM.
What is intramuscular?
What is an ECG? (electrocardiogram)
These are flat and can be used as cough suppressants
What are lozenges?
This MUST be signed by a physician to be valid
What is a prescription?
Meaning: upon, above
What is EPI- ?
Medical Assistants can't start these...but this route of administration works the fastest.
What is an IV?
This abbreviation is about the study of women's health.
What is GYN? (gynecology)
Dosage forms are classified by this:
physical state(liquid,solid)and chemical composition
Federal law calls these dangerous or habit forming
Prescription drugs
Suffix for vomit
What is -emesis?
This abbreviation is for "bedtime"
What is HS (hour of sleep)?
A way to describe adipose or (fat) tissue.
What is SC? (subcutaneous)
These have a rapid response; also called parenteral
What are injectable drugs?
Ongoing prescriptions
What are standing orders?
Also meaning the "study of" there are many of these in healthcare
What is -logy (or ology)
Often an order given the night before surgery, instructing a patient not to eat or drink
What is NPO? (nothing by mouth)
Medical staff often ask ladies this, which often occurs once per month.
What is an LMP? (last menstrual period)
Examples are Nicotine, estrogen, and nitroglycerin and this form of medication is often given in a patch
What is transdermal?
Abbreviated as MAR...but usually seen in a hospital setting
What is Medication Administration Record?
Most common are o and i
What are combining vowels ?
Only "as needed"...an abbreviation to take medication
What is PRN?
Seen too often today...also known as a heart attack.
What is an MI? (myocardial infarction)
This drug form is seen with eye drops and ointments
What is Ophthalmic?
Dispensing directions to the pharmacist
What is a subscription?
The suffix for inflammation
What is -itis?
Abbreviation for "every 2 hours"
What is Q2H?
Also seen in the periodic table...we don't want too much or too little of this abbreviation.
What is Na? (sodium)
This drug form can clear the sinuses
What is nasal?
What are patient directions?
The suffix for disease
What is -opathy?
Before meals
What is Ac?
Often used when referring to a type of movement and seen more in an orthopedic case
What is ROM? (range of motion)
An "enema" is an example...this drug form is far from oral medication!
What are rectal drugs?
Rx symbol is called this:
What is superscription?