Fundamentals of Pharmacy

Dosage Forms

100

This liquid dosage form consists of one or more active ingredients dissolved in a solvent.

Solution

200

This semisolid dosage form is applied externally and contains medicinal substances in a water-in-oil or oil-in-water emulsion.

Cream

300

This dosage form is designed to dissolve slowly in the mouth, releasing medication over time.

Lozenge or Troche

400

This dosage form is injected into the body and bypasses the gastrointestinal tract entirely.

Parental

500

This advanced oral dosage form uses multiple polymer layers to control the rate and location of drug release in the GI tract.

CR (Controlled Release)or MR (Modified Release)

Pharmaceutical Abbreviations

100

This abbreviation means “twice a day” and comes from the Latin bis in die.

BID

200

This abbreviation indicates a medication should be given “by mouth.”

PO

300

This abbreviation is used when a medication is to be taken “as needed.”

PRN

400

This abbreviation means “before meals” and comes from the Latin ante cibum.

AC

500

This abbreviation, meaning “right eye,” should be avoided due to potential confusion with dosage instructions.

OD

Pharmacokinetics

100

This is the process by which a drug enters the bloodstream after administration.

Absorption

200

This term describes how a drug spreads throughout the body’s tissues and fluids after it enters circulation.

Distribution

300

This organ is the primary site of drug metabolism, where enzymes like CYP450 break down medications.

Liver

400

This pharmacokinetic parameter refers to the time it takes for the concentration of a drug in the body to decrease by 50%.

Half Life (t1/2)

500

This term is defined as the volume of plasma from which a drug is completely removed per unit time, and is used to determine dosing intervals.

Clearance (Cl)

Canadian Healthcare and Abbreviations

100

This is the federal department responsible for helping Canadians maintain and improve their health, regulating drugs, natural products, and medical devices.

Health Canada

200

This agency, abbreviated as PHAC, monitors disease outbreaks, promotes healthy lifestyles, and prepares Canada for public health emergencies.

Public Health Agency of Canada

300

This federal legislation, abbreviated as CDSA, governs the possession, distribution, and sale of controlled drugs and substances in Canada.

Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

400

This law, abbreviated PIPEDA, governs how private-sector organizations collect, use, and disclose personal information in the course of commercial activities.

Personal Information Protection and Electronic Data Act

500

This Health Canada division, abbreviated TPD, is responsible for evaluating the safety, efficacy, and quality of pharmaceutical drugs before market authorization.

Therapeutic Products Directorate

Miscellaneous

100

This category of drugs does not require a prescription but must be requested from a pharmacist and is kept behind the counter.

Schedule II drugs (BTC)

200

Every prescription and over-the-counter drug approved in Canada has this unique 8-digit number assigned by Health Canada.

DIN (Drug Identification Number)

300

Besides physicians, this group of healthcare providers may prescribe controlled substances if authorized under the CDSA and by their provincial college.

Nurse Practitioner, Dentists, Veterinarian

400

This is the defined temperature range for storing medications that require refrigeration in a pharmacy.

2°C to 8°C

500

This abbreviation, often seen on prescriptions, means “take every hour” and is derived from the Latin quaque hora.

QH