| A | B |
|---|
| addictive drug reaction | the combined effect of two drugs equals the sum of the effects of each drug given alone |
| adverse reaction | undesirable drug effect |
| agonist | drug that binds with a receptor to produce a therapeutic response |
| allergic reaction | immediate hypersensitive reaction by the immune system, presents as itching, hives, swelling, difficulty breathing |
| anaphylactic shock | suddent, severe hypersensitivity reaction with symptoms that progress rapidly and may result in death if not treated |
| angiodema | localized wheals or swellings in SC tissues/mucous membranes, which may be due to an allergic response |
| antagonist | drugs that join with receptor to prevent the action of an agonist |
| antibody | molecule with the ability to bind to a specific antigen; responsible for the immune response |
| antigen | substance that is capable of inducing a specific immune response |
| biotransformation | process by which the body changes a drug to a more or less active form that can be excreted |
| controlled substances | drugs that have the potential for abuse and dependency, both physical and psychological |
| cumulative drug effect | when the body is unable to metabolize and excrete one dose of a drug before the next is given |
| drug idiosyncrasy | any unusual or abnormal response that differs from the response normally expected to a specific drug and dosage |
| drug tolerance | decreased response to a drug, requiring an increase in dosage to achieve the desired effect |
| first-pass effect | action by which an oral drug is absorbed and carried directly to the liver, where it is inactivated by enzymes before it enters the general bloodstream |
| half-life | time required for the body to eliminate 50% of a drug |
| herbal medicine | type of complementary/alternative therapy that uses plants or herbs to treat various disorders |
| hypersensitivity | undesirable reaction produced by a normal immune system |
| metabolite | inactive form of the original drug |
| nonprescription drugs | OTC drugs; may be purchased in pharmacies, drugstores, supermarkets without prescription; safe if taken as directed |
| phamaceutic | pertaining to the phase during which a drug dissolves in the body |
| pharmacogenetics | study of how people's responses vary to medications due to individual genetic variation |
| pharmacokinetics | study of body mechanisms (or activity) after a drug is administered; these mechanisms include absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion |
| pharmacology | study of drugs and their action on living organisms |
| physical dependency | habitual use of a drug, where negative physical withdrawal symptoms result from abrupt discontinuation |
| polypharmacy | taking a large numer of different drugs (may be prescribed or OTC) |
| prescription drugs | drugs that are potentially harmful unless their use is supervised by a licensed health care provider |
| psychological dependency | compulsion or craving to use a substance to obtain a pleasurable experience |
| receptor | a reactive site on the surface of a cell |
| synergism | action that occurs when two substances (drugs) interact to produce an effect that is greater than the sum of their separate actions |
| teratogen | drug or substance that causes abnorml develpment of the fetus, leading to deformities |
| toxic | poisonous or harmful |
