Skip to main content
-
adverse drug event
-
when an individual is harmed by a drug
-
adverse effect
-
an effect of a drug that is undesired
-
biologic
-
a drug isolated from natural resources and developed through biomolecular science, immunology, and genetic engineering and produced through biotechnological processes
-
biosimilar
-
a drug that is synthetically produced and has similar properties to a specific biologic; although it does go through testing, it does not go through the same rigorous testing that a biologic does
-
brand name
-
the unique identifier of a drug assigned by the drug company and marketed to consumers; also known as a trade name
-
chemical name
-
a method for identifying drugs built around the drug’s specific chemical structure or composition; often of most use to the chemist or pharmacist
-
complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)
-
alternative medicine refers to using a treatment instead of mainstream conventional medicine. Complementary therapy refers to using both alternative and conventional medicine together. Treatments may include massage, acupuncture, acupressure, mind–body interventions, herbs, vitamins, or dietary supplements.
-
counterfeit drug
-
a product that is illegally manufactured or mislabeled regarding the identity or source and appears to be a genuine product; may be harmful to the client
-
drug
-
a chemical that exerts an effect on the living body; a compound used in the prevention, treatment, diagnosis, or cure of a condition or disease
-
drug formulary
-
the list of prescription drugs that are covered by an insurance plan or carried by a medical institution
-
drug prototype
-
use of one drug within a class to represent all other drugs within the class—a “class representative”
-
enteral administration
-
the administration of medications into the gastrointestinal (GI) tract
-
generic name
-
the name of a drug, usually derived from the chemical name, that uniquely identifies the drug
-
intramuscular injection
-
the administration of medication into the muscle of a client (usually deltoid or ventrogluteal in an adult and the vastus lateralis in an infant under age 2)
-
intravenous
-
the administration of a medication directly into the bloodstream through a vein
-
over-the-counter (OTC) drug
-
a drug or medication available without prescription
-
parenteral administration
-
the administration of medication elsewhere besides the enteral (GI) route
-
percutaneous administration
-
the application of drugs to the skin or mucous membranes
-
pharmacogenetics
-
the study of the body’s hereditary response to drugs
-
pharmacokinetics
-
the movement of a drug through the body, or “what the body does to the drug”
-
pharmacologic classification
-
refers to how a group of drugs can be organized by how they work in the body—the mechanism of action
-
pharmacology
-
the study of medicines (or drugs) or the study of the biological effects of chemicals on the body
-
side effect
-
an effect of a drug that is undesired
-
subcutaneous injection
-
the administration of a medication into adipose tissue
-
synthetic drug
-
a chemical compound produced in a laboratory by a drug manufacturer or illegally by individuals for illicit purposes
-
teratogenic
-
harmful to a fetus by causing severe malformations or death
-
therapeutic classification
-
refers to how a group of drugs can be organized by the diagnosis or disease being treated
-
therapeutic effects
-
the effects that are expected and desired from a particular medication