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Pharmacy Technician Vocabularies Module 1
Allison free course module 1
119
Medical
Advanced
06/11/2025

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Term
Pharmacology
Definition
The study of how drugs from various sources work inside the body for their intended purposes
Term
Physiology
Definition
The study of normal body function
Term
Pathophysiology
Definition
The study of abnormal body processes or disease
Term
Pharmaceutics
Definition
The study of how drugs are introduced into the body
Term
Pharmacokinetics
Definition
The study of how drugs are absorbed into the bloodstream (absorption), circulated to tissues throughout the body (distribution), inactivated (metabolized), and eliminated (metabolism and excretion). Pharmacokinetic processes affect a drug’s effectiveness, dosing schedule, and use
Term
Pharmacodynamics
Definition
The study of drugs and their receptors on the molecular level
Term
Pharmacotherapeutics
Definition
The study of how drugs are used in clinical practice for individual patients. Determining what will be most beneficial and appropriate for use for an individual patient.
Term
Phase I clinical trials
Definition
1st tried on healthy human subjects, drugs are given a generic drug name, assigned by a government agency
Term
Phase II & III clinical trials
Definition
Drugs are tested on humans having the condition or disease the drug is supposed to treat. Near the end of Phase III, a proprietary or brand name is assigned by the company that will manufacture and sell the drug
Term
Phase IV clinical trials
Definition
Postmarketing
Term
Major drug classes
Definition
Drugs that work in the same way are put into a particular class and usually given names with a common stem then lumped into therapeutic classes
Term
Therapeutic classes
Definition
Use on a particular body system
Term
Legend or prescription drugs
Definition
Only available by prescription and are dispensed from the pharmacy upon receipt of a valid prescription from a prescriber
Term
Over-the-counter (OTC)
Definition
Medications that can be purchased without a prescription
Term
Controlled substances
Definition
Medications that have been categorized by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to have the potential for abuse and dependence
Term
Schedule I
Definition
Illegal substances or only available for research or experimental purposes
Term
Schedule II - V
Definition
Medications that can be legally dispensed with certain restrictions
Term
Pregnancy categorization
Definition
Developed to assess safety during pregnancy, determining potential benefits and risks involved when a woman takes a medication while pregnant
Term
Teratogenic
Definition
Drugs that can cause birth defects or malformations in a developing fetus, degree of teratogenicity may depend on the stage of development
Term
Western medicine
Definition
Traditional medicine, treatments generally recognized and accepted, relies on scientific method
Term
Easter medicine
Definition
Older type of medicine that used herbs and alternative therapies and recognizes a person's spiritual being and balance
Term
Dietary and nutritional supplements
Definition
Regulated as foods, not regulated for safety and efficacy as are prescription and OTC products by the FDA
Term
Homeopathy
Definition
Treating an ailment with a substance, that can cause an effect similar to the ailment itself
Term
Chinese medicine
Definition
Uses Easter medical philophies
Term
Acupuncture
Definition
Insertion of needles at specific points on the body to unblock energy channels
Term
Acupressure
Definition
Applies pressure to those points to enhance energy flow
Term
Chiropractic therapy
Definition
Non-drug modalities, manipulation to achieve better body alignment and health
Term
Ayurveda
Definition
East Indian medicine that involves spiritual and whole-body will being, employing change in diet and lifestyle
Term
Biofeedback
Definition
Mental exercise and relaxation to slow heartbeat, lower blood pressure, and reduce stomach problems
Term
Medication error
Definition
An event in which a patient is harmed by a medication in some way that could have been prevented. The mistake could be made by the prescriber, the pharmacy, or during administration. A technician's job is crucial to ensuring good patient care
Term
5 R's
Definition
Right Drug, Right Strength, Right Route, Right Time, Right Patient
Term
Dosage form
Definition
How the drug is delivered
Term
Systemic effect
Definition
Effects the body as a whole
Term
Local effect
Definition
Site of action is a specific area or tissue
Term
Oral (peroral or PO)
Definition
By mouth. The most convenient and cost-effective means of delivering a medication to a patient
Term
Tablets
Definition
Can be coated or uncoated, most are swallowed whole, but some can be chewed (masticated)
Term
Solution
Definition
Liquids with dissolved substances
Term
Suspensions
Definition
Liquids with particulate matter - must be shaken
Term
Orally dissolving tablets (ODTs)
Definition
Dissolve quickly on the tongue
Term
Sublingual
Definition
Dissolve under the tongue
Term
Buccal
Definition
Absorbed in the cheek
Term
Parenteral route
Definition
Administered by injection, administered elsewhere in the body than the mouth and alimentary canal
Term
Intramuscular (IM)
Definition
Given directly into a muscle
Term
Deltoid
Definition
Upper arm
Term
Gluteus medius
Definition
Buttocks
Term
Intravenous (IV)
Definition
Injections given directly into a vein
Term
Peripheral IV line
Definition
Inserted into a vein in the arm, wrist, or hand, small amounts of fluid, time infused is a few days or less
Term
Central IV line
Definition
Inserted into one of the larger veins in the upper chest area near the clavicle (collarbone), inserted surgically, used when large volumes of fluid must be given, repeated infusions, time is longer than a few days
Term
Subcutaneous (SQ or SC or Subq)
Definition
Injections into the fatty tissue under the dermal layer of the skin about the muscular tissue
Term
Intrathecal (IT)
Definition
Injections given into the spinal column between vertebrae, epidural
Term
Epidural
Definition
Injections given via a small catheter to deliver a drug directly into the spinal column over time, both are administered exclusively by anesthesiologists or anesthetists.
Term
Intradermal (ID)
Definition
Injections given just underneath the top layer of skin (epidermis), used for tuberculosis (TB) skin tests (PPD), local anesthesia, and allergy skin testing
Term
Rectal
Definition
Drugs inserted via the rectum and allowed to melt or dissolve in place, allows for systemic absorption through the mucosal lining
Term
Transdermal
Definition
Drug delivery trough the skin over time
Term
Implants
Definition
Inserted just below the skin to release a drug slowly over time (months to years)
Term
Topical
Definition
Not for the intent of systemic absorption, limited to local absorption. Not limited to application on the skin. Lungs, eyes, and vagina, are some ways that are considered topical administrations
Term
Dermal
Definition
Applied topically to the skin; creams, lotions, gels, ointments, powders, solutions, and pastes
Term
Inhalation
Definition
Delivery of drugs into the lungs, where a patient breathes it in through the mouth
Term
Intranasal
Definition
Drug products sprayed into the nose, available in a liquid dosage form, delivering the drug to the nasal mucosa
Term
Ophthalmic
Definition
Drug delivery topically to the eye, eyedrops and eye ointments
Term
Otic
Definition
Delivery of medication into the external ear canal
Term
Atoms
Definition
The most basic unit of matter
Term
Elements
Definition
Composed of atoms
Term
Protons
Definition
Have positive electrical charge and determine an element's atomic number
Term
Neutrons
Definition
Are neutral, and carry no change (positive or negative)
Term
Electrons
Definition
Have a negative charge and seek to balance the electrical charge of an atom
Term
Ions
Definition
Atoms or molecules with an electrical charge
Term
Isotope
Definition
Same number of protons different number of neutrons, often radioactive
Term
Covalent bond
Definition
Sharing electrons, creating a neutrally charge molecule, strong bond
Term
Ionic bond
Definition
When one element entirely loses electrons and another gains electrons; remaining connected by electromagnetic attraction; weak bond, easily broken
Term
Molecule
Definition
Two or more atoms combined via covalent or ionic bonds
Term
Carbon backbone
Definition
Chains of carbon atoms strung together or in ring-like structures
Term
Isomers
Definition
Compounds with the exact same chemical makeup, but arranged differently in space
Term
Steroisomers
Definition
Isomers of the same molecule that are mirror images of each other.
Term
Carbohydrates
Definition
Common molecule in the body
Term
Peptides
Definition
Composed of amino acids and are the building blocks of protein molecules
Term
Lipids
Definition
Molecules that form long chains of covalently bonded carbon and hydrogen atoms; soluble in fat or oil; used to create hormones and other active biochemical
Term
Nucleic acids
Definition
Part of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which forms the genetic material contained in the cell nucleus
Term
pH scale
Definition
Measuring acidic and basic (alkaline) properties of substances. Acid - (below 7), Bases - (above 7)
Term
Hydrogen ions
Definition
Created when an electron orbiting a hydrogen atom is lost, leaving a lone proton with a positive charge
Term
Receptors
Definition
Receives chemical signals
Term
Drug receptor theory
Definition
Based on the lock and key mechanism
Term
Pharmacodynamics
Definition
The study of drug receptor theory at the molecular level and how that interaction translates to drug activity on the entire body
Term
Mechanism of action
Definition
A drugs effect on the body
Term
Agonist
Definition
Drugs whose activity stimulate a specific response when binding to receptors
Term
Antagonist
Definition
Drugs that block a response when binding to receptors
Term
Dose-response curve
Definition
Graphically shows the relationship between dose and its effect. The graph shows concentration of drug in the bloodstream over time. Showing an increased dose result in an increase response
Term
Ceiling effect
Definition
No further increase in dose produces additional response
Term
Therapeutic range
Definition
Where the blood concentrations are in the middle of the curve
Term
Minimum therapeutic concentration
Definition
The lower threshold of the range
Term
Toxic concentration
Definition
The upper edge of the range; the incidence of toxic effects may outweigh any benefit of the drug and thus pose too great a risk
Term
Efficacy
Definition
Produces a desired or intended result
Term
Potency
Definition
Power to affect body or mind. A drug that achieves the same response as another drug but at a lower dose is more potent. Timing of dosing is very important, when desired is a constant concentration in the therapeutic range
Term
Steady state
Definition
When constant concentration is maintained
Term
Loading dose
Definition
A dose that is large enough to bring blood concentrations up to the therapeutic range immediately
Term
Trough
Definition
The point at which a drug is at the lowest concentration
Term
Peak
Definition
When the concentration is at its highest
Term
Pharmacokinteics
Definition
Observing and predicting, using a mathematical model, to study how a drug enters, moves around, and leaves the body
Term
Absorption
Definition
The process by which drugs enter the bloodstream. It affects the onset of drug action as well as the extent of action. Route of administration affects it by enhancing or limiting systemic effect
Term
Active transport
Definition
Use energy to bring drug molecules across the membrane
Term
Passive transport
Definition
Molecules move across on their own
Term
Concentration gradients
Definition
Drugs absorbed move from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration
Term
Distribution
Definition
The process by which drugs move around in the bloodstream and reach other tissues of the body
Term
Volume of distribution (Vd)
Definition
How a drug is distributed within the compartments of the body
Term
Protein binding
Definition
Drug molecules can have a high affinity for protein molecules; binding to proteins, that circulate in the blood
Term
Blood-brain barrier (BBB)
Definition
A layer of cells that affects distribution of drugs to the central nervous system (CNS)
Term
Metabolism
Definition
The process in the body by which drugs are converted to other biochemical compounds, and then excreted through metabolic pathways
Term
Prodrugs
Definition
A compound that on administration and chemical conversion by metabolic processes becomes an active pharmacological agent
Term
First-pass effect
Definition
The liver metabolizing drugs as they pass or travel through it
Term
Cytochrome P450 enzyme system
Definition
Frequently deactivates drugs; liver enzyme involved in metabolism
Term
Elimination
Definition
The process by which drugs leave the body
Term
Half-life (t 1/2)
Definition
The time it takes half of a drug to be cleared from the blood
Term
Excretion
Definition
The process by which drug molecules are removed from the bloodstream; primarily involving the kidneys
Term
Cardiovascular disease
Definition
Blood flow decreases
Term
Hyperthyroidism
Definition
Metabolism rate increases in the liver
Term
Pediatric practice
Definition
Infants and children
Term
Geriatric practice
Definition
Elderly patients
Term
Liver disease
Definition
Can greatly affect drugs eliminated via metabolism
Term
Kidney function
Definition
Excretion primarily happens through the kidneys, affecting elimination
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