Pharmacology

Study of drugs and their interactions with humans in the production of therapeutic effects

Drug

Substance intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment mitigation, cure and diagnosis of disease

OTC

Nonprescription drugs deemed safe by the FDA so long as given directions are followed

Rx

Medication taken with physician supervision; may be harmful if abused or not properly monitored.

Legend Drug

Prescription medication

Controlled Substances

Drugs with a higher potential for abuse than other legend drugs; require stricter regulations

Dietary Supplements

Supplements not regulated by the FDA because of their lack of proof of therapeutic effect

Tablet

Most common form of medication given; can vary in size, shape, dissolution properties, color, weight, and method of delivery 

Buccal Tablets

Tablets designed to dissolve slowly when placed between the cheek and gums

Sublingual Tablets

Tablets that dissolve rapidly and produce an immediate drug effect; placed under the tongue, not meant to be swallowed

Chewable Tablets

Tablets that are designed to be easily chewed and then swallowed; made to assist pts who have difficulty swallowing other types of medications

Effervescent Tablets

Tablets that release CO2 into water or other liquid used for injestion; uses a chemical reaction to hasten dissolution

Enteric-Coated Tablets

Film-Coated Tablets

Tablets coated in a thin film to mask the taste of the medication.

Capsules

Second-most common dosage form used in the pharmacy; solid dosage form in which medication is enclosed in hard or soft gelatin

Hard Capsules

Contains powders, granules, or beads

Soft Capsules

Encloses liquid medication

Pills

Outdated dosage forms of powdered, rolled natural materials with a sticky material to form a round mass

Controlled-Release products

Allows for continuous release of medication over an extended period and increases therapeutic effects

LA

Long Acting; common acronym used by drug manufacturers to indicate variations of controlled-release drugs

SA

Sustained Action; common acronym used by drug manufacturers to indicate variations of controlled-release drugs

SR

Sustained Release; common acronym used by drug manufacturers to indicate variations of controlled-release drugs

TR

Timed Release; common acronym used by drug manufacturers to indicate variations of controlled-release drugs

CD

Controlled Dissolution; common acronym used by drug manufacturers to indicate variations of controlled-release drugs

ER

Extended Release; common acronym used by drug manufacturers to indicate variations of controlled-release drugs

XL

Extended Release; common acronym used by drug manufacturers to indicate variations of controlled-release drugs

XR

Extended Release; common acronym used by drug manufacturers to indicate variations of controlled-release drugs

Pastilles

aka lozenges; dissolves in the mouth; provides medication to oral cavity; looks similar to hard candy (e.g. cough drops)

Troches

Can be hard or have gummy consistency; provides medication to the oral cavity

(e.g. Mycelex Troches)

Powders

Solid dosage forms which have been crushed to make a fine powder to be used internally or externally

Internal Powders

typically mixed into a liquid to improve the taste and make it easier to swallow

(e.g. Questran Powder)

External Powders

For topical use

(e.g. Tinactin Powder)

Suppositories

Anusol HC

Local effecting suppository

Phenergan Suppositories

Suppositories that provide a systemic effect

Vaginal Tablets

Tablets inserted into the vagnia and dissolve to provide either topical or systemic effects

Liquid dosage forms

Solutions

Syrups

Solutions that contain sugar (e.g. Zyrtec Syrup)

Tinctures

Solutions that contain alcohol (e.g. Benzoin Compund Tincture)

Suspensions

Reconstituted Liquids

Emulsions

Elixers

Clear, sweet combos of water and alcohol that is intended for oral use only

(e.g. Novahistine DH)

Fluid Extracts and Tinctures

Contains plant extracts as active ingredient in water and/or alcohol

(e.g. Tincture of Benzoin Compound)

Spirits and Essences

Contains substances that evaporate quickly, and thus must be stored in airtight containers

Foams

Systems in which gas has been incorporated into a liquid and produces a light consistency when released

(e.g. Proctofoam)

Shampoo

Easy method to apply medication to scalp (other top meds hard to apply due to large amounts of hair)

(e.g. Lindane Shampoo--tx of head/crab lice)

Colloids

Liquid preps which dry to form a flex. film that could be removed from the skin

(e.g. Duofilm--wart tx)

Mouthwash/Rinse

Provide med. to oral cavity; pt directed to swish and swallow/spit

(e.g. Peridex Oral Rinse, Listerine Mouth Wash)

Parenteral Medications

Inhilation Solutions

Meds placed in a nebulizer to provide top application of med to the respiratory tract

(e.g. Albuterol Inhalation Solution)

Ointments

Apply med to skin or mucous membrane; good for dry skin/areas that need protection; greasy and hard to remove

(e.g. Bactroban Ointment)

Creams

Moisturize skin w/o being greasy; easily rinsed off; aka "vanishing creams" b/c translucency and ability to leave skin dry and non-tacky

(e.g. Bactroban Cream)

Lotions

Similar to creams; thinner (typically) to aid in covering greater body area and areas heavily covered with hair

(e.g. Hytone Lotion)

Gels/Jellies

Semi-soild system which contains minute particles of liquid med; application results in dry surface; easy to apply to heavily hairy areas

(e.g. Retin-A Gel)

Pastes

Ointments w/ a large quantity of insoluble soilds added to stiffen; releativly impermeable to water; creates protective barrier for skin; ideal for diaper rash & similar conditions

(e.g. Nitro-Paste)

Liniments

Contains substances that produce heat to relieve muscle aches

(e.g. Ben-Gay)

Tape

Quick, easy application of top meds; skin absorbs meds from tape; improves absorption of med and provides a protective barrier

(e.g. Cordran Tape)

Transdermal Patches

Holds meds in reservoir; provides continual suppoly of med over a period of time; med absorbed into bld fr skin

(e.g. Transderm-Nitro, Duragesic (Pentanyl))

Aerosols

Provides med to resp. tract; uses metered dose inhaler or nebulizer system; med travels through air in small particles or tiny drops & lands on mucous membranes to provide therapeutic effect

(e.g. Albuterol MDI or Inhalation Solution)

Implants

Surgically placed subq to release med over long period of time; surgically removed after period of effectiveness

(e.g. Norplant)

Chewing Gum

used to deliver med to oral cavity/systemically (med absorbed by oral mucosa); gum releases med as pt. chews; release ctrld by special chrewing patterns

(e.g. Nicorette Gum)

Metered Dose Inhalers (MDI)

Delivers med to resp. tract; can be difficult to use--requires coordination for max benefit

(e.g.  Atrovent Inhalation Aerosol, Albuterol MDI)

Nebulizers

Deliver med to resp. tract through mouthpiece/mask; attacted to source of compressed air that propels med in form of fine particles/droplets to resp. tract

(e.g. Albuterol used in Nebulizer)

Spacers

Placed on inhaled med canisters to improve pt. admin technique; avaliable in various shapes and sizes; require Rx from physician

(e.g. Aero-chamber)

Nasal Sprays

Deliver top med to nasal passage

(e.g. Nasonex Nasal Spray)

Deliver systemic medication

(e.g. Stadol Nasal Spray)

Ear/Eye Droppers

Plunger Applicators

Used most commonly to apply med. to vaginal canal; can be filled with creams or foams

(e.g. Gyne-Lotrimin)

Roll-on Applicators

Convenient way to apply gels, lotions, and other top dosage forms; roller ball placed on top of a bottle to allow pts to apply top meds w/o having to touch the med w/ thier hands

(e.g. Cleocin T)

Syringes

Infusion Pumps