Additive action

Drug action in which the combination of two similar drugs is equal to the sum of the effects of each.

Aerosol

Particles of drug suspended in air.

Anaphylaxis

An exaggerated hypersensitivity reaction of the body to a drug of foreign organism.

Antidote

Agent given to counteract an unwanted effect of drug

Brand name

Commercial name for a drug; trade name

Chemical name

Chemical formula for a drug.

Contraindications

Factors in the patient’s condition that prevents the use of a particular drug or treatment.

Food anddrug

Administration (FDA)

Government agency having the legal responsibility for enforcing proper drug

manufacture and clinical use.

Stimulants

Tranquilizers

Caffeine

dextroamphetamine sulfate(dexedrine)

methylphenidate (Ritalin)

Minor

alprazolam (Xanax)

chlordiazepoxide (Librium)

clorazepate (Tranxene)

diazepam (Valium)

flurazepam (Dalmane)

oxazepam (Serax)

Major

Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)

lithium

thioridazine (Mellaril)

trifluoperazine (Stelazine)

Generic name

The legal noncommercial name for a drug.

Barbiturate

Sedative-hypnotic drug derived from barbituric acid.

Beta-blocker

Drug that blocks the action of epinephrine at sites on receptors of heart muscle cells, the muscle lining of blood vessels, and bronchial tubes; antiarrhythmics, antianginals, and antihypertensive.

Caffeine

Central nervous system stimulant

Calcium channel blocker

Drug that blocks the entrance of calcium into heart muscle and muscle lining of blood vessels; used as antiarrhythmics, antianginals, and antihypertensives.

Cardiotonic

Drug that promotes the force and efficiency of the heart.

Cathartic

Drug that relieves constipation

Diuretic

Drug that increases the production of urine and thus reduces the volume of fluid in the body; antihypertensive.

Emetic

Drug that promotes vomiting

Glucocorticoid

Hormone from the adrenal cortex that raises blood sugar and reduces inflammation.

Hypnotic

Agent that produces sleep.

Laxative

Weak cathartic

Narcotic

Habit-forming drug (potent analgesic) that relieves pain by producing stupor or insensibility.

Purgative

Strong cathartic

Sedative

Mildly hypnotic drug that relaxes without necessarily producing sleep.

Stimulant

Agent that excites and promotes activity.

Tranquilizer

Drug used to control anxiety and severe disturbances of behavior.

Combining Form

Meaning

Terminology

Meaning

Aer/o

Air

Aerosol

Alges/o

Sensitivity to pain

Analgesic

Bronch/o

Bronchial tube

Bronchodilator

Chem./o

Drug

Chemotherapy

Cras/o

Mixture

Idiosyncrasy

Cutane/o

Skin

Subcutaneous

Derm/o

Skin

Hypodermic

Erg/o

Work

Synergism

Esthes/o

Feeling, sensation

Anesthesia

Hist/o

Tissue

Antihistamine

Hypn/o

Sleep

Hypnotic

Iatr/o

Treatment

Iatrogenic

Lingu/o

Tongue

Sublingual

Myc/o

Mold, fungus

Erythromycin

Narc/o

Stupor

Narcotic

Pharmac/o

Drug

Pharmacology

Prurit/o

Itching

Antipruritic

Pyret/o

Fever

antipyretic

Thec/o

Sheath (of brain and spinal cord)

Intrathecal

Tox/o

Poison

Toxic

Toxic/o

Poison

Toxicology

Vas/o

Vessel

Vasodilator

Ven/o

Vein

Intravenous

Vit/o

Life

Vitamin

Prefix-

Meaning

Terminology

Meaning

Ana-

Upward, excessive, again

Anaphylaxis

Anti-

Against

antidote

Contra-

Against, opposite

Contraindication

Par-

Other form, apart from

Parenteral

Syn-

Together, with

Synergistic