Pharmaceutical Terminology

Doungkamol Leaokittikul, PhD

OBJECTIVE
Students understand and can describe the meaning of some pharmaceutical terminology.

 adsorbent = a drug that binds other chemicals onto its surface, used to reduce the free availability of toxic chemicals, e.g. activated charcoal, kaolin. adsorption = the action of a substance in attracting and holding other materials or particles on its surface. absorption = the uptake of substances into or across tissues.

 aerosols = products packaged under pressure that contain therapeutically active ingredients that are released as a fine mist, spray, or foam on actuation of the valve assembly. aromatic waters = clear, saturated solutions of volatile oils or other aromatic substances in water. They are used orally, topically, or pharmaceutically for the characteristics of the aromatic material they contain.

Peppermint water NF XIV Rx Peppermint oil Purified water Talcum Use: Carminative 2 mL 100 mL 15 g

(From: USP XXI, NF 16, 1985, p. 1343; Remington Vol.II, 1995, p. 1389)

 capsules = solid dosage forms in which one or more medicinal/inert substances are enclosed within small shells of gelatin. Capsule shells are produced in varying sizes, shapes, thickness, softness, and color. collodions = liquid preparations composed of pyroxylin dissolved in a solvent mixture usually composed of alcohol and ether with or without added medicinal substances. They are intended for external application to the skin.

 creams = semisolid preparations containing one or more drug substances dissolved or dispersed in a suitable base. elixirs = sweetened, flavored, hydroalcoholic solutions intended for oral administration. They may be nonmedicated or medicated and are used in the same manner as syrups. emulsion = a type of disperse system in which one liquid is dispersed throughout another liquid in the form of fine droplets.

Mineral oil emulsion (Oil in water emulsion)

Rx Mineral oil Acacia (finely powder) Syrup Vanillin Alcohol Purified water to make Use: lubricating cathartic Dose: 30 mL

500 mL 125 g 100 g 40 mg 60 mL 100 mL

 implants = small, sterile, solid dosage forms containing concentrated drug for implantation in the body where they continuously release their medication over prolonged periods. inhalations = finely powdered drug substances, solutions, or suspensions of drug substances administered by the nasal respiratory route for local or systemic effects. Special devices are used to facilitate administration.

 injections = sterile preparations intended for parenteral administration by needle or pressure syringe. Drugs may be injected into most any vessel or tissue of the body, but the most common routes are intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SC).

 liniments = alcoholic or oleaginous solutions, suspensions, or emulsions of medicinal agents intended for external application to the skin, generally by rubbing. lotions = liquid preparations intended for external application to the skin. lozenges = solid preparations containing one or more medicinal agents in a flavored, sweetened base intended to dissolve or disintegrate slowly in the mouth, releasing medication generally for localized effects.

 Magmas and Gels = fine pharmaceutical suspensions in which the suspensoid has a high degree of physical attraction to the aqueous vehicle, forming a gelatinous mixture that maintains that uniformity and stability of the suspension. Magma and gels are administered orally. ointments = semisolid preparations intended for topical application.

 pastes = semisolid dosage forms that contain one or more drug substances intended for topical application. plasters = solid or semisolid adhesive masses spread across a suitable backing material and intended for external application to a part of the body for protection or for the medicinal benefit of added agents.

 powders = dry mixtures of finely divided medicinal and nonmedicinal agents intended for internal or external use. solutions = liquid preparations that contain one or more chemical substances (solute/s) dissolved in a solvent or mixture of solvents. spirits = alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solutions of volatile substances. Depending on their contents, some spirits are used orally for medicinal purposes and others as flavoring agent.

 suspensions = preparations containing finely divided, undissolved drug particles dispersed throughout a liquid vehicle. suppositories = solid dosage forms intended for insertion into body orifices where they melt, soften, or dissolve and exert localized or systemic effect. They are commonly used rectally and vaginally, and occasionally urethrally. syrups = concentrated, aqueous solutions of a sugar or sugar substitute.

Calamine suspension Calamine Zinc oxide Glycerin Bentonite magma Calcium hydroxide sol. 80 g 80 g 20 mL 250 mL qs. to 1000 mL

Use: Astringent, Protectant

 tablets = solid dosage forms containing one or more medicinal substances with or without added pharmaceutical ingredients. Among the pharmaceutical agents used are diluents, disintegrants, colorants, binders, solubilizers, and coatings. tinctures = alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solutions of either pure chemical substances or of plant extractions. Most chemical tinctures are applied topically (e.g., iodine tincture).

 contraindication = any condition which renders a particular line of treatment improper or undesirable. e.g Tetracycline pregnant, children side effect = a consequence other than that for which an agent is used, especially an adverse effect on another organ system. - Chlopheniramine maleate --sedative

 drug interaction = the action of one drug upon the effectiveness or toxicity of another (or others).

 analgesic = an agent that relieves pain without causing loss of consciousness. e.g. aspirin (ASA), paracetamol antipyretic = an agent that relieves or reduces fever, e.g. paracetamol (acetaminophen) antihistamine = a drug that counteracts the effect of histamine, e.g. chlorpheniramine maleate

 antifungal = an agent that destroys or suppresses the growth or reproduction of fungi, e.g. griseofulvin, ketoconazole anti-inflammatory = an agent that counteract or suppress inflammation. e.g. ASA, Ibuprofen antipruritic = an agent that counteracts itching, e.g. Hydroxyzine HCl, Menthol

 anesthetic = an agent that produces anesthesia. - Local anesthetic - General anesthetic antibacterial = an agent that destroys or suppresses growth or reproduction of bacteria, e.g. penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin

antiseptic = a substance that inhibits the growth and development of microorganisms but does not necessarily kill them, e.g. iodine (in iodine tincture) disinfectant = an agent that disinfects, particularly one used on inanimate objects, e.g. formaldehyde

 antitussis = an agent that suppresses coughing, e.g. dextromethorphan HCl bronchodilator = an agent which causes dilatation of the bronchi, e.g. theophylline expectorant = an agent that promotes expectoration (the coughing up and spitting out of material from the lungs, bronchi, and trachea).

 placebo = an inactive substance or preparation given to satisfy the patients symbolic need for drug therapy, and used in controlled studies to determine the efficiency of medicinal substances. e.g. lactose tablet astringent = an agent that causes contraction, usually locally after topical application. e.g. alum, tannin, salt of zinc, aluminium, bismuth

 antidote = an agent that counteracts a poison, e.g. activated charcoal. hypnotic = an agent that induces sleep, e.g. chloral hydrate. sedative = a drug that allays irritability and excitement, e.g. phenobarbital

 antieczematic = an agent that is effective against eczema, e.g. coal tar. keratolytic = an agent that promote keratolysis, e.g. salicylic acid, lactic acid rubefacient = an agent that reddens the skin counterirritant = an agent which produces counterirration.

 protectant =an agent affording defense against harmful influence. e.g. methyl cellulose ophthalmic protectant emollient = an agent that softens or soothes the skin, or soothes an irritated internal surface. e.g. fixed oil, wax in cold cream humectant = a moistening or diluent medicine. e.g. glycerin, sorbitol

 diluent = an agent that dilutes or renders less potent or irritant. suppository base = diluent that is used to prepare suppository.

stiffening agent = an agent that increases thickening of ointment.

 antacid = an agent which counteracts acidity, e.g. Al(OH)3, Mg(OH)2 antiflatulent = an agent that relieves or prevents flatulence, e.g. simethicone carminative = an agents that relieves flatulence, e.g. peppermint spirit

 antispasmodic = an agent that prevents or relieves spasms, e.g. atropine sulphate solubility = concentration of solute in saturated solution at specified temperature. solubilizing agent = an agent that makes more soluble.

Descriptive terms for solubility

Very soluble Freely soluble Soluble Sparingly soluble Slightly soluble Very slightly soluble Insoluble less than 1 From 1 to 10 From 10 to 30 From 30 to 100 From 100 to 1000 From 1000 to 10,000 More than 10,000

 degradation, deterioration = becoming degraded (oxidation, hydrolysis) stability = the state of being stable (for dosage formsboth physical and chemical stability) shelf-life = the length of time a product can be stored without deterioration occuring.

 deliquescence = the condition of becoming moist or liquefied as a result of absorption on water from the air. hygroscopic = readily absorbing moisture