Glossary

Absorption
The process by which the drug enters the blood stream.

Active uptake
Absorption of drugs and nutrients by means of a chemical reaction as opposed to diffusion

Activity 
This is where the drug acts upon the body.

Adverse drug reaction
Any response to a drug that is noxious and unintended and that occurs at doses used in man for prophylaxis, diagnosis or therapy.

Akathisia
Restlessness

An assault
The apprehension that there will be an unlawful touching

Anorexia
Loss of appetite

Arrhythmias
Deviations from the normal rhythm of the heart

Ataxia
Shaky movements and an unsteady gait

Battery
Touching without consent

Blood-brain barrier
The semi-permeable membrane which keeps circulating blood separate from the tissue fluids surrounding the brain

Cardiac arrhythmia
Abnormal heart beat

Cerebral perfusion
Blood supply to the brain

Delirium
Mental disorder characterised by illusions, disorientation,hallucinations and sometimes agitation

Distribution
Where the drug goes in the body after absorption.This depends on the nature of the drug. Some drugs tend
to accumulate in fatty tissue, some in muscle, some bind to plasma proteins in the blood, some remain free in the blood plasma. Most do a mixture of the above.

Drug compliance
How closely to the prescriber's intentions a medication is actually taken

Dysarthria
Speech disorder

Dysphagia
Swallowing difficulties

Dystonia
Abnormal face and body movements

Enteric coating 
This is a special coating on the outside of a tablet or capsule that does not dissolve in acid

Excretion
Where the drug or the "metabolites" of the drug leave the body. This is usually undertaken by the kidneys.

Extrapyramidal (anti-dopaminergic) side effects
Otherwise known as Parkinsonism. Characterised by: tremor, rigidity, povity of movement, difficulty swallowing, loss of facial tone, and stooped, shuffling gait

Formulation
Type of preparation. E.g. Tablets, capsules,suspensions & solutions

Glomerular filtration rate
the rate at which blood is filtered through the kidneys

Hang-over effects
Drug effects lasting into the following day

Hepatic 
Concerning the liver

Homeostatic mechanisms
The processes by which the internal systems of the body are maintained in balance

Hyponatraemia
Low sodium levels

Hypothermia
Low body temperature

Inanition
Exhaustion caused by lack of nutrients in the blood

Induction
Speeding up

Intracellular fluid
Liquid contained within the cells of the body

Ionised
Electrically polarised. Substances that are ionised tend to be water soluble

Lipid solubility
Solubility in fatty tissues

Metabolism
This is the breakdown of the drug by the body usually undertaken by enzymes in the liver. Some drugs are
designed so as to become active after they have been metabolised. These are called "pro-drugs".

Organic changes
Physical and structural alteration

Palpitations
An awareness of the heartbeat

Paradoxical excitement
Agitation caused by administration of a sedative

Peak plasma level
The highest concentration that a drug reaches in the blood

pH 
Level of acidity. Less than 7 is acidic, 7 is neutral, more than 7 is alkaline

Pharmacodynamics
What the drug does to a body

Pharmacokinetics
What the body does to a drug

Polypharmacy
Multiple drug prescribing
 
Prophylaxis
Prevention

Prostatism
Enlargement of the prostate gland

Receptor - a, b1 and b2
Different types of adrenaline receptor sites inthe body

Renal 
Concerning the kidneys

Steady state 
The plasma level oscillating between the same maximum and minimum with each successive dose

Sub-therapeutic
Below the dose required to have a medicinal benefit

Syncope
Fainting

Tachycardia 
Quickened pulse

Tardive dyskinesia  
Involuntary, abnormal movements

Therapeutic index 
The difference between the minimum plasma level for the drug to be clinically effective and the plasma level at which the drug becomes toxic

Thermoregulation 
Control of temperature

Tubular secretion  
The process by which the blood is filtered by the kidneys and reabsorption

Xerostemia
Dry mouth