Dictionary

Pharmacology

Drugs, drug classes and the words used to give medications safely.

paclitaxelA chemotherapy drug, given by IV, that stops cancer cells from dividing.

paliperidoneA second-generation antipsychotic drug, taken as a daily tablet or given as a long-acting injection.

pantoprazoleA proton pump inhibitor, taken by mouth or IV, that strongly lowers the amount of acid the stomach makes.

parasympathetic nervous systemThe part of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, slows the heart and helps digestion during rest.

parenteralGiven by a route other than the digestive tract, usually by injection or into a vein.

paroxetineAn SSRI antidepressant used for depression and several anxiety disorders.

patient-controlled analgesiaA way of giving pain medicine in which the client presses a button to give themselves a set dose from a programmed pump.

peak and trough levelsBlood tests of a drug's highest level after a dose (peak) and its lowest level just before the next dose (trough).

PEGAn abbreviation that can mean a feeding tube placed through the belly into the stomach, or the laxative polyethylene glycol.

penicillamineAn oral drug that binds copper and some other metals so they leave the body in the urine.

penicillin G benzathineA long-acting form of penicillin given as a deep muscle injection that releases the drug slowly over weeks.

penicillinsA group of antibiotics, including penicillin and amoxicillin, that kill bacteria by stopping them from building their cell walls.

per osLatin for "by mouth"; a way of writing the oral route that should not be used.

permethrinA cream or lotion put on the skin or hair to kill lice and the mites that cause scabies.

perphenazineA first-generation antipsychotic drug of the phenothiazine group, used for schizophrenia and for severe nausea and vomiting.

pharmacistA licensed health professional who prepares and dispenses medicines and advises on their safe use.

pharmacodynamicsThe study of what a drug does to the body, and how it does it.

pharmacokineticsHow the body takes in, spreads, changes and gets rid of a drug over time.

pharmacologyThe study of drugs: what they are, how they work in the body and how the body handles them.

pharmacyA place where medicines are prepared and given out, or the profession of preparing and dispensing them.

phenazopyridineA drug that numbs the lining of the urinary tract to ease burning, urgency and pain with urination.

phenelzineA monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressant taken by mouth.

phenobarbitalA long-acting barbiturate used to control seizures, including seizures in newborns.

phentermineA stimulant-like drug that lowers appetite, used for a short time to help with weight loss.

phenylephrineA drug that tightens blood vessels, given IV to raise low blood pressure and used in nose sprays and eye drops.

phenytoinAn anticonvulsant drug, given by mouth or IV, used to prevent and stop seizures.

phenytoin levelA blood test that measures how much of the antiseizure drug phenytoin is in the blood.

phytonadioneVitamin K1 given as a drug, by mouth or injection, to help the blood clot.

pilocarpineA cholinergic drug used as eye drops to lower pressure in the eye, and by mouth to treat dry mouth.

pioglitazoneA diabetes pill that makes the body's cells respond better to insulin.

piperacillinA broad-spectrum penicillin antibiotic given IV, in the US always combined with tazobactam.

PITAn abbreviation for Pitocin (oxytocin); ISMP advises writing the full drug name.

PNVAn abbreviation for prenatal vitamins; ISMP advises writing the full name.

poisoningHarm to the body caused by swallowing, breathing in, touching or being injected with a harmful substance, or taking too much of a drug.

polypharmacyThe use of many medicines at the same time by one person, often defined as five or more.

potassium chlorideA potassium salt given by mouth or IV to treat or prevent a low blood potassium level.

potassium iodideAn iodine salt taken by mouth that shuts down the thyroid's hormone release and blocks radioactive iodine.

potassium supplementA medicine that adds potassium to the body, most often potassium chloride, given by mouth or IV.

potassium-sparing diureticA diuretic that increases urine output while keeping potassium in the body.

povidoneA water-soluble synthetic substance used to carry iodine in antiseptics and to bind ingredients in many medicines.

PRAn abbreviation most often meaning per rectum (by way of the rectum); on an ECG it names the PR interval.

pravastatinA statin drug taken by mouth to lower LDL cholesterol and the risk of heart attack and stroke.

precipitateTo cause something to happen suddenly; also, solid particles that form in a liquid, or happening very fast.

prednisoloneA corticosteroid drug, often given as a liquid or eye drops, that reduces inflammation and calms the immune system.

prednisoneA corticosteroid drug taken by mouth to reduce inflammation and calm the immune system.

prefilled syringeA syringe that comes already filled with a set dose of a drug or solution, ready to use.

pregabalinA drug used for nerve pain, fibromyalgia and, with other drugs, for some seizures.

prescribeTo order a medicine or treatment for a person, as a licensed health care provider.

prescriptionA written or electronic order from a licensed prescriber for a drug, device or treatment.

prescription drugA drug that can only be legally sold or given with an order from a licensed prescriber.