Dictionary

Pharmacology

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

raloxifeneA drug that acts like estrogen on bone, used to prevent and treat osteoporosis after menopause.

ranitidineAn H2 blocker that lowers stomach acid, taken off the US market in 2020.

rapid-acting insulinInsulin that starts to work within about 15 minutes and is timed with meals.

reabsorptionThe taking back of water and dissolved substances from the fluid in the kidney tubules into the blood.

receptorA structure on or in a cell that a specific chemical, such as a hormone or drug, attaches to in order to act.

regimenA planned schedule of treatment, such as which drugs to take, how much and when.

regular insulinA short-acting human insulin that is clear and can be given under the skin or into a vein.

remdesivirAn IV antiviral drug that stops the COVID-19 virus from copying itself.

REMSRisk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy: an FDA-required safety program for certain drugs with serious risks.

renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systemA chain of hormones that raises blood pressure and helps the body hold on to salt and water.

replacement therapyTreatment that gives the body a substance it is missing or not making enough of.

respiratory depressionBreathing that is too slow or too shallow to move enough air in and out of the lungs.

reuptakeThe taking back of a chemical messenger into the nerve cell that released it.

Rho(D) immune globulinAn injection of antibodies given to an Rh-negative person to stop their body from making antibodies against Rh-positive blood.

ribavirinAn antiviral drug used by mouth for chronic hepatitis C and as an inhaled mist for severe RSV infection.

riboflavinVitamin B2, a vitamin the body needs to turn food into energy and keep skin and eyes healthy.

rifampinAn antibiotic used mainly with other drugs to treat tuberculosis.

rifamycinA group of antibiotics, including rifampin, used mainly for tuberculosis; also one drug of that name for travelers' diarrhea.

rights of medication administrationThe checklist of things a nurse confirms each time before giving a medicine, such as the right client, drug, dose, route and time.

Ringer's solutionAn IV fluid of water with sodium, potassium and calcium salts at about the same concentration as blood.

risperidoneA second-generation antipsychotic used for schizophrenia, bipolar mania and irritability in autism.

ritonavirAn HIV protease inhibitor, now used mostly in low doses to raise the blood levels of other antiviral drugs.

rivaroxabanAn oral anticoagulant that blocks clotting factor Xa to prevent and treat blood clots.

ropiniroleA drug that acts like dopamine in the brain, used for Parkinson disease and for restless legs syndrome.