Dictionary

Pharmacology

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

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.

salineA solution of salt (sodium chloride) in water, used for IV fluids, flushes, wound cleaning and other care.

salmeterolA long-acting inhaled bronchodilator, used twice a day to keep the airways open in asthma and COPD.

SCAn abbreviation for subcutaneous, meaning into the fatty layer under the skin.

scopolamineAn anticholinergic drug, most often used as a skin patch behind the ear to prevent motion sickness and nausea after surgery.

sedationA calm, relaxed or sleepy state brought on by drugs, or the use of drugs to cause it.

sedative-hypnoticA drug that calms a person (sedative) or helps them fall asleep (hypnotic); the same drug can do either, depending on the dose.

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitorA type of antidepressant that raises serotonin levels between nerve cells by slowing its reuptake.

selegilineAn MAO-B inhibitor drug used for Parkinson disease and, as a skin patch, for depression.

sennaA plant-based stimulant laxative that makes the bowel muscles push stool along.

serotoninA chemical messenger in the brain, gut and blood that helps control mood, sleep, appetite and other functions.

serotonin syndromeA drug reaction caused by too much serotonin activity in the nervous system.

sertralineAn SSRI antidepressant used for depression, anxiety disorders, OCD and PTSD.

short-acting insulinInsulin that starts working in about 30 minutes and lasts several hours; regular insulin is the main example.

side effectAn effect of a drug, other than the one it is given for, that is known and expected to happen in some people.

sildenafilA PDE5 inhibitor that relaxes certain blood vessels, used for erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension.

silver sulfadiazineA white antibacterial cream, made of silver joined to a sulfa drug, put on burns.

simethiconeA drug that breaks up gas bubbles in the stomach and intestines so gas passes more easily.

simvastatinA statin drug that lowers LDL cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.

sitagliptinA diabetes pill that helps the body release more insulin after meals.

skeletal muscle relaxantA drug that relieves muscle spasms or stiffness in the muscles that move the body.

sodium bicarbonateAn alkaline drug, given by mouth or IV, that neutralizes acid in the stomach or the blood.

sodium chlorideSalt: a compound of sodium and chloride, used in IV fluids, flushes, tablets and rinses.

sodium polystyrene sulfonateA resin, taken by mouth or as an enema, that trades sodium for potassium in the bowel so potassium leaves in the stool.

sotalolA drug that is both a beta blocker and a potassium channel blocker, used to control serious heart rhythm problems.

spironolactoneA diuretic that removes extra water from the body while keeping potassium in.

SQAn abbreviation for subcutaneous (under the skin) that ISMP lists as error-prone; ISMP advises SUBQ instead.

statImmediately; at once.

statinA drug that lowers cholesterol by blocking an enzyme the liver uses to make it.

steroidA fat-based chemical built from cholesterol; the group includes hormones such as cortisol and estrogen, and many drugs.

stool softenerA drug that lets water and fat mix into stool so it is softer and easier to pass.

streptomycinAn aminoglycoside antibiotic given by injection, used mainly for tuberculosis and a few rare infections.