Dictionary

Pharmacology

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

BIWAn abbreviation for "twice a week" that ISMP advises against; write "2 times weekly."

bleomycinAn antitumor antibiotic chemotherapy drug used for lymphomas, testicular cancer and some skin and head-and-neck cancers.

blockerA drug that stops a receptor or channel in the body from being activated, so the usual effect does not happen.

body surface areaThe total area of the outside of a person's body, in square meters, worked out from height and weight.

bolusA single amount of a drug or fluid given all at once or over a short time.

bradykininA small protein in the body that widens blood vessels, makes them leak fluid and causes pain.

bromocriptineA drug that acts like dopamine, used to lower high prolactin levels and for some other hormone and movement disorders.

bronchodilatorA drug that relaxes the muscles around the airways so they open wider.

budesonideA corticosteroid drug that is inhaled, sprayed in the nose or taken by mouth to reduce inflammation.

bupivacaineA long-acting local anesthetic used to numb an area, block nerves, or give epidural and spinal anesthesia.

buprenorphineAn opioid used to treat opioid use disorder and, in other forms, moderate to severe pain.

bupropionAn antidepressant that is also used to help people stop smoking.

buspironeAn antianxiety drug, taken every day, used for long-lasting anxiety.

calcitoninA hormone made by the thyroid gland that lowers blood calcium; a lab-made form is used as a drug.

calcitriolThe active form of vitamin D, given as a drug to raise calcium absorption or, as an ointment, for psoriasis.

calcium carbonateA calcium salt taken by mouth as an antacid for heartburn and as a calcium supplement.

calcium channel blockerA drug that slows the movement of calcium into heart and blood vessel muscle cells, relaxing the vessels.

calcium chlorideA calcium salt given by IV to raise the blood calcium quickly.

calcium citrateA calcium supplement taken by mouth that can be absorbed with or without food.

calcium gluconateA calcium salt, given IV or by mouth, used to raise a low blood calcium level and in some emergencies.

cannabidiolA compound from the cannabis plant that does not cause a high, sold as a prescription seizure drug and in many products.

capsaicinA pain-relief cream, lotion or patch made from the substance that makes chili peppers hot.

capsuleA drug form in which medicine is held inside a small shell, usually of gelatin, that is swallowed.

captoprilAn ACE inhibitor taken by mouth to lower blood pressure and to treat heart failure.

carbamazepineA drug used to prevent seizures, to treat a type of facial nerve pain and to stabilize mood in bipolar disorder.

carboprostA prostaglandin drug injected into muscle to make the uterus contract strongly.

carvedilolA beta blocker that also widens blood vessels, taken by mouth for heart failure and high blood pressure.

catecholamineAny of a group of hormones and neurotransmitters, mainly epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine, that act in the body's stress response.

ccAn abbreviation for cubic centimeter, a unit of volume equal to 1 milliliter.

cefazolinA first-generation cephalosporin antibiotic given by injection into a vein or muscle.

ceftriaxoneA third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic given by injection into a vein or muscle.

celecoxibAn NSAID drug that targets the COX-2 enzyme, used for arthritis pain and inflammation and for short-term pain.

cephalexinA first-generation cephalosporin antibiotic taken by mouth for skin, urinary, ear and other bacterial infections.

cephalosporinA large group of antibiotics related to penicillin that kill bacteria by damaging their cell walls.

cetirizineA second-generation antihistamine used for allergy symptoms and hives.

chloramphenicolA broad-spectrum antibiotic kept for serious infections when safer antibiotics cannot be used.

chlordiazepoxideA long-acting benzodiazepine used for anxiety and for alcohol withdrawal.

chloroquineAn oral drug used to prevent and treat malaria in areas where the parasite is still sensitive to it.

chlorpromazineAn older antipsychotic drug, also used for severe nausea and vomiting and for hiccups that will not stop.

chlorpropamideAn older oral diabetes drug of the sulfonylurea group that makes the pancreas release more insulin.

cholecalciferolVitamin D3, the form of vitamin D the skin makes in sunlight, also taken as a supplement.

cholinergic agonistA drug that acts like acetylcholine, the main messenger of the parasympathetic ("rest and digest") nervous system.

cimetidineAn H2 blocker taken by mouth that lowers the amount of acid the stomach makes.

ciprofloxacinA fluoroquinolone antibiotic, by mouth or IV, used for urinary, gut, bone and some lung infections.

cisplatinA platinum-based cancer drug given by IV that damages the DNA of cancer cells.

citalopramAn SSRI antidepressant used to treat depression.

clindamycinAn antibiotic that stops bacteria from making proteins, given by mouth, by IV or on the skin.

clonazepamA long-acting benzodiazepine drug used for seizure disorders and panic disorder.

clonidineA drug that acts in the brain to lower nerve signals that tighten blood vessels, used for high blood pressure and other conditions.

clopidogrelAn antiplatelet drug that keeps platelets from clumping together to form clots.