Dictionary

Pharmacology

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

independent double checkA safety step in which a second qualified person checks a medication on their own, without being told the expected result, before it is given.

indicationA reason to use a certain drug, test or treatment.

indomethacinA strong NSAID used for gout flares and arthritis, and given IV to close a patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants.

infliximabA biologic drug, given by IV infusion, that blocks the inflammatory protein TNF in autoimmune diseases.

influenza vaccineA vaccine, given each year, that helps protect against the flu.

infusionThe slow delivery of a fluid or drug into the body, usually into a vein, over a period of time.

infusion pumpA machine that delivers IV fluid or medicine into the body at a set rate and amount.

infusion rateHow fast an IV fluid or drug flows into the client, usually written in milliliters per hour or drops per minute.

inhalationBreathing in; also, a way of giving a drug as a mist or powder that is breathed into the lungs.

inhalerA hand-held device that delivers a measured dose of drug for a person to breathe into the lungs.

inhibitorA substance that slows or blocks a process, enzyme or reaction in the body.

injectorA device that delivers a medicine or fluid into the body by injection, such as an auto-injector pen.

inotropicChanging the force with which the heart muscle contracts; an inotropic drug is one that does this.

insulinA hormone made by the pancreas that lets the body's cells take in glucose, also made as a medicine.

insulin aspartA rapid-acting insulin injected just before a meal to cover the rise in blood glucose from eating.

insulin glargineA long-acting insulin, injected once a day, that gives a steady background level of insulin for about 24 hours.

insulin lisproA rapid-acting insulin given just before or right after a meal to handle the rise in blood glucose from eating.

insulin pumpA small, worn device that gives insulin all the time through a thin tube placed under the skin.

intramuscularInto a muscle; used for a drug given by injection into muscle tissue.

intramuscular injectionAn injection that puts medicine deep into a muscle.

intrauterine deviceA small T-shaped device that a health care provider places inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy.

iodineA mineral the thyroid gland uses to make thyroid hormone; it is also used to kill germs on the skin and in some contrast dyes.

ipratropiumAn inhaled drug that opens the airways by blocking the nerve signals that tighten them.

isoniazidAn antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis and to keep latent tuberculosis from becoming active.

isosorbide dinitrateA long-acting nitrate drug, taken by mouth, that widens blood vessels to prevent chest pain from angina.

isotonicHaving the same concentration of dissolved particles as blood, so water does not move into or out of cells.

isotretinoinA vitamin A-related drug taken by mouth for severe acne that has not cleared with other treatment.

ITAn abbreviation for intrathecal (into the spinal fluid) that ISMP lists as error-prone, because it is misread.

IUAn abbreviation for international unit, banned by the Joint Commission because it is misread.

IVIntravenous: into a vein, or the tube placed in a vein to give fluids and drugs.

IV pushGiving a drug by injecting it directly into an IV line or port over a short time, usually a few minutes.

ivermectinAn antiparasitic drug, taken by mouth or put on the skin, that kills certain worms, lice and mites.

IVPAn abbreviation with more than one meaning, most often IV push or intravenous pyelogram.

IVPBIntravenous piggyback: a small bag of IV medicine given over a short time through a second line joined to the main IV line.

ketamineA dissociative anesthetic drug used for anesthesia, procedural sedation and some kinds of pain.

ketoconazoleAn azole antifungal drug used mostly as a cream or shampoo, and rarely as a pill.

ketorolacA strong NSAID pain drug, given by injection, by mouth or as a nasal spray, for short-term moderate to severe pain.

kgKilogram: a metric unit of weight equal to 1,000 grams, or about 2.2 pounds.

labetalolA drug that blocks both alpha and beta receptors to lower blood pressure, given IV or by mouth.

lactated Ringer's solutionAn isotonic IV fluid containing water, sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium and lactate.

lactuloseA man-made sugar syrup that draws water into the bowel and lowers ammonia in the blood.

lamivudineAn oral antiviral drug used with other drugs to treat HIV, and alone to treat chronic hepatitis B.

lamotrigineAn anticonvulsant drug used to prevent seizures and to keep mood stable in bipolar disorder.

lansoprazoleA proton pump inhibitor: a drug that sharply lowers the amount of acid the stomach makes.

laxativeA drug that loosens stool or helps the bowels move, used to treat or prevent constipation.

leading zeroA zero written before the decimal point of a number less than one, as in 0.5 mg.

levetiracetamAn anticonvulsant drug, given by mouth or IV, used to prevent and treat seizures.

levodopaThe main drug for Parkinson disease, which the brain turns into dopamine.

levofloxacinA fluoroquinolone antibiotic, given by mouth or IV, used for lung, urinary and other bacterial infections.

levonorgestrelA progestin hormone used in birth control pills, hormonal IUDs and the morning-after pill.