Pharmacology

The time it takes for the amount of a drug in the body to fall by half.

A first-generation antipsychotic drug, given by mouth or injection, used for psychosis and severe agitation.

HCT written for the drug hydrocortisone: an abbreviation ISMP lists as error-prone. It is not the lab value Hct (hematocrit).

An abbreviation for hydrochlorothiazide, a thiazide diuretic; it should not be used because it can be misread.

A dense metal, such as lead, mercury or arsenic, that can poison the body even in small amounts.

An anticoagulant drug, given by injection or IV, that keeps blood clots from forming or growing.

Saline with heparin added, used on the field to flush vessels, grafts, shunts and devices so blood does not clot in them.

A shot of ready-made antibodies against the hepatitis B virus, giving short-term protection right away.

A vaccine that protects against hepatitis B, a virus that infects the liver.

Made from plants; herbal supplements are plant products taken for health, sold without a prescription.

A drug that can cause serious harm to a client if it is used in error; also called a high-risk medication.

A chemical released by certain immune cells that widens blood vessels, makes them leaky and tightens airway muscles.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: an immune reaction to heparin that lowers the platelet count.

3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A: a substance the liver uses on its way to making cholesterol.

A birth control method that uses hormones to prevent pregnancy.

Treatment with hormones, usually estrogen with or without a progestin, to replace hormones the body no longer makes enough of.

An abbreviation that has been used for "at bedtime" (from Latin hora somni) and for "half-strength".

An enzyme mixed with a local anesthetic, mainly for eye blocks, that breaks down the gel between cells so the drug spreads farther and faster.

A vasodilator that lowers blood pressure by relaxing the walls of the arteries.

A thiazide diuretic that lowers blood pressure and reduces swelling by helping the kidneys remove salt and water.

An opioid pain medicine taken by mouth, often combined with acetaminophen in one tablet.

A corticosteroid drug that is the same as the body's own cortisol, given by mouth, IV, on the skin or rectally.

A clear liquid antiseptic that bubbles as it releases oxygen, used diluted to clean and disinfect.

A strong opioid pain medicine, given by mouth, by injection or into a vein.

A drug taken by mouth that slows the making of new cells, used for sickle cell disease and some blood cancers.

A sedating antihistamine used for anxiety, itching and nausea, and to calm clients before or after surgery.

An overreaction of the immune system to a substance that is usually harmless.

Having a higher concentration of dissolved particles than blood, so it draws water out of cells.

Having a lower concentration of dissolved particles than blood, so water moves into cells and can make them swell and burst.