Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Adverse event — an unwanted effect caused by the administration of a drug; onset may be sudden or develop over time; also known as a side effect

BID — Latin for bis in die (meaning “twice a day”); used in writing dosing directions for prescriptions

Bioavailability — the degree and rate at which a substance, such as a drug, is absorbed into a living system or is made available at the site of physiological activity

Bioequivalence — the property wherein two drugs with identical active ingredients, such as a brand-name drug and its generic equivalent, or two different dosage forms, such as tablet and oral suspension, of the same drug possess similar bioavailability and produce the same effect at the site of physiological activity

Black box — a warning placed at the beginning of an FDA-approved label; it is the strongest warning to prescribing physicians, healthcare professionals and patients that severe adverse reactions have been experienced from use of the product

Contraindication — a symptom or condition that makes a particular treatment or procedure inadvisable

Expiration date — date after which a medicine must be sold or removed from availability because it is no longer expected to be fresh or effective

Generic — not protected by trademark registration

Indication — symptom or particular circumstance that indicates the advisability or necessity of a specific medical treatment or procedure

Intravenous (IV) — situated, performed or occurring within, or administered by entering a vein

Medication error — any preventable event that can cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of a healthcare professional, patient or consumer

Morbidity — incidence of disease; rate of sickness, as in a specified community or group

Mortality — number of deaths in a given time or place; proportion of deaths to population

OTC — over-the-counter; a medication or device sold legally without a prescription

Package insert — a document, approved by the FDA and furnished by the drug manufacturer for use when dispensing the drug. The document indicates the drug’s approved uses, contraindications and potential side effects

Pharmacodynamics — the study of the biochemical and physiological effects of drugs and the mechanisms of their actions, including the correlation of actions and effects of drugs with their chemical structure

Pharmacoeconomics — the study of economic factors regarding the cost of drug therapy, including their impact on healthcare systems and society

Pharmacokinetics — the activity of drugs in the body over a period of time, including the processes of absorption, distribution, localization in tissues, biotransformation and excretion

QD — Latin for quaque die (meaning "every day"); used in writing dosing instructions for prescriptions

Resistance — ability of a virus, bacterium or other pathogen to become less responsive to the effects of a drug

Side effect — sometimes referred to as adverse event; a secondary, and usually adverse effect, as of a drug or device

Subcutaneous — under the skin

Tolerance — the body capacity to endure or become less responsive to a substance, such as a drug, or a physiological injury, especially with repeated use or exposure

Transdermal — relating to, being or supplying a medication in a form for absorption through the skin into the bloodstream

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agency responsible for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of all drugs, biologics, vaccines and medical devices