ACTUAL CNPR VOCAB EXAM REVIEW STUDY GUIDE

ACTUAL CNPR VOCAB EXAM REVIEW STUDY GUIDE

A.A. - referring to medication dosage, means "of each"

A.C. - referring to medication dosage, means "before meals"

AAHP - American Association of Health Plans

PPO - Preferred Provider Organization

HMO - Health Maintenance Organization

Absorption Rate - the rate at which a drug is taken into a person's bloodstream within a specified time period.

Absorption - the process in which a medication is absorbed into the bloodstream

AC - anticholinergic side effects (dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention)

Accelerated Approval - a specialized FDA mechanism implemented in the early 1990's to speed up the approval of drugs that represent a major advance in addressing serious or life-threatening diseases for which no effective alternative treatments exist.

ACE Inhibitors - angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. A class of drugs used to treat cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension and chronic heart failure.

Action Letter - the FDA's official response to an NDA. the message may be an approval letter, approvable letter, or a non-approvable letter.

Active Metabolite - a biological active product of a medications metabolism

Acute Illness - a condition or illness that only lasts for a short period of time. the common cold is an acute illness

Acute - in terms of diseases or conditions, abrupt in onset and short-term

AD. LIB - referring to medication dosage, means "freely"

Additions - situations where two or more medications are used together and the clinical effect is equal to the sum of their individual effects

Adherence - the proper use of a medication by a patient such as taking the medication on the correct schedule and using the proper technique

Adjuvant - a substance that enhances the action of a drug or antigen. adjuvant therapy is the use of a second form of treatment in addition to the primary therapy. ex.chemotherapy in addition to surgery or radiation therapy

ADME - acronym for absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.

Adverse Drug Reaction - unwanted, negative consequence sometimes associated with the use of drug therapy. "adverse effects" or "adverse events"

AF - atrial fibrillation

Affinity - a measure of binding of an antibody to an antigen

Agonist - a drug capable of combining with receptors to initiate drug actions

Allignment - the manner in which client responsibilities are allocated among sales representatives in a pharmaceutical company

AMA - American Medical Association. national association based in Chicago that represents more than 700,000 medical doctors

AMCP - Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy. an organization for pharmacy directors

APhA - American Pharmaceutical Association. national professional society of pharmacists, founded in 1852, it was the first and is still the largest professional association of pharmacists in the US

Amide - organic compound containing an (O-C-N) group

Amino Acid - building block of peptides/proteins

Amyloid - glycoprotein that is deposited extracellularly in tissues

Analgesic - pain reliever

Analogue - similar in chemical and physical structure

Anaphylaxis - extreme sensitivity and reaction to a foreign substance, including medications

Ancillary Care - supplemental health services that facilitate diagnosis and treatment, including lab work and x-rays

ANDA - Abbreviated New Drug Application

Andgrogen - male specified reproductive hormone

Asymptomatic - without signs or symptoms of disease

Blinded Study - a study in which the participants do not know whether they are in the control or research group

Control Group - group that is given a standard by which experimental observations are evaluated

Double-blind Study - a study in which both the study staff and participants are unaware of which treatment the participants will be receiving

Edema - swelling

Fast-track Drugs - fast-track approval is provided for drugs that meed medical needs for patients with severe or life-threatening diseases

Indication - the exact cause or purpose for which the FDA has approved that a drug can be prescribed

Institutional Review Board (IRB) - a committee of physicians, statisticians, community advocates, and others which ensures that a clinical trial is ethical and that the rights of the study participants are protected

Off Label - usage of medication for purposes that are different than ones appearing in the labeling.

Placebo - inactive pill, liquid, or powder that has no treatment value.

Placebo Effect - effect produced by a placebo due to the expectations of the patient

Study Protocol - general design and operating features of a trial

Toxicity - the extent, quality, or degree to which a substance is poisonous or harmful to the body.

Treatment Group - a group of patients assigned to receive a specified treatment

Injectable Drugs - parenteral form of medication. used for a rapid response

Topical Drugs - drugs that are applied to the skin

Liniments - liquid suspensions for external application to the skin to relieve pain and swelling

Semisolid Drugs - soft and pliable drugs often used for topical application

Gels or Jellies - semisolid substances in non fatty bases that may be used for topical application and contain fine particles

Emulsion - pharmaceutical preparation where two agents mix that cannot ordinarily be combined

Creams - semisolid preparation that is usally white and contains a drug incorporated into both an aqueous and an oil base

Lotion - suspension of drug in a water base for external use

Ointments - semisolid preparation in an aqueous or oil base for local protective, soothing, astringent, or transdermal application

Plasters - composition of liquid and powder that hardens when dry

Transdermal Patches - patches with a slow release mechanism through the skin

Ophthalmic Drugs - sterile and isotonic drops and ointments that are instilled into the eye for a local effect.

Otic Drugs - ear medication that are prescribed at very low dosages

Powders - drug that is dried and ground into fine particles

Pills - single-dose unit of medicine made by mixing the powdered drug whit a liquid such as syrup and rolling git into a round or oval shape

Granules - a small pill, usually accompanied by many others encased within a gelatin capsule

Tablets - pharmaceutical preparation made by compressing the powdered form of a drug and bulk-filling material under high pressure

Capsules - medication dosage form in which the drug is contained in an external shell.

Caplet - shaped like a capsule but has the form of a tablet

Gel Caps - oil-based medication that is enclosed in a soft gelatin capsule

Elixirs - a drug vehicle that consists of water, alcohol, and sugar

Tinctures - alcoholic preparations of a soluble drug, usually from a plant source