Pharmacy Glossary

The process by which a drug moves from its site of administration into the systemic circulation.

An unwanted, harmful effect that occurs at normal therapeutic doses of a medication, classified as Type A (predictable) or Type B (unpredictable).

The percentage of an administered drug dose that reaches the systemic circulation in its active, unchanged form.

The demonstration that a generic drug product delivers the same amount of active ingredient at the same rate as the brand-name reference product.

The volume of plasma from which a drug is completely removed per unit time, reflecting the body's efficiency at eliminating the drug.

The practice of preparing customized medications by combining, mixing, or altering ingredients to meet the specific needs of an individual patient.

A drug or chemical whose manufacture, possession, and use are regulated by the government due to its potential for abuse or dependence, classified into Schedules I-V.

A superfamily of heme-containing enzymes primarily located in the liver that are responsible for the oxidative metabolism of most drugs.

The physical form in which a drug is produced and administered, such as tablet, capsule, injection, cream, inhaler, or suppository.

A change in a drug's effect when administered with another drug, food, supplement, or substance, which can increase toxicity or reduce efficacy.

The process of removing a drug and its metabolites from the body, primarily through the kidneys (urine) but also via bile, lungs, sweat, and breast milk.

The initial metabolism of an orally administered drug by the liver and gut wall enzymes before it reaches systemic circulation, which can significantly reduce bioavailability.

A list of prescription drugs approved for use and coverage within a particular healthcare system, insurance plan, or institution.

The time required for the plasma concentration of a drug to decrease by 50%, used to determine dosing intervals and predict drug accumulation.

Any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm, including prescribing, dispensing, and administration errors.

The enzymatic biotransformation of drugs in the body, primarily in the liver, converting active drugs to metabolites that are typically more water-soluble for excretion.

The study of drugs derived from natural sources, including plants, animals, and minerals, encompassing their identification, extraction, and pharmacological properties.

The branch of pharmacology concerned with how the body affects a drug over time through absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.

The science of detecting, assessing, understanding, and preventing adverse effects or other safety-related problems associated with pharmaceutical products after market approval.

A third-party administrator that manages prescription drug programs on behalf of health insurers, negotiating drug prices and processing claims.

A written or electronic order from a licensed healthcare provider authorizing a pharmacist to dispense a specific medication to a patient.

A biologically inactive compound that is metabolized in the body to produce the pharmacologically active drug.

The condition where the rate of drug administration equals the rate of drug elimination, resulting in a relatively constant plasma drug concentration over time.

The clinical practice of measuring specific drug levels in a patient's blood at timed intervals to optimize individual dosage regimens and ensure concentrations remain within the therapeutic range.

A theoretical pharmacokinetic parameter that relates the amount of drug in the body to the concentration measured in the plasma, indicating the extent of drug distribution into tissues.