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Flash Cards: Check comprehension

The Vocabulary:

AAPC – American Association of Poison Control Centers
Acetaminophen – A drug that elevates the body’s pain threshold and lowers fever. The most widely used pain reliever in the United States
Active Ingredient – The drug component(s) of a medicine
Analgesics – This category of drugs relieves pain
Anti-inflammatory – This category of drugs reduces inflammation, redness, swelling, warmth and pain (NSAID)
Antipyretics – This category of drugs reduces fever
API – Active pharmaceutical ingredient
Aspirin – One of the oldest OTC pain relievers on the market, it works by slowing down the body’s production of a pain-causing substance called “prostaglandin”
Brand Name Drug – A brand name drug sold with a trademark-protected name
Buffered – A pain reliever that contains an antacid to reduce the amount of acid in your stomach
Diuretic – Drug that causes increased urination
DXM – Dextromethorphan; an over-the-counter cough suppressant found in cold medications (and a drug often abused by teens)
Dose (dosage) – The amount of medicine to take
Drug – A substance for treatment, or prevention, of disease; intended to affect the structure or a function of the body
Drug Facts Label – OTC drugs are required to have this label on the product package so that consumers can easily find the product information. Components of the label include:
Active ingredient – Drug(s) the medicine contains
Directions – How much to take, when to take
Inactive ingredients – What is in the medicine in addition to the drug
Purposes – What the drug is for
Uses – What problems the drug can treat
Warnings – Who should not take the medicine; problems to watch for
Drug Interactions – When one drug interacts with another it changes the way one or both of the drugs work in the body and can cause unexpected, and sometimes dangerous, side effects
DUI – Driving under the influence
DUID – Driving under the influence of drugs
DWI – Driving while impaired
Emetic – Drug that causes vomiting
Enteric-coated – A special coating allows pills to pass undigested through your stomach and dissolve in your small intestine, which helps prevent or reduce stomach irritation
Excipient – The active ingredient in a drug is suspended in this inactive ingredient
Extra-strength Drugs – Drugs that contain more active ingredient than regular-strength products do
FDA – Food and Drug Administration; the federal agency that is responsible for assuring the safety and effectiveness of drugs
Generic Drug – A drug that is the same as a brand name drug in dosage, safety, strength, how it is taken, quality, performance, and intended use
GRAS/E – Generally recognized as safe and effective
Hepatotoxicity – Toxic to the liver, liver poisoning
Ibuprofen – A common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), it works by blocking the production of substances in the body that cause pain and inflammation
Legend Drug – Another name for a prescription drug
Medicine – See Drug
Naproxen Sodium – A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that works by blocking the production of substances in the body that cause pain and inflammation
NSAID – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen
OTC – Over-the-counter, medicines that are sold without a prescription from a health care professional
Pharmacy – Drugstore
Prescription Drug Product – A licensed drug product that requires a doctor’s authorization and prescription to purchase
Reye’s Syndrome – Serious disorder affecting children after a viral infection; associated with aspirin
Robotripping – A slang term for the abuse of cough syrup
Rx – Indicates a prescription drug
Side Effects – Unwanted or unexpected effects from a medicine
Skittling – A slang term for the abuse of cough syrup and cold medicine
Strength – How much of the active ingredient is present in each dose
Timed-release – Also called extended-release or sustained-release, these drugs dissolve slowly over time, allowing the active ingredient to work over many hours