Pharmacology Basics Quiz

The study of drugs' effects on the body, encompassing how drugs work, their mechanisms, and their therapeutic actions.

Official publications listing authorized drugs available in a country, including their chemical names, dosage forms, and standards.

Substances used for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of diseases. They can also be used for pain relief or to alter mental states.

Written instructions from a healthcare provider for a specific medication, specifying the drug's name, dosage, frequency, and administration route.

Unintended effects of a drug, often predictable and usually manageable. They vary in severity, ranging from mild discomfort to serious complications.

Harmful effects of a drug caused by excessive dosage, improper use, or drug interactions. It can range from mild symptoms to severe poisoning.

An immune response to a drug, triggering reactions such as hives, rashes, or even life-threatening anaphylaxis. It is unpredictable and potentially severe.

When one drug affects another drug's absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion, altering its effectiveness or causing harmful effects.

Using a drug in a way that is not intended, often leading to harmful consequences. It can involve taking more than prescribed, using it for a purpose it wasn't meant for, or mixing drugs.

A state of physical or psychological dependence on a drug where stopping its use leads to withdrawal symptoms. It reflects altered brain chemistry and can alter normal functioning.

The study of how drugs move through the body, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. It helps understand how drugs reach their target.

The study of how drugs interact with the body at the cellular level to produce their effects. It involves understanding receptors and their responses.

The official, non-proprietary name assigned to a drug by regulatory bodies, used worldwide and independent of the manufacturer.

Placing a drug under the tongue, allowing direct absorption into the bloodstream. Bypass the digestive system, providing faster effects.

Injecting a drug directly into a vein, delivering the drug immediately into the bloodstream, providing rapid and consistent effects.

A mild form of psychological dependence characterized by a strong desire for the drug, but without severe withdrawal symptoms upon stopping.

Substances illegal to manufacture, possess, or use, often associated with criminal activity and potential risks due to their uncontrolled production.

The study of drugs derived from natural sources, primarily plants and animals, exploring their chemical properties and potential medicinal uses.

Administering a drug through injection into muscle tissue, allowing medication to be absorbed gradually into the bloodstream. Suitable for larger volumes than subcutaneous injection.

Administering a drug by injection into the subcutaneous layer of skin, providing slower absorption than intramuscular injection, suitable for small volumes and some vaccines.

Administering a drug by injection into the uppermost layer of skin, primarily used for allergy testing or skin sensitivity tests, allowing slow drug absorption for accurate assessments.

Applying a drug directly to the skin, eyes, or ears, allowing targeted action at the application site. It avoids systemic absorption, minimizing side effects.

The proportion of a drug that reaches the systemic circulation after administration, indicating how much of the drug is available for therapeutic action.

A measure of a drug's safety, comparing the dose that produces therapeutic effects to the dose that produces toxic effects. It reflects the margin between a safe and potentially harmful dose.

Administering a drug through the respiratory tract, usually through nebulization or inhalation. Provides rapid and direct action to the lungs, suitable for treating lung diseases.

Characterized by a craving for the drug and a compulsive need for it to achieve psychological well-being despite potential negative consequences. It involves emotional reliance and a strong desire for the drug's effects.

The official name of a drug as it is listed in official publications, used for scientific and professional purposes, independent of manufacturer's branding.

Administering a drug by swallowing tablets, capsules, or liquids, providing a convenient and safe route for most medications. It allows gradual absorption, offering extended effects.

A decrease in the effectiveness of a drug over time with repeated administration. It requires higher doses to produce the same effect, reflecting physiological adaptations.