Terminology and Abbreviations Every profession has its own unique language. In the worlds of...
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Terminology and Abbreviations Every profession has its own unique language. In the worlds of finance, accounting and equity markets, analysts look at P & L statements, statements of cash flow, accounts receivables, etc. The medical professions have their own unique language. These terms are usually combinations of prefixes, root words, and suffixes. The terms have their roots in Greek and Latin.
Terminology and Abbreviations Every profession has its own unique language. In the worlds of finance, accounting and equity markets, analysts look at P
Terminology and Abbreviations Every profession has its own
unique language. In the worlds of finance, accounting and equity
markets, analysts look at P & L statements, statements of cash
flow, accounts receivables, etc. The medical professions have their
own unique language. These terms are usually combinations of
prefixes, root words, and suffixes. The terms have their roots in
Greek and Latin.
Slide 2
Prefix A word that when attached to the beginning of a root
word modifies it in someway. i.e. Bio means life from the Greek
word bios () If you add this to logy meaning study of from the
Greek logos () you get biology meaning study of life i.e. geront0
means old from the Greek word, (geront) meaning old man and you add
this to logy you get gerontology, meaning the study of the social,
physiologically and mental aspects of aging. Geriatrics is the
branch of medicine that studies disease in elderly people. A harder
one: glio means gluey in Greek and glial cells in the brain refers
to cells that support other cells in the brain. Blasto comes from a
Greek word meaning sprouting and refers in science to a developing
cell. When this two prefixes are added to oma (typically refers to
cancer cells) you have the word glioblastoma meaning a cancer of
young glial cells in the brain and is the most highly malignant
type of brain cancer.
Slide 3
Important Prefixes for pharmacy an means without/ example:
anesthesia ante means before/example: anterior anti means
inhibit/example: antibiotic brady means slow/ example:bradycardia,
slow heart rate Contra means against/ example: contraindicated dys
means abnormal/ example: dysmorphic, abnormal shape hyper means too
much/ example: hyperkalemia, too much potassium hypo means too
little/ exampe: hypokalemia, too little potassium in the blood
Intra means within/ example: intradermal (within the skin),
intervenous (within a vein) micro means very small or can mean (1
per 1,000,000) in the metric system i.e. microgram (one millionth
of a gram) neo means new/ neonate is a newly born baby. poly means
too many/ polypharmacy is used to mean the practice of prescribing
to many medications for the same purpose. Sub means below/
sublingual means below the tongue. Subcutaneous means below the
skin Tachy means fast/Tachycardia is a rapid heart rate
Slide 4
Important root words in Pharmacy ROOTMEANINGEXAMPLE
ArterArteryArterial ArthrJointArthritis BronchAirway in the
lungBronchitis CarcinoCancerCarcinogen CardiHeartCardiac
DermaSkinDermatitis EnterIntestineEnteral nutrition
GastrStomachGastric pain GlucoSugarGlucometer
HemoBloodHematology
Slide 5
Important Root words in Pharmacy ROOTMEANINGEXAMPLE
HepatLiverHepatitis MyMuscleMyalgia NasaNoseNasal
NephrKidneyNephrology NeurNerveNeurology OsteBoneOsteoporosis
PneuLungpneumonia ProctoRectumProctotitis PulmoLungPulmonary
RenKidneyRenal ThrombClotthrombosis
Slide 6
Suffix A suffix is a word that is added at the end of a root
word to indicate or qualify its meaning. For example, arthr (joint)
plus itis yields the word arthritis which meaning inflammation of a
joint.
General Pharmacy Abbreviations MeaningAbbreviation Adverse drug
reactionADR Average wholesale priceAWP Controlled releaseCR
DiscontinueDC Dispense as writtenDAW Drug utilization reviewDUR
Enteric coatedEC Extended releaseER FluidFl. Maximum allowable
costMAC No known drug allergiesNKDA Nothing by mouthNPO
Slide 9
General Pharmacy Abbreviations Table 2 MEANINGABBREVIATION Over
the counterOTC PediatricPed PrescriptionRx Schedule 1CI Schedule
2CII Schedule 3CIII Schedule 4CIV Schedule 5CV SolutionSoln
SuppositorySupp Wholesame acquisition costWAC
Slide 10
Case in point In 2001, a case was report to the FDA via
medwatch, see article,
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/MedicationErrors/UCM080654
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/MedicationErrors/UCM080654
The case involved an infant transferred from an obstetrics unit to
a nursery for well babies with an order for DTO 0.7 ml PO q4h. The
pharmacist in the case recognized the order as deodorized tincture
of opium USP, which has a concentration of 60 mg/ml morphine. The
prescribed dose translates into give 0.7 ml (42 mg) by mouth every
four hours. This dose is 252 mg per day of morphine, a dose that
can kill or send a newborn baby to the nicu for respiratory arrest.
The pharmacist verified the order as diluted tincture of opium
which is 25 fold dilution of the original drug. The actual dose is
0.7 ml(1.6 mg) by mouth every four hours.
Slide 11
Most commonly abbreviated medical conditions you will see
Medical ConditionsAbbreviationCommon meaning Myocardial
InfarctionMIHeart attack Congestive Heart failureCHFHeart muscle is
dying Atrial fibrillationAFibA cardiac heart beat that is fast and
abnormal Ventricular FibrillationVFA cardiac heart beat that is
fast and almost always fatal Cerebral Vascular Accident
CVAStroke/loss of blood flow to brain Diabetes MellitusDMA disorder
of carbohydrate metabolism HypertensionHTNHigh blood pressure
Slide 12
Medical ConditionsAbbreviationCommon meaning CABGCoronary
artery bypass graft Surgery to re-establish blood flow to the heart
ATNAcute tubular necrosisA disorder of the kidney RARheumatoid
ArthritisA joint disease that effects older people RIRenal
InsufficiencyPoorly functioning kidneys PEPulmonary EmbolismA blood
clot that travels to the lung DVTDeep vein ThrombosisA blood clot
in the leg that often travel to the lung Not an all inclusive but
include very common conditions
Slide 13
Medication Abbreviations AbbreviationDrugIndication
ASAAspirinPain, post MI use APAPAcetaminophenPain, fever reducer in
children 5FUFlurouracilAnti cancer drug
SMX/TMPSulfamethoxazole/trimeth oprim Antibiotic
HCTZHydrochlorothiazidediuretic INHIsoniazidAnti-TB (tuberculosis)
drug 6-MP6 mercaptopurineImmune suppressant
Medication Abbreviations AbbreviationDrugIndication
AZTZidoviduneHIV NSNormal SalineIV fluid D5WDextrose 5% in waterIV
fluid D5WNSDextrose 5% in water with normal saline IV fluid
MVIMultiple vitaminsVitamin replacement ISDNIsosorbide
dinitrateChest pain MTXMethotrexateCancer drug
Slide 16
Most Common Sig Codes in Pharmacy Sig CodeMeaning Sig:Let it be
written PCPost Cena (after meals) ACAnte Cena (before meals) UDAs
directed Ad libAs desired PRNAs needed HSAt bedtime Qddaily
Slide 17
SigMeaning QEvery Q+blank+HEvery blank hours BIDTwice a day
TIDThree times a day QIDFour times a day QODEvery other day QWEvery
week (once) BIWTwice a week TIWThree times a week
Slide 18
Common Routes of Administration RouteMeaning POBy mouth
SLSublingually BUBuccally INH or INInhalation IVPIntravenous Push
IVPBIntravenous Piggyback IMIntramuscular SC or SubQSubcutaneously
OpthVia the eyes
Uncommon Routes of administration Certain routes are not
commonly used Often to avoid confusion and the potential for error
the routes are spelled out on medical orders Example 1 Epidural
Medication is given just outside the spinal cord next to the dura
mater. Used in cases where high doses of pain medications are
needed but side effects need to be minimized. Used in obstetrics
ward in women undergoing labor Used for post operative patients in
PACU Example of a drug is Fentanyl 2 mcg/ml with 0.0625%
bupivacaine in 250 ml of NS
Slide 21
Example 2 Intrathecal Route Involves passing the medication
through the spinal cord into the subarachnoid space to allow for
direct bathing of the neural tissue in the drug Intrathecal
chemotherapy i.e. methothexate, cytarabine Intrathecal Baclofen in
cerebral palsy patients Advantages are that very small amounts of
drug can be used leading to less side effects Disadvantages are
high risk for infections and inadvertent overdoses
JCAHOs Minimum Do not use List In 2004, JCAHO published its
minimum do not use list which the joint commission encourages
health care institutions it accredits to use (at a minimum)
AbbreviationProblemPreferred IUMistaken as IV or 10International
units MS, MSO4 or MgSO4Confused for each otherMorphine
sulfate/magnesium sulfate Q.D. and QODConfused for each otherDaily
and every other day Trailing zero and no preceding zero (3.0 or.3)
10 fold overdose possible 3 or 0.3 ULook like 0Use units Mistake
for mgWrite microgram HS or qHSMistaken for every hourWrite at
bedtime g
Slide 25
AbbreviationProblemPreferred AS, AD, AU and OS, OD, OU Mistaken
for each otherUse left eye, left ear, etc DC or D/CMistaken for
discontinue meds Write discharge CcMistaken for zerosWrite mls SC
or SQMistaken for SL or 5 everyUse subQ or write subcutaneously
TIWMistaken for three times a day Write three times a week
Slide 26
Less commonly known pharmacy terminology TermMeaning AnalgesicA
drug for pain AnorecticA drug for appetite suppression AnalepticA
drug that stimulates the CNS IV AdmixtureA drug product made by
adding the drug to an IV bag AnestheticA drug that block sensations
of pain or feeling in general Anaphylactic ShockA severe allergic
reaction to a drug AnticoagulantA drug that blocks blood clotting
AntitussiveA drug that blocks coughing AntiemeticA drug that stop
N/V AntipruriticA drug that stop itching
Slide 27
TermMeaning Aseptic TechniquesTechniques used in making
parenteral drug products that minimizes microrganism contamination
Clinical TrialsMandated by the FDA for the marketing of new drugs
in the US ContraindicationAn aspect of a patients condition that is
not compatable with the treatment EmulsionA pharmaceutic dosage
form where two immiscible liquid drugs are mixed together NSAIDNon
steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs CorticosteroidsSteroid drugs used
in autoimmune conditions GlucocorticoidsSame as above. Two terms
are used interchangeable NeurolepticsDrugs that cause an effect on
the CNS used to refer to old type of anti psychotic drugs like
Haldol
Slide 28
TermMeaning NarcoticA drug that induces sleep (from the greek
word for stupor) AntisialagogueA drug that dry mucus and saliva
secretion. Used before anesthesia to dry secretions.
NMBNeuromuscular blocker SuspensionA drug dosage form that consists
of suspended drug particles in aqueous solution SolutionA uniform
homogenous mixture of a drug in water OintmentA semisolid mixture
of drug in oily solid base TrocheA drug made into a lozenge dose
form TinctureAn alcoholic mixture of a drug with at 25% V/V alcohol
EnemaA drug in a fluid vehicle delivered into the rectum
Slide 29
TermMeaning NACDSNational Association of chain drug stores
AphAAmerican Pharmaceutical Association NDCNational drug code
issued by the FDA. The first five digits are the manufacturer; the
second set of four digits are the drug, dose, dosage form; the
third set of two number is the package size UPC codeBarcoded drug
information COGSCost of goods sold MARMedication administration
record eMARElectronic medication administration record ASHPAmerican
society of health system pharmacists
Slide 30
TermMeaning BioavailabilityThe amount of drug that reaches the
blood stream from a route of administration other than intravenous
BioequivalenceThe comparison of bioavailability between two dosage
forms Enterohepatic circulationThe excretion of the drug from the
liver in the bile flow and its reaborption back to the liver First
PassThe amount of drug that is metabolized by the liver before it
reaches the blood, i.e. expressed as a percentage. Example is
Lidocaine Geometric dilutionThe mixing of powder of unequal sizes
Glomerular FiltrationThe process of kidney filtration of the blood
Orange BookThe FDA official collection of approved drugs OBRA
90Omnibus budget reconciliation act of 1990 which require
pharmacists counseling
Slide 31
TermMeaning Enteral or AlimentaryDescribes the organs of
digestion and nutrient absorption from the mouth to the anus
Aseptic techniqueA technique used in the manipulation of a IV
products to maintain their sterile condition USP 797A standard
published by the USP to provide guidance in the use of aseptic
technique Auxiliary LabelAn extra label placed on a dispensed
product that may add information for the patient Extemporaneous
CompoundingThe preparation of a patient specific drug product
HypersensitivityEqual to allergic drug reaction; anaphylaxis is the
most severe type TeratogenicityA characteristic of drug that
produces known birth defects