Focus on
PHARMACOLOGY
ESSENTIALS FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
CHAPTER
3
Terminology,
Abbreviations,
and Dispensing
Prescriptions
Medical Terminology
• Medical terminology originated
primarily from Greek and Latin prefixes,
roots, and suffixes, known as word
parts.
• Health-care professionals involved with
pharmacology must be familiar with
word building, common medical terms,
and abbreviations.
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Medical Terminology
• A root is the main part of a word that
gives the word its central meaning.
• A prefix is a structure at the beginning
of a word that modifies the meaning of
the root.
• A suffix is similar in function to a prefix,
but appears at the end of a word.
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Understanding Terminology
Prefix + Root + Suffix
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Understanding Terminology
Prefix + Root + Suffix
Hypo + glyc + emia
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Understanding Terminology
Prefix + Root + Suffix
Hypo + glyc + emia
Too little +
sugar +
blood condition
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Understanding Terminology
Hypoglycemia
Condition of low blood sugar levels
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Table 5.1
Selected Roots
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Table 5.2
Common Prefixes
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Table 3-1
Some Common General Prefixes
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Table 5.3
Common Suffixes
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Table 3-2
Some Common General Suffixes
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Combining Vowels
• Medical terms are formed from many
different word parts.
• These parts are often joined by
combining vowels.
• The most common combining vowels
are the letters o and i.
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Table 5.4
General Pharmacy Abbreviations
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Table 5.4 (continued)
General Pharmacy Abbreviations
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Table 5.5
Pharmacy Abbreviations—Directions/SIG Codes
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Table 5.5 (continued)
Pharmacy Abbreviations—Directions/SIG Codes
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Table 5.6
Pharmacy Abbreviations—Routes of Administration
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Table 5.7
Pharmacy Abbreviations
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Table 5.8
General Medical Abbreviations
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Table 5.8 (continued)
General Medical Abbreviations
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Table 3-3
Abbreviations Commonly Used in Prescriptions
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Table 3-3 (continued)
Abbreviations Commonly Used in Prescriptions
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Table 3-3 (continued)
Abbreviations Commonly Used in Prescriptions
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Table 3-4
Abbreviations Commonly Used for Measurements
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Table 3-5
General Medical Abbreviations
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Table 3-5 (continued)
General Medical Abbreviations
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Table 3-5 (continued)
General Medical Abbreviations
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Table 3-5 (continued)
General Medical Abbreviations
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Table 5.9
JCAHO’s “Minimum” Do Not Use List
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Table 5.10
JCAHO’s “Recommended” Do Not Use List
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Drug Names
• Chemical name: chemical makeup of a
drug; often very complicated
• Generic name: also official, approved,
or nonproprietary name; not protected
by copyright
• Proprietary name: also brand or trade
name; assigned by manufacturers and
protected by copyright
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Table 5.12 (continued)
Common Brand-Name and Generic Prescription Drugs
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Sources of Drug Derivation
Plants (e.g., alkaloids)
Humans/animals (e.g., hormones)
Minerals (e.g., sodium, iodine, etc.)
Synthetics: manufactured (e.g., oral
contraceptives)
• Engineered: genetically engineered;
(e.g., some insulins)
•
•
•
•
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Drug Forms
• Classified by physical state (liquid,
solid) and chemical composition
• Determine whether action is local or
systemic
• Allow for oral, topical, mucosal, or
parenteral (injectable) use
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Preparations for Oral Use
• Oral drugs: solid or liquid forms
• Form influences rate of dissolution and
absorption
• Liquids are more readily available for
GI absorption than solids.
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Solid Drugs
• Pills: powdered drug mixed with liquid
and rolled into round or oval shape
• Tablets: powdered form of drug and
bulk-filling material compressed under
high pressure; various types include:
– Chewable, sublingual, buccal, entericcoated, buffered, and sustained-release
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Al Dodge
Figure 3-1
Solid drug forms.
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Solid Drugs
• Capsules: external shell usually made
of gelatin contains drug in powder,
granule, liquid, or combination form
• Enteric-coating: prevents capsule or
tablet from being dissolved in stomach
where it may cause irritation;
absorption occurs in intestines
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Solid Drugs
• Caplets: shaped like capsules with form
of tablets; film-coated for easy
swallowing
• Gelcaps: oil-based drug in soft gelatin
capsules
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Al Dodge
Figure 3-2
Examples of tablets.
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Al Dodge
Figure 3-3
Examples of capsules.
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Al Dodge
Figure 3-4
Examples of gelcaps.
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Solid Drugs
• Powders: dried and finely ground drugs
• Granules: tiny pills usually in gelatin
capsules; usually intended for gradual
release
• Troches or lozenges: flattened disks
that may be hard or semisolid (e.g.,
cough suppressants)
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Liquid Drugs
• Syrups and linctuses: aqueous
solutions containing high
concentrations of sugars
• Solutions: drugs dissolved in
appropriate solvent
• Elixirs: solutions of water, alcohol, and
sugar
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Liquid Drugs
• Infants and young children are not able
to take solid drug forms such as tablets
or capsules. Liquid drugs should be
used.
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Liquid Drugs
• Fluid extracts: concentrated drug
solutions from plant source mixed with
suitable solvent, usually alcohol
• Mixtures or suspensions: drug agent
mixed with liquid but not dissolved;
must be shaken before administration
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Liquid Drugs
• Tinctures: alcoholic preparations of
soluble drugs, usually from plant source
• Emulsions: preparations combining two
elements (such as oil and water) that
cannot ordinarily be mixed
• Spirits or essences: alcoholic liquids
that may be used pharmaceutically as
solvents
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Storing Drugs That
Contain Alcohol
• Elixirs, spirits, tinctures, and
fluidextracts contain alcohol.
• Keep them tightly sealed so that the
alcohol cannot evaporate.
• Store them in a dark place as specified
on label.
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Liquid Drugs
• Aerosols: frequently delivered by oral
inhalers or nebulizers for rapid
absorption into blood circulation
• Magmas: particles suspended in liquid;
more pasty in consistency than other
suspensions
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Topical Drugs: Semisolids
• Creams: semisolids in both aqueous
and oily base (e.g., benzoyl peroxide)
• Ointments: similar to creams; used for
local protective, soothing, astringent,
or transdermal systemic effects (e.g.,
zinc oxide)
• Plasters: combination liquids and
powders that harden when dry (e.g.,
salicylic acid)
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Topical Drugs: Liquids
• Liniments: liquid suspensions for
external application to skin
• Gels or jellies: jellylike substances used
for topical application
• Lotions: suspensions of drugs in water
base for external use
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Injectable Drugs
• Provide rapid response; also called
parenteral
• Available as powders or solutions
• Administered by following methods:
– Intra-articular
– Intradermal
– Intramuscular (IM)
– Epidural
– Subcutaneous
– Intravenous (IV)
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Other Forms of Medications
Ophthalmic: eye drops and ointments
Otic: ear medications
Nasal: nose drops or sprays
Vaginal: solutions, creams, tablets,
suppositories
• Rectal: suppositories or enemas
• Inhalation: anesthetic gases,
compressed gases, bronchodilators
•
•
•
•
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Dorling Kindersley, Ltd
Figure 3-5A
Examples of otic drops. © Elena Dorfman.
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Captured by Sarah Hill / Flickr / Getty Images
Figure 3-5B
Examples of ophthalmic drops.
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Figure 3-5C
Examples of nasal drops.
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Safe Storage of Drugs
• Do not expose medicines to sunlight,
bright light, moisture, or extremes in
temperatures.
• Store insulin and vaccine preparations
in a refrigerator according to the
manufacturer’s directions.
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Dispensing Drugs
• Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs:
available for self-medication; do not
require prescription
• Legend drugs: require prescription from
licensed practitioner (physicians,
dentists, veterinarians, etc.)
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Contents of Prescriptions
•
•
•
•
•
•
Name and address of patient and Date
Address of prescriber’s office
Medication prescribed (inscription)
Rx symbol (superscription)
Dispensing directions (subscription)
Directions for patient (signa)
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Contents of Prescriptions
• Refill and special labeling
• Prescriber’s signature, license or DEA
number
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Figure 3-6 Example of a physician’s prescription. (A) The prescriber’s office name,
address, and phone number. (B) The patient’s name, address, and date of prescription.
(C) The super-scription (“Rx” symbol). (D) The inscription (names and quantities of
ingredients). (E) The subscription (tells the pharmacist how many units of medication are
needed). (F) The signature (Sig), which tells the patient how to take the medication. (G)
Signature blank(s), where the prescriber signs. (H) The repetatur (which tells how many
refills are allowed).
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Telephone Orders
and Standing Orders
• Prescribed by physicians who cannot be
present at time of administration
• Telephone orders: must be followed up
with written drug order
• Standing orders: ongoing prescriptions
in hospitals, nursing homes, or
residential care settings; must be
signed and dated
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Hospital Drug Charts
• Also known as physician order sheets;
must be transcribed onto medication
administration record (MAR) and
include:
– Approved drug names
– All instances when drugs are administered
or not administered (including reasons)
– Nurse-initiated therapy (with physician
countersignature)
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Figure 3-7
Medical administration record as used in many hospitals.
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