Pharmaceutical

Terminology

Doungkamol Leaokittikul, PhD

 OBJECTIVE
• Students understand and can describe
the meaning of some pharmaceutical
terminology.
• adsorbent
= a drug that binds other chemicals onto
its surface, used to reduce the free
availability of toxic chemicals, e.g.
activated charcoal, kaolin.

• adsorption = the action of a substance

in attracting and holding other materials
or particles on its surface.

• absorption = the uptake of substances

into or across tissues.
• aerosols = products packaged under
pressure that contain therapeutically
active ingredients that are released as a
fine mist, spray, or foam on actuation of
the valve assembly.

• aromatic waters = clear, saturated

solutions of volatile oils or other aromatic
substances in water. They are used orally,
topically, or pharmaceutically for the
characteristics of the aromatic material
they contain.
Peppermint water NF XIV

Rx Peppermint oil 2 mL
Purified water 100 mL
Talcum 15 g
Use: Carminative

(From: USP XXI, NF 16, 1985, p. 1343;

Remington Vol.II, 1995, p. 1389)
• capsules = solid dosage forms in which
one or more medicinal/inert substances
are enclosed within small shells of gelatin.
Capsule shells are produced in varying
sizes, shapes, thickness, softness, and
color.

• collodions = liquid preparations

composed of pyroxylin dissolved in a
solvent mixture usually composed of
alcohol and ether with or without added
medicinal substances. They are intended
for external application to the skin.
• creams = semisolid preparations
containing one or more drug substances
dissolved or dispersed in a suitable base.

• elixirs = sweetened, flavored,

hydroalcoholic solutions intended for oral
administration. They may be
nonmedicated or medicated and are used
in the same manner as syrups.

• emulsion = a type of disperse system in

which one liquid is dispersed throughout
another liquid in the form of fine droplets.
Mineral oil emulsion (Oil in water emulsion)

Rx
Mineral oil 500 mL
Acacia (finely powder) 125 g
Syrup 100 g
Vanillin 40 mg
Alcohol 60 mL
Purified water to make 100 mL
• Use: lubricating cathartic
• Dose: 30 mL
• implants = small, sterile, solid dosage
forms containing concentrated drug for
implantation in the body where they
continuously release their medication
over prolonged periods.

• inhalations = finely powdered drug

substances, solutions, or suspensions of
drug substances administered by the
nasal respiratory route for local or
systemic effects. Special devices are used
to facilitate administration.
• injections
= sterile preparations intended for
parenteral administration by needle or
pressure syringe.

Drugs may be injected into most any

vessel or tissue of the body, but the most
common routes are
intravenous (IV),
intramuscular (IM), and
subcutaneous (SC).
• liniments = alcoholic or oleaginous
solutions, suspensions, or emulsions of
medicinal agents intended for external
application to the skin, generally by
rubbing.

• lotions = liquid preparations intended for

external application to the skin.

• lozenges = solid preparations

containing one or more medicinal agents
in a flavored, sweetened base intended
to dissolve or disintegrate slowly in the
mouth, releasing medication generally
for localized effects.
• Magmas and Gels = fine pharmaceutical
suspensions in which the suspensoid has
a high degree of physical attraction to
the aqueous vehicle, forming a
gelatinous mixture that maintains that
uniformity and stability of the
suspension. Magma and gels are
administered orally.

• ointments = semisolid preparations

intended for topical application.
• pastes = semisolid dosage forms that
contain one or more drug substances
intended for topical application.

• plasters = solid or semisolid adhesive

masses spread across a suitable backing
material and intended for external
application to a part of the body for
protection or for the medicinal benefit of
added agents.
• powders = dry mixtures of finely divided
medicinal and nonmedicinal agents
intended for internal or external use.

• solutions = liquid preparations that

contain one or more chemical substances
(solute/s) dissolved in a solvent or
mixture of solvents.

• spirits = alcoholic or hydroalcoholic

solutions of volatile substances.
Depending on their contents, some
spirits are used orally for medicinal
purposes and others as flavoring agent.
• suspensions = preparations containing
finely divided, undissolved drug particles
dispersed throughout a liquid vehicle.

• suppositories = solid dosage forms

intended for insertion into body orifices
where they melt, soften, or dissolve and
exert localized or systemic effect. They
are commonly used rectally and
vaginally, and occasionally urethrally.

• syrups = concentrated, aqueous

solutions of a sugar or sugar substitute.
Calamine suspension

Calamine 80 g
Zinc oxide 80 g
Glycerin 20 mL
Bentonite magma 250 mL
Calcium hydroxide sol. qs. to 1000 mL

Use: Astringent, Protectant

• tablets = solid dosage forms containing
one or more medicinal substances with
or without added pharmaceutical
ingredients. Among the pharmaceutical
agents used are diluents, disintegrants,
colorants, binders, solubilizers, and
coatings.

• tinctures = alcoholic or hydroalcoholic

solutions of either pure chemical
substances or of plant extractions. Most
chemical tinctures are applied topically
(e.g., iodine tincture).
• contraindication
= any condition which renders a
particular line of treatment improper
or undesirable.
e.g Tetracycline –pregnant, children

• side effect = a consequence other than

that for which an agent is used,
especially an adverse effect on another
organ system.

- Chlopheniramine maleate --sedative

• drug interaction

= the action of one drug upon the

effectiveness or toxicity of another
(or others).
• analgesic = an agent that relieves pain
without causing loss of consciousness.
e.g. aspirin (ASA), paracetamol

• antipyretic = an agent that relieves or

reduces fever, e.g. paracetamol
(acetaminophen)

• antihistamine = a drug that

counteracts the effect of histamine, e.g.
chlorpheniramine maleate
• antifungal = an agent that destroys or
suppresses the growth or reproduction
of fungi, e.g. griseofulvin, ketoconazole

• anti-inflammatory = an agent that

counteract or suppress inflammation.
e.g. ASA, Ibuprofen

• antipruritic = an agent that counteracts

itching, e.g. Hydroxyzine HCl, Menthol
• anesthetic = an agent that produces
anesthesia.
- Local anesthetic
- General anesthetic

• antibacterial
= an agent that destroys or suppresses
growth or reproduction of bacteria,
e.g. penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin
antiseptic = a substance that inhibits the
growth and development of
microorganisms but does not necessarily
kill them, e.g. iodine (in iodine tincture)

disinfectant = an agent that disinfects,

particularly one used on inanimate
objects, e.g. formaldehyde
• antitussis = an agent that suppresses
coughing, e.g. dextromethorphan HCl

• bronchodilator = an agent which causes

dilatation of the bronchi, e.g. theophylline

• expectorant = an agent that promotes

expectoration (the coughing up and
spitting out of material from the lungs,
bronchi, and trachea).
• placebo = an inactive substance or
preparation given to satisfy the patient’s
symbolic need for drug therapy, and used
in controlled studies to determine the
efficiency of medicinal substances.
e.g. lactose tablet

• astringent = an agent that causes

contraction, usually locally after topical
application.
e.g. alum, tannin, salt of zinc, aluminium,
bismuth
• antidote = an agent that counteracts a
poison, e.g. activated charcoal.

• hypnotic = an agent that induces sleep,

e.g. chloral hydrate.

• sedative = a drug that allays irritability

and excitement, e.g. phenobarbital
• antieczematic = an agent that is
effective against eczema, e.g. coal tar.

• keratolytic = an agent that promote

keratolysis, e.g. salicylic acid, lactic
acid

• rubefacient = an agent that reddens

the skin

• counterirritant = an agent which

produces counterirration.
• protectant
=an agent affording defense against
harmful influence.
e.g. methyl cellulose –ophthalmic
protectant

• emollient = an agent that softens or

soothes the skin, or soothes an
irritated internal surface.
e.g. fixed oil, wax in cold cream

• humectant = a moistening or diluent

medicine.
e.g. glycerin, sorbitol
• diluent = an agent that dilutes or
renders less potent or irritant.

• suppository base = diluent that is used

to prepare suppository.

• stiffening agent = an agent that

increases thickening of ointment.
• antacid = an agent which counteracts
acidity, e.g. Al(OH)3, Mg(OH)2

• antiflatulent = an agent that relieves or

prevents flatulence, e.g. simethicone

• carminative = an agents that relieves

flatulence, e.g. peppermint spirit
• antispasmodic = an agent that
prevents or relieves spasms, e.g.
atropine sulphate

• solubility = concentration of solute in

saturated solution at specified
temperature.

• solubilizing agent = an agent that

makes more soluble.
Descriptive terms for solubility

• Very soluble less than 1

• Freely soluble From 1 to 10
• Soluble From 10 to 30
• Sparingly soluble From 30 to 100
• Slightly soluble From 100 to 1000
• Very slightly soluble From 1000 to 10,000
• Insoluble More than 10,000
• degradation, deterioration
= becoming degraded
(oxidation, hydrolysis)

• stability = the state of being stable

(for dosage forms—both physical and
chemical stability)

• shelf-life = the length of time a product

can be stored without deterioration
occuring.
• deliquescence = the condition of
becoming moist or liquefied as a result
of absorption on water from the air.

• hygroscopic = readily absorbing

moisture