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COMMON MEDICAL TERMS

There are many terms that need to be understood by a pharmacist. These terms – the medical and
pharmaceutical terms – are usually used to describe a health condition in a simple and concise
manner, and they are usually with less words but understandable. A medical dictionary is useful as a
reference for this matter. In this chapter, some of these words will be explained.

TERMS DEFINITION
Acaricide An agent that destroy mites
Adrenolytic A drug that prevent the action of the adrenergic nerves or
the response to adrenaline
Anaesthesia A state of unconsciousness and insusceptibility to pain
Anaesthetic A drug that produces anaesthesia
Anaesthetic, general An agent that produces anaesthesia systemically by
administration through inhalation, intravenous,
intramuscular, rectal or oral
Anaesthetic, local An agent that produces anaesthesia at a restricted area
Anaesthetic, topical An agent that produces anaesthesia directly to the area
involved (e.g. oral mucosa or cornea)
Analeptic An agent that acts as a central nervous system stimulant
Analgesic An agent that relieves pain without causing loss of
consciousness
Antacid An agent that neutralizes gastric acidity
Anthelmintic An agent that kills and eliminates worms in the intestine
Antiarrhythmic An agent that prevents dysregulation of heart rhythm
Antibiotic An agent that prevents the growth of microorganisms
Anticholesteremic An agent that controls the blood level of cholesterol
Anticholinergic An agent that blocks the cholinergic receptor
Anticoagulant An agent that helps to regulate or prevent blood clotting
Anticonvulsant An agent that prevents or arrest the occurrence of
convulsion
Antidepressant An agent that helps to treat depression
Antidiabetic An agent that helps to control diabetes
Antidiuretic An agent that reduces the excretion of urine
Antidote An agent that can counteract the action of a poison
Antiemetic An agent that prevents or relieves nausea and vomiting.
Example: metoclopramide
Antiepileptic See ‘Anticonvulsant’
Antifungal An agent that treats fungal infection. May be similar with
‘Antimycotic’
Antihistamine An agent that counteracts the action of histamine.
Example: chlorpheniramine maleate
Antihypertensive An agent that reduces elevated blood pressure
Antiinfective See ‘Antibiotic’
Antiinflammatory An agent that reduces inflammation. May be similar with
‘Antihistamine’
Antimicrobial See ‘Antibiotic’
Antineoplastic An agent that destroys cancer cells
Antinociceptive An agent that relieves pain without causing loss of
consciousness. May be similar with ‘Analgesic’

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