| drug carriers | Substances that facilitate time-controlled delivery, organ-specific targeting, protection, prolonged in vivo function, and decrease of toxicity of drugs. Liposomes, albumin microspheres, soluble synthetic polymers, DNA complexes, protein-drug conjugates, and carrier erythrocytes among others have been employed as biodegradable drug carriers. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| drug combinations | Single preparations containing two or more active agents, for the purpose of their concurrent administration as a fixed dose mixture. It is differentiated from drug therapy, combination in which two or more drugs are administered separately for a combined effect. (12 Dec 1998) |
| drug compounding | The preparation, mixing, and assembling of a drug. (12 Dec 1998) |
| drug costs | The amount that a health care institution or organization pays for its drugs. It is one component of the final price that is charged to the consumer (fees, pharmaceutical or prescription fees). (12 Dec 1998) |
| drug delivery | The method and route used to provide medication. (16 Dec 1997) |
| drug delivery systems | Systems of administering drugs through controlled delivery so that an optimum amount reaches the target site. Drug delivery systems encompass the carrier, route, and target. (12 Dec 1998) |
| drug dependence | Use of a drug for a reason other than which it was intended or in a manner or in quantities other than directed. Drug dependence is a compulsion to take a drug to produce a desired effect or prevent unpleasant effects when the drug is withheld. Risk factors for drug abuse include: low self esteem, inability to deal with stress and emotional instability. Juveniles use drugs due to peer pressure. Signs of drug use in children include: a change in friends or group, long absences from home, poor performance in school, seclusion, stealing, lying, criminal behaviour, deteriorating family relationships, signs of drug intoxication and changes in behaviour. Commonly abused drugs include narcotic analgesic agents, benzodiazepines, cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates, marijuana, LSD and phencyclidine. Many labs now offer quick and inexpensive urine drug screening. Psychological counseling and parental support will be necessary in children with this problem. (27 Sep 1997) |
| drug design | The molecular designing of drugs for specific purposes (such as DNA-binding, enzyme inhibition, anti-cancer efficacy, etc.) based on knowledge of molecular properties such as activity of functional groups, molecular geometry, and electronic structure, and also on information cataloged on analogous molecules. Drug design is generally computer-assisted molecular modeling and does not include pharmacokinetics, dosage analysis, or drug administration analysis. (12 Dec 1998) |
| drug development pathway | The various procedures and studies that must be undertaken to satisfy Food and Drug Administration requirements for drug approval and marketing. (14 Nov 1997) |
| drug eruptions | Adverse cutaneous reactions caused by ingestion, parenteral use, or local application of a drug. These may assume various morphologic patterns and produce various types of lesions. (12 Dec 1998) |
| drug evaluation | Any process by which toxicity, metabolism, absorption, elimination, preferred route of administration, safe dosage range, etc., for a drug or group of drugs is determined through clinical assessment in humans or veterinary animals. (12 Dec 1998) |
| drug-fast | Pertaining to microorganisms that resist or become tolerant to an antibacterial agent. (05 Mar 2000) |
| drug fever | Fever resulting from an allergic reaction to a drug that clears rapidly on discontinuation of the drug. (05 Mar 2000) |
| drug half-life | The amount of time it takes for one-half of an administered drug to be lost through biological processes (metabolism and elimination). (27 Sep 1997) |
| drug holiday | Interval when a chronically medicated patient temporarily stops taking the medication; used to allow some recuperation of normal functions, to maintain sensitivity to the drug, and to reduce the likelihood of side-effects. (05 Mar 2000) |