| rational drug design | <pharmacology> Modeling the molecular structure of the target of a drug, for example, an antigen, and then designing a drug that will attack it. (17 Dec 1997) |
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| receptors, drug | Proteins that bind specific drugs with high affinity and trigger intracellular changes influencing the behaviour of cells. Drug receptors are generally thought to be receptors for some endogenous substance not otherwise specified. (12 Dec 1998) |
| recreational drug | A controlled substance taken for non-medical purposes. Street drugs comprise various amphetamines, anaesthetics, barbiturates, opiates, and psychoactive drugs, and many are derived from natural sources (e.g., the plants Papaver somniferum, Cannibis sativa, Amanita pantherina, Lophophora williamsii). Slang names include acid (lysergic acid diethylamide), angel dust (phencyclidine), coke (cocaine), downers (barbiturates), grass (marijuana), hash (concentrated tetrahydrocannibinol), magic mushrooms (psilocybin), mescaline (peyote), speed (amphetamines). During the 1980s, a new class of "designer drugs" arose, mostly analogs of psychoactive substances intended to escape regulation under the Controlled Substances Act. Also, crack cocaine, a potent, smokable form of cocaine, emerged as a major public health problem. In the U.S. Illicit use of drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, and heroin historically has occurred in cycles. Synonym: recreational drug. (05 Mar 2000) |
| peak plasma drug concentration | <pharmacology> The highest level of drug that can be obtained in the blood usually following multiple doses. (09 Oct 1997) |
| chemotherapy drug sensitivity test | <investigation> A test to assess a cancerous tissue's response and vulnerability to chemotherapy drugs. This test can help predict a patients response to treatment and suggest which drugs may be useful. (16 Dec 1997) |
| metabolic detoxication, drug | Reduction of pharmacologic activity or toxicity of a drug or other foreign substance by a living system, usually by enzymatic action. It includes those metabolic transformations that make the substance more soluble for faster renal excretion. (12 Dec 1998) |
| multiple drug resistant tuberculosis | A strain of TB that does not respond to two or more standard anti-TB drugs. MDR-TB usually occurs when treatment is interrupted thus allowing mutations in the organism to occur that confer drug resistance. (09 Oct 1997) |
| crude drug | Any raw or unrefined medicinal compound in its natural form, especiallyone taken from a plant. (09 Oct 1997) |
| prescription drug | A drug requiring a prescription, a physician's order. By comparison with an over-the-counter drug. (12 Dec 1998) |
| prescriptions, drug | Directions written for the preparation and adminstration of a drug. (12 Dec 1998) |
| prescriptions, non-drug | Written directions for the preparation, administration, or application of a non-drug remedy. This includes prescriptions for corrective lenses, self-help and orthopedic devices, and physical therapy and rehabilitation measures. (12 Dec 1998) |
| hepatitis, chronic, drug-induced | An inflammatory disease of the liver, lasting six months or more, and caused by an adverse drug effect. The adverse effect may result from a direct toxic effect of a drug or metabolite, or an idiosyncratic response to a drug or metabolite. The clinical and histological changes can mimic viral or autoimmune hepatitis. (12 Dec 1998) |
| scheduled drug | A drug assigned to any of the five schedules in the Controlled Substances Act (1970). See: controlled substance. (05 Mar 2000) |
| psychedelic drug | <pharmacology> A class of medications (for example LSD, marijuana, peyote, heroin, cocaine) that result in a distorted perception of reality. Often accompanied by hallucinations. (27 Sep 1997) |
| psychodysleptic drug | <pharmacology> A class of medications (for example LSD, marijuana, peyote, heroin, cocaine) that result in a distorted perception of reality. Often accompanied by hallucinations. (27 Sep 1997) |