| 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) |
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| 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) |
| drug hypersensitivity | Immunologically mediated adverse reactions to medicinal substances used legally or illegally. (12 Dec 1998) |
| drug implants | Small containers or pellets of a solid drug implanted in the body to achieve sustained release of the drug. (12 Dec 1998) |
| drug incompatibility | <pharmacology> The quality of not being miscible with another given substance without a chemical change. One drug is not of suitable composition to be combined or mixed with another agent or substance. The incompatibility usually results in an undesirable reaction, including chemical alteration or destruction. (12 Dec 1998) |
| drug-induced cholestasis | <hepatology> A condition where a drug is interfering with the normal flow of bile from the liver to the gut via the biliary tract. The end result is jaundice. Origin: Gr. Stasis = stoppage (27 Sep 1997) |
| drug-induced diarrhoea | <gastroenterology> Diarrhoea may be produced by several mechanisms. Laxatives may produce diarrhoea by increasing the flow of water into the intestine or by increasing the intestinal motility. Antibiotic medications can cause diarrhoea by killing the normal bacteria that live in the intestine and help us digest our food. Some drugs produce diarrhoea as a side effect or as drug toxicity. (27 Sep 1997) |
| drug-induced disease | <pharmacology> A toxic reaction to or morbid condition resulting from the administration of a drug. (05 Mar 2000) |
| drug-induced eosinophilic lung disease | <radiology> Diffuse reticular pattern: nitrofurantoin, Loeffler-like pattern: penicillin, sulfonamides, ASA, para-ASA, imipramine, HCTZ, cromolyn sodium see: eosinophilic lung disease (12 Dec 1998) |
| drug-induced hepatitis | <hepatology, pathology> Inflammation and hepatocellular damage of the liver that is caused by a drug. Some medications may cause inflammation of the liver as a drug side effect or drug toxicity. Drugs that are known to cause hepatitis include acetaminophen, isoniazid, halothane, methyldopa, erythromycin and oral contraceptives. (27 Sep 1997) |
| drug-induced lupus | <dermatology> An inflammatory autoimmune disorder, similar to lupus, that develops in response to the use of a particular medication. It is characterised by anti-histone antibodies. More benign than the usual disease, with less renal involvement. The syndrome clears after stopping the offending drug. Drugs that are known to cause this reaction include procainamide, isoniazid, sulphasalazine, hydralazine, methyldopa, phenytoin, chlorpromazine and penicillamine. The arthritis, cardiac, pulmonary and systemic features may be present, but the kidney involvement (nephritis) and neurologic disease are rare. Symptoms generally resolve spontaneously after stopping the medication. Complications include myocarditis, pericarditis, thrombocytopenic purpura and infections. (18 Jul 2002) |
| drug-induced tremor | <neurology, pharmacology> A drug-induced condition where there is shaking (tremor) of the extremities that is increased with purposeful movement. Drugs known to induce tremor include: theophylline, Alupent, cyclosporine, amphetamines, lithium and caffeine. (27 Sep 1997) |
| drug industry | That segment of commercial enterprise devoted to the design, development, and manufacture of chemical products for use in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, disability, or other dysfunction, or to improve function. (12 Dec 1998) |
| drug information services | Services providing pharmaceutic and therapeutic drug information and consultation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| drug interaction | <pharmacology> A chemical or physiologic reaction that can occur when two different medications are taken together and the interaction may affect the metabolism, effectiveness or toxicity of the other. (18 Jul 2002) |