polypharmacy
Medical term Basic Pharmacology
Use of many medications at once, which raises the risk of interactions and side effects.
Sources
Related terms
- parenteralA route that bypasses the digestive tract, such as an injection.
- pharmacodynamicsWhat a drug does to the body: how it acts on receptors and organs to produce effects.
- pharmacokineticsWhat the body does to a drug: absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion.
- pharmacologyThe study of drugs and their effects on the body.
- PRN orderA medication order to give a drug only as needed, within the ordered limits.
- side effectA predictable, usually unwanted effect of a drug besides the intended one.
- standing orderA standardized order that may be carried out under defined circumstances without a new individual order.
- stat orderA medication order to be carried out immediately.