Terminology related to pharmacology

• Adverse drug reaction: aka side effects, undesirable reaction that accompanies the principal response for which the drug was taken.
• Adherence: also called compliance; the patient's consistency and accuracy in following the regimen (directions/rules) prescribed by a physician or other health care professional.
• Contraindication: a factor in the patient's condition that makes the use of a medication or specific treatment dangerous or ill advised.
• Synergism: interaction of 2 drugs taken together that enhances the effectiveness of both.
• Idiosyncratic reaction: an unexpected reaction to a drug that is peculiar to the individual.
• Palliative: a substance that eases the pain or severity of a disease but does not cure it.
• Paradoxical reaction: result of medical treatment that yields the opposite of normally expected results.
• Placebo: an inactive substance, such as a sugar pill or liquid, that is administered only for its suggestive effects.
• Antipyretic: medication administered to prevent or reduce fever.