GC: n

S: MEDLP – https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/drugtherapy.html (last access: 1 September 2015); NCBI – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7603146/ (last access: 19 January 2025).

N: 1.- drug (n): late 14c., drogge (early 14c. in Anglo-French), “any substance used in the composition or preparation of medicines,” from Old French droge “supply, stock, provision” (14c.), which is of unknown origin. Perhaps it is from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German droge-vate “dry barrels,” or droge waere, literally “dry wares” (but specifically drugs and spices), with first element mistaken as indicating the contents, or because medicines mostly consisted of dried herbs.

– therapy (n): 1846, “the science of medical treatment of disease,” from Modern Latin therapia, from Greek therapeia “curing, healing, service done to the sick; a waiting on, service,” from therapeuein “to cure, treat medically,” literally “attend, do service, take care of” (see therapeutic).

Middle English had it as terapeucia “therapeutics” (early 15c.) perhaps via Medieval Latin.

2. Treatment with any substance, other than food, that is used to prevent, diagnose, treat, or relieve symptoms of a disease or abnormal condition.

3. drug therapy. Also known as: therapy, treatment.

• Study of the factors that influence the movement of drugs throughout the body is called pharmacokinetics, which includes the absorption, distribution, localization in tissues, biotransformation, and excretion of drugs. The study of the actions of the drugs and their effects is called pharmacodynamics. Before a drug can be effective, it must be absorbed and distributed throughout the body. Drugs taken orally may be absorbed by the intestines at different rates, some being absorbed rapidly, some more slowly. Even rapidly absorbed drugs can be prepared in ways that slow the degree of absorption and permit them to remain effective for 12 hours or longer. Drugs administered either intravenously or intramuscularly bypass problems of absorption, but dosage calculation is more critical.

4. Pharmacology: pharmacotherapy, drug therapy, drug treatment, medication therapy, medicinal therapy.

S: 1. Etymonline – https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=drug+therapy (last access: 19 January 2025). 2. NIH – https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/drug-therapy (last access: 19 January 2025). 3. EncBrit – https://www.britannica.com/science/therapeutics/Drug-therapy#ref293843 (last access: 19 January 2025). 4. TERMIUM PLUS – https://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-eng.html?lang=eng&i=1&srchtxt=drug+therapy&index=alt&codom2nd_wet=1#resultrecs (last access: 19 January 2025). 5. GR – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40147325-care-custody (last access: 19 January 2025); Amazon – https://www.amazon.es/Man-Against-Insanity-Michigan-Hospital/dp/194399563X?language=en_GB (last access: 19 January 2025).

SYN: pharmacotherapy, drug treatment, medication therapy, medicinal therapy. (depending on context)

S: TERMIUM PLUS – https://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-eng.html?lang=eng&i=1&srchtxt=drug+therapy&index=alt&codom2nd_wet=1#resultrecs (last access: 19 January 2025)

CR: bioavailability, clinical pharmacology, drug substance, human pharmacology, medical treatment, placebo, placebo effect.