Medications glossary

An abbreviation used by doctors to mean 'before food' when they prescribe medicine. The medicine works best with as little food as possible in the stomach. You could take it one hour before a meal or two hours after a meal.

A term used to refer to something severe and often sudden. For example, you may have an acute reaction to a medication.

Anti-anxiety medication is medication used to treat the symptoms of anxiety.

There are lots of different groups of medicines that can be prescribed to manage anxiety. These include antipsychotics, antidepressants, benzodiazepines and beta-blockers (e.g. propranolol).

A medicine used to treat depression by acting on the chemicals in the brain that occur naturally (serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine) and on how these chemicals work to transmit messages between brain cells.

There are different groups of medicines that can all be used to treat depression. These include SSRIs (e.g. fluoxetine), SNRIs (e.g. venlafaxine) and tricyclics (e.g. amitriptyline).

Medicines referred to as ‘antipsychotics’ may also be used to treat depression (e.g. quetiapine).

Medicines traditionally called ‘antidepressants’ may also be prescribed to treat other conditions like anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Antipsychotic medicines work by acting on the chemicals that occur naturally in the brain (dopamine and serotonin) and on how these chemicals work to transmit messages between brain cells.

Antipsychotics are prescribed to treat psychosis and schizophrenia.

Medicines traditionally called ‘antipsychotics’ may also be prescribed to treat other conditions like bipolar affective disorder, depression and anxiety.

A group of medicines used to treat anxiety.

There are lots of different groups of medicines that can be prescribed to manage anxiety. These include antipsychotics, antidepressants, benzodiazepines and beta-blockers (e.g. propranolol).

A newer medicine used to treat psychosis. Examples include olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone and aripiprazole. Sometimes called second generation antipsychotics.

These medicines are less likely to cause side effects like muscle stiffness, unusual movements or tremor (sometimes called ‘extra-pyramidal side effects or ‘EPSE’) at the doses prescribed to treat psychosis or other mental illness.

A very old group of medicines no longer used for mental health conditions. They are sometimes used in the treatment of epilepsy.

This is an instruction on prescription labels for how often you should take the medicine. It means twice a day (every 12 hours if possible). So, an example might be 8am and 8pm. It is sometimes written as ‘bid’.

A group of medicines used to treat severe anxiety and sleep problems. Examples are diazepam and lorazepam.

A name that the company gives to its medicine. Not the actual medicine name. For example, Prozac® is a brand name for the medicine fluoxetine.

Most medicines are not prescribed using their brand name but sometimes it’s important to use the brand name to make sure you get the same product each time.

A reference book for health professionals about all medicines available in the UK.

Medicines that you take by mouth. Often oval-shaped to help you swallow them. They may contain gelatine.

A pharmacist. A registered health professional working in a community pharmacy or hospital who is an expert in medicines. They can provide advice and guidance on how to use your medicines safely and effectively so that you get the maximum benefit from them.

A service offered by community pharmacists (chemists) in Scotland for NHS patients who have long-term conditions requiring medicines. It includes a repeat prescription service and review of your medicines by the pharmacist.

A service for NHS patients in Scotland. The community pharmacist can supply a small amount of medicines for long-term illnesses if the doctor is not available (for example at the weekend).

A medicine with special rules and laws regarding how it is supplied when prescribed. These medicines are normally stored in a locked cupboard in the pharmacy or on the hospital ward. Examples include diazepam and methylphenidate.

A medicine which is absorbed by the body slowly when taken. An example is a controlled-release tablet, which is taken once every 24 hours (compared to the normal-release tablet, which is taken two or three times daily).

Being dependent (on drugs or alcohol for example) means you don’t feel you can function without them and you crave them if you stop. If you have a high level of dependence, you may experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking them.

An injection of medicine given into the arm, leg or buttock muscle. It allows medicine to be released into the body very slowly over weeks or months.

Some antipsychotic medicines are available as depot/long-acting injections. These are given weekly, fortnightly or monthly.

A medicine or substance which can bring on a low mood. Alcohol can act as a depressant in some people.

Uncomfortable effects that you may experience if you stop taking a medicine, especially if you stop quickly or suddenly. This can also happen if a dose or a couple of doses of medication are missed.

A chemical made by the brain. It affects mood, emotions and movement.

Some medicines work by acting on dopamine in the brain to affect the levels of it and change how it works to transmit messages between brain cells.

A service which works with people after their first experience of psychosis. Services usually work with people aged 14-35 and provide a range of support and treatments that may include medication. See antipsychotics.

A medical test which records the electrical activity of the heart. You might have an ECG if you are having chest pains or an abnormal heart rate. It is a painless procedure that can be carried out by your GP or at a hospital.

Sometimes your doctor will recommend an ECG to check your heart before starting a medicine.

A medical test which records the electrical activity of the brain. It can be used to diagnose and manage a range of conditions including epilepsy and insomnia as well as brain injuries. An EEG is painless, takes 30-45 minutes and rarely causes any side effects.

A method where a community pharmacist can give a small amount of prescription-only medicine where appropriate without a doctor’s prescription if the doctors' surgery is closed. Usually only used at weekends or evenings for medicines that should be taken continuously. The pharmacist can only supply medicines that the patient has been prescribed before by their doctor.

Emergency supplies cannot be used for controlled drugs.

Also known as a typical antipsychotic, this is the original or older type of antipsychotic. Examples include chlorpromazine or haloperidol.

These medicines are still effective but are not prescribed as often because they are not tolerated as well as the newer ‘second generation’ or ‘atypical’ antipsychotics. They tend to cause more side effects like muscle stiffness and unwanted movements (sometimes called ‘extra-pyramidal side effects’) at doses that are also prescribed to treat mental illness.

When a new medicine is launched, it is patented and sold under a brand name. When that patent expires, generic versions of the medicine can be made by other companies.

Generic medicines have to have a licence and the company have to be able to demonstrate that it works in the same way.

Generic medicines are usually cheaper as the manufacturer does not have to pay for the cost of research of the new medicine.

Some medicines and vaccines are given IM, which means they are injected into the muscle by a nurse or doctor. Usually the top of the arm, side of the leg or the buttock area is used.

Some medicines are given IV. This means they are injected directly into a vein. IV medicines act very quickly so they are useful in emergency situations or in a hospital. Some street drugs are also taken this way.

If you consider buying medicines via the internet, it is recommended that you buy these from a registered online pharmacy. This is because there is a risk that medicines bought form unregistered sites could be unregulated or fake.

Look out for the internet pharmacy scheme logo on sites when you are purchasing medicine. This is voluntary and operated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) – the regulatory body for pharmacies and pharmacists. Displaying this logo shows the pharmacy has met GPhC standards.

In Northern Ireland, pharmacies must still be registered with the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) and display a Distance Selling Logo.

A medicine that has been approved by the health authority of a particular country for use to treat certain illnesses.

To get marketing authorisation, pharmaceutical companies must complete clinical trials to show that it is safe and works. The license states what the medicine can be used for, the dose of the medicine to use, how the medicine should be given and what groups of patients it can be used for. If the use of the medicine differs from the licence, it is described as ‘off-label’ or ‘unlicensed’ use.

Lithium is a medicine commonly prescribed to treat bipolar disorder. If the dose of lithium is too high, the patient can get lithium toxicity, which causes side effects such as nausea, tremor and kidney problems. This can also happen if a new medicine interacts with lithium or there are changes in a person’s diet.

An intramuscular (IM) injection that is given weekly, fortnightly or monthly. The medicine is slowly released into the body to avoid the need for daily doses. Some antipsychotics are available as long-acting injections.

The old name for antipsychotics.

A free service offered by community pharmacists. The pharmacist will discuss your medicines with you in private. They will help you with any problems with your medicines, answer questions you may have and help you to get the best from your medicines. Any pharmacist can do this for you but there is a formal scheme for this in England and Wales.

A measure of weight. Some medicines are prescribed in doses of micrograms. There are 1000mcg in one milligram.

A measure of weight. Some medicines are prescribed in doses of milligrams. There are 1000mg in one gram.

A measure of volume. Some liquid medicines are prescribed in millilitres. There are 1000 ml in one litre.

The old name for anxiety medications.

A type of antidepressant. This group of antidepressants can interact with some foods that contain tyramine. People that are prescribed them have to follow a careful diet.

A type of medicine used to treat bipolar disorder. Mood stabilisers help to balance moods to avoid periods of mania or depression. They are usually taken long-term (for several months or years).

Provides national guidance and advice to improve health and social care.

This is the old name for the group of medicines now called antipsychotics.

This is a service provided by community pharmacies which provides advice and support to people with long-term conditions that have been prescribed a medicine for the first time. It is initially focused on particular patient groups and conditions.

These are registered healthcare practitioners who have completed training in addition to their professional qualification. This training allows them to prescribe medication. In GP practices or specialist mental health services, NMPs are usually nurses or pharmacists.

An abbreviation used by doctors to mean ‘once a day’ when they prescribe medicines.

When medicines are made, the drug manufacturer applies for a licence that sets out the illness(es) the medicine can be used for, the dose that can be used, how the medicine should be given and the group of people it can be used for.. ‘Off-label’ use means that the medicine is being used in a way that is different to that described in the licence.

Doctors may have found that the medicine works very well for another condition, and the use may be supported by national guidelines or expert groups, but the drug manufacturer has not extended the licence.

Doctors may prescribe medicines off-label for children and young people because the product license doesn’t include this age group but there is evidence to support its use.

A medicine may also be used in an unlicensed way if, for example, a tablet is crushed to make it easier to take. If medicines are altered to make it easier to take them, this must always be checked with a pharmacist first. This is because it might be unsafe or make the medicine not work as well.

These are medicines you can buy without a prescription from a shop, e.g. paracetamol.

An overdose is when a drug is taken in quantities that are larger than recommended, either on purpose or by accident. It can result in serious illness or death. If you have taken an overdose on purpose or by accident, you must seek urgent medical advice even if you don’t feel any different. Call 999 immediately.

An abbreviation used by doctors to mean 'after a meal' when they prescribe medicines. Some medicines are affected by food and so should be taken at meal times.

A healthcare professional who is an expert on medicines and focuses on safe and effective medication use. They can work in a high-street pharmacy or in a hospital.

An abbreviation used by doctors to mean 'by mouth' when they prescribe medicines. These are medicines you swallow.

An abbreviation used by doctors to mean 'by rectum' when they prescribe medicines. These are medicines that are put in your bum.

If you usually pay for your prescriptions in England and are prescribed more than three medicines a month, it will work out cheaper to get a prepayment certificate from the NHS. You can buy three or 12-month certificates.

If you usually pay for your prescriptions and have been treated in hospital under the Mental Health Act, you may be able to get support with the cost of your medicines if prescribed for a mental health condition.

An instruction written by a medical practitioner (usually a doctor) that authorises a patient to be issued with a medicine or treatment. This may also be provided by a non-medical prescriber. Prescriptions are then taken or sent electronically to a pharmacy to get the medicines dispensed.

An abbreviation used by doctors to mean 'when required' when they prescribe medicines.

A medical doctor who is trained in and specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. You may be seen by a psychiatrist at Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) or Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS).

These are medicines that can only be sold from a registered pharmacy and must be sold by a pharmacist or a person acting under the supervision of a pharmacist.

Post SSRI sexual dysfunction refers to a group of symptoms that may be experienced by people who have taken SSRI medication. Symptoms include reduced genital sensation, reduced sexual desire, erectile dysfunction or difficulty having an orgasm. These symptoms may continue for several months or more after SSRIs are stopped. The cause and frequency of PSSD is currently unknown.

Q [x]h is an abbreviation used by doctors to mean ‘every x number of hours’ when they prescribe medicines. The x will be replaced by a number and this is how frequent they want the medicine to be used.

QDS and QID are abbreviations used by doctors to mean 'four times a day' when they prescribe medicines

An abbreviation used by doctors to mean 'every four hours' when they prescribe medicines.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the main professional organisation of psychiatrists in the United Kingdom. See Psychiatrist.

See atypical antipsychotic.

A type of antidepressant which works on serotonin in the brain. Examples include citalopram and fluoxetine.

Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that helps relay signals from one area of the brain to another. Low levels of serotonin are linked to depression, though the exact relationship is unclear. Also known as 5-HT.

Serotonin syndrome is a group of symptoms that are associated with too much serotonin in the body. This can occur from a combination of medicines that increase levels of serotonin, e.g. antidepressants, or too much of a medicine that increases levels of serotonin, e.g. overdose.

This is a rare side effect of medicines, but it’s important that you know the symptoms so you can get help quickly if they do occur.

A group of medicines which work on two chemicals (serotonin and noradrenaline) in the brain. An example is venlafaxine. These medicines are prescribed to treat depression or anxiety.

N.B. Noradrenaline is sometimes known as norepinephrine.

Short-acting injections work quickly and are used by doctors when they need the medication to start working very quickly — like during a crisis episode or hospitalisation. They commonly include lorazepam (a benzodiazepine) and haloperidol (an antipsychotic).

Stimulants can be used as legal substances, prescription medicines or street drugs. Stimulants include caffeine, nicotine, amphetamine and cocaine. On-prescription amphetamines are used for the treatment of ADHD.

The term for when a medicine is mixed into a liquid.

Sustained-release tablets release the active ingredient over an extended period of time, meaning more constant drug levels, fewer side effects and less frequent dosing.

This is a side effect of the long-term use of antipsychotics which results in abnormal muscular movements.

This side effect occurs more commonly with first generation or ‘typical’ antipsychotics, but may also occur with second generation or ‘atypical’ antipsychotics, although this is rare.

An abbreviation used by doctors to mean 'three times a day' when they prescribe medicines.

A type of antidepressant used to treat depression. Examples include amitriptyline, lofepramine, imipramine and clomipramine.

Also known as a first-generation antipsychotic, this is the original or older type of antipsychotic.

When medicines are made, the drug manufacturer applies for a licence that means the medicine has been approved for a specific condition and group of people. Unlicensed medicines are ones that do not have a licence in the UK. They may be imported from another country where they are licensed, or specially made liquid formulations of a medicine. Unlicensed medicines are only prescribed after careful consideration of other options.

If you are prescribed an unlicensed medicine, a pharmacy will have to order it specially. This means it takes longer for prescriptions to be dispensed so you will need to allow time for this when ordering repeat prescriptions.

Uncomfortable effects that you may experience if you stop a medicine, especially if you stop quickly or suddenly.

A system for the public and health professionals to report side effects from medicines.

A class of medicines used to treat insomnia. They should only be used for a short time as they can lead to dependence. Examples include zopiclone and zolpidem. These medicines should be used along with good sleep hygiene.

NICE provide guidelines on the use of zaleplon, zolpidem and zopiclone for the short-term management of insomnia. Zaleplon has now been discontinued.