ABSTRACT
Abbreviations are used as shortened forms of disease names, diagnostic procedures, anatomical terms, quantities, routes of administration, and practically anything else that may appear in medical terminology. Specific diseases, syndromes, or conditions are sometimes indicated by the name of a person, usually the individual who first identified the disorder, as a "shortcut" in terminology similar to an abbreviation or acronym. These eponyms, as they are called, are found throughout the medical literature and sometimes are much more familiar than the medical term for the same condition. Knowledge of medical terminology is essential for communication within the health care system. However, the pharmacist, like other health care professionals, must also be able to effectively communicate with the patient. Slang, or lay terms, for drags are abundant, particularly with reference to illicit or recreational drug use. When questioned as to ingestion of a substance, the patient is likely to respond with one of the common terms.
