Glossary

Selected words and phrases

antioxidant – a substance that reduces oxidative damage (damage due to oxygen) such as that caused by ‘free radicals’

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – the US FDA is the government organisation that is responsible for approving and regulating human and animal medicines in the US. It is also responsible for the safety of other products including foods, cosmetics and tobacco.

See: www.fda.gov

generic drug – drug supplied under its common (chemical) name.

Area Under the Curve (AUC) – total exposure to drug over the dosing period.

BD (or bid) – a short hand term for medication dosing that means ‘twice-daily’.