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T

tachyphylaxis

A reduced response from a drug when it is administered repeatedly or chronically. This term is usually used when the reduction in response is rapid.

tachypnoea

abnormally rapid breathing (>20 breaths per minute in adults).

tertiary prevention

Tertiary prevention (or intervention) aims to lessen the impact of an ongoing illness (or injury) that has long-term effects, i.e. helping patients to manage chronic, often-complex health problems and injuries such as chronic diseases and physical disabilities. The goal of tertiary prevention is to improve the patient's ability to function, their quality of life and their life expectancy, as much as is possible. Examples of tertiary interventions include cardiac or stroke rehabilitation programs, patient participation in support groups and occupational health service support (including vocational rehabilitation).

therapeutic drug monitoring

The process of determining drug concentrations in individual patients. This is often performed for drugs with a low therapeutic index where drug concentrations correlate with a beneficial or toxic effect(s).

therapeutic index

This is a measure of the relative safety of a drug calculated by dividing the lethal dose of a drug in 50% of a population (often derived from animal or cellular studies) by the effective dose in 50% of a population.

tolerance

A condition characterized by a reduced effect of a drug upon repeated administration, such that it becomes necessary to increase the dose of the drug to achieve the same effect. Tolerance typically develops over days to weeks.

topical administration

Topically administered drugs are applied to the site of action with the intention of localising drug action. Examples are optical solutions, local anesthetics, inhaled asthma drugs and anti-inflammatory creams applied to pruritic skin. Topically applied drugs can also achieve systemic exposure. For example, volatile anesthetics are administerd by inhalation but travel to the brain to take effect.

toxicology

The study of the adverse effects of chemicals and physical agents on biological systems.

transdermal administration

Transdermal administration is a method of drug application used for some drugs which are poorly absorbed from the digestive tract, and where patient convenience is sought (e.g. to avoid parenteral routes).

Abbreviation used for biological half-life.

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