Pharmaceutical Wholesalers Key Terms

Terms you will find in the pharmaceutical wholesalers field

Pharmaceutical wholesalers offer cost savings to the retail supplier and the consumer by keeping costs down through buying in greater quantities. Pharmacy wholesale distributors can be especially helpful to small, locally owned pharmacies because such distributors can give them the buying power of a larger chain pharmacy.

 

Antiemetic

An antiemetic is a drug that prevents or stops nausea and vomiting. They are usually used to treat motion sickness, or the effects of anesthetics, chemotherapy, or other medications that contain opiates. Pharmacy wholesalers can usually provide antiemetics to health-care facilities at a lower price.
Try: Farlex has a definition of this antiemetics. APSWholesaleRX.com is a wholesale pharmacy that provides injectable antiemetics for use by medical personnel only.

Bronchodilator

Bronchodilator is a type of drug that dilates or opens the airways in the respiratory tract, thereby decreasing airway resistance and helping airflow. Short-acting bronchodilators can provide quick relief from constriction. Long-acting bronchodilators can help to prevent and control symptoms. Wholesale pharmacy suppliers can provide both types of bronchodilators to pharmacies.
Try: For a simple description of what a bronchodilator does, check with KidsHealth.

Unit dose

A unit dose is a single dose administered to a patient and it usually comes in a non-reusable container. Pharmaceutical wholesalers supply drugs in unit doses.
Try: The Agency for Health Care Research has a definition that includes a lengthy discussion about unit dose distribution systems and their uses.

Generic drug

A generic drug is a non-name brand drug that contains the same active ingredients as the original drug. They are the bioequivalent to their brand name counterpart. Pharmaceutical wholesalers supply generic drugs as a standard offering.
Try: MedicineNet defines these types of drugs in more detail.

Bar code system

A bar code system is a network of software, hardware and supporting infrastructure that is used to automate data collection. Bar code systems are used by wholesale pharmaceutical suppliers to help track and control inventory.
Try: TechTarget has a comprehensive definition of bar codes.

Supply chain management

Supply chain management (SCM) is the management of products between a network of interconnected businesses such as wholesale pharmaceutical suppliers and chain pharmacies. The products are managed from storage to the point of consumption. Some pharmaceutical wholesalers offer supply chain management as part of their services.
Try: CIO provides more information about supply chain management.

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