Ping-Pong, table tennis - a game (trade name Ping-Pong) resembling tennis but played on a table with paddles and a light hollow ball

abortion pill, Mifepristone, RU 486 - an abortion-inducing drug (trade name Mifepristone) developed in France; when taken during the first five weeks of pregnancy it blocks the action of progesterone so that the uterus sloughs off the embryo

acebutolol, Sectral - an oral beta blocker (trade name Sectral) used in treating hypertension

acyclovir, Zovirax - an oral antiviral drug (trade name Zovirax) used to treat genital herpes; does not cure the disease but relieves the symptoms

albuterol, Proventil, Ventolin - a bronchodilator (trade names Ventolin or Proventil) used for asthma and emphysema and other lung conditions; available in oral or inhalant forms; side effects are tachycardia and shakiness

alendronate, Fosamax - a tablet (trade name Fosamax) prescribed to prevent or treat osteoporosis in women after menopause

allopurinol, Zyloprim - a drug (trade name Zyloprim) used to treat gout and other conditions in which there is an excessive buildup of uric acid

alprazolam, Xanax - an antianxiety agent (trade name Xanax) of the benzodiazepine class

aminophylline, Elixophyllin, Slo-Bid, Theobid, theophylline - a bronchodilator (trade names Elixophyllin and Slo-Bid and Theobid) used to treat asthma and bronchitis and emphysema

amiodarone, Cordarone - an antiarrhythmic drug (trade name Cordarone) that has potentially fatal side effects and is used to control serious heart rhythm problems only when safer agents have been ineffective

amitriptyline, amitriptyline hydrochloride, Elavil - a tricyclic antidepressant drug (trade name Elavil) with serious side effects; interacts with many other medications

ampicillin, Polycillin, Principen, SK-Ampicillin - semisynthetic penicillin (trade names Principen and Polycillin and SK-Ampicillin)

amrinone, Inocor - a drug (trade name Inocor) used intravenously in heart failure; increases strength of contraction of myocardium

angiotensin, angiotonin, Hypertensin - any of several vasoconstrictor substances (trade name Hypertensin) that cause narrowing of blood vessels

Aqua-Lung, aqualung, scuba - a device (trade name Aqua-Lung) that lets divers breathe under water; scuba is an acronym for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus

asparaginase, Elspar - antineoplastic drug (trade name Elspar) sometimes used to treat lymphoblastic leukemia

acetylsalicylic acid, aspirin, Bayer, Empirin - the acetylated derivative of salicylic acid; used as an analgesic anti-inflammatory drug (trade names Bayer and Empirin) usually taken in tablet form; used as an antipyretic; slows clotting of the blood by poisoning platelets

atorvastatin, Lipitor - an oral drug (trade name Lipitor) that is effective in lowering triglycerides; potent in reducing LDL cholesterol because higher doses can be given

azathioprine, Imuran - an immunosuppressive drug (trade name Imuran) used to prevent rejection of a transplanted organ

Azactam, aztreonam - an antibiotic (trade name Azactam) used against severe infections; has minimal side effects

buffered aspirin, Bufferin - aspirin coated with a substance capable of neutralizing acid (trade name Bufferin)

BuSpar, buspirone - a drug (trade name BuSpar) designed specifically for anxiety

Capoten, captopril - a drug (trade name Capoten) that blocks the formation of angiotensin in the kidneys resulting in vasodilation; used in the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart failure

cefadroxil, Ultracef - a cephalosporin antibiotic (trade name Ultracef)

Cefobid, cefoperazone - a parenteral cephalosporin (trade name Cefobid) used for severe infections

cefotaxime, Claforan - a parenteral cephalosporin (trade name Claforan) used for severe infections of the lungs or throat or ears or urinary tract

ceftazidime, Fortaz, Tazicef - a parenteral cephalosporin (trade names Fortaz and Tazicef) used to treat moderate infections

ceftriaxone, Rocephin - a parenteral cephalosporin (trade name Rocephin) used for severe infection of the lungs or throat or ears or urinary tract

Celebrex, celecoxib - a Cox-2 inhibitor (trade name Celebrex) that relieves pain without harming the digestive tract