What is dutaseride? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Dutasteride is a medication used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) also known as an enlarged prostate. Dutasteride belongs to a class of medication called 5-alpa reductase inhibitors. Male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is primarily responsible for development and enlargement of the prostate gland. …

What is atropine, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Atropine belongs to a class of medications known as anticholinergics or antimuscarinics. Atropine occurs naturally and is extracted from the belladonna alkaloid plant. Atropine works by blocking the actions of a chemical called acetylcholine. Atropine has numerous uses in clinical medicine and is available in several dosage forms including …

What is typhoid vaccine-oral enteric-coated capsule, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Typhoid vaccine is a live attenuated (weakened) oral typhoid vaccine. Typhoid disease is caused by ingestion of Salmonella typhi strains from contaminated food or water. Active immunity from vaccine is occurs when the body produces antibodies to typhoid in response to the weakened typhoid bacteria in …

What is salmeterol, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Asthma is a breathing problem involving narrowing of the airways. Airways are breathing passages that allow air to move in and out of the lungs. In patients with asthma, airways can be narrowed by accumulation of mucus, spasm of the muscles that surround these airways, or swelling of the …

What is oxazepam, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Oxazepam (Serax, Zaxopam) is a member of a class of anti-anxiety medications called benzodiazepines. Other members of the benzodiazepine class include alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clobazam (Onfi), diazepam (Valium), estazolam (Prosom), flurazepam (Dalmane), midazolam (Versed), lorazepam (Ativan), temazepam (Restoril), and triazolam (Halcion). It helps relieve anxiety by enhancing the …

What is oseltamivir, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Oseltamivir is an oral medication used for treating and preventing the “flu.” It is similar to zanamivir (Relenza). Oseltamivir suppresses and decreases the spread of influenza A and B viruses, the viruses responsible for the flu. It does this by blocking the action of neuraminidase, an enzyme produced by …

What is potassium iodide, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Potassium iodide is a iodine-containing liquid that is used to protect the thyroid gland and to loosen secretions in the lungs (expectorant) so that they can be more easily coughed up (expectorated). Procedures that involve the use of radioactive iodine can damage the thyroid gland because the gland …

What is Zoster Vaccine Live (Shingles Vaccine), and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Zoster vaccine contains live, attenuated (weakened) varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Varicella-zoster causes chickenpox and then becomes dormant in nerves. VZV reactivates and causes herpes zoster (shingles or zoster) later in life (usually 60 years of age or older) when immunity against VZV declines. Zoster vaccine stimulates …

What is isoniazid, INH, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Isoniazid is an anti-bacterial drug that has been used to prevent and to treat tuberculosis since 1952. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium. Once the infection is acquired, it usually remains dormant in the lungs for up to many years. Later, the infection may become …

What is dalteparin injection, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Dalteparin is a low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) similar to enoxaparin (Lovenox) and tinzaparin. Dalteparin is used to treat or prevent blood clots and their complications (deep vein thrombosis or DVT and pulmonary embolism or PE). Deep vein thrombosis is the formation of blood clots in veins deep …