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Lexapro (escitalopram) vs. Xanax (alprazolam) for Anxiety & Depression

What’s the difference between Lexapro and Xanax? Lexapro (escitalopram) and Xanax (alprazolam) are used to treat anxiety disorders. Lexapro is also used to treat depression. Xanax is also used to treat panic attacks. Lexapro and Xanax belong to different drug classes. Lexapro is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and Xanax is a benzodiazepine. Side …

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Levaquin (levofloxacin) Antibiotic Side Effects, Uses & Dosage

What is levofloxacin? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Levofloxacin is an antibiotic that is used for treating bacterial infections. Many common infections in humans are caused by bacteria. Bacteria can grow and multiply, infecting different parts of the body. Drugs that control and eradicate these bacteria are called antibiotics. Levofloxacin is an antibiotic that stops multiplication of bacteria …

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Gabapentin vs. Xanax (alprazolam) for Anxiety & Panic Disorders

What’s the difference between gabapentin and Xanax? Gabapentin and Xanax (alprazolam) are used to treat anxiety. A difference is that gabapentin is primarily an anti-seizure (anticonvulsant) drug used for preventing seizures and for treating post-herpetic neuralgia, the pain that follows an episode of shingles. Gabapentin is used off-label to treat anxiety. Xanax belongs to a different drug class called benzodiazepines, …

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Macrobid, nitrofurantoin for UTI: Side Effects & Dosage

What is nitrofurantoin (Macrobid, Macrodantin, Furadantin)? Nitrofurantoin is an antibiotic that is used for treating urinary tract infections caused by several types of bacteria. It is effective against E. Coli, Enterobacter cystitis, Enterococcus, Klebsiella, and Staphylococcus aureus. Nitrofurantoin interferes with the production of bacterial proteins, DNA, and cell walls. Bacteria cannot survive without a cell wall or multiply without DNA. …

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Beta blockers vs. Xanax: Facts, Side Effects & Drug Interactions

Beta blockers vs. Xanax Beta blockers and Xanax (alprazolam) are drugs prescribed for anxiety. A difference is beta-blockers are typically prescribed to treat high blood pressure and heart problems, and they are prescribed off-label for anxiety. Xanax is a different kind of drug, a benzodiazepine that is a type of tranquilizer, widely prescribed for anxiety. Beta-blockers work best for short-term …

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What Are Barbiturates? Examples, Effects & Examples

What are barbiturates? Barbiturates are central nervous depressants. They reduce the activity of nerves causing muscle relaxation. They can reduce heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. All barbiturates affect gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter (chemical) that nerves use to communicate with one another. For what conditions are barbiturates prescribed? Barbiturates are medications used for treating headaches, insomnia, and seizures. Barbiturates …

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mupirocin (Bactroban) Ointment Uses, Dosage & Side Effects

What is mupirocin? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Mupirocin is an antibiotic that is used topically (on the skin) for the treatment of impetigo, a bacterial disease of the skin caused by Staphylococcus aureus, beta-hemolytic streptococcus and Streptococcus pyogenes. It also is used intranasally (inside the nose) by patients and some people who work in healthcare centers to …

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Anticoagulant Drug List: Blood Thinner Side Effects & Types

What are anticoagulants? An anticoagulant is a drug (blood thinner) that treats, prevents, and reduces the risk of blood clots-breaking off and traveling to vital organs of the body, which can lead to life threatening situations. They work by preventing blood from coagulating to form a clot in the vital organs such as the heart, lungs, and brain. For example, …

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Aldactone (spironolactone): Side Effects (Weight Gain) & Uses

What is spironolactone, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Aldactone (spironolactone) is a potassium-sparing diuretic that removes excess fluid from the body in congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, and kidney disease. It also can be used in combination with other drugs to treat diuretic-induced low potassium (hypokalemia) and high blood pressure. Aldactone also is used to …

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Retrovir, zidovudine HIV Drug Side Effects, Uses & Dosage

What is zidovudine? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Zidovudine (formerly called azidothymidine [AZT]), a pyrimidine nucleoside analogue active against HIV. RETROVIR IV Infusion is a sterile solutionfor intravenous infusion only. Each mL contains 10 mg zidovudine in Water for Injection. Hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide may have been added to adjust the pH to approximately 5.5. RETROVIR IV Infusion contains …

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