breast cancer

What is citalopram (Celexa) and how does it work? Citalopram is an antidepressant medication that affects neurotransmitters, the chemicals that nerves within the brain use to communicate with each other. Neurotransmitters are manufactured and released by nerves and then travel and attach to nearby nerves. Thus, neurotransmitters can be thought of as the communication system …

What is tramadol and what is it used for? Tramadol is a synthetic (man-made) pain reliever (analgesic). Researchers and doctors do not know the exact mechanism of action of tramadol, but it is similar to morphine. Like morphine, tramadol binds to receptors in the brain (narcotic or opioid receptors) that are important for transmitting the sensation of pain from throughout …

What is ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin) and how does it work? Ibuprofen belongs to a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Other members of this class include aspirin, naproxen (Aleve), indomethacin (Indocin), nabumetone (Relafen) and several others. These drugs are used for the management of mild to moderate pain, fever, and inflammation. Pain, fever, and inflammation are promoted …

What is Keflex (cephalexin) and what is it used for? Cephalexin belongs to a class of antibiotics called cephalosporins. They are similar to penicillin in action and side effects. They stop or slow the growth of bacterial cells by preventing bacteria from forming the cell wall that surrounds each cell. The cell wall protects bacteria from the external environment and …

Vaginal bleeding definition and facts Picture of the female reproductive system Normal vaginal bleeding is the periodic blood flow from the uterus. Normal vaginal bleeding is also called menorrhea. The process by which menorrhea occurs is called menstruation. In order to determine whether bleeding is abnormal, and its cause, the doctor must answer three questions: Is the woman pregnant? What …

What are cladribine tablets, and what are they used for? The cladribine 10mg tablet is a prescription medicine used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include relapsing-remitting disease and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. Because of its safety profile, oral cladribine is generally used in people who have tried another MS medicine that they could not …

What are birth control pills? How do they work (mechanism of action)? Oral contraceptives (birth control pills) are medications that prevent pregnancy. They are one method of birth control. Oral contraceptives are hormonal preparations that may contain combinations of the hormones estrogen and progestin or progestin alone. Combinations of estrogen and progestin prevent pregnancy by inhibiting the release of the …

Sigmoidoscopy vs. colonoscopy: What’s the difference? Both sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy examine the lining of the colon, but the colonoscopy can show more of the colon. Both sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy are nonsurgical procedures that involve use of a tube (endoscope) with a light and camera to examine parts of the large intestine (colon).   A sigmoidoscopy is a procedure in which …

Parkinson’s disease facts Most people who develop Parkinson's disease are 60 years of age or older. Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder, which leads to progressive deterioration of motor function due to loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. The cause of Parkinson’s Disease is unknown but researchers speculate that both genetic and environmental factors are involved; some genes have been linked …

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) facts SARS causes a decrease in white blood cells and platelet (clotting cell) counts in the blood. SARS is the febrile "severe acute respiratory syndrome" that first appeared in 2003 and spread rapidly to more than two dozen countries across the world, infecting over 8,000 people and killing 774 before it could be contained in …