What is raltegravir, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Raltegravir (Isentress) is an antiretroviral medicine approved for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Raltegravir is an integrase inhibitor similar to elvitegravir (Vitekta) and dolutegravir (Tivicay). Raltegravir slows the spread of HIV infection by blocking the HIV integrase enzyme required for virus …
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What is flibanserin? What is flibanserin used for? Addyi (flibanserin) is an oral drug used for treating low sexual desire in women. The mechanism of action of flibanserin is not completely understood. Flibanserin affects the way the brain works by interfering with communication among the brain’s nerves in areas of the brain that control sexual desire and other pleasurable sensations. …
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What is epinephrine injection (Auvi-Q)? What is Auvi-Q used for? Auvi-Q is an auto-injectable epinephrine-containing device used for self-administration during life-threatening allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Auvi-Q is an epinephrine auto-injector that talks the user step by step through the injection process. Epinephrine, the medicine contained in Auvi-Q, is an excitatory chemical naturally made by our bodies. Epinephrine stimulates alpha and …
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What is dabigatran? How does dabigatran work? Dabigatran is an oral drug used to treat and prevent blood clots (an anticoagulant or blood thinner) in the hearts of patients with atrial fibrillation. These clots are likely to break into pieces and travel to the brain to cause strokes. Similarly, it is used to treat and prevent blood clots in the …
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Rickets facts Skeletal deformities, including an abnormally shaped skull, can be a sign of rickets. Rickets is a bone disorder caused by a deficiency of vitamin D, calcium, or phosphate. There are several different types of rickets. There are different bony abnormalities associated with rickets, but all are due to poor mineralization with calcium and phosphate. The active form of …
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What is alirocumab, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Alirocumab is a man-made injectable drug that reduces cholesterol levels in the blood. It is the first member of a new class of drugs called proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors. Cholesterol is carried in the blood to a large extent by particles of low density lipoproteins …
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What is Invega Sustenna? What is it used for? Invega Sustenna (paliperidone palmitate) is an atypical antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia. It is a long acting form of paliperidone (Invega). Other atypical antipsychotic drugs include olanzapine (Zyprexa), quetiapine (Seroquel), ziprasidone (Geodon), iloperidone (Fanapt), asenapine (Saphris) and aripiprazole (Abilify). Atypical antipsychotics differ from typical antipsychotics because they cause a lesser degree …
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Metformin vs. Insulin Metformin and insulin are used to treat diabetes. A difference is metformin is used to treat only type 2 diabetes, while insulin may be used to treat both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Metformin is also used to treat polycystic ovaries and weight gain due to medications used for treating psychoses. Metformin is an oral medication …
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What is Xofigo? What is Xofigo used for? Radium Ra 223 (Xofigo) is a radioactive medicine (radiotherapeutic drug) that is used to treat male patients with symptoms of advanced prostate cancer that has spread to the bones, but not to other parts of the body. The radioactive particles emitted by radium Ra 223 helps kill cancer cells in the bone …
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What is pertuzumab? What is pertuzumab used for? Pertuzumab is an intravenous drug that is used to treat breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast (metastasized). It belongs to a class of drugs called monoclonal antibodies. Other monoclonal antibodies used for treating breast cancer include trastuzumab (Herceptin) and ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla). The cells of cancers have various receptors on …
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