What are the uses for orlistat? Orlistat is combined with a reduced-calorie diet to promote weight loss. Orlistat also may be used to prevent weight gain after weight has been lost. Candidates for treatment with orlistat are patients who are obese with a body mass index (a measure of obesity) of more than 30 kg/m2. …
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Azulfidine (sulfasalazine) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is Azulfidine? Sulfasalazine is a drug that is used primarily for treating ulcerative colitis. Why is Azulfidine prescribed to patients? Sulfasalazine is used for the treatment of mild to severe ulcerative colitis, and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. It has also been used “off label” (unapproved by the FDA) for Crohn’s disease and ankylosing spondylitis. Is Azulfidine available as a …
Read More »Digoxin vs. dobutamine: Drug Toxicity, Side Effects, Dosages, Uses
Digoxin vs. dobutamine: What’s the difference? Digoxin and dobutamine are used to treat different heart conditions. Digoxin is used for treating adults with mild to moderate congestive heart failure and for treating abnormally rapid atrial rhythms (atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, atrial tachycardia). It also is used for increasing myocardial contractility in pediatric patients with heart failure. Dobutamine is used to …
Read More »Tofacitinib Citrate (Xeljanz) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is Tofacitinib citrate (Xeljanz)? What is Xeljanz used for? Tofacitinib is an oral drug used for treating rheumatoid arthritis. It belongs to a class of drugs called Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. JAKs are enzymes (proteins) that regulate chemical signaling pathways that control biologic processes such as blood formation and the immune response that causes the pain, tenderness and swelling …
Read More »Digoxin vs. digitalis: Drug Toxicity, Side Effects, Dosages, Uses
Digoxin vs. digitalis: What’s the difference? Digoxin and digitalis are cardiac glycosides that are derived from the same plant, the foxglove, used to treat adults with mild to moderate congestive heart failure and to treat abnormally rapid atrial rhythms (atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, atrial tachycardia). Digoxin also is used for increasing myocardial contractility in pediatric patients with heart failure. Brand …
Read More »cromolyn, Nasalcrom: Drug Facts, Side Effects and Dosage
What is cromolyn? What are the uses for cromolyn? Cromolyn sodium is used for the management of mastocytosis and to improve the symptoms associated with it, including: diarrhea, flushing, headaches, vomiting, urticaria (hives), abdominal pain, nausea, itching, runny and stuffy nose, and sneezing. What brand names are available for cromolyn? Nasalcrom, Gastrocrom Is cromolyn available as a generic drug? GENERIC …
Read More »Efinaconazole (Jublia): Antifungal Drug Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is efinaconazole Jublia, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Efinaconazole is a topical (applied to the skin) antifungal used for the local treatment of fungal infections of the toenails. Efinaconazole destroys fungal cells by inhibiting fungal lanosterol 14α-demethylase, an enzyme required to make ergosterol, an important fungal cell wall component. Without cell walls fungus cannot survive. Efinaconazole …
Read More »Bismuth (Pepto Bismol, Kaopectate) Side Effects & Dosage
What is bismuth subsalicylate-oral, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Bismuth subsalicylate (BSS) is a commonly used over the counter medicine used to treat: diarrhea, upset stomach, nausea, indigestion, and heartburn. Bismuth subsalicylate is also used to prevent traveler’s diarrhea and to treat Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection as part of a quadruple-drug therapy that also includes two …
Read More »Calcium Carbonate (Caltrate 600) Uses, Side Effects & Formula
What is calcium carbonate? Why is it used? Most people know that calcium is needed for strong bones, but it's also needed to help blood vessels and muscles contract and expand, to send messages through the nervous system, and to secrete hormones and enzymes. This is the most abundant mineral in your body and makes up 1%-2% of adult human …
Read More »prochlorperazine (Compazine, Compro) Uses & Side Effects
What is prochlorperazine, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Prochlorperazine is an antiemetic (to control nausea and vomiting) and first generation antipsychotic agent. Prochlorperazine is one of the older first-generation piperazine phenothiazine antipsychotic medications. Examples of other phenothiazines include: fluphenazine (Permitil, Prolixin) chlorpromazine (Promapar, Thorazine) fluphenazine (Permitil, Prolixin) perphenazine, trifluoperazine (Stelazine) thioridazine (Mellaril) Although, the exact mechanism of …
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