What is ketoconazole? What are the uses for ketoconazole? Ketoconazole is an azole antifungal medication used to treat certain serious fungal infections. Ketoconazole is in the same family of drugs as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), and miconazole (Micatin, Monistat). It prevents growth of several types of fungi by preventing production of the membranes that surround …
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nitroglycerin, Nitro-Bid: Facts, Side Effects, Dosage, and Uses
What is nitroglycerin? Nitroglycerin belongs to a class of drugs called nitrates. Nitroglycerin is used in the management of angina pectoris (heart pain). What brand names are available for nitroglycerin? Nitrostat, Nitromist, Nitroquick, Nitrolingual, Nitro-Dur, Minitran, Nitro-Bid, Nitronol, and others Is nitroglycerin available as a generic drug? Yes (for some dosage forms) Do I need a prescription for nitroglycerin? Yes …
Read More »orphenadrine (Norflex): Drug Facts, Side Effects, Dosage and Uses
What is oral orphenadrine? What are the uses for oral orphenadrine? Orphenadrine is an oral central acting skeletal muscle relaxant that is used for the treatment of acute muscle aches, pain, or spasms. The exact mechanism of action in relieving muscuar aches or spasms is not completely understood. Orphenadrine may reduce muscle spasms through actions on motor centers or the …
Read More »pilocarpine, Salagen: Drug Facts, Side Effects and Dosing
What is pilocarpine? What are the uses for pilocarpine? Pilocarpine is a cholinergic drug, that is, a drug that mimics the effects of the chemical, acetylcholine which is produced by nerve cells. Acetylcholine serves as a messenger between nerve cells and between nerve cells and the organs they control. For example, acetylcholine is responsible for causing the salivary glands to …
Read More »alteplase (TPA, Cathflo Activase): Uses, Side Effects, and Dosage
What is alteplase (TPA, Activase, Cathflo Activase)? Alteplase is an injectable drug, given directly into a vein, that is used to treat conditions caused by arterial blood clots including heart attacks, strokes, chest pain at rest (unstable angina), blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary thrombosis or embolus), and other less common conditions involving blood clots. What brand names are available …
Read More »cefuroxime, Ceftin, Zinacef: Drug Facts, Side Effects, and Dosage
What is cefuroxime? What are the uses for cefuroxime? Cefuroxime is a semisynthetic cephalosporin antibiotic, chemically similar to penicillin. Cephalosporins 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 keeps the contents of the cell together. Without a cell …
Read More »misoprostol (Cytotec): Drug Facts, Side Effects, and Dosage
What is misoprostol? What are the uses for misoprostol? Misoprostol is a synthetic (man-made) prostaglandin that is used to reduce the risk of stomach ulcers in patients treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, for example, aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.) that are used for pain and various inflammatory conditions, for example, arthritis. Misoprostol is used primarily in patients at high risk for …
Read More »piroxicam, Feldene: Drug Facts, Side Effects, Dosage, and Uses
What is piroxicam? What are the uses for piroxicam? Piroxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is used to treat fever, pain, and inflammation in the body. As a group, NSAIDs are non-narcotic relievers of mild to moderate pain of many causes, including injury, menstrual cramps, arthritis, and other musculoskeletal conditions. Other members of this class include ibuprofen (Motrin), naproxen …
Read More »lurasidone hydrochloride (Latuda): Antipsychotic Drug Side Effects & Dosage
What is lurasidone hydrochloride (Latuda)? What is Latuda used for? Lurasidone (Latuda) belongs to a class of medications known as atypical antipsychotics. Other members of this class include clozapine (Clozaril), risperidone (Risperdal), aripiprazole (Abilify) and ziprasidone (Geodon). Atypical antipsychotics like lurasidone are considered the standard of care for treating schizophrenia. Additionally, in clinical studies lurasidone was shown to be effective …
Read More »Oral pyridostigmine bromide (Mestinon): Side effects, Dosage
What is oral pyridostigmine? What are the uses for oral pyridostigmine? Pyridostigmine (Mestinon) is an oral cholinesterase inhibitor. Acetylcholine is one of many neurotransmitters in our bodies. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that help our cells communicate with each other. Depending on the organ that it acts upon, acetylcholine produces different effects. One important function of acetylcholine is to produce muscle contractions …
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