What is diflunisal? What is diflunisal used for? Diflunisal is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is effective in treating fever, pain, and inflammation in the body. Other members of this class include ibuprofen (Motrin), indomethacin (Indocin), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, Aleve) and several others. These drugs are used for the management of mild …
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What is glipizide, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Glipizide is an oral drug that is used for treating patients with type 2 diabetes. It belongs to the sulfonylurea class of drugs which also includes glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase), tolbutamide and tolazamide. Insulin is a hormone that is made in the pancreas that when released into the …
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What is propranolol? What are the uses for propranolol? Propranolol is a beta-adrenergic blocking agent that is used for treating high blood pressure, heart pain (angina), abnormal rhythms of the heart, and some neurologic conditions. Examples of other beta-adrenergic blockers include metoprolol (Lopressor), atenolol (Tenormin), and timolol (Blocadren). Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are produced and released by nerves in order …
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What is Gardasil Vaccine (HPV), and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Gardasil is a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Gardasil is a sterile preparation for intramuscular injection and contains purified inactive proteins from HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18. The proteins in Gardasil are structural, virus-like proteins (VLP) that resemble the HPV virus. The proteins can activate the …
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What is metformin and sitagliptin? What is Janumet used for? Janumet is a combination of two drugs, metformin and sitagliptin, that are used for reducing blood glucose (sugar) levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes. The FDA approved Janumet in March 2007. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. It limits blood glucose levels by reducing the amount of …
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What is fluoxetine? What are the uses for fluoxetine? Fluoxetine is an oral drug that is used primarily for treating depression. Fluoxetine is also used to treat depression, bulimia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). It is also prescribed in combination with olanzapine (Zyprexa) to treat resistant depression and depression associated with bipolar disorder. Fluoxetine is …
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What is cimetidine, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Cimetidine is a drug that blocks the production of acid by acid-producing cells in the stomach and can be administered orally, IM or IV. It belongs to a class of drugs called H2 (histamine-2) blockers that also includes ranitidine (Zantac), nizatidine (Axid), and famotidine (Pepcid). Histamine is a naturally-occurring …
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What is diclofenac, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Diclofenac belongs to a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are used for the treatment of mild to moderate pain, fever, and inflammation. Other members of this class include ibuprofen (Motrin), indomethacin (Indocin), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve) and several others. NSAIDs work by reducing the production …
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What is lamotrigine, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Lamotrigine is an oral drug that is used primarily for treating seizures. It is chemically unrelated to other anti-seizure drugs. The precise mechanism by which lamotrigine exerts its anti-seizure action is not known. The FDA approved lamotrigine in December 1974. What brand names are available for lamotrigine? Lamictal, Lamictal …
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What is oral passion flower (Passiflora incarnata)? What are the uses for oral passion flower? Passion flower is a plant used for making medicine to treat several conditions. Passion flower may have effects that are similar to benzodiazepines (for example diazepam [Valium]) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors or MAOIs (for example, selegiline). Passion flower has calming, sleep inducing, and muscle spasm …
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