Why is Actos (pioglitazone) prescribed to patients? Actos is used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults. It is used along with a healthy diabetic diet, regular exercise, weight control, smoking reduction, and careful monitoring of blood glucose. Actos may be used alone or in combination with metformin (Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Glumetza, Fortamet, …
Read More »
What is fluvoxamine, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Fluvoxamine is a drug that is used for treating several psychiatric disorders. It is a member of the class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a class that also includes fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and paroxetine (Paxil). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors affect neurotransmitters, chemicals that nerves in …
Read More »
What is nifedipine? Nifedipine belongs to a class of medications called calcium channel blockers (CCBs) that are used to treat angina (heart pain), high blood pressure, and abnormal heart rhythms. Why is nifedipine prescribed to patients? Nifedipine is used for the treatment and prevention of angina resulting from either an increased workload on the heart (as with exercise) or spasm …
Read More »
What brand names are available for silver sulfadiazine? Silvadene, SSD, SSD AF, Thermazene Is silver sulfadiazine available as a generic drug? GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes Do I need a prescription for silver sulfadiazine? Yes What are the uses for silver sulfadiazine? Silver sulfadiazine is applied to the skin to treat and prevent wound infections associated with second or third degree burns. …
Read More »
What is colestipol, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Colestipol is an oral cholesterol-lowering drug that is not absorbed from the intestine into the body. Rather, it works by binding to bile acids in the intestine and promoting the elimination of bile acids in the stool. Bile acids are formed in the liver from cholesterol, secreted into bile …
Read More »
What brand names are available for guaifenesin? Diabetic Tussin, Geri-Tussin, Robitussin, Fenesin IR, Mucinex, Mucosa, Mucus Relief, Mucus ER Is guaifenesin available as a generic drug? GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes Do I need a prescription for guaifenesin? No What are the uses for guaifenesin? Guaifenesin is used for the treatment of cough associated with colds and minor upper respiratory tract infections …
Read More »
What is tizanidine-oral, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Tizanidine is a skeletal muscle relaxant. It works on alpha2 receptors in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and blocks nerve impulses from reaching muscles which produces muscle relaxation. The FDA approved tizanidine in November 1996. What brand names are available for tizanidine-oral? Zanaflex Is tizanidine-oral available …
Read More »
What is lactulose, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Lactulose is a man-made sugar that contains two naturally occurring sugars, galactose and fructose. It is not digested in the intestine like other sugars so that it reaches the colon where bacteria digest it and thereby alter the composition of the stool. Lactulose is used as a laxative to …
Read More »
What is methylprednisolone, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Methylprednisolone family of products include methylprednisolone, methylprednisolone acetate (Medrol, Depo-medrol), and methylprednisolone sodium acetate (Solu-medrol). They will be called methylprednisolone in this monograph. They are synthetic (man-made) corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are naturally-occurring chemicals produced by the adrenal glands located adjacent to the kidneys. Corticosteroids affect metabolism in various ways and …
Read More »
What are fibrates? Fibric acid derivatives (fibrates) are a class of medication that lowers blood triglyceride levels. Fibrates lower blood triglyceride levels by reducing the liver‘s production of VLDL (the triglyceride-carrying particle that circulates in the blood) and by speeding up the removal of triglycerides from the blood. Fibrates also are modestly effective in increasing blood HDL cholesterol levels; however, …
Read More »