Lipitor (atorvastatin) vs. Crestor (rosuvastatin): What’s the difference? Lipitor (atorvastatin) and Crestor (rosuvastatin) are HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (“statin” drugs) that lower cholesterol levels in the blood. Lipitor and Crestor are also used to reduce the risk of heart attacks, stroke, and arterial revascularization procedures in patients with multiple risk factors for heart disease. Side effects …
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benazepril (Lotensin) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is benazepril, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Benazepril is an ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitor used for treating high blood pressure. Other ACE inhibitors include enalapril (Vasotec), quinapril (Accupril), captopril (Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), ramipril (Altace), moexipril (Univasc) and trandolapril (Mavik). ACE is an enzyme in the body that causes the formation of angiotensin II. Angiotensin II …
Read More »cilostazol (Pletal) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is cilostazol, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Cilostazol is a medication for the treatment of intermittent claudication, a condition caused by narrowing of the arteries that supply the legs with blood. Patients with intermittent claudication develop pain when they walk because not enough oxygen-containing blood reaches the active leg muscles. Cilostazol reduces the pain of intermittent …
Read More »Heparin Injection Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is heparin, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Heparin is a widely used injectable anticoagulant (stops the formation of blood clots). The blood coagulation system is composed of various steps and heparin acts at multiple sites in this process. Heparin prevents blood clots by blocking the action of two of the 12 clot-promoting proteins in blood (factors …
Read More »dalteparin injection (Fragmin) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is dalteparin injection, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Dalteparin is a low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) similar to enoxaparin (Lovenox) and tinzaparin. Dalteparin is used to treat or prevent blood clots and their complications (deep vein thrombosis or DVT and pulmonary embolism or PE). Deep vein thrombosis is the formation of blood clots in veins deep …
Read More »isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil Titradose) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is isosorbide dinitrate, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Isosorbide dinitrate is in the class of drugs called nitrates, and it is used for treating and preventing angina or heart pain. Other nitrates include nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitroquick, Nitrolingual, Nitro-Dur and others) and isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, Ismo, Monoket). Isosorbide dinitrate is converted in the body to isosorbide mononitrate …
Read More »Propafenone (Rythmol) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What are the uses for propafenone? Propafenone is an anti-arrhythmic agent approved for use in patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, such as ventricular tachycardia. Propafenone is also effective in suppressing the recurrence of atrial fibrillation and supra-ventricular tachycardia once normal sinus rhythm has been restored. Propafenone is at least as effective as any other type I agent in converting atrial …
Read More »Nadolol (Corgard) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is nadolol, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Nadolol is a member of a class of drugs called beta-adrenergic receptor blockers that is used for treating high blood pressure and heart pain (angina). Examples of other beta-adrenergic blockers include propanolol (Inderal, Inderal LA), atenolol (Tenormin), and timolol (Blocadren). Norepinephrine and epinephrine (adrenaline) are chemicals released within the …
Read More »Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is rivaroxaban, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Xarelto is an oral anticoagulant (blood thinner) that is used to prevent and treat blood clots. Blood clots formed in the heart are dangerous since they can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. Similarly, blood clots formed in the legs or lungs can be equally life threatening …
Read More »dopamine (Intropin) Shock Drug: Side Effects, Uses, and Dosage
Is dopamine-injection available as a generic drug? GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes Do I need a prescription for dopamine-injection? Yes What are the uses for dopamine-injection? Dopamine is prescribed to correct hemodynamic status in patients with shock syndrome due to heart attack (myocardial infarction), trauma, open-heart surgery, renal failure, congestive heart failure, and other causes of shock syndrome. This means dopamine may …
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