What is promethazine, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Promethazine is a phenothiazine in the same drug class as chlorpromazine (Thorazine) and trifluoperazine (Stelazine). However, unlike the other drugs in this class, promethazine is not used as an anti-psychotic. It used as an anti-histamine, sedative, and antiemetic (anti-nausea). The body releases histamine during …
Read More »
Nitrofurantoin vs. Bactrim: What’s the difference? Nitrofurantoin and Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) are antibiotics used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs). Bactrim is also used to treat other types of bacterial infections including flares of chronic bronchitis due to bacteria, middle ear infections, for prevention of infections due to pneumococcus in organ transplant recipients, for the treatment or prevention of …
Read More »
Nitrofurantoin vs. Cephalexin: What’s the difference? Nitrofurantoin and cephalexin are antibiotics used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs). Cephalexin is also used to treat middle ear infections (otitis media), tonsillitis, throat infections, laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, skin infections, and bone infections. Brand names of nitrofurantoin include Macrobid, Macrodantin, and Furadantin. Brand names of cephalexin include Keflex and Daxbia. Side effects of …
Read More »
Nitrofurantoin vs. Ciprofloxacin: What’s the difference? Nitrofurantoin and ciprofloxacin (Cipro) are antibiotics used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs). Ciprofloxacin is also used to treat other bacterial infections including infections of the skin, lungs or airways, bones, and joints, infectious diarrheas, anthrax patients with fever and low white blood cell counts and intra-abdominal infections, typhoid fever, cervical and urethral gonorrhea, …
Read More »
Nitrofurantoin vs. amoxicillin: What’s the difference? Nitrofurantoin and amoxicillin are antibiotics used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs). Amoxicillin is also used to treat bacterial infections of the middle ear, tonsils, throat, larynx (laryngitis), bronchi (bronchitis), lungs (pneumonia), and skin. It is also used to treat gonorrhea. Brand names of nitrofurantoin include Macrobid, Macrodantin, and Furadantin. A brand name of …
Read More »
Zoloft (sertraline) vs. Wellbutrin (bupropion): What’s the difference? Zoloft (sertraline) and Wellbutrin (bupropion) are antidepressants used to treat depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Zoloft is also used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Wellbutrin is also used to treat seasonal affective disorder. Off-label uses for Wellbutrin include anxiety, attention deficit …
Read More »
Dilaudid vs. morphine Dilaudid (hydromorphone hydrochloride) and morphine are both opioid narcotic pain relievers. Both Dilaudid and morphine are available as generic drugs. Dilaudid is a brand name for hydromorphone. Brand names of morphine include Astramorph, Duramorph, Infumorph, and Avinza. Side effects of both Dilaudid and morphine are similar and include nausea, vomiting, constipation, itching, drowsiness, and dizziness. Dialudid may …
Read More »
What is sulfamethoxazole, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Sulfamethoxazole is an anti- bacterial sulfonamide. It prevents the formation of dihydrofolic acid, a compound that bacteria must be able to make in order to survive. Although it was once a very useful antibiotic, it is almost obsolete as a single agent today due to the development of bacterial …
Read More »
Zoloft (sertraline) vs. Prozac (fluoxetine): What’s the difference? Zoloft (sertraline) and Prozac (fluoxetine) are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) type antidepressants used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Zoloft is also used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social anxiety disorder. Prozac is also used to treat bulimia, and it is also …
Read More »
Sertraline (Zoloft) vs. Venlafaxine (Effexor): What’s the difference? Sertraline (Zoloft) and venlafaxine (Effexor) are antidepressants used to treat depression, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. Sertraline is also used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Sertraline and venlafaxine belong to different classes of antidepressants. Sertraline is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) …
Read More »