What is Ramsay Hunt syndrome? What causes it? Ramsay Hunt syndrome (also termed Hunt's Syndrome and herpes zoster oticus) is a herpes zoster virus infection of the geniculate ganglion of the facial nerve. It is caused by reactivation of herpes zoster virus that has previously caused chickenpox in the patient. Ramsay Hunt syndrome results in …
Read More »Subsys (fentanyl) Pain Medication: Side Effects, Dosage, & Warnings
What is Subsys, and how does it work? Subsys is: A strong prescription pain medicine that contains an opioid (narcotic) that is used to manage breakthrough pain in adults (18 years of age and older) with cancer who are already routinely taking other opioid pain medicines around-the-clock for cancer pain. Subsys is started only after you have been taking other …
Read More »Sogroya (somapacitan-beco) Human Growth Hormone: Side Effects & Dosage
What is Sogroya, and how does it work? Sogroya is indicated for the replacement of endogenous growth hormone (GH) in adults with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Sogroya is a prescription medicine that contains human growth hormone, the same growth hormone made by the human body. Sogroya is given by injection under the skin (subcutaneous) and is used to treat adults …
Read More »Pravachol (pravastatin) for Cholesterol Treatment: Dosage & Interactions
What is Pravachol, and how does it work? Pravachol is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of high cholesterol, to lower blood levels of “bad” cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein or LDL), to increase levels of "good" cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL) and to lower triglycerides. Pravachol may be used alone or with other medications. Pravachol belongs to a class …
Read More »Palynziq (pegvaliase-pqpz): PKU Drug Side Effects & Enrollment Program
What is Palynziq (pegvaliase-pqpz), and how does it work? Palynziq (pegvaliase-pqpz) is a prescription medicine used to lower blood levels of phenylalanine in adults with PKU (phenylketonuria) who have uncontrolled blood phenylalanine levels above 600 micromol/L (10 mg/dL) on their current treatment. It is not known if Palynziq is safe and effective in children. Palynziq is only available through a …
Read More »Keytruda (pembrolizumab): Cancer Chemo Drug Uses & Side Effects
What is Keytruda (pembrolizumab), and how does it work? Keytruda is a prescription medicine used to treat: a kind of skin cancer called melanoma. Keytruda may be used: when your melanoma has spread or cannot be removed by surgery (advanced melanoma), or to help prevent melanoma from coming back after it and lymph nodes that contain cancer have been removed …
Read More »Livalo (pitavastatin) Cholesterol Medication Side Effects & Dosage
What is Livalo, and how does it work? Livalo (pitavastatin) is a statin drug used to improve blood cholesterol levels in persons with elevated or abnormal blood cholesterol levels. Livalo is indicated as an adjunctive therapy to diet in: Adult patients with primary hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia to reduce elevated total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein B (Apo …
Read More »Lampit (nifurtimox): Anti-parasite Treatment for Children
What is Lampit (nifurtimox), and how does it work? Lampit is a prescription medicine used to treat Chagas disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi in children less than 18 years of age weighing at least 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg). It is not known if Lampit is safe and effective in children weighing less than 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg). What …
Read More »Azor (amlodipine & olmesartan medoxomil) for Hypertension
What is Azor (amlodipine and olmesartan medoxomil), and how does it work? Azor is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, alone or with other antihypertensive agents, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. These benefits have been seen in controlled trials of antihypertensive drugs from a …
Read More »Alkindi Sprinkle (hydrocortisone) for Adrenal Insufficiency
What is Alkindi Sprinkle (hydrocortisone), and how does it work? Alkindi Sprinkle contains a drug called hydrocortisone. Hydrocortisone belongs to a group of medicines known as corticosteroids. Hydrocortisone is a synthetic version of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is made naturally by the adrenal glands in the body. Alkindi Sprinkle is a prescription medicine that contains hydrocortisone also called a corticosteroid. …
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