What is daclizumab, and how does it work? Daclizumab (Zinbryta) is an injectable medication used for treating multiple sclerosis (MS). Its mechanism of action is not completely understood. Available data suggests that it may work by modifying immune processes that may be responsible for causing MS by interfering with the activation of lymphocytes (a type …
Read More »bepridil (Vascor): Angina Drug Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What are the uses for bepridil? Bepridil is prescribed for patients with angina pectoris (heart pain) due to coronary artery disease. Vascor (bepridil hydrochloride) is indicated for the treatment of chronic stable angina (classic effort-associated angina). Because Vascor (bepridil) has caused serious ventricular arrhythmias, including torsades de pointes type ventricular tachycardia, and the occurrence of cases of agranulocytosis associated with its use (see WARNINGS), it should …
Read More »altretamine (Hexalen): Cancer Drug Side Effects & Dosage
What is altretamine, and what is it used for? Altretamine is an oral drug that is used to treat ovarian cancer. The precise mechanism by which altretamine exerts its anti-cancer effect is unknown. It was approved by the FDA in 1990. What brand names are available for altretamine? Hexalen Is altretamine available as a generic drug? No. Do I need …
Read More »abacavir, lamivudine, zidovudine (Trizivir) Side Effects & Dosage
What is abacavir, lamivudine, zidovudine, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Trizivir is a combination oral medication that is used for treating infections with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Trizivir contains abacavir (Ziagen), lamivudine (Epivir) and zidovudine (Retrovir), which are three different anti-HIV drugs with different mechanisms of action. Anti-HIV drugs are often used in combination to increase …
Read More »Infliximab-dyyb injection (Inflectra): IBD Drug Side Effects & Dosage
What is infliximab-dyyb, and how does it work? Infliximab-dyyb is an antibody administered intravenously and is used for treating several chronic inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's disease, psoriatic arthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis. It is a biosimilar version of the biologic drug, infliximab (Remicade). Biologic drugs are drugs that are produced by natural, biologic processes, for example, within cells. A biosimilar …
Read More »dornase alpha (Pulmozyme): Cystic Fibrosis Drug Side Effects & Dosage
What is dornase alpha, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Dornase alpha is an inhaled drug for treating cystic fibrosis, a lung disease which is the most common fatal genetic disease in developed countries. The lungs continually secrete fluid into the airways to keep them moist. In cystic fibrosis, the fluid becomes thick because the amount of water …
Read More »delavirdine (Rescriptor): HIV Drug Side Effects & Dosage
What is delavirdine, and what is it used for? Delavirdine is an oral medication that is used for the treatment of infections with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It is similar to efavirenz (Sustiva) and nevirapine (Viramune). Delavirdine is in a class of drugs called reverse transcriptase inhibitors which also includes zalcitabine (Hivid), zidovudine (Retrovir), didanosine (Videx), and lamivudine (Epivir). …
Read More »daclatasvir (Daklinza): Hep C Drug Side Effects & Dosage
What is daclatasvir (Daklinza)? Daclatasvir (Daklinza) is an oral tablet used for the treatment of chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), genotype 1 or 3. It belongs to a class of drugs called direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs). Similar drugs include: boceprevir (Victrelis) sofosbuvir (Sovaldi) simeprevir (Olysio) telaprevir (Incivek) Viekira Pak (ombitasvir, paritaprevir, ritonavir, dasabuvir) ledipasvir and sofosbuvir (Harvoni) …
Read More »enalapril & hydrochlorothiazide (Vaseretic) Side Effects & Dosage
What is enalapril and hydrochlorothiazide, and what is it used for? Vaseretic is a combination of enalapril and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and is used for treating high blood pressure (hypertension). It is in a class of drugs called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. ACE is an enzyme in the body that causes the formation of angiotensin II. Angiotensin II causes the …
Read More »captopril & hydrochlorothiazide (Capozide) Side Effects & Dosage
What is captopril and hydrochlorothiazide, and what is it used for? Capozide is a combination of captopril (Capoten) and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and a diuretic (water pill), respectively, and is used in the treatment of high blood pressure. ACE is an enzyme in the body that causes the formation of angiotensin II. Angiotensin II causes …
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