What are oral potassium supplements, and how do they work (mechanism of action)? Potassium preparations are used for supplementing potassium in order to treat or prevent low potassium levels in the blood (hypokalemia). Potassium is a major mineral (electrolyte) that is important for the function of every cell in the body. For example, it is …
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What is donepezil, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Donepezil is an oral medication used to treat Alzheimer’s disease. It belongs to a class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors that also includes tacrine (Cognex). Scientists believe that Alzheimer’s disease may result from a deficiency in chemicals (neurotransmitters) used by nerves in the brain to communicate with one another. …
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What are tonsil stones? Readers Comments 2 Share Your Story Tonsil stones can form when food, mucus, and bacteria get stuck in craters of the tonsils. The tonsils are lymph nodes located at the back of the throat. Tonsil stones (also called tonsilloliths or tonsil calculi) are small clusters of calcifications or stones that form in the craters (crypts) of …
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Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) facts Share Your Story Back pain and morning stiffness are symptoms of nr-axSpA. Non-radiographic spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) is a type of inflammatory arthritis that affects mainly the joints in the spine. The typical symptoms of nr-axSpA are back pain and morning stiffness. Patients with nr-axSpA do not have abnormalities of the sacroiliac joints on standard X-rays, such …
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What is labetalol, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Labetalol is a drug used for treating high blood pressure and is related to carvedilol (Coreg). Nerves from the adrenergic nervous system travel from the spinal cord to arteries where they release norepinephrine. Norepinephrine attaches to adrenergic receptors on arteries and causes the arteries to contract, narrowing the arteries, …
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What are beta blockers? Beta blockers are a class of drugs that block beta-adrenergic substances such as adrenaline (epinephrine), a key agent in the "sympathetic" portion of the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system and activation of heart muscle. By blocking the action of the involuntary nervous system on the heart, beta blockers slow the heartbeat and relieve stress on the heart. …
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What is lisinopril, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Lisinopril is an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor used for treating high blood pressure, heart failure and for preventing kidney failure due to high blood pressure and diabetes. Other ACE inhibitors include: enalapril (Vasotec) quinapril (Accupril) captopril (Capoten) fosinopril (Monopril) benazepril (Lotensin) ramipril (Altace) moexipril (Univasc) trandolapril (Mavik) ACE …
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Male breast cancer facts Male breast cancer accounts for about 1% of all breast cancers. Male breast cancer is rare and accounts for only about 1% of all breast cancers. Breast cancer risk in men is increased by elevated blood levels of estrogen, previous radiation exposure, and a family history of breast cancer. Mutations in specific genes, including BRCA2 mutations, …
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What is MSM (methylsulfonylmethane ), and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is also called dimethyl sulfone, DMSO2, methyl sulfone, and many other names. MSM is an organic sulfur found in fruits, vegetables, grains, and milk as well as the urine of animals. It is an oxidation product of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and a source of sulfur …
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What is torsemide, and how does it work? Torsemide (Demadex) is a potent drug that's a diuretic (water pill). This medicine causes a profound increase in urine output (diuresis) by preventing the kidney from retaining water. Specifically, it blocks the reabsorption back into the blood of sodium and water that has been filtered out of the blood by the kidneys. …
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