What are ACE inhibitors, and how do they work (mechanism of action)? Angiotensin II is a very potent chemical produced by the body that primarily circulates in the blood. It causes the muscles surrounding blood vessels to contract, thereby narrowing the vessels. The narrowing of the vessels increases the pressure within the vessels causing increases …
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What is the digestive system? Readers Comments 2 Share Your Story The digestive system involves organs that turn food into energy and eliminate waste. The energy required for all the processes and activities that take place in our bodies is derived from the foods we ingest. The digestive system allows us to utilize food from such diverse sources as meat …
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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 important in nerve conduction, muscle …
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What is methimazole, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Methimazole is used to treat an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). Grave's disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. Grave's disease is an autoimmune disease resulting from antibodies that attach to receptors on thyroid hormone-producing cells in the thyroid gland and trigger overproduction of thyroid hormone. An enzyme (peroxidase) …
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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 is piperacillin/tazobactam sodium injection, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Zosyn is an injectable combination of two antibiotics, piperacillin and tazobactam, with broad spectrum activity against an extended range of bacterial species. Piperacillin is an extended-spectrum penicillin antibiotic, but it can be destroyed by an enzyme produced by bacteria called beta lactamase. Tazobactam inhibits beta lactamase and …
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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 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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