Tag Archives: breast cancer

Viramune, Viramune XR (nevirapine): Drug Facts, Side Effects & Dosage

What is nevirapine, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Nevirapine is an oral medication that is used for the treatment of infections with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It is in a class of drugs called reverse transcriptase inhibitors that also includes zalcitabine (Hivid), zidovudine (Retrovir), didanosine (Videx), and lamivudine (Epivir). It is …

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gefitinib (Iressa Discontinued in US): Drug Facts, Side Effects, Dosage

What is gefitinib, and how does it work? What are the uses for gefitinib? Gefitinib is a drug that is used to treat several types of lung cancer. It works by preventing lung cancer cells from growing and multiplying. Many cells, including cancer cells, have receptors on their surfaces for epidermal growth factor (EGF), a protein that is normally produced …

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tolmetin, Tolectin (Discontinued Brand): NSAID Side Effects & Dosage

What is tolmetin, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Tolmetin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is effective in treating fever, pain, and inflammation in the body. It is similar to ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil), naproxen (Naprosyn), and others. As a group, NSAIDs are non-narcotic relievers of mild to moderate pain of many causes, including injury, menstrual …

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niacin and lovastatin (Advicor): Drug Facts, Side Effects and Dosage

What is niacin and lovastatin, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Advicor is an oral drug that is used for lowering cholesterol levels in the blood. It is a combination of extended-release niacin and lovastatin. It reduces blood levels of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides and increases blood levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) …

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Sustiva (Generic: Efavirenz) HIV Drug Facts, Side Effects & Dosage

What is efavirenz, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Efavirenz is an oral medication that is used for the treatment of infections associated with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Efavirenz is in a class of drugs called reverse transcriptase inhibitors, which also includes zalcitabine (Hivid), zidovudine (Retrovir), didanosine (Videx), and lamivudine (Epivir). It is in a subclass of …

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Migraines and Seizures (Migralepsy) Auras, Symptoms & Medication

Migraine and seizure definitions, auras, symptoms, and signs Readers Comments 6 Share Your Story Migraines and seizures have similar symptoms and signs. A migraine is a collection of neurological symptoms that usually includes a severe and throbbing headache. A seizure is a change in the brain’s electrical activity that may affect how a person acts or what they do for …

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What Is Stillbirth? Stillborn Babies, vs Miscarriage, Causes & Symptoms

What does stillborn mean? Stillbirth statistics Share Your Story What is stillbirth vs. miscarriage? Can you have a healthy pregnancy after stillborn baby? Stillborn (stillbirth) means the death of a baby prior to birth. This can occur before or during delivery of the baby. About 1% of pregnancies overall result in stillbirth, meaning that there are about 24,000 stillbirths each …

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Synarel (nafarelin): Endometriosis Drug Facts, Side Effects, Dosage

What is nafarelin, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Nafarelin is a synthetic (man-made) protein that blocks the effects of the natural gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), a hormone that regulates the output of gonadotropins (a class of hormones) by the pituitary gland (a small gland located at the base of the brain). Gonadotropins (follicle stimulating hormone or FSH and …

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peginterferon beta-1a (Plegridy): MS Drug Side Effects & Dosage

What is Plegridy? What is Plegridy used for? Peginterferon beta-1a (Plegridy) is a protein produced by recombinant DNA technology using genetically engineered Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells into which the human interferon beta genes have been introduced. It is used for treating multiple sclerosis (MS). It differs from interferon beta-1a by having polyethylene glycol attached to the interferon molecules (peglated) that …

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alemtuzumab (Campath): Leukemia Drug Side Effects & Dosage

What is alemtuzumab, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Alemtuzumab is an injectable drug used for the treatment of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). People with CLL have too many of a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes in the blood and bone marrow. Alemtuzumab is an antibody that targets a protein called CD52 that is found …

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