What is meclizine? What are the uses for meclizine? Meclizine is an antihistamine with antiemetic (anti-nausea) and antispasmodic (anti-muscle spasm) activity. It also suppresses the nervous system by blocking the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. (Neurotransmitters are chemicals that nerves use for communicating with each other.) Meclizine prevents nausea and vomiting by reducing the activity …
Read More »
What is Mirapex? What is Mirapex used for? Pramipexole (Mirapex) is used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) and restless leg syndrome (RLS). Is Mirapex available as a generic drug? Generics are available for the immediate release tablets. Generics of the extended release tablets are not available. Do I need a prescription for Mirapex? Yes What are the side …
Read More »
What is carbamazepine, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Carbamazepine is an anti-seizure medication. Recurrent seizures (epilepsy) are divided into two main categories according to how much of the brain is involved, either partial or generalized epilepsy (which includes petit mal, grand mal, and myoclonic epilepsy). Seizures are called "simple" if there is no loss of consciousness and …
Read More »
What is topiramate, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Topiramate is an oral drug that is used to prevent the seizures of epilepsy. It is an anti-epileptic or anti-seizure drug. It is used primarily among patients who are not controlled by other anti-epileptic drugs. About 1 in 4 Americans diagnosed with epilepsy has seizures that resist treatment with …
Read More »
What is lidocaine injection (local), and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Lidocaine injection is a local anesthetic. This means that it reduces sensation or pain in the area of the body where it is injected and does not affect other areas. It is similar to bupivacaine (Marcaine), articaine (Zorcaine), and Mepivacaine (Carbocaine). These drugs reduce sensation or pain …
Read More »
What is Dilantin? Phenytoin is an oral and injectable anti-seizure medication first synthesized in 1908. Why is Dilantin prescribed to patients? Phenytoin is an anti-seizure medication (anticonvulsant) used for preventing or treating generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures, complex partial seizures (psychomotor seizures), and seizures occurring during or after neurosurgery. It may be used alone or with phenobarbital or other anticonvulsants. …
Read More »
What is tizanidine-oral, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Tizanidine is a skeletal muscle relaxant. It works on alpha2 receptors in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and blocks nerve impulses from reaching muscles which produces muscle relaxation. The FDA approved tizanidine in November 1996. What brand names are available for tizanidine-oral? Zanaflex Is tizanidine-oral available …
Read More »
What is baclofen, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Baclofen is an oral and injectable medication that relaxes skeletal muscles, the muscles that move the skeleton (and also called striated muscle). Chemically, baclofen is related to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a naturally occurring neurotransmitter in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that nerves use to communicate with one another. GABA …
Read More »
What Is Restless Leg Syndrome? Restless Leg Syndrome is an often uncontrollable urge to twitch and move your legs – especially when sitting or lying down. It isn’t curable and the cause is unclear, but it’s a neurological problem that researchers theorize may result from a lack of iron in the brain or a physiological in processing and using iron. …
Read More »
What should I know about myasthenia gravis?* *This myasthenia gravis section written by Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD What is the medical definition of myasthenia gravis? Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by varying degrees of weakness of the skeletal (voluntary) muscles of the body. The thymus may give incorrect instructions to developing immune cells, ultimately resulting …
Read More »