Drugs-101

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  • a

  • Atherosclerosis is a process in which fats and cholesterol accumulate on the arteries’ walls, limiting blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart, brain, or other organs. The decreased supply may result in heart disease, chest pain, heart attack, or stroke.

  • Abilify is a second-generation antipsychotic drug. Its pharmaceutical name is Aripiprazole. Since it is an anti-psychotic drug that is used for some of the major psychiatric illnesses, it is only available under a certified doctor’s prescription

  • Like any other antipsychotic drug, Abilify is seen to contain its adverse effect profile. Similarly, like every other antipsychotic drug, it has been advised that Abilify should be taken under extreme care and precautions and should never be adjusted by users themselves.  

  • Available for over 70 years, acetaminophen is established as a safe pain killer with mild common side effects. However, when we urgently need something for a pain reliever, we might forget to check if we can use the medication.

  • Available as an over-the-counter (OTC) product, acetaminophen is even more reachable and instills confidence. But, is that safe, so you should not worry about it when using acetaminophen at all?

  • Amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker, is a medication that relaxes the blood vessels and is used to reduce high blood pressure or to treat chest pain (angina).

  • Medications like amlodipine alone or in combination can lower the blood pressure to the normal (120/80 mmHg) or elevated category (<129/80 mmhg). (1) but what about the side effects? how concerning is heart attack when on amlodipine treatment and other possible (3)

  • Amoxicillin is a penicillin-class antibiotic available in the U.S. since 1974. After that, doctors have prescribed amoxicillin to treat infections in different parts of the human body: ear, nose, throat, genitourinary tract, skin, and lower respiratory tract. (1)

  • In this article, you can learn all about the symptoms and causes of UTIs. Keep reading to find out when Amoxicillin is appropriate and the latest recommendations for UTIs treatment and prevention.

  • Anti-inflammatory medications are used in medicine to alleviate the effects of inflammation in some tissues and alleviate uncomfortable symptoms.

  • Aspirin, the white pill old for more than 100 years, has built its popularity as one of the most effective drugs with an anti-inflammatory effect, a painkiller, and an anti-platelet profile at the same time.

  • When the cholesterol levels are high and you cannot manage with diet, your doctor will probably prescribe statins. (1) Nearly 94 million Americans over 20 have above 200 mg/dL total cholesterol levels, and almost 55% are on medications. High cholesterol levels affect children too. (2)

  • b

  • Blood clots can be the cause of stroke, heart attack, and other diseases and are the reason for 100,000 deaths each year. Luckily, medications can save many lives. Blood thinners prevent forming of blood clots, so don’t allow harmful clots to cause life-threatening conditions. (3)

  • This article covers potentially serious bupropion interactions. Keep reading to find out which interactions require stopping using the medication.

  • Bupropion, since 1989, has been available for treating major depressive disorder (MDD) (4, 5). But what about the safety profile? Does bupropion have the same side effects as other drugs for treating depression?

  • c

  • Cephalexin is the antibiotic of choice that effectively treats bacterial respiratory infections, ear infections, or lower urinary tract infections. It is a well-established antibacterial that has been safely used for over 50 years. (1)

  • Cyclobenzaprine relieves pain by relaxing the skeletal muscles without affecting muscle function. It acts within the central nervous system at the brainstem, influencing specific neurons (gamma and alpha motor neurons).

  • d

  • Doxycycline usage is affected by the interactions this antibiotic has with certain medications that result in an efficacy reduction. For example, antacids have a negative impact on doxycycline absorption.

  • Doxycycline, a member of the tetracycline class of antibiotics, is a broad-spectrum bacteriostatic (antibiotic) agent synthesized from oxytetracycline, a naturally occurring tetracycline generated by bacteria of the Streptomyces species (1).

  • This article is about Drug Interaction Checkers, how they work, and the data they use. Find out if any can help your daily practice and save you time.

  • Duloxetine (Cymbalta) belongs to the Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) category of drugs. It is approved by the FDA for treating major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, fibromyalgia, chronic musculoskeletal pain, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. (1)

  • f

  • Studies have shown that anxiety is a more serious health problem than any other in the modern world. Starting from children to adults, everyone faces this problem. This problem is increasing in kids rapidly due to the modern lifestyle.

  • You can start losing weight with regular consumption of these medicines. However, it will not happen overnight. It is a time-consuming process.

  • The shortage of drugs can impact several other departments in the healthcare industry, such as medical procedures, operations, oncology treatments, health outcomes, and many others.

  • It takes years to get FDA approval from the company producing vaccines for general use by the public. The Food and Drug Administration department approves a newly developed vaccine after it completes several approval processes.  

  • Folic acid and folate are usually used interchangeably and as another term for vitamin B9. Yet, there is a difference that impacts the usage in the body.

  • Awareness of side effects helps individuals make informed decisions about their treatment. Moreover, identifying side effects promptly and communicating them to doctors, pharmacists, and health authorities can empower people to improve their care.

  • g

  • Drug interactions may affect either drugs’ availability, elimination, or other pharmacokinetic characteristics and cause negative results consequently. For example, when naproxen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain reliever, is co-administered with gabapentin, it increases the amount of(...)

  • Gabapentin is a well-established anticonvulsant drug that reduces abnormal excitement in the nerve cells in the brain. As a result, gabapentin effectively treats seizures in people with epilepsy and is used to relieve the pain of post-herpetic neuralgia (pain in the skin areas affected by(...)

  • h

  • High blood pressure (hypertension) affects almost 1/3rd Americans. This condition exerts excessive force on the arteries as blood is pumped through them. This causes damage to the blood vessels and the connected organs that are forced to bear excessive stress.

  • i

  • Ibuprofen belongs to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that inhibit two enzymes, cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). COX-1 and COX-2 are involved in the production of prostaglandins (hormone-like chemicals).

  • Although Ivermectin has been around for the treatment of various skin infestations and intestinal parasitic infections for a very long time, it was not until the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world that it suddenly started gaining immense popularity due to some studies showing in vitro activity(...)

  • l

  • Lexapro and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) increase the activity of serotonin in the brain by inhibiting the serotonin reuptake.

  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are frequently prescribed medications for blood pressure regulation; lisinopril is one of them.

  • Lisinopril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and is a proven antihypertensive drug that lowers blood pressure.

  • Before going into details about losartan's side effects, it is helpful to understand how it works and the other health conditions when losartan can be used.

  • m

  • If you have been advised to undergo a fasting blood test by your healthcare provider, you have to avoid eating or drinking anything (except water) for several hours before the blood test.

  • Here is a list of the different medications that may disqualify you from donating blood:

  • While melatonin was formerly only recognized as a hormone that promotes sleep, more recent studies have led to a greater comprehension of the various physiological functions of melatonin in the human body.

  • Pain, stiffness, tenderness, or swelling are some symptoms that might be associated with arthritis. We usually perceive arthritis as a disease that happens to someone else until the symptoms occur. Physical examination, X-rays, and lab tests help the doctor to confirm the diagnosis.

  • Any medication may interact in the body with a medical condition, food, or another medication. Drug-drug interaction may result in changes in the effect of any of the concomitant drugs, either to increase or decrease clinical effects or to increase the risk of possible side effects.

  • Before learning about possible side effects, it is good to know when metformin is recommended. In diabetes type II, the metformin therapeutic goal is to decrease fasting plasma glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels (A1C - the average blood sugar level over the past 2 or 3 months) to(...)

  • Metronidazole is probably known to many women who have suffered from gynecologic infections. This medication, from the class of nitroimidazole antimicrobials, is effective in treating anaerobic bacteria but also protozoa and microaerophilic bacteria that can cause infections of the(...)

  • p

  • When you suffer from too much acid in your stomach or heartburn, pantoprazole may help. This proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) treats conditions when the stomach acid returns and can hurt the esophagus, a disease called gastroesophageal reflux or GERD.

  • Paxlovid, a two-component medication treatment, was authorized only to those with mild to moderate disease at the start of symptoms development and risk for progression, hospitalization, or death. (1)

  • This medication, a combination of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir, has limited safety data due to obtaining authorization for emergency use before completing the studies. Changed sense of taste, diarrhea, muscle pain, or hypertension are side effects reported more frequently.

  • This article explains the most common side effects and the effects that can be serious and need medical consultation or care. Keep reading to learn about prednisolone side effects and when you need to act immediately.

  • s

  • Sertraline is a 30-year-old antidepressant used for treating mood and anxiety disorders. This serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), has also been effectively used for panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or posttraumatic stress disorder.

  • Sertraline is one of the oldest antidepressants, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), a hormone of happiness (3) . As such, sertraline has proven its efficacy in depression treatment over 30 years and in traumatic events, panic disorder, or social anxiety treatment. Yet, side(...)

  • Out of the many contagious viral diseases, shingles is one of the most common diseases that infect individuals at least once during their lifetime. It is a very painful infection and therefore, everyone is better off without having to suffer from it by taking its vaccine when it is indicated.

  • Before taking ibuprofen, how are you sure that ibuprofen is good for you? Aside from the positive and fast effects, have you heard that ibuprofen may cause bleeding in the stomach, stroke, or heart attack? Some side effects that might occur can be serious and even fatal if you take ibuprofen(...)

  • t

  • In this article, you can find all about tramadol contraindications. Read it to find helpful information on when tramadol cannot be used and what you should tell your doctor before prescribing medication for your pain.

  • Tramadol interacts with a long list of medications differently. For example, when tramadol is used with digoxin, digoxin toxicity can rarely occur.

  • Tramadol is a prescription medication used for pain relief. As an opioid analgesic, it is approved for managing severe pain in adults and children older than 12 years when other medicines are inadequate. (1)

  • Trazodone may slow your thinking and motor skills. If it happens to you, you can avoid driving a car or operating dangerous machinery easily until you find out how trazodone works.