What is a venomous (poisonous) snakebite? Readers Comments 6 Share Your Story A venomous (poisonous) snake bite is a bite or a puncture wound made by a snake that is capable of injecting, secreting, or spitting venom into the penetrated skin wound, mucus membranes or the eyes where the toxin can be absorbed. Worldwide, there...
Hydroxyzine vs. hydralazine: What’s the difference? Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine with anticholinergic (drying) and sedative properties that is used to treat itching caused by various allergic reactions. Hydroxyzine is also used to treat anxiety and tension, to induce sedation prior to or after anesthesia, and to treat nausea, vomiting, and alcohol withdrawal. Hydralazine is used...
What is nifedipine? Nifedipine belongs to a class of medications called calcium channel blockers (CCBs) that are used to treat angina (heart pain), high blood pressure, and abnormal heart rhythms. Why is nifedipine prescribed to patients? Nifedipine is used for the treatment and prevention of angina resulting from either an increased workload on the heart...
What is risedronate, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Risedronate is in a class of drugs called bisphosphonates used for the treatment of Paget's disease of bone (in which the formation of bone is abnormal) and in persons with osteoporosis (in which the density and strength of bones are reduced). Other biphosphonates include...
Why is Actos (pioglitazone) prescribed to patients? Actos is used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults. It is used along with a healthy diabetic diet, regular exercise, weight control, smoking reduction, and careful monitoring of blood glucose. Actos may be used alone or in combination with metformin (Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Glumetza, Fortamet,...
What brand names are available for glimepiride? Amaryl Is glimepiride available as a generic drug? GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes Do I need a prescription for glimepiride? Yes What are the uses for glimepiride? Glimepiride is used for controlling blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes in addition to diet and exercise. Management of blood sugar...
What is cholestyramine, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Cholestyramine is an oral medication that reduces the levels of cholesterol in the blood and improves the itching associated with liver disease. Cholesterol that is ingested or manufactured in the body is eliminated primarily by conversion to bile acids in the liver and excretion...
What is colestipol, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Colestipol is an oral cholesterol-lowering drug that is not absorbed from the intestine into the body. Rather, it works by binding to bile acids in the intestine and promoting the elimination of bile acids in the stool. Bile acids are formed in the liver...
What brand names are available for guaifenesin? Diabetic Tussin, Geri-Tussin, Robitussin, Fenesin IR, Mucinex, Mucosa, Mucus Relief, Mucus ER Is guaifenesin available as a generic drug? GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes Do I need a prescription for guaifenesin? No What are the uses for guaifenesin? Guaifenesin is used for the treatment of cough associated with colds and...
What is famotidine, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Famotidine is an oral drug that blocks the production of acid by acid-producing cells in the stomach. It belongs to a class of drugs called H2 (histamine-2) blockers that also includes cimetidine (Tagamet), nizatidine (Axid), and ranitidine (Zantac). Histamine is a naturally-occurring chemical that...