What is ursodiol? What are the uses for ursodiol? Ursodiol is a naturally-occurring bile acid that is made by the liver in humans and is secreted in small quantities into bile. It is used to dissolve and prevent cholesterol gallstones and to treat primary biliary cirrhosis, a disease of the liver. Ursodiol blocks the enzyme...
What are bile acid sequestrants? Bile acid sequestrants such as cholestyramine (Questran, Prevalite), colestipol (Colestid, Flavored Colestid ), and colesevelam (Welchol) are medications for lowering LDL cholesterol in conjunction with diet modification. How do bile acid sequestrants work? Bile acid sequestrants bind bile acids in the intestine and increase the excretion of bile acids in...
What is Adderall (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine)? What are the uses of Adderall? Adderall contains amphetamine salts (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine) and is used for treating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Amphetamines stimulate the brain by increasing the level of neurotransmitters, dopamine and norepinephrine, in the brain. (Neurotransmitters are chemicals produced by nerves that are released...
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...
What is amitriptyline, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Amitriptyline is in the class of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and is used for treating depression. Other drugs in the same class include: clomipramine (Anafranil), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), trimipramine (Surmontil), amoxapine (Amoxapine), desipramine (Norpramin), and protriptyline (Vivactil). Individuals with depression may have...
What are calcium channel blockers and how do they work? In order to pump blood, the heart needs oxygen. The harder the heart works, the more oxygen it requires. Angina (heart pain) occurs when the supply of oxygen to the heart is inadequate for the amount of work that the heart must do. By dilating...
What is chlorhexidine gluconate? What are the uses for chlorhexidine gluconate? Chlorhexidine gluconate is an antiseptic and antimicrobial oral rinse. It provides protection against a wide range of bacteria. It kills bacteria by binding to bacteria cell walls. The FDA approved chlorhexidine in August 1986. What brand names are available for chlorhexidine gluconate? Peridex, Periogard,...
What is amiodarone, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Amiodarone is an oral and injectable drug that is used to correct abnormal rhythms of the heart. (It is an antiarrhythmic medication.) Although amiodarone has many side effects, some of which are severe and potentially fatal, it has been successful in treating many arrhythmias...
What is famciclovir? What are the uses for famciclovir? Famciclovir is an antiviral drug which is active against the Herpes viruses, including herpes simplex 1 and 2 (cold sores and genital herpes) and varicella-zoster (shingles and chickenpox). It belongs to a class of drugs called nucleoside analogs that mimic one of the building blocks of...
What is lithium, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Lithium is used for the treatment of manic/depressive (bipolar) and depressive disorders. Lithium is a positively charged element or particle that is similar to sodium and potassium. It interferes at several places inside cells and on the cell surface with other positively charged atoms...