What is stavudine? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Stavudine 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 which also includes zalcitabine (Hivid), zidovudine (Retrovir), didanosine (Videx), and lamivudine (Epivir). During infection with...
What is thalidomide, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Thalidomide is an oral medication used for treating the skin conditions of leprosy, a disease caused by a parasite, Mycobacterium leprae. The mechanism of action of thalidomide is not well understood. The immune system reaction to Mycobacterium leprae plays an important role in producaing...
What is ticlopidine, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Ticlopidine is an oral drug that inhibits the ability of platelets to clump and form blood clots. It prevents blood clots by binding to the P2Y12 receptor on platelets, preventing adenosine diphosphate (ADP) from activating platelets. It belongs to a class of drugs called...
What is tolazamide? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Tolazamide is used with diet and exercise to reduce blood glucose levels in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Other diabetes drugs are sometimes used in combination with tolazamide if needed. Tolazamides initial effect is to increase beta-cell insulin secretion. Tolazamide causes the pancreas...
What is barrier contraception? Contraception refers to any measures you take to prevent sexual intercourse from resulting in pregnancy. The barrier method of contraception prevents the fertilization of the egg (ovum) by blocking the passage of the sperm into the cervix with a physical device, or by destroying the sperm cell membrane with spermicide. What is the...
Generic drug: generic Brand name: Zelapar What is Zelapar, and how does it work? Zelapar (selegiline hydrochloride) is an enzyme blocker (MAO inhibitor) that works by slowing the breakdown of certain natural substances in the brain (neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin) used together with other medicines to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease. What...
What is Unituxin (dinutuximab), and how does it work? Unituxin (dinutuximab) is indicated, in combination with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and 13-cis-retinoic acid (RA), for the treatment of pediatric patients with high-risk neuroblastoma who achieve at least a partial response to prior firstline multiagent, multimodality therapy. What are the side effects of Unituxin?...
Zoloft (sertraline) vs. Wellbutrin (bupropion): What’s the difference? Zoloft (sertraline) and Wellbutrin (bupropion) are antidepressants used to treat depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Zoloft is also used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Wellbutrin is also used to treat seasonal affective disorder. Off-label uses for...
Generic drug: eculizumab Brand name: Soliris What is Soliris (eculizumab), and how does it work? Soliris (eculizumab) is a prescription medicine called a monoclonal antibody. Soliris is used to treat: patients-with a disease called Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH). adults and children with a disease called atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS). Soliris is not for use...
Generic drug: mechlorethamine Brand name: Valchlor What is Valchlor (mechlorethamine), and how does it work? Valchlor is a prescription medicine used on the skin (topical) to treat people with Stage 1A and 1B mycosis fungoides-type cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, who have received previous skin treatment. It is not known if Valchlor...