What are fibrates? Fibric acid derivatives (fibrates) are a class of medication that lowers blood triglyceride levels. Fibrates lower blood triglyceride levels by reducing the liver‘s production of VLDL (the triglyceride-carrying particle that circulates in the blood) and by speeding up the removal of triglycerides from the blood. Fibrates also are modestly effective in increasing blood HDL cholesterol levels; however,...
methylprednisolone (Medrol) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is methylprednisolone, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Methylprednisolone family of products include methylprednisolone, methylprednisolone acetate (Medrol, Depo-medrol), and methylprednisolone sodium acetate (Solu-medrol). They will be called methylprednisolone in this monograph. They are synthetic (man-made) corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are naturally-occurring chemicals produced by the adrenal glands located adjacent to the kidneys. Corticosteroids affect metabolism in various ways and...
Ginkgo Biloba Supplement Benefits, Side Effects & Dosage
What brand names are available for ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)-oral? Fossil Tree, Kew Tree, Silver Apricot Is ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)-oral available as a generic drug? GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes Do I need a prescription for ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)-oral? No What are the uses for ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)-oral? Ginkgo biloba is used for memory improvement, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, multiple sclerosis, tinnitus (ringing...
sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim) Side Effects & Dosage
What is sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Bactrim is a combination of two synthetic (man-made) antibiotics, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. Both drugs reduce the ability of some bacteria to utilize folic acid for growing. Sulfamethoxazole is an anti-bacterial sulfonamide, a "sulfa" drug. It disrupts the production of dihydrofolic acid while trimethoprim disrupts the production of...
Amlodipine (Norvasc) Side Effects, Dosage & Interactions
What is amlodipine besylate (Norvasc)? Amlodipine belongs to a class of medications called calcium channel blockers (CCBs). Why is amlodipine besylate (Norvasc) prescribed to patients? Chest pain or heart pain (angina) occurs because of insufficient oxygen delivered to the heart muscles. Insufficient oxygen may be a result of coronary artery blockage or spasm, or because of exertion which increases the...
phenazopyridine (Pyridium) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is phenazopyridine-oral, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Phenazopyridine is an oral urinary analgesic (pain relieving medication). It is available over-the-counter (without a prescription or OTC) in lower strengths, and with a prescription for higher strengths. It is used commonly to treat symptoms of pain, burning, urgency, frequency, and other symptoms associated with lower urinary tract infections...
Lactulose Laxative (Enulose, Generlac) Side Effects & Dosage
What is lactulose, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Lactulose is a man-made sugar that contains two naturally occurring sugars, galactose and fructose. It is not digested in the intestine like other sugars so that it reaches the colon where bacteria digest it and thereby alter the composition of the stool. Lactulose is used as a laxative to...
Phentermine (Adipex-P) Weight Loss Drug Side Effects & Dosage
What is phentermine? Phentermine is a drug that suppresses appetite. Why is phentermine prescribed to patients? Phentermine is combined with diet and exercise for the short-term treatment of obesity in individuals with a body mass index greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 or greater than or equal to 27 kg/m2 with risk factors for heart disease. Phentermine should not...
Tight Hips: 4 Easy Tight Hip Flexors Stretches, Symptoms & Causes
What Are Hip Flexors? Hip flexor stretches can help your hip muscles stay loose and prevent pain and injury. If your hips are sore or you have lower back pain, tight hip flexors may be to blame. Hip flexors are a group of muscles that help your hips and lower body move. If those muscles get tight, they can cause...
20 Simponi (golimumab) Side Effects, Dosage, RA
What is Simponi (golimumab)? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Golimumab is an injectable synthetic (man-made) protein that binds to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) in the body and blocks the effects of TNFα in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis. As a result, the inflammation caused by these diseases and its consequences are reduced. Adalimumab...