What is Dymista? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Dymista is a prescription nasal spray used to treat symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis (inflammation of the lining of the nose) such as runny nose, stuffy nose, itching, and sneezing. Dymista contains two medicines, azelastine hydrochloride and fluticasone propionate, which are also available individually as nasal sprays. In Dymista, azelastine...
Calcium Salts (Cal-Citrate, Rolaids, Tums) Side Effects, Uses
What are calcium salts? How do calcium salts work? Calcium is an important mineral required for the proper functioning of many organs and tissues. Calcium is needed for the heart, skeletal muscles, and nervous system to work properly. Additionally, calcium plays an important role in blood coagulation (stops bleeding). Our bones store calcium which can be released depending on our...
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) facts HIV is the blood-borne virus that causes AIDS. AIDS stands for "acquired immunodeficiency syndrome." AIDS is an advanced stage of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV usually spreads from person to person through contact with infected sexual secretions or blood. People with AIDS have weakened immune systems that make them vulnerable to medical...
Is Balanitis Contagious? Treatment, Cure, Cream, Causes
What is balanitis? Readers Comments 3 Share Your Story You can get balanitis from STDs. Balanitis is an inflammation of the head of the penis and/or foreskin that surrounds the head of the penis in uncircumcised men. However, not everyone agrees with this definition. For example, some consider balanitis as only inflammation of the penis head while inflammation of the...
Avandamet (rosiglitazone/metformin) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What brand names are available for rosiglitazone/metformin? Avandamet Is rosiglitazone/metformin available as a generic drug? Yes Do I need a prescription for rosiglitazone/metformin? Yes What are the uses for rosiglitazone/metformin? Avandamet is used with diet and exercise to improve blood glucose control in adult patients with type 2 diabetes. What are the side effects of rosiglitazone/metformin? The most common side...
sonidegib (Odomzo): Skin Cancer Drug Side Effects & Dosage
What is sonidegib? What is sonigegib used for? Odomzo (sonidegib) is an oral medication used to treat a type of skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma. Sonidegib is an inhibitor of the hedgehog biological signaling pathway, a pathway that promotes the growth of both normal and cancer cells. Sonidegib binds to and inhibits smoothened, a protein involved in hedgehog signaling....
Orkambi (lumacaftor & ivacaftor): Cystic Fibrosis Drug Side Effects & Dosage
What is Orkambi? What is Orkambi used for? Orkambi is a combination of two drugs, lumacaftor and ivacaftor (Kalydeco) and is used for treating cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease that affects the secretory glands, including the mucus and sweat glands. Cystic fibrosis mostly affects the lungs, pancreas, liver, intestines, sinuses, and sex organs. Cystic fibrosis is...
hyaluronate/hyaluronan (Hyalgan, Supartz, Euflexxa, Orthovisc) Osteoarthritis Drug Side Effects
What is hyaluronate injection, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Hyaluronic acid is a natural chemical that is found in almost all species of animal and in various parts of the human body. It works as a biological lubricant, reducing friction between adjacent tissues. It is present in high amounts in joints and synovial fluid (the fluid that...
raltegravir (Isentress): Drug Facts, Side Effects & Dosage
What is raltegravir, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Raltegravir (Isentress) is an antiretroviral medicine approved for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Raltegravir is an integrase inhibitor similar to elvitegravir (Vitekta) and dolutegravir (Tivicay). Raltegravir slows the spread of HIV infection by blocking the HIV integrase enzyme required for virus multiplication. To improve the chance...
Harvoni (ledipasvir & sofosbuvir): Hep C Drug Side Effects
What is Harvoni? What is Harvoni used for? Harvoni is an oral tablet containing two drugs used for the treatment of chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), genotype 1 in adults. The components belong to a class of drugs called direct-acting antiviral agents. Similar drugs include boceprevir (Victrelis), sofosbuvir (Sovaldi), simeprevir (Olysio), telaprevir (Incivek), and Viekira Pak (ombitasvir,...