Generic drug: amlodipine and celecoxib Brand name: Consensi What is Consensi (amlodipine and celecoxib), and how does it work? Consensi (amlodipine and celecoxib) is a prescription medicine used in adults who need treatment: with amlodipine for high blood pressure (hypertension), to lower blood pressure, and with celecoxib for the management of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis. It is not...
Flonase vs. Nasacort Side Effects, Dosage & Pregnancy Safety
What are the differences between Flonase vs. Nasacort? Flonase (fluticasone) and Nasacort (triamcinolone acetonide) are synthetic steroids of the glucocorticoid class prescribed for the control of symptoms of sneezing, itching, and runny nose caused by seasonal allergies or hay fever. Both Flonase and Nasacort are available over-the-counter (OTC). Side effects of Flonase and Nasacort that are similar include headache, sore...
Codeine for Pain Side Effects, Dosage, Addiction, and Withdrawal
What is codeine? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Codeine is a narcotic pain-reliever and cough suppressant similar to morphine and hydrocodone. Moreover, a small amount of codeine is converted to morphine in the body. The precise mechanism of action of codeine is not known; however, like morphine, codeine binds to receptors in the brain (opioid receptors) that are...
Digoxin vs. dobutamine: Drug Toxicity, Side Effects, Dosages, Uses
Digoxin vs. dobutamine: What’s the difference? Digoxin and dobutamine are used to treat different heart conditions. Digoxin is used for treating adults with mild to moderate congestive heart failure and for treating abnormally rapid atrial rhythms (atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, atrial tachycardia). It also is used for increasing myocardial contractility in pediatric patients with heart failure. Dobutamine is used to...
Viekira Pak: Hepatitis C Drug Side Effects & Dosage
What is Viekira Pak? What is Viekira Pak used for? Viekira Pak is a combination of drugs used to treat patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1. It contains four medicines, dasabuvir, ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir. Viekira Pak belongs to a class of drugs called direct-acting antiviral agents. Similar drugs include boceprevir (Victrelis), sofosbuvir (Sovaldi), simeprevir (Olysio), telaprevir (Incivek),...
Epidiolex (cannabidiol) Medication for Seizures: Side Effects, Addiction & Dosage
What is Epidiolex, and how does it work? Epidiolex is a prescription medicine that is used to treat seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome, or tuberous sclerosis complex in people 1 year of age and older. It is not known if Epidiolex is safe and effective in children under 1 year of age. What are the side effects of...
Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan): Side Effects, Uses & Dosage
What are the uses for sacubitril and valsartan? Entresto is used for reducing the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in patients with chronic heart failure (NYHA Class II-IV). Entresto is combined with other heart failure medications and in place of an ACE inhibitor or other ARBs. What brand names are available for sacubitril and valsartan? Entresto...
cilostazol (Pletal) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is cilostazol, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Cilostazol is a medication for the treatment of intermittent claudication, a condition caused by narrowing of the arteries that supply the legs with blood. Patients with intermittent claudication develop pain when they walk because not enough oxygen-containing blood reaches the active leg muscles. Cilostazol reduces the pain of intermittent...
Beta-Blockers vs. Calcium Channel Blockers: Blood Pressure Drug Class Differences
What is the Difference Between Beta Blockers and Calcium Channel Blockers? Beta blockers and calcium channel blockers are used to treat angina (chest pain), high blood pressure, and abnormal heart rhythms, and to prevent migraine headaches. Examples of beta blockers include acebutolol (Sectral), atenolol (Tenormin), betaxolol (Kerlone, Betoptic S), bisoprolol fumarate (Zebeta), carvedilol (Coreg), esmolol (Brevibloc), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL),...
naloxone (Narcan, Evzio): Drug Side Effects & Dosage
What is naloxone (Narcan)? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Naloxone is a man-made opioid antagonist, which means that it blocks the action of opioid medications such as morphine and related drugs. Naloxone works by binding to mu-receptors in the brain that opioids use to produce their effect on pain and other symptoms. By binding to mu receptors, naloxone...