Generic drug: fesoterodine fumarate Brand name: Toviaz What is Toviaz (fesoterodine fumarate), and how does it work? Toviaz (fesoterodine fumarate) is a prescription medicine used in adults to treat symptoms of a condition called overactive bladder, including: Urge urinary incontinence — leaking or wetting accidents due to a strong need to urinate, Urinary urgency — having a strong need to...
Targeted Therapy: What are Invasion and Metastasis in Cancer?
What is targeted cancer therapy? Targeted cancer therapy is a specific method of treatment for cancers, by identifying and targeting the cancer-causing factors (hallmarks) in the particular cancer. Targeted therapy medications do not directly kill the cancer cells, but work on the cellular level to stop their growth and prevent cancer from spreading to other parts of the body. Cancer...
Opium Tincture Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is tincture of opium liquid, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Opium tincture is an oral liquid medication used to control diarrhea. Opium tincture contains morphine which is an opioid pain reliever. Opioids can reduce gastrointestinal motility, propulsion, secretions, and increase gastrointestinal muscle tone. These effects help in controlling diarrhea. Opium tincture is a controlled substance. What...
What Is Intravenous Immunoglobulin Used For?
What is intravenous immunoglobulin? Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) is made up of pooled plasma of more than 1,000 donors. It's used for a variety of conditions. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy is a treatment for people with weakened immune systems. Intravenous immunoglobulins are antibodies prepared from pooled plasma of over 1,000 healthy blood donors. The pooled plasma samples are purified before administration....
Teflaro (ceftaroline fosamil) for Bacterial Pneumonia & Skin Infections
What is Teflaro, and how does it work? Teflaro (ceftaroline fosamil) is a cephalosporin antibiotic used to treat skin infections or pneumonia caused by bacteria. What are the side effects of Teflaro? Common side effects of Teflaro include: nausea vomiting constipation diarrhea dizziness itching Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Teflaro including: watery or bloody diarrhea...
Suprax (cefixime) vs. ofloxacin: Antibiotics Side Effects, Dosage
Suprax (cefixime) vs. ofloxacin: What’s the difference? Suprax and ofloxacin are antibiotics used to treat bronchitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and gonorrhea. Suprax is also used to treat middle ear infections (otitis media), tonsillitis, throat infections (pharyngitis), laryngitis, and acute bacterial bronchitis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Ofloxacin is also used to treat staph infections and...
Valtrex (valacyclovir) vs. Valcyte (valganciclovir): Side Effects, Dosage, Differences
Valtrex (valacyclovir) vs. Valcyte (valganciclovir): What’s the difference? Valtrex (valacyclovir) and Valcyte (valganciclovir) are antiviral drugs used to treat different conditions. Valtrex is used to treat infections with shingles (herpes zoster), genital herpes (herpes simplex genitalis), and cold sores (herpes labialis). Valcyte is used to prevent disease caused by a virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV) in people who have received organ...
Sodium Oxybate (Xyrem): Narcolepsy Drug Side Effects & Dosage
What is sodium oxybate (Xyrem), and how does it work? Limitations of Use Xyrem may only be dispensed to patients enrolled in the Xyrem Success Program Cataplexy in Narcolepsy Xyrem (sodium oxybate) oral solution is indicated for the treatment of cataplexy in narcolepsy. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Narcolepsy Xyrem (sodium oxybate) oral solution is indicated for the treatment of excessive...
Vasodilators Side Effects, List of Names (Prescription, Natural, OTC)
What are vasodilators, and how do they work (mechanism of action)? A vasodilator is a drug that causes vasodilation, a widening (opening) of blood vessels that results from relaxation of the smooth muscle of the vessels. What widens in vasodilation actually is the diameter of the interior (lumen) of the vessel. The opposite of vasodilation is vasoconstriction. This type of...
Bendamustine for Lymphoma & Leukemia: Side Effects & Dosage
Generic drug: bendamustine hydrochloride Brand name: Treanda What is Treanda (bendamustine hydrochloride), and how does it work? Treanda (bendamustine hydrochloride) injection is an antineoplastic (anticancer) medication used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Treanda is also used to treat indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma after other medications have been tried without successful treatment of this condition. What are the side effects of...