What is interferon beta-1b (Betaseron, Extavia), and how is it used? Betaseron (interferon beta-1b) is indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis to reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations. Patients with multiple sclerosis in whom efficacy has been demonstrated include patients who have experienced a first clinical episode and have MRI features consistent with multiple sclerosis What...
Percocet vs. Lortab for Pain: Side Effects & Strength Comparison
Percocet (oxycodone/acetaminophen) vs. Lortab (hydrocodone/acetaminophen) review Percocet and Lortab are combination prescription medications used to manage moderate to severe pain. Percocet is a combination of oxycodone (a narcotic pain reliever) and acetaminophen (a non-narcotic pain reliever and fever reducer). Lortab is a combination of hydrocodone (a narcotic pain reliever) and acetaminophen used to relieve mild to moderate pain, fever, inflammation,...
Infliximab-dyyb injection (Inflectra): IBD Drug Side Effects & Dosage
What is infliximab-dyyb, and how does it work? Infliximab-dyyb is an antibody administered intravenously and is used for treating several chronic inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's disease, psoriatic arthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis. It is a biosimilar version of the biologic drug, infliximab (Remicade). Biologic drugs are drugs that are produced by natural, biologic processes, for example, within cells. A biosimilar...
Losartan vs. Valsartan (Differences between Side Effects and Uses)
Losartan vs. valsartan differences and similarities Losartan and valsartan are angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) that work by blocking angiotensin II that causes blood vessels to constrict. This causes blood vessels to dilate which helps reduce blood pressure and the workload on the heart. Both losartan and valsartan are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Losartan is also used to...
isosorbide mononitrate: Angina Drug Side Effects, Dosage & Uses
What is isosorbide mononitrate, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Isosorbide mononitrate is in the class of drugs called nitrates that are used for treating and preventing angina. Other nitrates include nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, NitroQuick, Nitrolingual, Nitro-Dur and others) and isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil Titradose, Dilatrate-SR, Isochron). Nitrates are vasodilators (dilators of blood vessels). Blood returning from the body in...
lenalidomide (Revlimid): Cancer Drug Side Effects & Dosage
What is lenalidomide (Revlimid)? What is lenalidomide used for? Lenalidomide (Revlimid) is an oral anti-cancer medication. Lenalidomide is similar to thalidomide (Thalomid), an older cancer medicine that, although effective, was associated with serious side effects. The exact mechanism through which lenalidomide stops the growth of cancer cells is not understood. Lenalidomide stimulates or regulates the body’s immune system to attack...
Lorbrena (lorlatinib): Lung Cancer Drug Side Effects & Warnings
Generic drug: lorlatinib Brand name: Lorbrena What is Lorbrena (lorlatinib), and how does it work? Lorbrena (lorlatinib) is a prescription medicine that is used to treat people with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that is caused by an abnormal anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene and, that has spread to other parts of your body and, who have taken the medicine...
Lexapro (escitalopram) vs. Xanax (alprazolam) for Anxiety & Depression
What’s the difference between Lexapro and Xanax? Lexapro (escitalopram) and Xanax (alprazolam) are used to treat anxiety disorders. Lexapro is also used to treat depression. Xanax is also used to treat panic attacks. Lexapro and Xanax belong to different drug classes. Lexapro is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and Xanax is a benzodiazepine. Side effects of Lexapro and Xanax...
nalbuphine (Nubain): Opioid Side Effects, Addiction & Withdrawal
What is nalbuphine, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Nalbuphine is a man-made opioid (narcotic) painkiller. Nalbuphine provides pain relief in a similar way as morphine (MS Contin), oxycodone (Oxycontin), and other narcotic analgesics. Narcotic painkillers stimulate the brain to increase the threshold to pain (the amount of stimulation it takes to feel pain) and reduce the perception...
Neulasta (pegfilgrastim): Side Effects, Interactions, Warnings
Generic drug: pegfilgrastim Brand name: Neulasta What is Neulasta (pegfilgrastim), and how does it work? Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) is a colony-stimulating factor, a man-made form of a protein that stimulates the growth of white blood cells, used to decrease the incidence of infection, by treating neutropenia, a lack of certain white blood cells caused by receiving cancer chemotherapy. What are the...