What is glyburide/metformin tablets, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Glucovance (glyburide/metformin) is a combination antidiabetic medication containing glyburide and metformin. Glucovance is used to improve blood glucose (sugar) control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Glyburide is a second generation oral sulfonylurea. It helps to lower blood glucose by stimulating the release of insulin, the hormone...
Idarucizumab (Praxbind) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is idarucizumab, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Dabigatran prevents blood clots by binding to thrombin and preventing thrombin from combining with other proteins to form a blood clot. Dabigatran increases the risk of bleeding because it reduces the ability of blood to clot. Patients who are taking dabigatran may develop serious or life threatening bleeding or...
Hyaluronic Acid (Restylane): Skin Cream Side Effects & Dosage
What is hyaluronic acid? What is hyaluronic acid used for? Restylane is a gel of hyaluronic acid produced by bacteria and used for treating facial wrinkles and folds. It is classified as a medical device. Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is normally produced by the body; it is what gives skin its volume and fullness. The hyaluronic acid in...
Ketorolac vs. tramadol: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Differences
Ketorolac vs. tramadol: What’s the difference? Ketorolac and tramadol are used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain. Brand names for ketorolac include Acuvail, Acular LS, Omidria, and Sprix. The Toradol brand of ketorolac has been discontinued in the U.S. Brand names for tramadol include Ultram and ConZip. Ketorolac and tramadol belong to different drug classes. Ketorolac is a nonsteroidal...
Keytruda (pembrolizumab): Cancer Chemo Drug Uses & Side Effects
What is Keytruda (pembrolizumab), and how does it work? Keytruda is a prescription medicine used to treat: a kind of skin cancer called melanoma. Keytruda may be used: when your melanoma has spread or cannot be removed by surgery (advanced melanoma), or to help prevent melanoma from coming back after it and lymph nodes that contain cancer have been removed...
Lipitor (atorvastatin) vs. Vytorin (simvastatin & ezetimibe)
Lipitor vs. Vytorin: What’s the difference? Lipitor (atorvastatin) and Vytorin (simvastatin and ezetimibe) are used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. Lipitor and Vytorin contain HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (“statins”). Vytorin also contains another cholesterol-lowering drug. Side effects of Lipitor and Vytorin that are similar include diarrhea and headache. Side effects of Lipitor that are different from Vytorin include constipation,...
Genvoya (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide) for HIV: Dosage, Side Effects & Pregnancy Safety
What is Genvoya (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide) and how is it used? Genvoya is a prescription medicine that is used without other antiviral medicines to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds (25 kg): who have not received anti-HIV-1 medicines in the past, or to replace their current anti-HIV-1 medicines...
Jalyn (dutasteride/tamsulosin) for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
What is Jalyn, and how does it work? Generic drug: dutasteride and tamsulosin hydrochloride Brand name: Jalyn Jalyn (dutasteride and tamsulosin hydrochloride) is a prescription medicine that contains 2 medicines: dutasteride and tamsulosin. Jalyn is used to treat the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate. The 2 medications in Jalyn work in different ways...
lubiprostone (Amitiza): Constipation Drug, Side Effects & Dosage
What is lubiprostone? What is lubiprostone? Lubiprostone is an oral medication used for the treatment of idiopathic (due to an unknown cause) chronic constipation. Chronic constipation most commonly occurs because of slow transit of stool through the colon that allows too much fluid to be removed from the stool, leading to hard or lumpy stools, abdominal pain or discomfort, and...
Lyrica (pregabalin) Side Effects (Weight Gain), Uses & Dosage
What is Lyrica (pregabalin)? Lyrica (pregabalin) is an oral medication that is chemically related to gabapentin (Gralise, Neurontin). It is used for treating pain caused by neurologic diseases such as postherpetic neuralgia as well as seizures. It also is used for treating fibromyalgia. Is Lyrica (pregabalin) available as a generic drug? Yes Do I need a prescription for Lyrica (pregabalin)?...