What is esterified estrogens and methyltestosterone, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Esterified estrogens are a mixture of related estrogens. Estrogens, when taken alone or in combination with a progestin, have been shown to reduce the risk for hip fracture due to osteoporosis by 25% as well as the risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction) and stroke by...
Letrozole (Femara) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is letrozole, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Letrozole is an oral, anti-estrogen drug that is used for treating postmenopausal women with breast cancer. The growth of some breast cancers in postmenopausal women is promoted by estrogens that circulate in the blood, and the adrenal glands are the main source of these circulating estrogens. Letrozole inhibits the...
Gentamicin Ointment: Topical Antibiotic Side Effects, Dosage & Uses
What is gentamicin ointment? What is gentamicin used for? Topical gentamicin is a broad-spectrum aminoglycoside antibiotic prescribed to treat a variety of skin infections caused by susceptible bacteria (for example, impetigo, folliculitis, eczema, psoriasis, and minor burns, cuts, or wounds). Is gentamicin available as a generic drug? Yes Do I need a prescription for gentamicin? Yes What are the side...
Doxycycline vs. Keflex (cephalexin)
Doxycycline vs. Keflex: What’s the difference? Doxycycline and Keflex (cephalexin) are antibiotics used to treat many different types of bacterial infections. Brand names for doxycycline include Vibramycin, Oracea, Adoxa, Atridox, Acticlate, Acticlate Cap, Doryx, Doxteric, Doxy, and Monodox. Keflex and Daxbia are brand names for cephalexin. Doxycycline and Keflex are different types of antibiotics. Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic and...
Evolocumab (Repatha) Side Effects, Dosage & Interactions
What is evolocumab? Repatha is used along with diet, exercise and maximum tolerated doses of statins to reduce LDL cholesterol in adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (and inherited disorder that causes high levels of LDL) or adults with heart problems related to excess cholesterol in the body. Repatha is also used along with diet and other LDL-lowering treatments, for example,...
dornase alpha (Pulmozyme): Cystic Fibrosis Drug Side Effects & Dosage
What is dornase alpha, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Dornase alpha is an inhaled drug for treating cystic fibrosis, a lung disease which is the most common fatal genetic disease in developed countries. The lungs continually secrete fluid into the airways to keep them moist. In cystic fibrosis, the fluid becomes thick because the amount of water...
Doxycycline vs. Cipro (ciprofloxacin): Antibiotic Uses & Side Effects
Doxycycline vs. Cipro: What’s the difference? Doxycycline and Cipro (ciprofloxacin) are antibiotics used to treat many different types of bacterial infections. Brand names for doxycycline include Vibramycin, Oracea, Adoxa, Atridox, Acticlate, Acticlate Cap, Doryx, Doxteric, Doxy, and Monodox. Doxycycline and Cipro are different types of antibiotics. Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic and Cipro is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. Side effects of...
Entresto (sacubitril and valsartan) for Heart Failure: Dosage, Side Effects & Pregnancy Safety
What is Entresto and what is it used for? Entresto is a prescription medicine used to reduce the risk of death and hospitalization in people with certain types of long-lasting (chronic) heart failure. Entresto is usually used with other heart failure therapies, in place of an ACE inhibitor or other ARB therapy. Heart failure occurs when the heart is weak...
Folotyn (pralatrexate injection)
What is Folotyn, and how does it work? Folotyn (pralatrexate injection) is an antineoplastic (anti-cancer) drug used to treat T-cell lymphoma that has spread throughout the body. Folotyn is given for relapsed T-cell lymphoma, or after other medications have been tried without successful treatment. What are the side effects of Folotyn? Common side effects of Folotyn include: redness or sores...
Fabrazyme for Fabry Disease: Side Effects, Dosage, Warnings
Generic drug: agalsidase beta Brand name: Fabrazyme What is Fabrazyme (agalsidase beta), and how does it work? Fabrazyme (agalsidase beta) for intravenous infusion is a man-made form of the naturally-occurring enzyme a-galactosidase A that is used in the treatment of Fabry disease. What are the side effects of Fabrazyme? Common side effects of Fabrazyme include signs of allergic reaction such...