Generic drug: emtricitabine Brand name: Emtriva What is Emtriva (emtricitabine), and how does it work? Emtriva (emtricitabine) is a prescription medicine used in combination with other antiretroviral medicines to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) infection. HIV-1 is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). What are the side effects of Emtriva? WARNING POSTTREATMENT EXACERBATION OF HEPATITIS B Emtriva...
hydroxyurea (Hydrea, Droxia) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is hydroxyurea, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Hydroxyurea (Hydrea) is an oral medication used to treat several types of cancers including chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), head and neck cancer, malignant melanoma, ovarian cancer, and polycythemia vera (a disorder of the bone marrow). The exact mechanism by which hydroxyurea works to treat cancer...
Entereg (alvimopan) Pain Relief After Surgery: Side Effects & Dosage
What is Entereg, and how does it work? Entereg (alvimopan) is an opioid receptor antagonist that works by preventing narcotic side effects without reducing the pain-relieving effects of the drug used to speed recovery of stomach and intestinal functions after a gastrointestinal surgery and to prevent side effects caused by narcotic medications. What are the side effects of Entereg? Common...
Ferrlecit (sodium ferric gluconate complex in sucrose) for Anemia
What is Ferrlecit, and how does it work? Ferrlecit is indicated for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adult patients and in pediatric patients age 6 years and older with chronic kidney disease receiving hemodialysis who are receiving supplemental epoetin therapy. What are the side effects of Ferrlecit? Common side effects of Ferrlecit include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, injection site...
fenoprofen (Nalfon): Arthritis Drug Side Effects & Dosage
What is fenoprofen, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Fenoprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is effective for treating the fever, pain, and swelling caused by inflammation. Fenoprofen belongs to a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Other members of the NSAID class of drugs include ibuprofen (Motrin), indomethacin (Indocin), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve)...
desvenlafaxine (Pristiq, Khedezla): Drug Side Effects
What is desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Desvenlafaxine is an oral drug that is used for treating depression. It is in a class of antidepressant drugs called selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI); a class that also contains venlafaxine (Effexor) and duloxetine (Cymbalta). (Desvenlafaxine is an active metabolite of venlafaxine, that is, it is...
galantamine (Razadyne, Razadyne ER) Drug Side Effects & Dosage
What is galantamine, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Galantamine is in a class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors that also includes tacrine (Cognex), donezepil (Aricept), and rivastigmine (Exelon). Cholinesterase inhibitors inhibit (block) the action of acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme responsible for the destruction of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is one of several neurotransmitters in the brain, chemicals that nerve cells...
eszopiclone (Lunesta): Sedative Side Effects & Dosage
What is eszopiclone, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Eszopiclone is a non-benzodiazepine, oral, sedative drug ("sleeping pill") that is used for treating insomnia. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 50 million Americans suffer from insomnia. Symptoms of insomnia include difficulty falling asleep, awakening frequently during the night, waking up too early, an inability to...
Etodolac: Osteoarthritis Drug Uses, Dosage & Side Effects
What is etodolac? What is etodolac used for? Etodolac belongs to a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Other members of this class include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, etc.), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), indomethacin (Indocin), nabumetone (Relafen) and numerous others. These drugs are used for the management of mild to moderate pain, fever, and inflammation. They work by reducing...
Digoxin vs. digitalis: Drug Toxicity, Side Effects, Dosages, Uses
Digoxin vs. digitalis: What’s the difference? Digoxin and digitalis are cardiac glycosides that are derived from the same plant, the foxglove, used to treat adults with mild to moderate congestive heart failure and to treat abnormally rapid atrial rhythms (atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, atrial tachycardia). Digoxin also is used for increasing myocardial contractility in pediatric patients with heart failure. Brand...