Generic drug: bendamustine hydrochloride Brand name: Bendeka What is Bendeka (bendamustine hydrochloride), and how does it work? Bendeka (bendamustine hydrochloride) Injection is an alkylating drug indicated for treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that has progressed during or within six months of treatment with rituximab or a rituximab-containing regimen. What are the...
Butorphanol (Stadol): Opioid Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is butorphanol? What is butorphanol used for? Butorphanol is a synthetic opioid narcotic pain reliever. It prevents pain in a similar way as morphine (MS Contin), hydrocodone (Zohydro), oxycodone (Oxycontin), and other opioids. Like other opioids, it stimulates receptors in the brain to increase the threshold to pain (the amount of stimulation it takes to feel pain) and reduce...
Bupropion Extended Release (Forfivo XL) Uses & Side Effects
What is bupropion extended release, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Bupropion hydrochloride is an antidepressant medication that affects chemicals within the brain that nerves use to send messages to each other. (Forfivo XL is an extended release form of bupropion hydrochloride.) Chemical messengers are called neurotransmitters. Many experts believe that depression is caused by an imbalance among...
Coreg vs. Metoprolol Tartrate: Side Effects & Dosage for Hypertension Drugs
What is the difference between Coreg and metoprolol tartrate? Carvedilol and metoprolol tartrate are beta-adrenergic blocking agents (beta-blockers) used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and congestive heart failure. Brand names for carvedilol include Coreg and Coreg CR. Brand names for metoprolol tartrate include Lopressor and Toprol XL. Side effects of carvedilol and metoprolol tartrate that are similar include diarrhea,...
clopidogrel (Plavix) vs. heparin (Hemochron): Blood Thinner Uses & Side Effects
Clopidogrel vs. heparin: What’s the difference? Clopidogrel and heparin are blood thinners used to prevent blood clots. A brand name for clopidogrel is Plavix. Brand names for heparin include Hemochron, Hep-Lock, Hep-Lock U/P, Heparin in 5% Dextrose, Heparin Lock Flush, and HepFlush-10. Side effects of clopidogrel and heparin that are similar include bleeding and allergic reactions. Side effects of clopidogrel...
Byfavo (remimazolam): Benzodiazepine Surgical Sedative
What is Byfavo (remimazolam), and how is it used? Byfavo (remimazolam) is indicated for the induction and maintenance of procedural sedation in adults undergoing procedures lasting 30 minutes or less. What are the side effects of Byfavo? Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly...
liothyronine sodium, Cytomel: Drug Facts, Side Effects, Dosage
What is liothyronine sodium, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Liothyronine sodium is a synthetic (man-made) version of one of the two hormones made by the thyroid gland, triiodothyronine. It is used for treating individuals who are hypothyroid (do not produce enough thyroid hormones). Thyroid hormones increase the metabolism (activity) of all cells in the body. In the...
Penicillin G Benzathine (Bicillin L-A) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is penicillin g benzathine? What is penicillin g benzathine used for? Penicillin G benzathine (Bicillin L-A) is a penicillin antibiotic that is given by deep intramuscular injection. Penicillin G benzathine kills susceptible bacteria by inhibiting the synthesis or formation of bacterial cell wall. It is thought to preferentially bind to specific penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) found inside the bacterial cell...
High Potency Morphine Injection (Astramorph, Duramorph, Infumorph)
What is morphine high potency injection? What is morphine used for? Morphine is a chemical found in the opium plant. It is a narcotic (opiod) pain-reliever similar to hydrocodone, oxycodone, methadone, fentanyl, and other opioids. Morphine, like other opioids, stimulates receptors on nerves in the brain to increase the threshold to pain (increasing the amount of stimulation it takes to...
Lipitor Statin (Generic Atorvastatin) Side Effects, Uses, & Dosage
What is Lipitor (atorvastatin)? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Lipitor (atorvastatin) is type of statin that lowers the level of cholesterol in the blood. All statins, including atorvastatin, prevent the production of cholesterol in the liver by blocking HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that makes cholesterol. Statins reduce total cholesterol as well as LDL cholesterol in blood. LDL cholesterol...