Introduction to OTC pain medication and fever reducers Pain is the most common reason for people to seek medical advice, pain medicine is the most frequently purchased over-the-counter (OTC) medication. Fever is one of the most common reasons that children visit the doctor. Moreover, one in five emergency room visits for children is due to fever. Since OTC medicines that...
Amoxicillin vs. Doxycycline: Antibiotic Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
Amoxicillin vs. doxycycline: What’s the difference? Amoxicillin and doxycycline are antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections of the respiratory tract and other infections. Amoxicillin is also used to treat bacterial infections of the middle ear, tonsils, throat, urinary tract, and skin. It also is used to treat gonorrhea. Doxycycline is also used to treat non-gonococcalurethritis (due to Ureaplasma), Rocky Mountain...
Amoxicillin vs. Ampicillin: Antibiotic Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
Amoxicillin vs. Ampicillin: What’s the difference? Amoxicillin and ampicillin are penicillin-type antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections of the middle ear and respiratory tract, and to treat gonorrhea. Amoxicillin is also used to treat bacterial infections of the tonsils, throat, larynx (laryngitis), urinary tract, and skin. Ampicillin is also used to treat bacterial infections of the sinuses, stomach and intestines,...
Ativan (lorazepam) vs. Nortriptyline: Side Effects, Dosage & Uses
Ativan vs. nortriptyline Ativan (lorazepam) is used to treat anxiety associated with depression, while nortriptyline is used to treat depression. Ativan is also used for the management of anxiety disorders, insomnia, and panic attacks, and it is used in combination with other medications to prevent nausea and vomiting resulting from chemotherapy. Ativan also is administered before anesthesia for sedation and...
Chloroquine (Aralen) vs. Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) for COVID-19?
Chloroquine (Aralen) vs. hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil): What’s the difference? Chloroquine (Aralen) and hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) are anti-malarial drugs used to treat several forms of malaria. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are under investigation for treatment of the COVID-19 coronavirus disease. Study results on their effectiveness have been mixed. Chloroquine is also used to treat amebiasis that has spread outside of the intestines. Hydroxychloroquine is...
Compare Celexa vs. Cymbalta Side Effects (Weight Gain) and Uses
Celexa (citalopram) vs. Cymbalta (duloxetine) quick comparison of differences Celexa (citalopram) and Cymbalta (duloxetine) are antidepressants used to treat depression and anxiety disorders. Celexa and Cymbalta are not the same type of antidepressant (they do not have the same mechanism of action). Celexa belongs to a drug class called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and Cymbalta belongs to a drug...
Diclofenac/Misoprostol (Arthrotec) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is diclofenac and misoprostol, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Arthrotec is a combination of diclofenac and misoprostol. Diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) similar to ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil), naproxen (Naprosyn), and others that is used to treat inflammation, pain, and fever. Diclofenac, like other NSAIDs works by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are...
altretamine (Hexalen): Cancer Drug Side Effects & Dosage
What is altretamine, and what is it used for? Altretamine is an oral drug that is used to treat ovarian cancer. The precise mechanism by which altretamine exerts its anti-cancer effect is unknown. It was approved by the FDA in 1990. What brand names are available for altretamine? Hexalen Is altretamine available as a generic drug? No. Do I need...
Attapulgite (Kaopectate) Uses, Side Effects & Dosage
What is attapulgite, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Attapulgite is an oral, nonabsorbed medication that is used in the management of diarrhea. It works by adsorbing (binding) large numbers of bacteria and toxins and reducing the loss of water. Attapulgite reduces the number of bowel movements, improves the consistency of loose or watery stools, and relieves the...
mesalamine for Ulcerative Colitis & Crohn’s: Side Effects & Dosage
What is mesalamine, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Mesalamine is a drug used for treating ulcerative colitis and mild to moderate Crohn's disease. The exact mechanism of mesalamine is not known but is believed to be by reducing inflammation in the colon. Ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory diseases cause excessive production of chemicals, for example, prostaglandins, that...