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ACE (angiotensin converting
enzyme) inhibitors
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors
are used to treat high blood pressure. They
cause the blood vessels to relax and become
larger and, as a result, blood pressure is
lowered. When blood pressure is reduced, the
heart has an easier time pumping blood. This is
especially beneficial when the heart is failing.
ACE inhibitors also cause the process of
hypertensive- and diabetes-related kidney
diseases to slow down and prevent early deaths
associated with high blood pressure. ACE
inhibitors cannot be taken during pregnancy
since they may cause birth defects. Generic ACE
inhibitors are available.
acetaminophen (brand name:
Tylenol)
A
pain reliever and fever reducer. The exact
mechanism of action of acetaminophen is not
known. Acetaminophen relieves pain by elevating
the pain threshold (that is, by requiring a
greater amount of pain to develop before it is
felt by a person). Acetaminophen reduces fever
through its action on the heat-regulating center
of the brain. Generic is available.
alprazolam (brand name:
Xanax)
A benzodiazepine sedative that
causes dose-related depression of the central
nervous system. Alprazolam is useful in treating
anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, and muscle
spasms. Generic is available.
amoxicillin (brand names: Amoxil,
Polymox, Trimox)
An
antibiotic of the penicillin type that is
effective against different bacteria such as
Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria gonorrhoea,
Escherichia coli, Pneumococci, Streptococci, and
certain strains of Staphylococci, particularly
infections of the middle ear, tonsillitis,
throat infections, laryngitis, bronchitis, and
pneumonia. Amoxicillin is also used in treating
urinary tract infections, skin infections, and
gonorrhea. Generic is available.
atenolol (brand name:
Tenormin)
A
medication that blocks the action of a portion
of the involuntary nervous system that
stimulates the pace of the heartbeat. By
blocking the action of these nerves, atenolol
reduces the heart rate and is useful in treating
abnormally rapid heart rhythms. Atenolol also
reduces the force of heart muscle contraction,
lowers blood pressure, and is helpful in
treating angina. It is also used for the
prevention of migraine headaches and the
treatment of certain types of tremors. Generic
is available.
bupropion (brand names:
Wellbutrin, Zyban, Wellbutrin
SR)
An
antidepressant medication that affects chemicals
within the brain that nerves use to send
messages to each other. These chemical
messengers are called neurotransmitters. The
neurotransmitters that are released by nerves
are taken up again by the nerves that release
them for reuse (referred to as reuptake). Many
experts believe that depression is caused by an
imbalance among the amounts of neurotransmitters
that are released. Bupropion is unrelated to
other antidepressants. It works by inhibiting
the reuptake of the neurotransmitters dopamine,
serotonin, and norepinephrine, resulting in more
of these chemicals being available to transmit
messages to other nerves. Bupropion is unique in
that its major effect is on dopamine. Wellbutrin
and Wellbutrin SR are used for the management of
depression. Zyban has been approved as an aid to
patients who want to quit smoking. Generic is
not available.
cephalexin (brand names: Keflex,
Keftabs)
A
semisynthetic cephalosporin antibiotic that is
chemically similar to penicillin. Cephalexin is
effective against a wide variety of bacterial
organisms, such as Staphylococcus aureus,
Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus
influenzae, and Escherichia coli, particular
involving infections of the middle ear,
tonsillitis, throat infections, laryngitis,
bronchitis, and pneumonia. Cephalexin is also
used in treating urinary tract infections and
skin and bone infections. Generic is
available.
ciprofloxacin (brand name:
Cipro)
An
antibiotic that stops multiplication of bacteria
by inhibiting the reproduction and repair of
their genetic material (DNA). Ciprofloxacin is
used to treat infections of the skin, lungs,
airways, bones, and joints that are caused by
susceptible bacteria. Ciprofloxacin is also
frequently used to treat urinary infections
caused by bacteria such as Escherichia coli.
Ciprofloxacin is effective in treating
infectious diarrheas caused by E. coli,
Campylobacter jejuni, and shigella bacteria.
Generic is not available.
citalopram (brand name:
Celexa)
An
antidepressant medication that affects
neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers
within the brain. Neurotransmitters manufactured
and released by nerves attach to adjacent nerves
and alter their activities. Thus,
neurotransmitters can be thought of as the
communication system of the brain. Many experts
believe that an imbalance among
neurotransmitters is the cause of depression.
Citalopram works by preventing the uptake of one
neurotransmitter, serotonin, by nerve cells
after it has been released. The reduced uptake
caused by citalopram results in more free
serotonin being available in the brain to
stimulate nerve cells. Citalopram is in the
class of drugs called selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Generic is not
available.
clonazepam
(Klonopin)
Used
to treat anxiety, clonazepam works by enhancing
the response to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
in the brain, a neurotransmitter that inhibits
the activity of many parts of the brain. It is
believed that too much activity can lead to
anxiety. By enhancing the response to GABA,
clonazepam inhibits activity in the brain and
relieves the short-term symptoms of anxiety.
Clonazepam should not be taken during pregnancy,
as the effects are known to cause damage to the
fetus. More than half of those who take
clonazepam experience the side effect of
sedation. Generic clonazepam is
available.
codeine (brand name: Empirin 2,
3, 4, Tylenol 2, 3, 4, Tylenol with Codeine
Elixir)
Codeine is a pain reliever used to
temporarily relieve mild to severe pain. Codeine
has the ability to impair thinking and physical
ability necessary for driving, and, when
combined with alcohol, the impairment can be
worsened. Those taking codeine have the ability
to become dependent on the drug mentally and
physically. Those patients allergic to aspirin
and pregnant mothers should not take codeine.
Codeine often is combined with acetaminophen
(Tylenol) or aspirin to add to its
effectiveness. Side effects of codeine include
light-headedness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting,
shortness of breath, and sedation. Generic
codeine is available.
doxycycline (brand name:
Vibramycin)
A
synthetic broad-spectrum antibiotic that is
derived from tetracycline and is effective
against a wide variety of bacteria, such as
Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus
pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia
psittaci, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Neisseria
gonorrhoea. Doxycycline is particularly helpful
for treating respiratory tract infections and
for treating nongonococcal urethritis (due to
ureaplasma), Rocky mountain spotted fever,
typhus, chancroid, cholera, brucellosis,
anthrax, syphilis, and acne. Generic is
available.
fluoxetine (brand name:
Prozac)
A
class of antidepressant medications that affects
chemical messengers within the brain. These
chemical messengers are called
neurotransmitters. Many experts believe that an
imbalance in these neurotransmitters is the
cause of depression. Fluoxetine is used in the
treatment of depression and obsessive-compulsive
disorders. Fluoxetine is believed to work by
inhibiting the release of or affecting the
action of serotonin. Generic is
available.
hydrocodone/acetaminophen (brand
names: Vicodin, Vicodin ES, Anexsia, Lorcet,
Lorcet Plus, Norco)
A
narcotic pain reliever and a cough suppressant
that is similar to codeine and is used for the
relief of moderate to moderately severe pain.
The precise mechanism of pain relief by
hydrocodone and other narcotics is not known.
Acetaminophen is a nonnarcotic pain reliever and
fever reducer. It relieves pain by elevating the
pain threshold and reduces fever through its
action on the heat-regulating center of the
brain. Generic is available.
hydroxyzine (brand names:
Vistaril, Atarax)
An
antihistamine with anticholinergic (drying) and
sedative properties that is used to treat
allergic reactions and to relieve nasal and
nonnasal symptoms such as those from seasonal
allergic rhinitis. Histamine is released by the
body during several types of allergic reactions
and to a lesser extent during some viral
infections, such as the common cold. When
histamine binds to its receptors on cells, it
causes changes within the cells that lead to
sneezing, itching, and increased mucus
production. Antihistamines compete with
histamine for cell receptors; however, when they
bind to the receptors, antihistamines do not
stimulate the cells. In addition, antihistamines
prevent histamine from binding and stimulating
the cells. Generic is available.
ibuprofen (brand names: Advil,
Motrin, Medipren,
Nuprin)
A
traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
(NSAID) that is effective in treating fever,
pain, and inflammation in the body. As a group,
NSAIDs are nonnarcotic relievers of mild to
moderate pain of many causes, including injury,
menstrual cramps, arthritis, and other
musculoskeletal conditions. Generic is
available.
levothyroxine sodium (brand
names: Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid,
Unithroid)
A
synthetic version of the principal thyroid
hormone thyroxine (T4), which is made and
released by the thyroid gland. Levothyroxine
sodium is used to treat hypothyroidism and to
suppress thyroid hormone release in the
management of cancerous thyroid nodules and
growth of goiters. Thyroid hormone increases the
metabolic rate of cells of all tissues in the
body. Thyroid hormone helps to maintain brain
function, food metabolism, and body temperature,
among other effects. Generic is
available.
lisinopril (brand name: Zestril,
Prinivil)
Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor that works
to lower blood pressure by relaxing and
enlarging blood vessels. It also is used to
treat heart failure. Lisinopril should be taken
at the same time each day in order to ensure
consistent blood levels. Pregnant mothers should
avoid lisinopril, and it is important to avoid
taking lisinopril within two hours of an antacid
since antacid binds the lisinopril and prevents
it from being absorbed into the body. Side
effects of lisinopril include dizziness that is
felt when the blood pressure begins to drop, and
kidney damage as well. Those taking potassium
supplements or diuretics that cause potassium to
be retained by the body should not take
lisinopril because blood potassium levels may
rise to dangerously high levels. Generic
lisinopril is available.
lithium (brand name: Eskalith,
Lithobid)
Since the 1950s, lithium has been
used in the treatment of bipolar disorder as
well as depression. Lithium is a mineral that
has a positive charge, similar to sodium,
potassium, calcium and magnesium. It works by
interfering inside cells with other minerals
with positive charges such as potassium, calcium
and magnesium. Lithium impacts the brain by
affecting both the concentrations of tryptophan
and serotonin within the brain’s cells, and
neurotransmitters, chemical messengers that
nerves use to communicate with each other. It is
recommended that lithium be taken together with
food. The full clinical effects of lithium are
seen about 2-3 weeks after beginning treatment.
Goiters of the thyroid gland develop in one out
of every 25 persons taking lithium. Generic
lithium is
available.
lorazepam (brand names:
Ativan)
An
antianxiety medication in the benzodiazepine
family. Lorazepam and other benzodiazepines act
by enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric
acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA is a
neurotransmitter, a chemical that nerves in the
brain use to send messages to one another. GABA
inhibits activity in many of the nerves of the
brain, and it is thought that this excessive
activity is what causes anxiety and other
psychological disorders. Lorazepam has fewer
interactions with other medications and is felt
to be potentially less toxic than most of the
other benzodiazepines. Lorazepam is also used to
treat insomnia and panic attacks. Generic is
available.
meloxicam (brand name:
Mobic)
Meloxicam is a nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is used in
the treatment of inflammation due to
osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Meloxicam, like other NSAIDs, reduces the pain,
tenderness and swelling caused by inflammation
by preventing the formation of chemicals that
contribute to inflammation. Individuals who are
prone to asthma attacks, hives or have an
allergy to aspirin and other NSAIDs should not
take meloxicam. Aspirin should not be taken with
meloxicam as such a combination raises the risk
for developing ulcers of the stomach or small
intestine. Generic meloxicam is
available..
metformin (brand name:
Glucophage)
Approved by the FDA in 1994, metformin is
used to lower blood glucose levels in type 2
diabetes in adults and children. Metformin also
reduces complications of diabetes including
heart disease, blindness and kidney disease.
When used alone, metformin does not increase
insulin levels in the blood and, therefore, does
not result in extremely low blood glucose
levels. Metformin increases the effects that
insulin has on the liver, muscle, fat, and other
tissues. As a result, the reduced levels of
insulin have more of an effect than they
otherwise would. Metformin also has been used to
prevent diabetes from worsening and also has
been used to treat polycystic ovaries. Side
effects of metformin include nausea, vomiting,
gas, bloating, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.
Generic metformin is available.
methotrexate (brand names:
Rheumatrex, Trexall)
A
drug that is capable of blocking the metabolism
of cells (an antimetabolite). As a result of
this effect, methotrexate has been found to be
helpful in treating certain diseases associated
with abnormally rapid cell growth, such as
cancer of the breast and psoriasis. Recently,
methotrexate has been shown to be effective in
inducing miscarriage (for example, in patients
with ectopic pregnancy). This effect of
methotrexate is attributed to its action of
killing the rapidly growing cells of the
placenta. Methotrexate has also been found to be
very helpful in treating rheumatoid arthritis,
although its mechanism of action in this illness
is not known. Methotrexate seems to work, in
part, by altering aspects of immune function
that may play a role in causing rheumatoid
arthritis. Generic is available.
methylprednisolone (brand name:
Medrol)
Methylprednisolone is a synthetic
corticosteroid that is used to reduce
inflammation in inflammatory diseases such as
arthritis, lupus, Crohn's disease, and
ulcerative colitis. The body produces
corticosteroids naturally in the adrenal glands.
Methylprednisolone may be used during pregnancy
as it does not cause abnormalities in the fetus.
However, using methylprednisolone for long
periods of time can cause the body to stop
producing its own corticosteroids. This can lead
to a serious problem, i.e., inadequate amounts
of corticosteroids, if the methylprednisolone is
stopped for any reason. Generic
methylprednisolone is available.
metoprolol (brand names:
Lopressor, Toprol XL)
A
medication that blocks the action of a portion
of the involuntary nervous system. The
sympathetic nervous system stimulates the pace
of the heart beat. By blocking the action of
these nerves, metoprolol reduces the heart rate
and is useful in treating abnormally rapid heart
rhythms. Metoprolol also reduces the force of
heart muscle contraction, lowers blood pressure,
and is helpful in treating angina. Generic is
available.
metronidazole
(brand name: Flagyl)
Metronidazole is an antibiotic used to
fight infections caused by a class of bacteria
called anaerobic bacteria as well as some
parasites. Metronidazole is used for infections
of the small intestine, amebic liver abscesses,
dysentery and trichomonas vaginal infections. It
also is used to treat infections of the colon
caused by the bacterium, Clostridium difficile.
Taking metronidazole with alcohol is dangerous
as it can cause nausea, vomiting, cramps,
flushing and headache. Pregnant mothers and
nursing mothers should not use metronidazole.
Side effects of metronidazole, although they are
few, include seizures and nerve damage that can
lead to numbness and tingling of the hands and
feet. Generic metronidazole is
available.
naproxen (brand names: Naprosyn,
Naprelan, Anaprox,
Aleve)
A
traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
(NSAID) that is effective in treating fever,
pain, and inflammation in the body. As a group,
NSAIDs are nonnarcotic relievers of mild to
moderate pain of many causes, including injury,
menstrual cramps, arthritis, and other
musculoskeletal conditions. Generic is
available.
phentermine (brand names:
Adipex-P, Fastin, Obenix,
Oby-Trim)
An
appetite suppressor that decreases appetite by
possibly changing brain levels of serotonin.
Phentermine is a nervous system stimulator like
the amphetamines, causing stimulation, elevation
of blood pressure, and increased heart rates.
Phentermine is used for short periods, along
with diet and behavior modification, to treat
obesity. Generic is available.
prednisone (brand names:
Deltasone, Liquid Pred, Prednisolone, Pediapred
Oral Liquid, Medrol)
An
oral, synthetic corticosteroid that is used for
suppressing the immune system and inflammation.
Synthetic corticosteroids mimic the action of
cortisol (hydrocortisone), the naturally
occurring corticosteroid that is produced in the
body by the adrenal glands. Corticosteroids have
many effects on the body, but they most often
are used for their potent anti-inflammatory
effects, particularly in conditions in which the
immune system plays an important role. Such
conditions include arthritis, colitis, asthma,
bronchitis, certain skin rashes, and allergic or
inflammatory conditions of the nose and eyes.
Generic is available.
tramadol (brand name:
Ultram)
A
pain reliever (analgesic) that is used in the
management of moderate to moderately severe
pain. Its mode of action resembles that of
narcotics, but tramadol has significantly less
potential for abuse and addiction than
narcotics. Tramadol is as effective as narcotics
in relieving pain, but it does not depress
respiration, which is a side effect of most
narcotics. Generic is not
available. | 
