Archive for September, 2007

Imitrex.

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

Imitrex should be used only to treat an acute, classic migraine attack or a cluster headache.

      

One dose of Imitrex is taken by mouth at the first signs of a migraine attack. If you must take a second dose, do so exactly as instructed by your doctor. Do not take more than 200mg in a 24 hour period. Tablets are to be swallowed whole with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew them.

      

Imitrex may initially cause flushing, dizziness, weakness, nausea, drowsiness, stiffness, or feelings of tingling, heat, fatigue. If any of these effects continue or become bothersome, inform your doctor. In the unlikely event you have an allergic reaction to this drug, seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

      

Tell your doctor if you have: heart disease, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, stroke, kidney disease, liver disease, allergies (especially drug allergies). There have been rare reports of those with sulfa drug allergies having allergic reactions to sumatriptan. Consult your doctor or pharmacist. Since this medication may cause drowsiness, use caution operating machinery or engaging in activities requiring alertness and avoid alcohol because it may increase drowsiness/dizziness effects. The manufacturer does not recommend use of sumatriptan in the elderly, because they may be more sensitive to its side effects. Sumatriptan should be used during pregnancy only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Imitrex is excreted into breast milk. The effects on nursing infants are unknown at this time. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding. 

       

Tell your doctor of all over-the-counter and prescription medication you take, especially of: ergotamine- containing medication, all headache drugs, MAO inhibitors (e.g., furazolidone, linezolid, phenelzine, selegiline, tranylcypromine). Do not take MAO inhibitors with sumatriptan or use sumatriptan within 2 weeks of stopping use of MAO inhibitors. Do not take any ergotamine-containing medication and sumatriptan within 24 hours of each other. Also, report the use of all antidepressants or any medications used for weight control. If you are unsure about the types of medications you take, ask your care provider or pharmacist. It is recommended to avoid consumption of alcohol while taking this medication. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.

   Take Imitrex only when a migraine attack occurs as directed. This is not taken routinely. Never “double-up” the dose.  

Store Imitrex at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) in a tightly-closed container, away from heat and light. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.

Mevacor.

Tuesday, September 25th, 2007

Mevacor is used, along with diet, to lower cholesterol levels in people with primary hypercholesterolemia (too much cholesterol in the bloodstream). High cholesterol levels foster the buildup of artery-clogging plaque, which can be especially dangerous when it collects in the vessels serving the muscles of the heart. Mevacor is prescribed to prevent this problem–called coronary heart disease–or to slow its advance if the arteries are already clogging up.

Mevacor is usually prescribed only if diet, exercise, and weight-loss fail to bring your cholesterol levels under control. It’s important to remember that Mevacor is a supplement–not a substitute–for these other measures. To get the full benefit of the medication, you need to stick to the diet and exercise program prescribed by your doctor.

 

Mevacor should be taken with meals. –If you miss a dose… Take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Never take 2 doses at the same time. –Storage instructions… Protect Mevacor from light. Store at room temperature. Keep container tightly closed.

Mevacor is generally well tolerated. Any side effects that have occurred have usually been mild and short-lived. If any side effects develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Mevacor. Side effects may include: Abdominal pain/cramps, altered sense of taste, blurred vision, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, gas, headache, heartburn, indigestion, itching, muscle cramps, muscle pain, muscle weakness with rash, nausea, rash, weakness

If you are sensitive to or have ever had an allergic reaction to Mevacor or similar anticholesterol drugs, you should not take this medication. Make sure that your doctor is aware of any drug reactions that you have experienced. Unless you are directed to do so by your doctor, do not take this medication if you are being treated for liver disease. Do not take this drug if you are pregnant or nursing.

If you are being treated for any disease that contributes to increased blood cholesterol, such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, nephrotic syndrome (kidney and blood vessel disorder), dysproteinemia (an excess of protein in the blood), or liver disease, your doctor will closely monitor your reaction to Mevacor. It is recommended that liver function tests be performed by your doctor before treatment with Mevacor begins, at 6 and 12 weeks after your treatment has started or your dosage has been raised, and periodically (about 6-month intervals) thereafter. If you are planning to have elective surgery, Mevacor should be discontinued a few days before the operation. This drug should be used with caution if you consume substantial quantities of alcohol or have a past history of liver disease.

Mevacor tends to enhance the blood-thinning effect of Coumadin. In rare instances, it can also cause muscle pain and potential kidney damage when combined with the following: Clarithromycin (Biaxin) Clofibrate (Atromid-S) Cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral) Erythromycin (E.E.S., PCE, others) Fenofibrate (Tricor) Fluconazole (DiFlucan) Gemfibrozil (Lopid) Itraconazole (Sporanox) Ketoconazole (Nizoral) Nefazodone (Serzone) Nicotinic acid or niacin (Niaspan) Protease inhibitors (a type of drug for HIV) such as Agenerase, Crixivan, Fortovase, Invirase, Norvir, and Viracept If you are taking Mevacor with any of these drugs, (or with large quantities of grapefruit juice), alert your doctor immediately at the first sign of muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by fever or general body discomfort. If you need to take erythromycin, Biaxin, Nizoral, or Sporanox, the doctor may temporarily take you off Mevacor.

Fosamax.

Friday, September 21st, 2007

Fosamax is the brand name for alendronate sodium. Fosamax is prescribed for the treatment of osteoporosis (thinning of bone) in women after menopause. It is most commonly prescribed to be taken once weekly and is available in both pill and liquid forms.
Fosamax works by:

Reducing the activity of the cells that cause bone loss

Decreasing the faster rate of bone loss that occurs after menopause

Increasing the amount of bone in most patients   These effects are seen as soon as three months after Fosamax therapy has begun. These effects continue as long as you keep taking Fosamax. The density of bone increases and the bone is less likely to fracture. Thus, Fosamax reverses the progression of osteoporosis. Patients should not take Fosamax if they have any of the following conditions:

Low levels of calcium in their blood

Severe kidney disease

Allergy to Fosamax   In addition, patients should not take Fosamax if they are pregnant or nursing.  (Fosamax is for use by women after menopause. If you are pregnant or nursing, you should not take Fosamax. Talk to your doctor.) Before your doctor prescribes Fosamax, be sure to talk to your doctor about:

Problems with swallowing

Digestive problems

Other medical problems you have or have had in the past

Like all prescription drugs, Fosamax may cause side effects. In the past, patients who have taken Fosamax have usually had mild side effects. The side effects generally have not caused patients to stop taking Fosamax.  Some patients treated with Fosamax in clinical studies experienced abdominal (stomach) pain, which was the most commonly reported side effect. Less frequently reported side effects were other digestive problems such as:

Nausea

Heartburn

Irritation or pain of the esophagus (the tube that connects your mouth with your stomach)

Vomiting

Difficulty swallowing

A full or bloated feeling in the stomach

Constipation

Diarrhea

Gas  Muscle/bone pain, headaches, or an altered sense of taste were also experienced by some patients. in rare cases, rashes may occur. Anytime you have a medical problem you think may be related to Fosamax, talk to your doctor.

Zithromax.

Thursday, September 20th, 2007

Zithromax is used to treat many different types of bacterial infections, such as bronchitis, pneumonia, tonsillitis, skin infections, ear infections, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Azithromycin is a semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic chemically related to erythromycin and clarithromycin (Biaxin). It is effective against a wide variety of bacteria organisms, such as Hemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and mycobacterium avium, and many others. It is unusual in that it stays in the body for quite a while, allowing for once a day dosing and for shorter treatment courses for most infections.<br><br>Azithromycin, like all macrolide antibiotics, prevents bacteria from growing by interfering with their ability to make proteins. Due to the differences in the way proteins are made in bacteria and humans, the macrolide antibiotics do not interfere with humans’ ability to make proteins. 

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor. 

Before taking Zithromax, tell your doctor if you have liver disease. You may not be able to take Zithromax, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment. Zithromax is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether Zithromax passes into breast milk. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. 

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Zithromax and seek emergency medical attention: an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); or liver damage (yellowing of the skin or eyes, nausea, abdominal pain or discomfort, unusual bleeding or bruising, severe fatigue). Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Zithromax and talk to your doctor if you experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain; unusual dizziness, fatigue, or headache; vaginal yeast infection; a rash; or increased sensitivity to sunlight. Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Amaryl.

Wednesday, September 19th, 2007

This medicine is a sulfonylurea used to treat diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes). 

Additional monitoring of your dose or condition may be needed if you are taking chloramphenicol, dexfenfluramine, fenfluramine, gemfibrozil, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (maois), oxyphenbutazone, phenylbutazone, sulfa antibiotics, certain “water pills” (diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide), or medicine for high blood pressure or heart conditions (ace inhibitors). Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions, allergies, pregnancy, or breast-feeding. 

Use of this medicine is not recommended if you have a history of acidosis. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about taking this medicine. 

Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. Take this medicine with breakfast or your first main meal. 

Store this medicine at room temperature in a tightly-closed container, away from heat and light. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once. 

Before you begin taking any new medicine, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not exceed the recommended dose without checking with your doctor. 

Follow the dietary plan provided by your doctor. This medicine may cause increased sensitivity to the sun. Avoid exposure to the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to this medicine. Use a sunscreen or protective clothing if you must be outside for a prolonged period. Do not drink alcohol without first discussing it with your doctor. 

This medicine may cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Signs of hypoglycemia include an increased heart rate, headache, sweating, tremor, increased hunger, changes in vision, nervousness, or tiredness. Discuss with your doctor or nurse how to handle hypoglycemic reactions. 

If you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using this medicine during pregnancy. It is unknown if this medicine is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine. 

Side effects, that may go away during treatment, include dizziness, weakness, headache, or nausea. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. 

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include lightheadedness, sweating, rapid pulse, tremor, confusion, seizures, and loss of consciousness.

Levitra.

Monday, September 17th, 2007

Levitra is taken orally when needed between 4.30 hrs and 30 minutes before sexual activity. Take Levitra only as directed, usually once daily as needed. Levitra works along with sexual stimulation to help achieve an erection.

  LEVITRA (vardenafil HCl) is formulated as orange, film-coated round tablets with debossed “BAYER” cross on one side and “2.5”, “5”, “10”, and “20” on the other side equivalent to 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg of vardenafil, respectively.

Headache, flushing , upset stomach, stuffy nose, urinary tract infection, visual changes such as mild and temporary changes in blue/green colors or increased sensitivity to light, and diarrhea.One should have a complete medical history and exam to determine the cause of his impotence before taking Levitra. Men who have medical conditions that may cause a sustained erection such as sickle cell anemia, leukemia or multiple myeloma or who have an abnormally shaped penis may not be able to take Levitra. There are several medications that are known to interact with Levitra, so be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you are taking including those you can get without a prescription. Levitra has not been studied with other treatments for impotence, so use in combination with other treatments is not recommended. Limit alcohol intake, as it may aggravate SIDE EFFECTS of Levitra. To avoid dizziness and lightheadedness when rising from a seated or lying position, get up slowly. The elderly may be more sensitive to the SIDE EFFECTS of Levitra; therefore, caution is advised in this group.

Before taking Levitra consult your doctor about all nonprescription and prescription medication you may use, especially any nitrate medications (e.g., nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate), nitroprusside (any “nitric oxide donor” medicines), cimetidine, erythromycin, azole antifungals (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole), mibefradil, rifamycins (e.g., rifampin) or high blood
pressure medicines.

  For patients with mild (CLcr = 50-80 ml/min), moderate (CLcr = 30-50 ml/min), or severe (CLcr < 30 ml/min) renal impairment, no dose adjustment is required. LEVITRA has not been evaluated in patients on renal dialysis.

Store Levitra at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Keep Levitra out of the reach of children.

Cialis.

Friday, September 14th, 2007

Cialis is approved for the treatment of men who experience difficulty having and maintaining an erection (impotence). 

Cialis works by enhancing the effects of one of the chemicals the body normally releases into the penis during sexual arousal. This allows an increase of blood flow into the penis. An erection is the result of an increase in blood flow into certain internal areas of the penis. 

Cialis is different from other currently approved products for ED in that it stays in the body longer. However, there were no studies that directly compared the clinical efficacy and safety of Cialis to other products. 

Cialis is taken orally before sexual activity, not more than once daily. Cialis may be taken with or without food. In some patients, the dose strength and maximum frequency of use may be adjusted. For more detailed information consult with your health care provider. 

As with any drug product, there may be side effects. The most commonly reported side effects in patients treated with Cialis during the testing of the product were:  

  headache   

  indigestion   

  back pain   

  muscle pain   

  flushing   

  stuffy nose 

Patients who get back pain and muscle aches usually get them 12 to 24 hours after taking Cialis and these usually go away by themselves within 48 hours. A small number of patients taking Cialis also reported abnormal vision. 

- CIALIS can cause your blood pressure to drop suddenly to an unsafe level if it is taken with any nitrate medication or with any alpha-blocker medication (alpha blockers are medicines used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia and high blood pressure) other than FLOMAX (tamsulosin) 0.4 mg daily. You could get dizzy, faint or have a heart attack or stroke. 

- Tell your healthcare provider that you take Cialis. If you need emergency medical care for a heart problem, it will be important for your health care provider to know when you last took Cialis. 

- After taking a single tablet, some of the active ingredient of Cialis remains in your body for more than 2 days. The active ingredient can remain longer if you have problems with your kidneys or liver, or you are taking certain other medications.   Because sexual activity can increase the work of the heart, your doctors should talk to you about your heart’s general condition and if Cialis is right for you. Patients who have a condition called “left ventricular outlet obstruction” from valvular problems or heart muscle enlargement may get side effects such as fainting or light-headedness. Because patients with recent heart attacks or stroke, heart pains (angina), heart failure, uncontrolled blood pressure or uncontrolled irregular heart beats, severe liver disease, and retinal eye problems were not studied with Cialis, Cialis is not recommended for these patients. There may be rare occurrences of priapism or painful, prolonged erections. This is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. Patients should seek prompt medical attention if their erection lasts longer than four hours.

Viagra.

Thursday, September 13th, 2007

It has been estimated that impotence affects 140 million men worldwide. Over half of all men with impotence are thought to have some physical (medical) cause. The remainder are believed to have psychogenic causes of impotence. Medical causes of impotence include diabetes and circulatory, neurological or urological conditions.

Penile erection is caused by the engorgement of the penis with blood. This engorgement occurs when the blood vessels delivering blood to the penis increase the delivery of blood and the blood vessels carrying blood away from the penis decrease the removal of blood. Under normal conditions, sexual stimulation leads to the production and release of nitric oxide in the penis. Nitric oxide then activates the enzyme, guanylate cyclase, which causes the production of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). It is the cGMP that is primarily responsible for the erection by affecting the amount of blood that the blood vessels deliver and remove from the penis. 

Sildenafil inhibits an enzyme called phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) which destroys the cGMP. Thus, sildenafil prevents the destruction of cGMP and allows cGMP to accumulate and persist longer. The longer cGMP persists, the more prolonged the engorgement of the penis. Sildenafil is used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction of either organic (medical condition) or psychogenic (psychological) cause.

Sildenafil is rapidly absorbed. Maximum observed plasma concentrations are reached within 30 to 120 minutes (median 60 minutes) of oral dosing in the fasted state. When sildenafil is taken with a high fat meal, the rate of absorption is reduced, with an average delay in the time to maximal concentration of 1 hour.

Sildenafil increases the effects of the blood pressure lowering medications. It also increases the blood pressure lowering effects of nitrates, e.g. isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil), isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, Ismo, Monoket), nitroglycerin (Nitro-Dur, Transderm-Nitro) that are used primarily for treating angina. Patients taking nitrates should not receive sildenafil.

Ultram.

Wednesday, September 12th, 2007

Tramadol is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Tramadol extended-release is used to treat moderate to severe chronic pain when treatment is needed around the clock.

Take tramadol exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take it in larger doses or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Do not take more than 300 milligrams of tramadol in one day.Take each dose with a full glass of water.Tramadol can be taken with or without food, but take it the same way each time.

Do not crush the tramadol tablet. This medicine is for oral (by mouth) use only. Powder from a crushed tablet should not be inhaled or diluted with liquid and injected into the body. Using this medicine by inhlation or injection can cause life-threatening side effects, overdose, or death.

Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

If you use the tramadol extended-release tablet, the tablet shell may pass into your stools (bowel movements). This is normal and does not mean that you are not receiving enough of the medicine.

Tramadol may be habit-forming. Tell your doctor if you feel the medicine is not working as well in relieving your pain. Do not change your dose without talking to your doctor.

Do not stop using this medication suddenly without talking to your doctor. You may need to gradually reduce the dose. Withdrawal symptoms may occur when you stop using tramadol. Withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, sweating, nausea, diarrhea, tremors, chills, hallucinations, trouble sleeping, or breathing problems. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these withdrawal symptoms after you stop using tramadol.

Kamagra.

Tuesday, September 11th, 2007

Kamagra is the generic version of  that is used to treat erectile dysfunction, more commonly known as impotence, in men. Kamagra will not increase your sex drive. Kamagra works by relaxing the blood vessels in the penis when you are sexually excited. This allows blood to flow into your penis when you are sexually excited, allowing you to get an erection the natural way. Kamagra will only work if you are sexually excited. 

The doses of Kamagra range between 25 mg to 100 mg to be taken about 1 hour before you expect to have sex. Do not take more than one dose of Kamagra per day. The amount of time Kamagra take to work varies form person to person, but normally takes between half an hour to one hour. In the case of oral jelly, the 5mg sachet should be eaten. No more than one sachet should be consumed in a day.

  The most common side effects experienced with Kamagra are headache, flushing, indigestion, stuffy nose, changes in vision such as blurring, a Turquoise colour to your vision, diarrhoea, urinary tract infection. What precautions should be taken? Kamagra must be used under doctors supervision. Kamagra must not be used by men who are taking any medications that contain nitrates. Nitrates are found in many prescription medications that are used to treat angina, Such as Nitroglycerin, Isosorbide mononitrate, Isosorbide dinitrate. Nitrates are also found in illicit drugs such as amyl nitrate (poppers). If you are not sure if any of your medicines contain nitrates, or if you do not understand what nitrates are ask you doctor or pharmacist. Kamagra is not approved for use in women. 

Kamagra must be used under a doctors supervision. It is strongly recommended that you seek medical advice (all instances) to establish if your heart is healthy enough for sexual activity. Most importantly Kamagra should never be taken if you take any medicines that contain nitrates. Nitrates are commonly contained in drugs for the treatment of Angina. Examples of these are Nitroglycerin, Isosorbide Mononitrate and Isosorbide Dinitrate. Nitrates can also be found in recreational drugs such as Amyl Nitrate (known as Poppers). If you are unsure what nitrates are or need to establish if any medicines you are taking contain nitrates consult your doctor. Taking Kamagra with any medication containing nitrates can cause blood pressure to drop to an unsafe level. Possible effects can be dizziness, heart attack or stroke.