Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Alglucerase – An enzyme preparation used to replace an enzyme deficiency that gives rise to Gaucher’s disease, an inherited disorder in which lipids accumulate in the bone marrow, liver, spleen, lymph nodes, and other tissues. Alglucerase is available as a form for intravenous infusion on * prescription only; its use is restricted to specialists. Side effects: include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, pain and irritation at the injection site, and possibly allergic reactions.
Precautions: alglucerase should not be given to people with certain types of cancer and should be used with caution in women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Proprietary preparation: Ceredase.
An ACE inhibitor used as an adjunct to diuretics for the treatment of he art failure. It is also taken after myocardial infarction (heart attack) to reduce recurrence and is used to treat all grades of hypertension. Available as tablets on prescription only, it is usually taken once a day.
Proprietary preparations: Carace; Zestril; CARACE PLUS (combined with hydrochlorothiazide); ZESTORETIC (combined with hydrochlorothiazide).
A drug that opposes the action of opioids (such as heroin) and is used to help maintain a drug-free habit in
people who were formerly dependent on opioids, Naltrexone is usually started after the individual has abstained from taking opioid drugs for at least 7-10 days. It is available as tablets on prescription only.
Side effects: include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, anxiety, nervousness, difficulties in sleeping, headache, reduced energy, and joint and muscle pain. Less frequently there may be mood changes and decreased potency.
Precautions: naltrexone should not be taken by people who are still dependent on opioids or by those with severe liver disease.
Proprietary preparation: Nalorex.
An anticonvulsant drug used for the treatment of partial seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. It is available, on prescription only, as tablets or dispersible tablets.
Side effects: include rashes, fever, malaise, influenza-like symptoms, drowsiness, and (rarely) liver disorders.
Precautions: people taking lamotrigine should be closely monitored initially: liver, kidney, and blood-clotting functions should be assessed. If rashes, influenza-like symptoms, or drowsiness occur, or if the drug becomes less effective in controlling seizures, treatment may need to be stopped. When stopping medication, lamotrigine should be withdrawn gradually over a two-week period.
Interactions with other drugs: Other anticonvulsants: taking two or more anticonvulsants together may
enhance their toxicity.
Proprietary preparation: Lamictal.
A proprietary combination of sodium acid phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate,
used as a phosphate supplement, it is also occasionally used to reduce high plasma calcium concentrations that result from overproduction of parathyroid hormone by the parathyroid gland or occur with certain cancers. Phosphate-Sandoz is available as effervescent tablets and can be obtained without a prescription, but only from pharmacies.
Side effects and precautions: When used to reduce plasma calcium, this medicine may bind to calcium to form calcium phosphate in the tissues, leading to kidney impairment and the formation of kidney stones
Logynon (Schering Health Care) A proprietary combination of ethinyloestradiol and levonorgestrel used as an oral contraceptive of the triphasic type. These tablets are packaged in three phases, which differ in the amounts of the active ingredients they contain. Logynon ED contains both active and dummy tablets, so that a tablet is taken each day of a 28-day cycle.
Both preparations are available on prescription only.
