Thursday, May 31, 2012

The Non-Sedative Anti-Histamine For People Suffering From Major Symptoms Of Allergy

Fexofenadine HCL is a non-sedative antihistamine that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treating of chronic idiopathic urticaria, and seasonal allergic symptoms. It is a prescription medication originally, but has become available over-the-counter in March 2011 for the treatment of seasonal allergies and hives.
How it works: Fexofenadine HCL is a histamine H1-receptor blocker, thereby blocking the effects of histamine in the body. Histamine is a chemical substance that causes allergies such as itching, sneezing and irritation. By blocking the actions of histamine, Fexofenadine HCL relieves various allergic symptoms in the body.
Medication dosage: Fexofenadine HCL comes in three dosage forms: oral tablets (30, 60, and 180 mg), oral suspensions (6mg per ml), and orally disintegrating tablets 30 mg(ODT's). The medicine is commonly taken by mouth, 1-2 times daily depending on the condition being treated. Oral tablet dosage forms shouldn't be taken with fruit juices.
Unwanted side effects: Like any other medication, Fexofenadine possess certain side effects in the body. But, not everyone who takes the drug suffers from these side effects. Popular side effects may include headache, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhoea, cough, respiratory tract infections, ear infections, back pain, dizziness, drowsiness, pain in the arms and legs, and indigestion. Rare side effects can include allergies, painful periods, breathing difficulty, and insomnia. Certain side effects are mild and need no treatment at all. However, when it becomes bothersome, it must be reported to the medical doctor quickly.
Precautions before you take Fexofenadine: People troubled with kidney diseases, and women who are pregnant and breastfeeding should notify their doctor before taking Fexofenadine. The drug may also interact with certain medications, it is therefore advisable to tell the heath care provider before taking this medication. Any difficulty encountered by the patient after using Fexofenadine also need to be reported to the medical doctor.
Who shouldn't take Fexofenadine Hcl? Always check with your doctor whether Fexofenadine medication is suitable for you. In addition, prior to the administration of this drug your full medical history should be disclosed to the doctor. This is because this medication might not be ideal for: - Patients with kidney concerns - Patients suffering from liver disorders - Patients with previous or current heart condition - Seniors or children younger than 12 years
Final thoughts: Fexofenadine is an anti-histamine used in the treating of seasonal allergic symptoms and urticaria. Like other anti-histamine, Fexofenadine HCL does not cause any sedative action in the individual. Although, Fexofenadine is known as very safe and effective in the treatment of allergies, it has to be used with caution by seniors, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with certain health conditions

Thursday, May 24, 2012

A Drug Dosage For Managing Pain

Oxycodone is an opiate analgesic used in the treatment of mild to serious pain. It is available in various dosage forms like tablets, capsules, extended release tablets, and liquid concentrate solution. The available doses of Oxycodone may vary from 10 mg to 160 mg. The controlled-release preparation of Oxycodone will come in 10, 12, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, and 180 mg of oral preparation. But, high doses of Oxycodone more than 80 mg of daily dose or 40 mg of single dose are prescribed just for opioid tolerant people.
Usual Oxycodone dosage for pain:
Adult dose: Oxycodone immediate release preparation is found to be very good at treating pain with an initial dosage of 5 mg to 15 mg taken orally every 4 to 6 hours. 10 to 30 mg of Oxycodone is used every 4 hrs as maintenance dose, and doses greater than 30 mg must be sued with careful attention.
Oxycodone controlled-release preparation is used in an initial dose of 10 mg taken every 12 hrs. For terminally ill patients like cancer patients, a maintenance dose of 20 to 640 mg of Oxycodone is used per day. The normal dose of controlled release preparation is 105 mg every day.
Geriatric dose: 2.5 mg of immediate release Oxycodone should be taken orally every Six hours to control pain. This dose of 2.5 mg is raised gradually for maintenance of pain, but quantities above 30 mg should be used in careful attention.
For cancer affected individuals, Oxycodone controlled release preparation is used in a dosage of 20 to 640 mg daily to manage pain. Patients who are suffering from uncontrolled pain can use quick release Oxycodone, to supplement Oxycodone controlled-release
Pediatric dose: For children above 12 month and less than 50 kg, 0.05 to 0.15 mg/kg/dose of Oxycodone is taken every 4 to 6 hours. For kids above 1 year and greater than or equal to 50 kg weight, a primary dose of 5 mg is taken every 6 hrs, and then the dose may be raised up to 10 mg every 3 to 4 hours.
Oxycodone overdose: Oxycodone is a habit-forming drug, then it should be taken as directed by the doctor. Controlled release tablets must be swallowed as such. It shouldn't be crushed or chewed or split, which might cause the drug to get absorbed into the body too quickly, leading to drug overdose or death.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

A Comparison Of The 2 Drugs Used For The Treatment Of Pain

Oxycodone hydrochloride is an opioid analgesic used in the treatment of moderate to severe pain. It's present in several pain relieving medications along with other ingredients and also by itself. Although, Oxycodone and Oxycontin have the same active component and have more or less similar name, they just have a host of differences. The primary differences are quite essential to comprehend, which includes the difference in potency, indications and general safety.
Ingredients: Oxycontin is a time-released preparation, where Oxycodone hydrochloride is available by itself in high concentration. However, Oxycodone is an immediate release form that combines Oxycodone HCL with other ingredients and treats pain for a short term period.
The prescription drug label indicates clearly whether the drug is pure Oxycodone HCL or Oxycodone along with other ingredients. When the label reads "Oxycodone", then the formulation contains only the narcotic pain killer. But, if it reads "Oxycodone/APAP", then it's the narcotic pain killer combined with a NSAID Acetaminophen.
Difference in potency: Prescription medications that contain Oxycodone and other ingredients usually contain 2.5 to 10 milligrams of the narcotic pain killer, Oxycodone HCL. These medicines are often prescribed for short term pain management, in mild to moderate pain conditions after minor surgeries or procedures.
Oxycontin time-release formulations range more widely in the strength of its active ingredient. The instant release form may contain only 5 mg of the Oxycodone HCL, but the controlled release form could have quantity ranging from 20 mg, 40 mg and even 80 mg of the narcotic pain reliever, that delivers the active ingredient in to the system very slowly and gradually for a period of around 12 hours. Oxycontin is usually used to treat mild to significant pain conditions caused by significant injuries, cancer pain, and back injury.
Different trade names: Oxycontin is the trade name for pure Oxycodone preparations. But, Oxycodone formulations with other active ingredients come in other names like Percocet, Percodan, and Endocet.
Precautions: Both Oxycodone and Oxycontin can be habit-forming, and also have high chances for drug abuse among its users. Hence, it should be taken as prescribed by the medical doctor. Oxycontin is a time-released formulation that contains high doses of Oxycodone HCL, which should be crushed or chewed or split while taking or otherwise it could become fatal.
Discuss With Your Doctor The strong effects of Oxycontin and Oxycodone could be harmful to one's health. Those who take these prescription medications should follow their doctor's suggestions. They should take the medications only when necessary, specially when there's significant pain. Extreme caution is vital for people who are prescribed to take Oxycontin and Oxycodone. The effects of addiction can jeopardize the health, and it might also lead to extremely serious consequences. Before addiction occurs, you should realize the symptoms to prevent the condition from getting worse.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

The Anti-HIV Drug

Norvir belongs to the class of drugs called protease inhibitors. It is a prescription medication and is always used in combination with other medications in the treatment of HIV infection. Norvir is recognized to raise the effects of other HIV medicines by increasing their levels in the blood and making them more effective.
Norvir cannot cure AIDS, instead slows down the expansion or reproduction of the human immunodeficiency virus, when used with other medications. It gives no help to cells that are already infected by the virus, but prevent the virus from infecting healthy cells. Thus it helps to reduce the destruction of the body's immune system. Yet, the sufferer may still experience certain symptoms and complications, such as infections even when on Norvir.
How it works: The protease inhibitor, Norvir works by blocking the actions of protease enzymes, which is important for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to grow. HIV is the virus that is responsible for the development of a disease called, AIDS (Acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome), where the T cells are destroyed thus reducing the body's ability to fight against infections.
Norvir dosage: Norvir dosage is determined by a number of factors, such as age, body weight, medical condition being treated as well as other medications currently in use. However, normally the recommended adult dose of Norvir is 600 mg 2 times a day. For youngsters between 2 and 16 years, the dosage will depend on their body size. The physician may begin with a lower dose and then increase it to the advised dose to minimize its side effects and other adverse reactions.
Norvir and the Pregnant HIV Carrier: The FDA designated Norvir as pregnancy B drug. It only means that studies conducted in rabbits and rats showed some decreased body weight of the fetus, early resorption, and delays in ossification. The drug must only be given in times of pregnancy when it is more beneficial than risky. It is, however, recommended using it in lower dosage for expectant women with HIV.
Conclusion: Norvir is a prescription drug which is often used along with other anti-HIV medications in the treatment of AIDS. Even though it does not provide any cure to the disease, it inhibits the expansion and multiplication of the virus, so preventing it from affecting healthy cells in the body. It should be taken continuously as prescribed by the physician. If stopped, the virus may develop resistance to the drug, thus making it hard to treat.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Information On A Drug And Its Uses For The Treatment Of Pain And Inflammation

What is Naproxen? Naproxen belongs to the class of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), which works by lowering the hormones that triggers pain and inflammation in the body.
It was originally marketed as prescription medication, however Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the year 1994 approved it's use as an over-the-counter medication. It's available in two forms, Naproxen and Naproxen sodium in the form of regular tablets and capsules, enteric coated naproxen tablets, as well as available in the form of suspension.
How it works: Naproxen works by inhibiting the actions caused by certain enzymes in the body called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are hormones that cause pain and inflammation in the body. Via stopping the body's production of prostaglandins, naproxen alleviates symptoms of pain, inflammation, and fever.
Naproxen uses: Naproxen is probably the most typically used over-the-counter medication for the treatment of pain and inflammation. It used to treat symptoms of pain, inflammation, stiffness, and fever that is triggered by varying medical conditions such as arthritis, gout, ankylosing spondylitis, bursitis, tendinitis, and menstrual cramps. It also treats conditions of general pain like back pain, knee pain, and foot pain.
Additional information about Naproxen: Naproxen should be used with caution in certain conditions. It may cause life threatening consequences when used in patients just before or after a by-pass surgery. Naproxen increases the risk of heart and circulatory problems, especially when taken for an extended time period. Gastrointestinal problems may occur which sometime becomes fatal, while taking Naproxen.
The use of alcohol while taking Naproxen must be avoided as it may enhance the risk of stomach bleeding. Naproxen makes the skin very sensitive, and thus raising the risk of getting sunburn when exposed to sunlight.
Even though it is available over-the-counter, first time users should consult their medical doctor about the exact dosage, prior to taking it.
This drug may cause dizziness when rising from a sitting or lying position. With the rise of the bed should first to hang up and stay in this position a few minutes, then smoothly rise. When lifting the chair should get up slowly and for a time to stand up beside the chair until you are sure you won't feel dizzy.
In summary: Naproxen is an over-the-counter medication used in the treating of pain and inflammation. Even though available without a prescription, high doses of Naproxen are obtained only through doctor's prescription. Other than its use described, it is also used off-label to treat many other medical conditions.