Archive for the ‘Pharm’ Category

Zithromax.

Monday, October 1st, 2007

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

How Taken Zithromax comes as a capsule, tablet, and liquid to take it orally. It is usually taken once a day for 2-5 days. Take Zithromax exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Shake the liquid well before each use to mix the medication evenly. The capsules and tablets should be taken with a full glass of water. Continue to take Zithromax even if you feel well. Do not stop taking Zithromax without talking to your doctor. Take Zithromax liquid at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. The capsule and tablet may be taken with or without food. If it upsets your stomach, take it with food.  

Warnings/Precautions 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.  

Missed Dose 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.  

Possible Side Effects 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.

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Lipitor.

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets (Lipitor) to Reduce Risk for MI in

Canada

On April 24, Health Canada approved an expanded indication for atorvastatin calcium (Lipitor tablets, Pfizer Canada, Inc), allowing its use to reduce the risk for myocardial infarction in adult patients without clinically evident coronary heart disease (CHD) but having risk factors for the condition such as prior myocardial infarction (MI).

The approval was based in part on data from the Treating to New Targets (TNT trial), in which the effect of 80 mg/day of atorvastatin on the reduction of cardiovascular (CV) events was assessed in 10,001 patients (94% white, 81% men, 38% aged ≥ 65 years) with clinically evident CHD. The patients had received a run-in regimen of atorvastatin, 10 mg/day, for 8 weeks, which lowered their mean low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level from 152 to 98 mg/dL.

Patients were randomized to continue with the 10-mg/day dose or to receive 80 mg/day for a median duration of 4.9 years. At the end of the study, those in the high- vs the low-dose group had a significantly lower mean LDL cholesterol level (77 vs 101 mg/dL).

Results showed that the time to first occurrence of major CV events was significantly lower in patients receiving atorvastatin 80 vs 10 mg/day (8.7% vs 10.9%), representing a 2.2% absolute risk reduction and 22% relative risk reduction. Overall risk reduction was not affected by age or sex.

Further analysis revealed that the reduction was driven by significant decreases in the rate for nonfatal, nonprocedure-related MI (hazard ratio, [HR], 0.78; 95% CI, 0.66 - 0.93) and fatal/nonfatal stroke (HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.59 - 0.96), but not CHD death (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.61 - 1.03) or resuscitated cardiac arrest (HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.56 - 1.67).

Although the overall frequency of treatment-related adverse events was similar between groups, patients receiving 80 mg vs 10 mg of atorvastatin daily were more likely to have serious adverse events (1.8% vs 1.4%) and to discontinue therapy due to adverse events (9.9% vs 8.1%) during the 4.9-year period. The rate for persistent transaminase elevations (≥ 3 times the upper limit of normal) was 1.3% in the 80-mg/day group vs 0.2% in patients receiving 10 mg/day of atorvastatin.

The expanded indication was previously approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Other FDA-approved uses for atorvastatin include its adjunctive use with diet to treat certain dyslipidemias; to reduce the risk for MI, stroke, revascularization procedures, and angina in patients without CHD but having multiple risk factors for the condition; to reduce the risk for MI and stroke in patients with diabetes mellitus and no clinically evident CHD but having multiple risk factors for the condition; and to reduce the risk for nonfatal MI, fatal/nonfatal stroke, revascularization procedures, congestive heart failure hospitalization, and angina in patients with clinically evident CHD.

In Canada, atorvastatin was previously approved for adjunctive use with diet and lifestyle measures to treat certain dyslipidemias; to reduce the risk for MI in adult hypertensive patients without clinically evident CHD but at least 3 additional risk factors (eg, age, smoking, and type 2 diabetes); and to reduce the risk for MI and stroke in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension without clinically evident CHD but with other risk factors such as age, albuminuria, or smoking.

Fosamax.

Wednesday, September 19th, 2007

Fosamax is indicated for treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. For the treatment of osteoporosis, Fosamax increases bone mass and reduces the incidence of fractures, including those of the hip and spine. It is also indicated for the prevention of osteoporosis, treatment to increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis, treatment of glucocorticoid. It is used to treat induced osteoporosis in men and women receiving glucocorticoids in a daily dosage equivalent to 7.5 mg or greater of prednisone and who have low bone mineral density, treatment of Paget’s disease of bone in men and women.

   Fosamax comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It should be taken once a day in the morning on an empty stomach. Fosamax should be taken with a full glass (6-8 ounces) of plain water. Wait at least 30 minutes after taking Fosamax before you eat, drink, or take other medications. Do not take Fosamax with mineral water, coffee, orange juice, milk, or other dairy products. Do not suck or chew the tablet; swallow the tablet whole. Do not lie down for at least 30 minutes after taking Fosamax. Standing or sitting upright helps you get the full dose and decreases heartburn or the risk of injury to your esophagus.

  Before taking Fosamax, tell your doctor if you have a problem swallowing, such as a narrowing of the esophagus; have esophageal ulcers or an esophageal disease; have a condition that causes low levels of calcium in the body; have kidney disease; have stomach ulcers or other stomach or digestive problems; or are unable to stand or sit upright for at least 30 minutes. You may not be able to take Fosamax, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above. Fosamax is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether Fosamax will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take Fosamax without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether Fosamax passes into breast milk. Do not take Fosamax without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

   If you take Fosamax every day and you miss a dose, skip that dose and take the next regularly scheduled dose the following day. Missing one dose will not affect your treatment. Do not take two tablets at the same time. If you take a Fosamax once a week and you miss a dose, take the missed dose on the morning after you remember. Do not take two tablets on the same day. Return to taking one tablet once a week, as originally scheduled on your chosen day. 

Stop taking Fosamax if you experience any of the following serious side effects: an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); Seek emergency or talk to your doctor if you have difficulty or pain when swallowing; chest pain; pain or burning under the ribs or in the back; or new or worsening heartburn. Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Fosamax and talk to your doctor if you experience abdominal discomfort; stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation; headache; muscle, bone, or joint soreness or aches; eye pain; a rash; or an altered sense of taste. 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.

Viagra

Tuesday, March 27th, 2007

What is Viagra?

Viagra
is a prescription medicine taken by mouth for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. ED is a condition where the penis does not harden and expand when a man is sexually excited, or when he cannot keep an erection. Viagra may help a man with ED get and keep an erection when he is sexually excited. Viagra must be used only under a doctor’s care.

Viagra does not:

  • cure ED
  • increase a man’s sexual desire
  • protect a man or his partner from sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Speak to your healthcare professional about ways to guard against sexually transmitted diseases.
  • serve as a male form of birth control

Viagra is only for men with ED. Viagra is not for women or children. Viagra must be used only under a healthcare professional’s care.

Who Should Not Take Viagra?

Do not take Viagra if you:

  • take any medicines called “nitrates”
  • use recreational drugs called “poppers” like amyl nitrate and butyl nitrate
  • have been told by your healthcare professional to not have sexual activity because of health problems

What are The Risks?

The following are the major possible risks and side effects of Viagra therapy. This list is not complete.

Viagra can cause your blood pressure to drop suddenly to an unsafe level if it is taken with certain other medicines such as nitrates and alpha-blockers, and recreational drugs that contain nitrates called “poppers”. A sudden drop in your blood pressure could cause you to become dizzy, faint, or have a heart attack or stroke.

Tell all your healthcare professionals that you take Viagra. If you need emergency medical care for a heart problem, it will be important for your healthcare professionals to know when you last took Viagra.

Viagra may uncommonly cause:

  • an erection that won’t go away (priapism)
  • vision changes, such as seeing a blue tinge to objects or having difficulty telling the difference between the colors blue and green

Some common side effects with Viagra include:

  • headache
  • flushing
  • upset stomach
  • stuffy or runny nose
  • urinary tract infection
  • diarrhea

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Professional?

Tell your healthcare professional if you:

  • have or had heart problems
  • have low blood pressure or have high blood pressure that is not controlled
  • have had a stroke
  • have liver problems
  • have ever had severe vision loss
  • have kidney problems or require dialysis
  • have retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic (runs in families) eye disease
  • have stomach ulcers
  • have a bleeding problem
  • have a deformed penis shape or Peyronie’s disease
  • have had an erection that lasted more than 4 hours
  • have blood cell problems such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia
  • are taking a medicine called a protease inhibitor for the treatment of HIV
  • are taking medicines called alpha blockers (alpha blockers are sometimes prescribed for prostate problems or high blood pressure)

Can Other Medicines or Food Affect Viagra?

Viagra and certain other medicines can interact with each other. Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them with you to show your healthcare professional.

 

Ibuprofen Best for Kids with Acute Musculoskeletal Pain

Tuesday, March 6th, 2007

Among 300 children who arrived at the emergency department with pain from a musculoskeletal injury, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil and generics ) led to significantly better improvement on a pain scale than acetaminophen (Tylenol and generics) or codeine, reported Eric Clark, M.D., of the University of Ottawa, and colleagues. The injuries to the extremities, neck, or back included fractures, bruises, and sprains, all incurred within the previous 48 hours, the investigators reported in the March issue of Pediatrics. For analgesia, the children, from the ages of six to 17, were randomly assigned to receive orally 15 mg/kg of acetaminophen, 10 mg/kg of ibuprofen, or 1 mg/kg of codeine. The children, parents, and research assistants were blinded to assignments. The primary study outcome was the change in pain from baseline to one hour after drug administration, as measured by a 100 mm visual analog scale with 1 = no pain and 100 = the worst pain. There were no significant differences in pain scores among the three groups at 30 minutes, but from 60 minutes onwards, the patients who had received ibuprofen reported significantly greater pain relief (improvement in pain score) than patients in either the acetaminophen or codeine groups (P<0.001). There were no significant differences at any point between the two latter groups. The children who received codeine had an 11-point decline in pain scores (95% confidence interval -16 to -5), compared with a 12-point drop in the children who received acetaminophen (95% CI -16 to -8), and a 24-point decline in the kids on ibuprofen (95% CI -29 to -20). Ibuprofen still provided better pain relief at two hours than either of the other analgesics, and was also significantly better at one hour (but not at two hours) at providing adequate analgesia, defined as a visual analog scale score of less than 30 mm (P<0.001). Ibuprofen was also significantly better at relieving pain from fractures at both 60 and 120 minutes. There was no statistical difference between codeine and acetaminophen for relief of fracture pain, however. There were no significant differences in change in pain score among the three drug groups for patients with soft-tissue injuries. When the authors looked only at those patients with pain scores higher than 30 mm at baseline, they found that ibuprofen was significantly better than the other two drugs at the 60- minute but not 120-minute mark. There were no significant adverse events, except that one child in the codeine group was accidentally administered 5 mg/kg of codeine as a single dose. The child was withdrawn from the study, treated with oral charcoal, monitored in the ED, and had no adverse outcome. The authors pointed out that “it is also important to note that although ibuprofen was more efficacious in providing adequate analgesia, only 52% of children in this group could be defined as receiving “adequate analgesia” at 60 minutes.” “Although codeine and acetaminophen did result in some improvement in pain, the actual level of improvement (a change of 10-11 mm on the VAS) is only just within the range previous studies have suggested to represent a significant improvement in pain,” the authors noted. “Thus, although ibuprofen provided better pain relief than codeine and acetaminophen in our study, it seems that ibuprofen alone is not adequate for relieving pain in all children with musculoskeletal injuries.”The study was limited by a large number of eligible patients who did not participate, although the characteristics of the participants were similar to those who opted out, the authors said. The study also may not have been adequately blinded, they acknowledged, as suggested by the fact about half of patients, parents, and research assistants involved in the study correctly guessed the medication that was given in the acetaminophen and ibuprofen groups.

ZOCOR (simvastatin)

Monday, March 5th, 2007

What is the most important information I should know about Zocor?

• Rare cases of muscle problems and liver problems have been associated with the use of Zocor and other similar medicines. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by a fever or flulike symptoms or yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, unexplained fatigue, dark colored urine or pale colored stools. These may be early symptoms of muscle or liver problems.
• Do not take Zocor without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease.
• Alcohol and Zocor can both be damaging to the liver. Alcohol should be used only in moderation. Discuss the use of alcohol with your doctor so that the potential for liver problems can be determined.
• Do not take Zocor if you are pregnant, could become pregnant during treatment, or if you are breast-feeding a baby.

What is Zocor?

• Zocor is an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor. Zocor blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in the body.
• Zocor is used to reduce the total amounts of cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, triglycerides (another type of fat), and apolipoprotein B (a protein needed to make cholesterol) in your blood. Zocor (Zocor) is also used to increase the level of HDL (good) cholesterol in your blood. These actions may reduce the risk of hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.
• Zocor may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Zocor?

• Do not take Zocor without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease.
• Before taking Zocor, tell your doctor if you
     · have kidney disease,
     · drink alcoholic beverages,
     · have a chronic muscular disease, or
     · have a blood disorder.
• You may not be able to take Zocor, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
• Zocor is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that Zocor is known to cause birth defects if it is taken during pregnancy. Do not take Zocor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
• It is not known whether Zocor passes into breast milk. Do not take Zocor without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take Zocor?

• Take Zocor exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water.
• For the greatest effect, Zocor is usually taken at bedtime or with an evening meal. Follow your doctor’s instructions.
• Your doctor may want to monitor your liver function with blood tests before starting treatment with Zocor and every six months after both the start of your treatment and any increase in dose. Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor can determine how much monitoring you will require.
• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Zocor. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.
• Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. To realize beneficial effects from Zocor, avoid fatty, high-cholesterol foods.
• It is important to take Zocor regularly to get the most benefit.
• Do not stop taking Zocor without first talking to your doctor. Zocor may need to be taken on a long-term basis for the treatment of high cholesterol.
• Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with Zocor to monitor progress and side effects.
• Store Zocor at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?

• Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.
• Symptoms of a Zocor overdose include nausea, diarrhea, stomach distress, and indigestion.

What should I avoid while taking Zocor?

• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Zocor. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.
• Alcohol and Zocor can both be damaging to the liver. Alcohol should be used only in moderation. Discuss the use of alcohol with your doctor so that the potential for liver problems can be determined.

What are the possible side effects of Zocor?

• Rare cases of muscle problems and liver problems have been associated with the use of Zocor and other similar medicines. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by a fever or flulike symptoms or yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, unexplained fatigue, dark colored urine or pale colored stools. These may be early symptoms of muscle or liver problems.
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Zocor and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
     · an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
     · decreased urine or rust-colored urine; or
     · blurred vision.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Zocor and talk to your doctor if you experience
     · gas, bloating, nausea, stomach upset, heartburn, abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea;
     · cough;
     · headache; or
     · insomnia.
• 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.

What other drugs will affect Zocor?

• Do not take Zocor without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
     · cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral);
     · gemfibrozil (Lopid), clofibrate (Atromid-S), or fenofibrate (Tricor);
     · niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Slo-Niacin, others);
     · erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, others) or clarithromycin (Biaxin);
     · cholestyramine (Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);
     · an antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole (Diflucan), or ketoconazole (Nizoral);
     · nefazodone (Serzone);
     · digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);
     · warfarin (Coumadin);
     · a protease inhibitor such as amprenavir (Agenerase), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), lopinavir-ritonavir (Kaletra), or saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase);
     · amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacer one); or
     · verapamil (Calan, Covera-HS, Isoptin, Verelan).
• You may not be able to take Zocor, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Zocor. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has additional information about Zocor written for health professionals that you may read.