Aug
1
Clarithromycin
August 1, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Generic Name
Clarithromycin (klah-rith-roe-MYE-sin) 91
Brand Names Biaxin
Type of Drug Macrolide antibiotic.
Biaxin XL
Prescribed For
Mild to moderate infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, middle-ear infections, and for duodenal ulcers; also used for skin and other infections, including membrane attack complex (MAC) in people with advanced HIV infection.
General Information
Clarithromycin and other macybYide antibiotics are either bacteri(;((JW (’UaCkeeia-killing) or bacteriostatic (inhibiting bacterial growth), depending on the organism in question and amount of antibiotic present. In ulcer disease, clarithromycin is used to fight Helicobacter pylori infection, which is present in almost all ulcers and most cases of stomach inflammation.
Cautions and Warnings
Do not take clarithromycin if you are allergic or sensitive to any of its ingredients or to any macrolide antibiotic.
Clarithromycin should not be used during pregnancy.
Clarithromycin is primarily eliminated from the body through the liver and kidneys. People with severe kidney disease may require dose adjustments. Liver disease generally does not require an adjustment.
Colitis (bowel inflammation) has been associated with all antibiotics (see “Possible Side Effects”). If colitis does develop, your doctor should start appropriate treatment. Mild cases of colitis usually respond to the discontinuation of the medicine.
Possible Side Effects
Most side effects are mild and go away once you stop taking clarithromycin.
✓ Most common: nausea, upset stomach, changes in sense of taste, headache, he. diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and rash in children. Colitis (symptoms include severe abdominal cramps and severe, persistent, and possibly bloody diarrhea) may develop.
✓ Rare: serious abnormal heart rhythms. Contact your doc-
tor if you experience any side effect not listed above.
Drug Interactions
• Clarithromycin may increase the anticoagulant (blood-thinning) effects of warfarin in people who take it regularly, especially older adults. This combination requires careful monitoring by your doctor.
• Do not combine clarithromycin with astemizole or terfenadine.
• Combining clarithromycin and omeprazole raises the amount of both drugs in the blood.
• Two deaths have been reported in people combining Oarithromycin and pimozidp_ ?imuiide should not be used by peibp)e faking a macrolide antibiotic.
• Clarithromycin may raise blood levels of theophylline, possibly leading to a theophylline overdose. It can also increase the effects of caffeine.
• Combining clarithromycin and digoxin, cyclosporine, ergot
alkaloids, or tacrolimus may lead to serious side effects.
Jul
1
Drugs for Depression Treatment
July 1, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Depression
Depression is a natural reaction to disappointment and grief, but it is normally brief
and self-limiting. Excessive or prolonged depression is an illness, sometimes without
apparent cause, and it appears to be linked with an imbalance in the brain of certain
amine substances, including serotonin, that act as neuroregulators. Drug therapy
can assist in restoring a normal balance, but prolonged treatment is usually necessary
to evoke a full response. The drugs in most frequent use are the tricyclic
antidepressants, so-called from their chemical structure, together with the
monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). All the tricyclic antidepressants have the
same general pattern of activity, but some, such as amitriptyline, are more sedative
than others. Some related compounds have a similar antidepressant action, but blood
counts are essential with mianserin and convulsions have been reported after
maprotiline therapy. The monoamine oxidase inhibitors are phenelzine,
isocarboxazid and tranylcypromine. They are now used less often, as they are potent
drugs that react with many other therapeutic agents, as well as certain food such as
cheese, broad beans, pickled herring, and meat/yeast extracts. A new MAGI is
moclobernide, which has a more selective and reversible action on the A-form of
MAO. Particular care is necessary with tranylcypromine. Fluvoxamine, fluoxetine,
paroxetine and sertraline are newer drugs that have a more selective antidepressant
action mediated by inhibiting the re-uptake of serotonin. They are referred to
collectively as SSRIs (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors).
amitriptyline
amoxapme
adothiepin
edoxepin
bfepramine
75-300 mg
mg
30-90 mg
15-60 mg
50-300 mg
Manerix
imipramine
150-600mg emaprotiline
Nardil10-30 mg
Daily dose range
Approved names Brand names
citalopram fluoxetine fluvoxamine mitazapine paroxetine reboxetine sertraline
flupenthixol nefazodone tryptophan venlafaxine
Lustral 50-200 mg
Cipramil 20-60 mg
Prozac 20 mg
Faverin 100-300 mg
Optimax 3-69
Efexor 75-150 mg
Dutonin 200-600 mg
Zispin 15-45 mg
Seroxat 20-50 mg
Fluanxol 1-3 mg
Edronax 4-8 mg
selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI*)