Drugs Information Center(DIC)

Grapefruit juice can decrease the absorption of fexofenadine from the stomach into the bloodstream. This could make fexofenadine less effective. To avoid this interaction, take fexofenadine with water or liquids other than fruit juices. Do not take fexofenadine with grapefruit juice or grapefruit itself. Also avoid taking fexofenadine with apple juice and orange juice.Discuss this potential interaction with your healthcare provider at your next appointment, or sooner if you think you are having problems. Subscribe to Drugs Information Center by Email

Clinical Use :Ø ART experienced patients with CCR5 tropic HIV-1 virus and withdetectable viral resistance to multiple ARTs Ø Should not be used in treatment naïve patient Failure :• Tropism for conversion from CCR 5 to CXCR 4 or dual or mixedtropism of HIV-1 • v3 loop mutation in gp120 Recommended Maraviroc Dose :1) 150mg oral BD in combination with CYP3A inhibitors (proteaseinhibitors,azole itraconazol/ ketoconazol, clarithromycin).2) 300mg oral BD in combination with ritonavir boosted tipranavir, NRTI,enfuvirtide, nevirapine or other drugs without CYP3A effect.3) 600mg oral BD with CYP 3A inducers efavirenz, entravirin, rifampicin,st. jone`s wart.Metabolism :Primarily by liverToxicities: Diarrhoea, nausea, fatigue, headache and derangement ofliver function testVicriviroc:Plasma half life markedly increased by CYP 3A4 inhibitorsPlasma half life >24 hrsNo food effectDurable antiretroviral activity in CCR5 tropic strainUnder Phase III trialAlpraviroc: Hepatotoxic, so trial was termin...

Raltegravir is the first integraseinhibitor to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in antiretroviral treatment–experienced adult patients with viral resistance. Raltegravir blocks HIV replication by inhibitingessential strand-transfer activities of integrase. Raltegravir is rapidly absorbed, with a median Tmax of~4 hours in the fasting state. No dose adjustment is recommended in patients with moderate renal or hepaticinsufficiency, and raltegravir may be taken withoutregard to meals. Subscribe to Drugs Information Center by Email

Outbreaks of chloramphenicol-resistant typhoid stimulated a search for alternative oral antibiotic therapies and accelerated efforts to develop a new generation of better-tolerated, efficacious typhoid vaccines. The efforts bore fruit when live oral S. Typhi vaccine strain Ty21a and parenteral Vi polysaccharide vaccine were licensed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Despite extensive data documenting the safety, efficacy, and practicality of the Vi and Ty21a vaccines, these preparations have not been widely applied programmatically in developing countries. The limited use of the Vi vaccine has been partly due to doubts about the programmatic feasibility and effect of Vi vaccination in public health programs, as well as questions about whether the vaccine is protective in children between the ages of 2 and 5 years and whether it can confer herd immunity. According to the Sur et al. report, the Vi vaccine conferred an adjusted vaccine effectiveness in preschool children of 80% after two...

The FDA warned prescribers about the risk of serious liver injury associated with the use of the anti-thyroid drug propylthiouracil (PTU). FDA’s warning highlights: There is an increased risk of liver injury with propylthiouracil (PTU) when compared to methimazole. Monitor for symptoms and signs of liver injury when propylthiouracil is chosen as anti-thyroid therapy. This should be emphasized during the first six months after initiating therapy. Subscribe to Drugs Information Center by Email

Insulin is injected into the fatty tissue. The body areas that can be used for injections are shown in the picture below. Insulin absorption varies with the body area that is used. The abdomen has the fastest rate of absorption followed by the arms, legs and buttocks. Randomly changing the body areas used for injections may result in variability in blood sugar levels. It is best that injection sites be changed within one body area instead of between body areas. The body area used for each routine injection (for example, before breakfast) should be the same every day. Abdomen - stay 2 inches away from the navel (belly button) or scars and go sideways to the hips. You can go above or below the waist if there is good tissue. Arms - measure one hand width down from the shoulder and one hand width up from the elbow. Use the fleshy outer surface. Legs - measure one hand width down from the groin and one hand width up from the knee. Use the top and outer part of the leg staying away from the ...

India has become a dumping ground for banned drugs; also the business for production of banned drugs is booming. Plz make sure that u buy drugs, only if prescribed by a doctor (Also, ask which company manufactures it, this would help to ensure that u get what is prescribed at the Drug Store) and that also from a reputed drug store. Not many people know about these banned drugs and consume them causing a lot of damage to themselves. 1. PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE: cold and cough. Reason for ban : stroke. Brand name : Vicks A 2. ANALGIN: This is a pain-killer. Reason for ban: Bone marrow depression. Brand name: Novalgin 3. CISAPRIDE: Acidity, constipation. Reason for ban : irregular heartbeat Brand name : Ciza, Syspride 4. DROPERIDOL: Anti-depressant. Reason for ban : Irregular heartbeat. Brand name : Droperol 5. FURAZOLIDONE: Antidiarrhoeal. Reason for ban : Cancer. Brand name : Furoxone, Lomofen 6. NIMESULIDE: Painkiller, fever. Reason for ban : Liver failure. Brand name : Nise, Nimulid 7. NI...