Drugs Information Center(DIC)

Advise patient it is unsafe to take more than 4 grams of acetaminophen in a 24-hour period. Instruct patient that many non-prescription combination products may contain acetaminophen. Instruct patient to report signs/symptoms of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, hepatotoxicity, or nephrotoxicity. Patient should take with a full glass of water. Patient should not drink alcohol while taking this drug. Advise patients who drink more than 3 alcoholic drinks a day to consult a healthcare professional prior to taking acetaminophen. Dosing - Adult Dysmenorrhea: 650 to 1000 mg ORALLY every 4 h as needed, maximum 4 g/day Dysmenorrhea: 650 mg RECTALLY every 4 to 6 h; maximum 6 suppositories/24 h Fever: 650 to 1000 mg ORALLY every 4 h as needed, maximum 4 g/day Fever: 650 mg RECTALLY every 4 to 6 h; maximum 6 suppositories/24 h Headache: 650 to 1000 mg ORALLY every 4 h as needed, maximum 4 g/day Headache: 650 mg RECTALLY every 4 to 6 h; maximum 6 suppositories/24 h Pain (Mild to Moderate): 650 to 1000...

Therapeutic Class Calcium Channel Blocker Cardiovascular Agent Dihydropyridine Mechanism of Action Amlodipine besylate is a long-acting dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker that exerts its effect by blocking the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into cardiac and vascular smooth muscles. It also reduces peripheral vascular resistance and lowers blood pressure by causing a direct vasodilation in the peripheral arteries of the vascular smooth muscle. Its therapeutic effect on vasospastic angina is through inhibition of coronary spasm . Pharmacokinetics about 30 h to 50 h Hepatic Oral: time to peak concentration, 6 h to 12 h Protein binding: approximately 93% Renal: 60% as metabolites, 10% unchanged Bioavailability: 64% to 90% Impaired hepatic function: 56 h Effect of food: bioavailability not altered Patient Advice Patient should avoid activities requiring coordination until drug effects are realized, as drug may cause dizziness. This drug may cause palpitations, peripheral edema, f...

Indications: Treating anxiety and panic disorder. Do NOT use Alprazolam if: you are allergic to any ingredient in Alprazolam or other benzodiazepines (eg, diazepam) you have acute narrow-angle glaucoma, severe liver disease, or a mental state where contact with reality is lost (psychosis) you are taking an azole antifungal (eg, itraconazole, ketoconazole), delavirdine, or sodium oxybate (GHB) Before using Alprazolam : Some medical conditions may interact with Alprazolam . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you: if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement if you have allergies to medicines or other substances if you have glaucoma or a predisposition for glaucoma, liver problems, lung problems or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), muscle problems, depression, suicidal tenden...

A peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist, wasapproved by the US FDA to accelerate thetime to gastrointestinal recovery followingbowel resection surgery. It is the firstpharmacotherapy to be approved for thisapplication. Ileus — a temporary impairment ofgastrointestinal function — is a complicationthat affects almost all patients that undergomajor bowel surgery. It results in abdominaldiscomfort, nausea and vomiting, and is amajor reason for prolonged hospitalization. The pathophysiology of post-operative ileus(POI) is complex. An important contributoryfactor is the activation of m-opioid receptors in the gastrointestinal tract by endogenous opioidsthat are released in response to the stress causedby surgery, as well as by opioid analgesics thatare the most common treatment for pain inpatients undergoing surgery1,2. Activation ofthese peripheral m-opioid receptors leads to anincrease in colonic muscle tone and a reductionin propulsive activity in the gastrointestinaltract. C...

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS- Avoid use in pregnancy. Fetal/Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality - can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus. Drugs that act on the renin angiotensin system can cause fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality when used in pregnancy. In several dozen published cases, ACE inhibitor use during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy was associated with fetal and neonatal injury, including hypotension, neonatal skull hypoplasia, anuria, reversible or irreversible renal failure, and death. Hypotension- Volume depletion should be corrected prior to administration . Impaired Renal Function - Hypertension Subscribe to Drugs Information Center by Email

Class of drug: Treatment for Parkinson’s disease, antiviral agent. Mechanism of action: Anti-Parkinson action: promotes release of dopamine in substantia nigra. Antiviral action: prevents viral penetration of influenza A virus into target host cells. Indications/dosage/route: Oral only . Parkinson’s disease Ð Adults: 100 mg b.i.d., may be titrated up. Maximum: 400 mg/d. Influenza A: Ð Adults: 200 mg/d, single or divided dose. Adjustment of dosage: Kidney disease: reduce dose as follows. Creatinine clearance 30–50 mL/min: initial 200 mg, then 100 mg/d; creatinine clearance 15–29 mL/min: initial 200 mg, then 100 mg q.i.d.; creatinine clearance • Liver disease: None • Elderly: Dosage should be divided as twice daily administration. Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to amantadine, untreated angle-closure glaucoma. Warnings/precautions: Use with caution in patients with the following conditions: Psychiatric disorders, liver or kidney disease, history of epilepsy, peripheral edema, ortho...

Class of drug : Thrombolytic agent. Mechanism of action : Converts fibrin-bound plasminogen to plasmin, which initiates local fibrinolysis (clot dissolution). Indications/dosage/route : IV only. Acute myocardial infarction : accelerated infusion: Ð Adults weighing more than 65 kg: Infuse 15 mg over 1–2 minutes; infuse 50 mg over next 30 min. Begin heparin 5000–10,000 units IV bolus followed by continuous infusion of 1000 units/h. Infuse 35 mg alteplase over next hour. Acute ischemic stroke Pulmonary embolism Contraindications: Patients treated for acute MI, pulmonary embolism, active internal bleeding, history of cerebrovascular accident, recent intracranial or intraspinal surgery or trauma, intracranial neoplasm, arteriovenous malformation or aneurysm, known bleeding diathesis, severe uncontrolled bleeding, severe uncontrolled hypertension. Warnings/precautions: Use with caution in patients with the following conditions: internal bleeding (intracranial, retroperitoneal, gastrointesti...

Class of drug : Antiarrhythmic. Mechanism of action : Vagolytic effect: Slows conduction through AV node; prevents reentry through AV node. Restores normal sinus rhythm in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia including Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome. Indications/dosage/route : IV only. Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia Ð Adults: bolus of 6 mg. If no effect after 1–2 min, 12-mg bolus. May repeat 12-mg dose × 2. Adjustment of dosage • Kidney disease: None. Liver disease: None. Elderly: None. Contraindications: Second- or third-degree AV block (without pacemaker), sick sinus syndrome, symptomatic bradycardia. Warnings/precautions Use with caution in patients with the following condition: Stroke, asthma, unstable angina (higher risk of arrythmias, MI). Cardiac arrest (including fatalities), ventricular tachycardia, and MI have been reported coincident with use. May produce transient first-, second-, third-degree AV block. Asystole has been reported in atrial flutter ...

Class of drug: β-Adrenergic receptor blocker. Mechanism of action: Competitive blocker of β adrenergic receptors in heart and blood vessels . Indications/dosage/route : Oral only. Hypertension Adults: Initial: 400 mg/d. Maintenance: 200–1200 mg/d. Premature ventricular contractions Adults: Initial: 200 mg b.i.d. Maintenance: 600–1200 mg/d. Adjustment of dosage • Kidney disease: Creatinine clearance 25–50 mL/min: decrease dose by 50%; creatinine clearance by 75%. • Liver disease: None. • Elderly: Avoid doses >800 mg/d. • Pediatric: Safety and efficacy have not been established in children. Contraindications : Cardiogenic shock, CHF unless it is secondary to tachyarrhythmia treated with a β blocker, sinus bradycardia and AV block greater than first degree, severe COPD. Warnings/precautions Use with caution in patients with the following conditions: diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, COPD, peripheral vascular disease. Do not stop drug abruptly as this may precipitate arrhy...