Drugs Information Center(DIC)

Intravenous alteplase is the only approved treatment for acute ischemic stroke. Tenecteplase, a genetically engineered mutant tissue plasminogen activator, is an alternative thrombolytic agent. Tenecteplase was associated with significantly better reperfusion and clinical outcomes than alteplase in patients with stroke who were selected on the basis of CT perfusion imaging. Source Subscribe to Drugs Information Center by Email

A 65-year-old woman with no history of diabetes, developed hyperglycemia, after taking Gatifloxacin. She was admitted to the hospital with a one day history of abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Her blood glucose was 1,121 mg/dL (normal range 70 to 100 mg/ dL). She had a history of high BP, transient ischemic attacks, hyperlipidemia and renal failure. The patient was receiving Gatifloxacin 200 mg daily for 9 days empirically for bronchitis, which was started during a prior hospitalization. After admission, she responded well to an insulin infusion combined with subcutaneous doses of regular insulin. (Ann Pharmacother. 2005; 39(7):1349–1352) Reports of hypoglycemia with other fluoroquinolones have been documented, but only Gatifloxacin is reported to cause severe hyperglycemia Subscribe to Drugs Information Center by Email

FDA Approved OTC Version Of Heartburn Drug Zegerid (omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate) on December 2, 2009. Omeprazole is sensitive to acidic environment, so it is destroyed partly is stomach. Sodium bicarbonate saves it from destruction and increases the bioavailability by its acid neutralisation capacity. Subscribe to Drugs Information Center by Email

Dexmedetomidine is a sedative medication used by intensive care units and anesthesiologists. It is relatively unique in its ability to provide sedation without causing respiratory depression . Like clonidine , its mechanism of action is agonism of alpha-2 receptors in certain parts of the brain. Dexmedetomidine has sedative, analgesic, sympatholytic, and anxiolytic effects that blunt many of the cardiovascular responses in the perioperative period. It reduces the volatile anesthetic, sedative and analgesic requirements of the patient without causing significant respiratory depression. Recent research has suggested dexmedetomidine to be an effective treatment for the dangerous cardiovascular symptoms of cocaine intoxication and overdose . It also seemed to be superior to lorazepam for ventilated patients in the intensive care unit . Compared to midazolam , dexmedetomidine was similarly effective for sedation, but shortened the time to extubation , was associated with less deliriu...

FDA notified healthcare professionals of new safety information concerning an interaction between clopidogrel ( Plavi x), an anti-clotting medication, and omeprazole ( Prilosec /Prilosec OTC), a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) used to reduce stomach acid. New data show that when clopidogrel and omeprazole are taken together, the effectiveness of clopidogrel is reduced. Patients at risk for heart attacks or strokes who use clopidogrel to prevent blood clots will not get the full effect of this medicine if they are also taking omeprazole. Separating the dose of clopidogrel and omeprazole in time will not reduce this drug interaction. Other drugs that are expected to have a similar effect and should be avoided in combination with clopidogrel include: cimetidine, fluconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole, etravirine, felbamate, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and ticlopidine. Subscribe to Drugs Information Center by Email

Dosing Information Adult: In Angina pectoris, chronic, initial, 500 mg orally twice daily; increase to the maximum recommended dose of 1000 mg orally twice daily as needed based on clinical symptoms. Pediatric: Safety and efficacy not established in pediatric patients. Contraindications • Concurrent use of potent and moderately potent CYP3A inhibitors, including diltiazem, verapamil, macrolide antibiotics, HIV protease inhibitors, ketoconazole and other azole antifungals, and grapefruit juice or grapefruit-containing products; increased ranolazine levels and QTc prolongation. • Concurrent use of QT prolonging drugs (such as Class Ia and Class III antiarrhythmics, and certain antipsychotic). • Hepatic impairment, Child-Pugh Classes A, B or C; QTc prolongation is increased approximately 3-fold. • QT prolongation, pre-existing, including congenital long QT syndrome and uncorrected hypokalemia. Precautions • Concurrent use of CYP3A and P-glycoprotein inducers (eg, carbamazepine, phenobarbi...

Asthma is a long-term illness that causes the airways of the lungs to be irritated, make mucus, and to swell. You may have some airway swelling all the time, even when you feel OK. Your airways may also become smaller causing you to have breathing problems or to wheeze. Wheezing is a loud noise you hear when you breathe in or out. An asthma attack happens when your airways narrow making it hard to breathe. Asthma attacks are also called flare-ups, exacerbations, or episodes. Causes : The following may be possible causes of an asthma attack. 􀁺 Air pollution. 􀁺 Animals. 􀁺 Cold weather. 􀁺 Dust. 􀁺 Exercise. Foods. 􀁺 Lung infections. 􀁺 Molds. 􀁺 Pollens. 􀁺 Smoke. 􀁺 Stress. Signs and Symptoms: Breathing faster than normal. 􀁺 Breathing trouble. 􀁺 Cough which may be worse at night or early morning. 􀁺 Drop in peak flow reading. 􀁺 Fast heartbeat. 􀁺 Head "stopped up." 􀁺 Itchy, scratchy, or sore throat. 􀁺 Short of breath. 􀁺 Tight feeling in the chest. 􀁺 Tired. 􀁺 Wheez...