Medical Shop

Birth Control Pill That Stops Periods Wins FDA Approval

2007-12-17T23:29:00.000-08:00

The Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved the first birth control pill that eliminates a woman's monthly period.
Taken daily, the contraceptive, called Lybrel, continuously administers slightly lower doses of the same hormones in many standard birth control pills to suppress menstruation. It is designed for women who find their periods too painful, unpleasant or inconvenient and want to be free of them.

"This will be the first and only oral contraceptive designed to be taken 365 days a year, allowing women to put their periods on hold," said Amy Marren of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, which expects Lybrel to be available with a prescription by July. "There are a lot of women who think that's a great option to have."
Company studies involving more than 2,400 women showed that Lybrel is as effective at preventing pregnancy as standard birth control pills and that it completely suppresses menstruation for many women within the first year, although some experience sporadic bleeding, the FDA said.
Advocates of birth control welcomed Lybrel, saying it provides women with another option.
"Every woman's birth control needs are different, and the best methods are those that fit a woman's lifestyle and meet her needs," said Vanessa Cullins, vice president for medical affairs at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
But others questioned whether enough research had been done to be sure that Lybrel is safe to suppress menstruation in the long term.
"There may be important health consequences that we don't know about," said Christine L. Hitchcock, an endocrinology researcher at the University of British Columbia. "I don't think we understand everything that the menstrual cycle does well enough to say with confidence that you can abolish it and not have any consequences."
Some criticized Lybrel for fueling biases and misconceptions about menstruation.
"I think it sends the wrong message about menstruation in women's lives, especially for young women," said Ingrid Johnston-Robledo, an associate professor of psychology and women's studies at the State University of New York at Fredonia. "It perpetuates a lot of negative attitudes and taboos about menstruation -- that it's something that's bothersome and dirty and debilitating and shameful."
Wyeth and the FDA said that there is no evidence of any long-term risks and that suppressing the menstrual cycle can have many benefits, especially for women who experience cramps, bloating and mood swings. There is no reason to think it would pose any additional health hazards, they said.
"The risks of using Lybrel are similar to other conventional oral contraceptives," said Daniel Shames, deputy director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "We don't suspect there are going to be any surprises in terms of long-term use of this product."

New Pills for Migration Headaches

2007-12-17T23:27:00.000-08:00

Migration survivors tell their tales of long hours and lots of uncertainty while everyone's at home fluffing their pillows

Although large data migration jobs often mean long hours and lots of uncertainty for storage administrators, a few who feared the worst had an easier time than expected with new tools.
Traditionally, data migration projects are long processes that can be unpredictable, especially when large SANs are involved. The process can take days, and that’s if everything goes right. Migration tools usually don’t do a good job of shortening the process, or providing a good idea of how long it will take.
“Pick your poison,” one analyst who asked not to be named says when discussing migration tools. “There are a ton of data migration products -- Softek, StoreAge, Kashya, EMC’s SRDF, EMC SANcopy, NetApp SNAPmirror. Like I said, ‘Pick your poison.’”

But ask around, and it appears there are some solutions popping up that may be easier to swallow than others -- depending on your circumstances. New forms of help could be on the way. Last week Brocade launched its Tapestry Data Migration Manager (DMM) product, and today Xosoft announced InMotion software and Softek and EMC rolled out a collaboration on mainframe migration software called Logical Data Migration Facility (LDMF).
For example, Randy Simons, director of data center operations at Rancho Santiago Community College in California, found predictability an advantage in using Brocade’s DMM. (See Brocade Rolls Out Gear .)
DMM uses Brocade software running over a SilkWorm Fabric AP7420 switch to perform migrations. Brocade claims DMM can keep users informed about how long a migration is expected to take -- thereby helping to save some guesswork.
Simons found it took a lot less time than expected. He planned a migration from an HP EVA 5000 to a larger EVA 8000 over Labor Day weekend because it had to be a time when the college was shut down. He was prepared for the worst until an HP rep pointed out Brocade’s new DMM.
“When everybody’s home fluffing their pillows, we’re working away,” Simons says. “We were thinking it would be long hours, and a normal forklift upgrade. Instead it took a day and a half.”
That said, Simons said the migration project did require extensive training from Brocade and HP support people to get the job done properly.
RBC Product Development had a smaller but more urgent migration project to carry out. The Kansas City firm tests and develops applications for the medical industry. That’s highly collaborative work, and RBC CEO Carl Mayer says most of his company’s business is conducted over email.
“Exchange Server is the backbone of the way we work,” Mayer says.
So it was a big problem when one of RBC’s two Exchange Servers locked up in September and the IT staff couldn’t get it back. “We tried Service Packs, hot fixes, nothing worked,” Mayer says. “We had to migrate Exchange from the existing box to a new server, rebuild the server, and then swing Exchange back.”
Mayer says he looked at migration applications from NSI Software and XOSoft. He chose XOSoft’s new InMotion application, which was announced this week, mainly because of cost -- NSI’s application cost $3,000 per server compared to InMotion at $9 per user (or roughly $450 for Mayer's application). With two servers and about 50 users involved, Mayer found the savings significant enough to give the new package a shot.
But there was something else he liked about InMotion. “It’s not a move, it’s a copy, which is comforting,” he says. “You don’t want to crash halfway through a move, or you’re in a world of hurt. With InMotion, if you're halfway through and it crashes, you pick up from where you left off.”
Mayer didn’t have any crashes and was able to complete each copy in about an hour. On the downside, InMotion only supports Exchange, so it wouldn't have worked for a more general or comprehensive data center migration.

2007-11-21T12:08:00.002-08:00

Allergies

Allergy, Allergy Proofing Your Home, Anaphylaxis (Severe Allergic Reaction), Chronic Rhinitis, Cold / Flu / Allergies, Food Allergy, Hives, Latex Allergy, Sinusitis

Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's Disease, Alzheimer's Warning Signs, Bladder Incontinence, Dementia, Senior Health

Arthritis

Ankylosing Spondylitis, Fibromyalgia, Gout, Lupus, Osteoarthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Reactive Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Asthma

Air Filtration, Asthmatic Complexities, Asthma, Asthma: Over The Counter Treatment

Cancer

Cancer Causes, Cancer Detection, Cancer - General, Brain Tumor, Bladder Cancer, Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Colon Polyps, Liver Cancer, Lung Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Skin Cancer, Testicular Cancer

Cholesterol

Cholesterol, Fiber, HDL, LDL, Heart, Stroke Prevention, Triglycerides
Chronic Pain Acupuncture, Acute and Chronic Pain, Cortisone Injection, Degenerative Disc, Low Back Pain

Cold & Flu

Aches, Pain, Fever, Chronic Cough, Cold, Flu, Allergy: (OTC Remedies), Common Cold, Encephalitis and Meningitis, Eustachian Tube Problems, Flu (Influenza), Flu Vaccination, Immunizations, Pneumonia, Pneumonia Vaccination, SARS, Sinusitis, Sore Throat, Strep Throat, Tonsillitis and Adenoiditis

Depression

Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Dysthymia, Panic Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Stress
Diabetes Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetic Home Care and Monitoring, Diabetes Insipidus, Insulin, Insulin Pump

Digestion

Abdominal Pain, Appendicitis, Ulcerative Colitis, Constipation, Crohn's Disease, Diarrhea, Dyspepsia (Indigestion), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Intestinal Gas, GERD (Heartburn, Acid Reflux), Hemorrhoids, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Lactose Intolerance, Laxatives for Constipation, Motion Sickness, Ulcerative Colitis

Disease Prevention

Disease Prevention, Exercise & Activity, First Aid, Home and Family, Nutrition: Healthy Eating, Obesity

Eyesight

Cataracts, Eye Allergy, Eye Care, Glaucoma, LASIK Eye Surgery, Macular Degeneration, Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis), Retinal Detachment, Sjogren's Syndrome

Hearing

Deafness, Eustachian Tubes, Ear Wax, Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Vertigo (Dizziness)

Heart

Angina, Atherosclerosis Prevention, Congenital Heart Disease, Coronary Angiogram, Coronary Angioplasty, Coronary Artery Bypass, Heart Attack, Heart Murmurs, Heart Palpitations, High Cholesterol, Stroke

Hepatitis C

Cirrhosis of the Liver, Essential Mixed Cryoglobulinemia, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis A and B Immunizations, Jaundice, Lichen Planus, Liver Cancer, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas

High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension), Pulmonary Hypertension

HIV

Acquired Immunodeficiency Disease (AIDS) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Infectious Disease

Botulism, Dengue Fever, Mad Cow Disease, Malaria, Meningitis, MRSA, Rabies, Staph Infection, Thrush, West Nile Virus

Liver

Cirrhosis of the Liver, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver, Hemochromatosis (Iron Overload), Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Jaundice, Liver Blood Tests, Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC), Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)

Lungs

Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Emphysema, Lung Cancer, Pneumonia, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Smoker's Lung Photo Essay, Smoking and Quitting Smoking

Menopause

Depression, Hormone Creams, Hormone Replacement Therapy, Hot Flashes - Alternative Treatments, Menopause, Vitamin and Calcium Supplements

Men's Health

Angina, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence), Hair Loss (Baldness), Prostate Cancer, Prostatitis, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Testicular Cancer, Vasectomy, Viagra

Mental Health

Migraine Headaches

Cluster Headaches, Headache, Migraine Headaches and Prevention, Tension Headache

Osteoporosis

Bone Density, Calcium Supplements, Estradiol, Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause, Osteoporosis Prevention

Pediatrics / Healthy Kids

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Bedwetting, Birth Defects, Chickenpox, Colic, Diaper Rash, Lactose Intolerance, Nosebleeds, Pink Eye, Measles, Mumps, Tonsillectomy, Vaccinations and Immunizations

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Arthroscopy, Celebrex, Cortisone Injection, Remicade, Total Hip Replacement, Total Knee Replacement

Senior Health

Alzheimer's Disease, Anemia, Angina, Cataracts, Dementia, Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration, Hearing Loss, Heart Attack Prevention, Osteoporosis, Sleep Disturbance, Stroke, Wrinkles

Skin

Acne, Actinic Keratosis, Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema), Boils, Bumps and Bruises, Burns, Dandruff, Hives, Itch, Keloid, Melanoma, Nail Fungus, Poison Ivy, Psoriasis, Rash (Dermatitis), Rosacea, Scleroderma, Shingles, Skin Cancer, Warts, Wrinkles

Sleep

Insomnia, Jet Lag, Narcolepsy, Sleep, Sleep Apnea, Snoring (Somnoplasty)

Thyroid

Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, Hypothyroidism During Pregnancy, Synthroid (levothyroxine sodium), Thyroid Cancer, Thyroid Nodules

Urology

Blood In Urine (Hematuria), Cystinuria, Interstitial Cystitis, Kidney Stone, Prostatitis, Urinalysis, Urinary Incontinence, Urinary Tract Infections

Weight Loss & Management

Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia, Calories Burned During Exercise, Cellulite, Obesity and Weight Loss, Weight Loss

Women's Health

Birth Control, Breast Cancer, Breastfeeding, Hormone Therapy, Hysterectomy, Menopause, Miscarriage, Osteoporosis, Ovarian Cancer, Ovarian Cysts, PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome), Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), Uterine Cancer, Varicose Veins, Yeast Infections

Medical Tips

2007-11-21T02:49:00.000-08:00

Hypothermia
Hypothermia is not an illness that strikes only mountaineers. Some people can become sick from hypothermia in temperatures in the low 50s. Prevention is the best medicine.

Wear a synthetic pile or wool sweater. These materials keep you warm even when wet. In addition, the synthetic materials dry very quickly.
The worst material is cotton, which loses all of its warmth when wet.
If wind or rain is a factor, make sure to bring a shell along.
And if you expect temperatures below 40 or so, you should probably consider taking a down parka with you.
Training for the Big Trip
A long hiking trip is just that: walking for a very long time in the outdoors. And that is, in fact, the best way to train for it.

Seek opportunities to walk such as going to the store, taking the dog for a walk, or spending some time with a friend.
Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
This is great work to prepare for any climbing you may do on your trip. Keep in mind that the better condition you are in, the better you'll feel, and therefore the more fun you'll have.

Clean Water for a Healthy Body
Clean water is essential for good health. But in the outdoors safe water may not be so easy to come by. Three ways to make it safe are:

Boil it: This will kill any germ or virus.
Filtration: Filters are convenient and easy to use.
Chemical Treatment: Tablets and drops can be added.
Poison Ivy

Poison ivy and poison oak symptoms can range from an itchy rash to overall body hives.
Mild cases will have an itchy rash with blisters and sometimes get a little crusty.
Keep the area clean with soap and water.
You should probably also treat it with cortisone cream and Benadryl to prevent itching.
If your case is more serious you should seek your physician for treatment.
Building a Medical Kit
Here are some general guidelines to follow when putting your medical kit together.

Various band-aids, gauze and medical tape.
SAM Splint for sprains and fractures.
Elastic bandage or ACE bandage.
Bring extra medication in case your hike goes longer than expected.
Snake Bites

First and foremost, don't panic.
One of the best methods is an extractor you can buy at an outdoors store.
Select the right sized suction cup, attach it to the syringe, then put it over the bite with the plunger fully extended.
Push the plunger in as it begins to suck to your skin.
Leave it there for about five minutes and then remove the plunger.
Wipe any venom away.
Keep the injured part at the same level or below the rest of the body.
Sprains
Walking outdoors is much more dangerous than walking on a sidewalk. The ground is usually uneven and covered with rocks, roots and puddles. Sprains and fractures are the most common injuries encountered in the outdoors. Prevention comes down to being careful and wearing boots with some ankle support. If a sprain occurs, do whatever you can to keep the area from moving. Remember RICE:

R est
I ce
C ompression
E levation

If you don't feel better after a few days there is probably something more serious going on and you should see your physician.

Lyme Disease
Ticks can be rather unpleasant on their own, but Lyme disease can make you hate them even more. Although cases of Lyme disease have risen, the condition is still very rare. If you are bitten by a tick, wait for signs of a fever or rash within four weeks of when you were bitten. Your physician can administer a blood test in order to make a definite diagnosis.

Monitoring Your Heart Rate
Cardiovascular fitness can ultimately improve your ability to complete a long hike. This fitness is the ability of your heart and lungs to maintain movement over a sustained period of time at a certain level of intensity. If you can comfortably carry on a conversation, then you are probably working at the right intensity. If you can sing a song, then you are probably not working hard enough. And if you are gasping for air, then you are probably working too hard. To regulate your heart rate more accurately, you'll need to find your target heart rate. Once you know this, then you can determine how hard your heart is really working.

Target Heart Rate Formula

220 minus your age (30) = 190 Minus your resting heart rate (62 beats per minute) = 128 Multiply by 60% = 76.8 Add resting heart rate = 138.8 Divide by 6 = 23 (beats every 10 seconds)

High Altitude Pulmonary Edema
The most common serious illness related to altitude is high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). This condition is excess fluid in the lungs caused by ascending elevation too quickly. HAPE is the number-one cause of high-altitude deaths. One of the first signs you may notice is shortness of breath. But for the type of hiking that most of us are doing, deaths are rare. If you think you or your companion are experiencing altitude sickness, the best cure is simply to descend elevation.

Blisters
If you're planning for a long hike you'd better take the moleskin along. Because no matter how careful you are, chances are you will get a blister. With good preparation, blisters can be easily remedied or avoided so that you can continue to enjoy your hike in the great outdoors.

When a blister does occur, cut a piece of moleskin that is large enough to cover the blister evenly on all sides by at least a quarter of an inch.
Then cut a small hole in the middle to make room to expose the blister.
Make sure you've got clean socks.
Exhaustion
Prevention of exhaustion involves a lot of common sense.

First and foremost, know your limits.
It helps to be in shape and use your fuel efficiently. That's where conditioning comes in.
Be prepared with the right clothing and equipment.
Continue to fuel up the entire time that you are exercising.
Choose foods with sugar for quick energy and carbohydrates for a more sustained fuel source.
Water is also necessary for expending any energy and prevents dehydration.
Trying to Beat the Heat
Because we are warm-blooded animals, our bodies perform best when we maintain 98.6¡. However if it is hot outside, then it is difficult for our bodies to keep that temperature. People who are prone to getting hot easily are subject to a number of problems.

You should always drink plenty of water because as your temperature rises, you will begin to lose water and could become dehydrated.
Wear good protective clothing such as a hat; a thin, light-colored, long-sleeve shirt; and a pair of pants. These items will offer you more protection than shorts and a t-shirt.

Anatomical Splints : First Aid Basics

2007-11-19T05:35:00.000-08:00

Tips for Common Symptoms

2007-11-19T05:30:00.000-08:00

Allergies or Itchy Eyes
For minor symptoms:

Avoid the problem agent if possible
Take an antihistamine: Benadryl, chlorpheniramine, or Claritin
Use eye drops such as Naphcon-A for allergic conjunctivitis
Use a decongestant such as Sudafed for nasal congestion, but do not use if you have high blood pressure
Apply hydrocortisone cream to bites or allergic skin rash
See your health care clinician if:

Throat or chest tightness, swelling of lips or tongue — call immediately.
Problem recurs frequently or doesn't respond to over-the-counter medications.

Colds
For minor symptoms:

Get rest and drink plenty of fluids
Take pain relievers: ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen (do not use aspirin for children under 16)
Take a decongestant such as Sudafed to relieve nasal congestion, but do not use if you have high blood pressure.
Take a cough suppressant such as Robitussin DM for hacking cough
See your health care clinician if:

Cold or cough lingers more than one week.
Fever persists for more than a few days.
You have painful breathing or shortness of breath.
You have discolored mucous.
You have severe headache or sinus pain.

Cold Sores or Fever Blisters
For minor symptoms:

Apply ice for 5-10 minutes to reduce pain
Apply topical agents such as Herpecin-L® or Campho-phenique® for comfort
Use moisturizers such as Blistex® to hasten healing
Take pain relievers: ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen (do not use aspirin for children under 16)
Be patient: cold sores usually go away in 7-10 days
Be cautious: cold sores may be due to herpes simplex virus and may be contagious
See your health care clinician if:

Sores are excessive or do not heal.
Pain prevents you from eating or drinking.
You have severe or frequently recurring sores.

Constipation
For minor symptoms:

Increase dietary fiber and fluid intake
Take a stool softener such as Colace or fiber product as Metamucil®
DO NOT use laxatives, such as Ex-Lax, regularly
Increase activity and exercise
See your health care clinician if:

Condition persists for several days.
You have a fever.
You experience stomach cramping, bloating, rectal bleeding or nausea.

Cuts and Scrapes
For minor symptoms:

Wash thoroughly with soap and warm water
Stop any bleeding by applying direct pressure
Keep area clean and dry
See your health care clinician if:

Wound is deep.
You cut yourself on something rusty or dirty.
Bleeding won't stop.
Red streak appears around wound.
Wound doesn't heal.
You haven't had a tetanus booster in 10 years.

Diarrhea or Vomiting
For minor symptoms:

Rest and sip clear fluids such as ginger ale, Gatorade® or broth
Eat light foods such as crackers or toast
If diarrhea persists, take Imodium A-D
Avoid caffeine and alcohol
See your health care clinician if:

Symptoms last more than two days.
Fluids won't stay down.
You experience high fever or dizziness.
There is blood in stool.
You have diarrhea during the night.

Headaches
For minor symptoms:

Take pain relievers: ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen (do not use aspirin for children under 16)
Apply hot or cold packs
Avoid bright lights
Take sinus medication if head/nose is congested, but do not use Sudafed if you have high blood pressure
See your health care clinician if:

Headache persists or recurs.
Headache follows injury or trauma.
You experience fever, vomiting, drowsiness, or confusion.
The headache is severe or associated with neck stiffness.

Heartburn/Indigestion
For minor symptoms:

Avoid spicy, acidic or other aggravating foods, and alcohol
Stop smoking
Eat smaller amounts of food at one time, especially if near bedtime
Take antacids, such as Maalox, or acid-suppressants such as Pepcid-AC
Avoid aspirin and ibuprofen products
See your health care clinician if:
Problem recurs or pain is severe.
Pain occurs with shortness of breath or other symptoms that suggest heart problems.

Sore Throat
For minor symptoms:

Gargle with warm salt water to soothe throat
Take pain relievers: ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen (do not use aspirin for children under 16)
Use throat lozenges
Increase fluids
See your health care clinician if:

Sore throat lasts more than a week.
Fever accompanies the sore throat.
You have difficulty swallowing, breathing or speaking.
There are white patches on back of throat or tonsils.
You have been exposed to someone diagnosed with strep throat.
You have tender neck lymph nodes.

Sprains or Strains
For minor symptoms:

Apply ice
Rest and elevate injured area
Take pain relievers: ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen
See your health care clinician if:

Problem lasts more than three days or pain is severe.
There is dislocation or misalignment.
You have difficulty moving the affected area.
There is black and blue discoloration.

Sunburn
For minor symptoms:

Avoid further exposure to the sun
Apply cool compresses to the area or take a cool bath
Take pain relievers: ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen (note warning for children under 16)
Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids
Apply aloe gel to soothe area
To avoid sunburn, wear protective clothing and sunscreen
See your health care clinician if:

Burn is accompanied by fever, vomiting, drowsiness or confusion.
Blisters form on large areas of the skin.
Blisters break and appear infected.

This information will be taken from http://web.mit.edu/

Airway, Breathing and Circulation : First Aid Care

2007-11-19T05:26:00.000-08:00

First aid - Recovery position

2007-11-19T05:20:00.002-08:00

Controlling Bleeding : First Aid Care

2007-11-19T05:20:00.001-08:00

How to Give CPR to an Infant or Child: Basic First Aid

2007-11-19T05:17:00.001-08:00

First Aid for Choking Victims

2007-11-19T05:14:00.000-08:00

Hand Position for CPR Chest Compressions: Basic First Aid

2007-11-19T05:11:00.001-08:00

Learn Proper Depth for CPR Chest Compressions: First Aid Tip

2007-11-19T05:06:00.001-08:00

How to Save a Life: Learn CPR First Aid Procedures

2007-11-19T05:04:00.000-08:00

Heartburn

2007-11-07T01:49:00.000-08:00

Heartburn Overview

Heartburn is an uncomfortable but common feeling of burning or warmth in the chest. Although the pain of heartburn is felt in the chest, heartburn has nothing to do with your heart. Instead, heartburn is caused by stomach acid (see Media file 1).

Continual bouts of heartburn can be a symptom of a more serious condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. Frequent or severe heartburn may limit daily activities and lead to further complications such as ulcers in the esophagus. With proper understanding of heartburn and treatment, relief can be obtained from this condition.

About 30% of adults experience occasional heartburn, while 10% experience heartburn every day. About 25% of pregnant women have heartburn or related symptoms.

Heartburn Causes

The food that is swallowed travels from the mouth to the stomach through a hollow tube called the esophagus (or food pipe). Before entering the stomach, food must pass through a tight muscle at the lower part of the esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The lower esophageal sphincter prevents food from traveling backward into the esophagus.

Once in the stomach, stomach acid digests the food. This acid is very strong and can damage most parts of the body. Fortunately, the stomach is protected from its own acid by a special mucous layer. The esophagus, however, does not have any such special protection. If the lower esophageal sphincter does not close completely, the lower part of the esophagus can be damaged by stomach acid. When this happens, heartburn may be experienced.

The lower esophageal sphincter may not close completely thus allowing stomach acid into the esophagus for these reasons:
Certain foods and drinks are known to loosen the lower esophageal sphincter. These include chocolate, peppermint, caffeine-containing beverages (such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks), fatty foods, and alcohol.
Heartburn often depends on the body's position. It is easier for stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus if you are lying down or bending over.
Anything that increases the pressure on the stomach and forces stomach acid backward into the esophagus can also cause heartburn. This is why lifting, straining, coughing, tight clothing, obesity, and pregnancy can worsen heartburn.
People who suffer from certain medical conditions may have an increased chance of heartburn. These conditions include hiatal hernia, diabetes, and many autoimmune diseases (CREST syndrome, Raynaud phenomenon, and scleroderma).
Many prescription medications can loosen the lower esophageal sphincter, including certain blood pressure and heart medications, and the asthma drug theophylline.
Many substances directly irritate the lining of the esophagus and can contribute to heartburn. These include spicy foods, citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes and tomato sauces, cigarette smoke, aspirin, ibuprofen (with brand names such as Motrin and Advil), and medicines for osteoporosis.

Heartburn Symptoms

The pain of heartburn is described as a burning feeling in the chest. Often, the sensation may spread up into the throat, jaw, arms, or back. That's why heartburn is often mistaken for chest pain due to a heart attack. However, do not second guess yourself. If you are having chest pain for any reason, seek medical attention immediately, if only to rule out a heart attack.

Heartburn (often called acid indigestion) typically occurs 30-60 minutes after meals. The pain is worse when lying down, bending forward, and straining to pass stools. The pain is relieved by standing upright, swallowing saliva or water, or by taking antacids.
If small amounts of stomach acid or food travel beyond the esophagus and up into the mouth, you may experience bitter or sour taste. This is known as regurgitation. It is common after meals, especially if you are lying down, bending over, or straining.
Stomach acid can also affect the respiratory tract, causing asthma, hoarseness, chronic cough, sore throat, or tooth damage (acid eats the enamel on teeth). You may feel as if you have a lump in your throat.

If the acid exposure continues for long periods of time, the esophagus becomes damaged. You may then have difficulty swallowing. In more serious cases, you may lose weight and become dehydrated. Very rarely, the esophagus may bleed or tear completely because it is so damaged. In severe cases, you may vomit blood or have small amounts of blood in your bowel movements. However, all these are uncommon.

When to Seek Medical Care

Call your health care provider if your heartburn continues to bother you despite lifestyle modifications and use of antacids or low doses of acid blockers. Call if you have heartburn more than 3 times a week for over 2 weeks. Your provider will prescribe medications or make other recommendations to help your pain.

Seek emergency medical care. Chronic heartburn can sometimes lead to serious complications that require immediate medical attention. Go to a hospital's emergency department if you have any of the following symptoms:

Throwing up blood or passing blood in your stools

Severe pain, dizziness, or lightheadedness

Difficulty swallowing

Dehydration

Unintentional weight loss

NOTE: The pain of heartburn can often be confused with pain that is actually due to more serious heart problems, such as a heart attack. If you or a family member has a history of heart disease, you need to be particularly aware of this possibility. If your pain is accompanied by sweating, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, or is worse with activity, you may need to have your heart evaluated immediately.

Exams and Tests

Heartburn may be obvious from your symptoms, so your health care provider may not need to perform any tests or do an extensive exam. You may be advised about lifestyle modifications, diet, or medications to begin immediately.

Your provider may order certain procedures if the diagnosis is unclear or if prescribed medications are not relieving your heartburn.
The most common procedure is called an upper GI (gastrointestinal) endoscopy, also called esophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD. You are lightly sedated. A special camera is placed through your mouth and into the esophagus and stomach. The doctor can then see how much damage has been done to the esophagus from stomach acid. The doctor will also be able to determine and possibly treat the complications of heartburn, such as problems swallowing or bleeding. In addition, an upper endoscopy will let your doctor see if there are other explanations for the pain, such as an infection.

You may undergo an upper GI series. In this test, you drink a liquid that coats your esophagus and stomach and shows up on x-rays that are taken.

If an upper endoscopy shows that everything is normal but you continue to have pain, the doctor may do further testing to clarify the diagnosis. This includes procedures to measure the weakness of the LES muscle. This procedure is called an esophageal manometry.

Another procedure is the 24-hour pH monitoring to measure the strength of your stomach acid. A very thin tube is passed through your nose into your esophagus. For the next 24 hours, the test measures the amount of acid reflux that occurs while you go about your regular activities, including eating. A new test uses a tiny capsule to measure acid reflux levels. The doctor uses an endoscope to attach the bean-sized capsule to your esophagus. It measures pH levels and delivers readings by radio wave to a receiver you wear on your belt. After about 48 hours, the capsule detaches and passes through your digestive system and is not recovered.

If your health care provider feels you are at risk for heart problems, additional tests may be performed to make sure your heart is healthy.

Heartburn Treatment

Antacids, acid blockers, and perhaps surgery may provide relief from heartburn and prevent it from turning into more serious disease.

Self-Care at Home

For mild or occasional symptoms, simple lifestyle modifications can be helpful.

Avoid large meals.

Avoid caffeine (coffee, teas, some soft drinks).

Avoid foods or drinks that reduce pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter such as chocolate, peppermint, caffeine-containing beverages, and fatty or fried foods.

Avoid foods that damage the esophagus such as spicy foods, citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes and tomato sauces.

After eating, beware of activities that force acid back into your esophagus. Such activities include lifting, straining, coughing, and wearing tight clothing.

Use gravity to your advantage. Avoid lying down within 3 hours of meals. If you suffer from nighttime heartburn, elevate the head of your bed when sleeping. Place 6-inch blocks underneath the head of the bed, or place a wedge under the mattress. Simply using more pillows under your head will not help. In fact, it may worsen the heartburn by increasing the pressure on your stomach.

Lose weight if you are overweight.

Stop smoking.

Limit alcohol intake.

Antacids such as Maalox, Mylanta, Tums, or Rolaids can also be helpful. Antacids work by neutralizing acid. They should be taken 1 hour after meals or when heartburn symptoms occur.

Low doses of drugs that block the production of stomach acid are available over-the-counter. Some examples include cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), and famotidine (Pepcid).

Medical Treatment

Your health care provider will recommend treating heartburn in a stepwise fashion.

Over-the-counter antacids are the oldest effective self-treatments for heartburn. Through the centuries, people have chewed on chalk (the active ingredient is calcium carbonate) to ease heartburn. Antacid tablets are slow to act. Tablets are less powerful in neutralizing stomach acid than liquid antacids.

Antacids are useful because they provide rapid relief of heartburn, especially if it is caused by foods or certain activity. But relief is only temporary. Over-the-counter antacids do not prevent heartburn from returning or allow an injured esophagus to heal. If you need antacids for more than 2 weeks, talk with your health care provider to get a better diagnosis of your condition and appropriate treatment.

Most varieties of antacids you can buy in drug stores are combinations of aluminum and magnesium hydroxide. Antacids containing these ingredients may produce unwanted diarrhea or constipation.

Antacids containing calcium carbonate are the most potent in neutralizing stomach acid. Popular brands are Tums and Titralac.

Follow label instructions and do not take more than the recommended daily dose. Most commonly, users take antacids after meals and at bedtime—or when you have symptoms.

Always tell your health care provider about your antacid use.

Medications

If you still have heartburn symptoms after lifestyle modifications and use of antacids, your health care provider may prescribe drugs.

The next group of drugs to be tried is called histamine-2 blockers. Examples include ranitidine (Zantac), cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), and nizatidine (Axid). These tablets decrease the amount of acid your stomach produces. Many of these drugs can be bought over-the-counter at low doses but need a doctor's prescription for higher doses. They provide relief of symptoms within 30 minutes and are taken twice a day.

If you continue to have heartburn, the doctor may recommend adding a drug such as metoclopramide (Reglan). This type of drug empties food and acid quickly from the stomach so less can travel back into the esophagus. Reglan also helps tighten the LES muscle.

If you still have symptoms, the doctor will then recommend drugs called proton pump inhibitors. Examples of these drugs include omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), esomeprazole (Nexium), and pantoprazole (Protonix). These compounds prevent the stomach from secreting acid. They are very effective and are typically taken only once a day. These drugs are usually only prescribed if other drugs have not helped.

Surgery

If prescription drugs are not relieving heartburn, or if you have serious complications of heartburn, surgery may be required. The surgery is relatively simple and is called fundoplication. Its purpose is to tighten the lower esophageal sphincter muscle. The stomach is tied in such a way as to prevent acid from flowing backward into the esophagus. This surgery is successful for more than 85% of people.

Next Steps

Prevention

Many cases of heartburn can be prevented by simple lifestyle modifications in diet, activity, and habits. Watching what kinds of foods you eat and how much you eat can influence your symptoms. Also, pay attention to your body position after eating. Don't lie down. Limit alcohol intake, quit smoking, and lose weight to improve not only your heartburn symptoms but also your overall health.

Heart Attack

2007-11-06T03:09:00.000-08:00

Heart Attack Overview

If you are having pain or discomfort in your chest, jaw, shoulder, arm, or back and think you may be having a heart attack.

If you think you are having a heart attack, seek help immediately. Do not ignore chest pain or discomfort. Time is of vital importance. Go immediately to a hospital emergency department. Do not attempt to drive yourself or have someone else drive you. Call 911 for emergency transport.

The heart is a muscular pump located in the chest. Its job is to pump blood around the body via the circulatory system of blood vessels. The heart consists of 4 chambers: right atrium and right ventricle, and left atrium and left ventricle.
Blood is depleted of oxygen after circulating through the body. This blood returns into the right atrium. From there the blood flows into the right ventricle, which pumps the blood out to the lungs for oxygenation.

The oxygen-rich blood then returns to the left atrium. From there it flows into the left ventricle and is pumped out at high pressure into the arteries.

The high pressure is generated by powerful contraction of the heart muscle.
This raises the pressure of the blood and enables it to flow through the extensive network of arteries to every part of the body and return to the heart.

For this pumping action, the heart has to be strong.

The heart is nourished by the blood supplied directly to the heart muscle through the coronary arteries.
The strength of the heart muscle depends very much on this blood supply.

The coronary arteries are usually strong, elastic, and quite flexible. The inner lining of the arteries is normally smooth. This allows the blood to flow smoothly without clotting.

Heart attack is caused by sudden loss of blood and oxygen to your heart.
The most common condition that predisposes a person to heart attack is coronary heart disease, or coronary artery disease, due to atherosclerosis, or fatty build up of plaque on the inner lining of coronary arteries.

The plaque and resulting blood clots block the artery partially or completely, reducing the amount of blood that can flow through the artery to the heart.

This cuts off the oxygen supply to part of the heart muscle.

If the blood supply is cut off long enough, that part of the heart muscle dies. This is a heart attack.

If a large enough part of the heart muscle is affected, a dangerous rhythm disorder called ventricular fibrillation may occur.

If this happens, the heart may stop. This is called cardiac arrest, and most people who have cardiac arrest die.

Despite immense medical progress in the last 3 decades, heart disease continues to be a major health problem in both industrialized and developing nations.
About 1.5 million Americans suffer a heart attack each year (that’s 1 heart attack every 20 seconds).

Many people die before getting medical attention. Approximately 90-95% of people who reach a hospital alive after a heart attack will survive.

Overall, about one third of people who have a heart attack die.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.

Clearly, time is of the essence. Recognizing the symptoms of a heart attack and seeking immediate medical attention may mean the difference between life and death.
Immediate death may be avoided if cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is begun within 4 minutes of the cardiac arrest.

CPR involves breathing for the person (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) and performing chest compressions to keep the blood circulating. This provides at least a small amount of oxygen to the heart and brain.

Survival depends on quick action.
Emergency personnel will assess the situation quickly. They may record an electrocardiogram (ECG).

If the person has ventricular fibrillation or there is no pulse, they may administer electrical current to the chest (defibrillation) to "shock" the heart back to normal rhythm.

Other emergency treatments include medications and CPR.

Bystanders can help a cardiac arrest victim before emergency personnel arrive.
Ventricular fibrillation often can be treated successfully with a defibrillator.

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are now becoming available in many public places such as airports and airplanes, shopping malls, sports arenas, and office buildings.

These devices are designed so that they can be used in cardiac arrest by untrained bystanders.

Even if an AED is not available, you can take part in the "chain of survival" by performing CPR until help arrives.

Heart Attack Causes

With advancing age, cholesterol and calcium are deposited gradually in the walls of the coronary arteries. These deposits are called plaques. The process is known as atherosclerosis, or "hardening of the arteries."
A diet high in cholesterol combined with smoking and lack of exercise can accelerate this process.

As these plaques grow, they begin to impede the flow of blood.

The growing plaque is like a firm shell with a soft inner core containing cholesterol.

As blood hits a plaque during each heartbeat, the plaque may crack open and expose the inner cholesterol.

The cholesterol may cause a blood clot to begin to form.

The plaque and the blood clot block the artery partially or completely. The more the artery is blocked, the greater the resulting damage to the heart.

Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease

This most common type of heart disease is associated with several risk factors. The greater the number of risk factors you have, the more likely you are to have atherosclerosis. The most common risk factors are as follows:
Hereditary (runs in the family)

High cholesterol in blood, especially high levels of "bad cholesterol" (LDL, low-density lipoprotein) and low levels of "good cholesterol" (HDL, high-density lipoprotein)

Cigarette smoking or other tobacco use, including cigars and chewing tobacco

Obesity or excess weight

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Diabetes

Physical inactivity, lack of regular exercise (sedentary lifestyle)

High-fat diet

Emotional stress

Type-A personality (hard-driving, perfectionist)

Nonatherosclerotic coronary artery disease

Coronary arteries can be blocked by conditions other than atherosclerosis. These include inflammatory diseases of the arteries, trauma such as a cut or stab wound to the heart, and diseases that cause thickening of the coronary arteries.

Coronary embolization may cause a heart attack. Coronary embolization refers to a clot from elsewhere in the body breaking off and traveling to the heart.

Other causes of heart attack are blood or oxygen supply problems or outside influences such as cocaine abuse and complications from bypass or catheterization.

Certain heart problems leading to heart attack may be present from birth.

Heart Attack Symptoms

Chest pressure, discomfort, or a bandlike sensation around the chest with squeezing or heaviness is a common symptom of heart attack.
About one fourth of people having a heart attack have no pain ("silent" heart attack).

Silent heart attacks are more frequent in people with diabetes.

The following symptoms suggest a heart attack:
Chest pain or pressure (heaviness)

Jaw pain, or extension of pain into the arms or shoulder, especially the left arm

Unexplained shortness of breath

Unexplained sweating

Heartburn or feeling of indigestion

Nausea or vomiting

Back pain or upper abdominal pain

General lethargy or listlessness (malaise)

When to Seek Medical Care

Call your health care provider if you have these symptoms, which are warning signs of a heart attack.
Chest pain or pressure or feeling of indigestion on exertion

Shoulder or arm pain, left or right or both, during physical or stressful activity

Jaw pain

Unexplained shortness of breath (while at rest or comes on suddenly)

Unexplained nausea, vomiting, or sweating

Fainting spell

Palpitations (awareness of rapid or pounding heartbeat)

Dizziness

If these symptoms do not go away in 5 minutes, call 911 immediately for emergency medical transport to a hospital. Do not try to drive yourself.

Each year, thousands of Americans die because they did not seek medical attention in time.
It is good to be cautious and go to the hospital.

This may mean the difference between life and death.

Don't worry about "wasting everyone's time." You aren't.

If you are not having a heart attack, that's fine. You may be able to receive treatment for whatever is causing your symptoms.

Exams and Tests

A heart attack is not a quick event that lasts a few minutes and is over.
A heart attack is a process that continues over several hours.

Every minute that passes before treatment is begun, your heart sustains more damage.

You must seek medical attention as soon as you suspect you are having a heart attack.

If you arrive at the hospital in an ambulance, the staff will be ready for you.
They will evaluate your condition rapidly by examining you and, if you can answer, asking you questions about your symptoms.

They will obtain an electrocardiogram (ECG) right away to look for signs of heart attack.

A quick diagnosis is essential for starting treatment as soon as possible.

If you are thought to be having a heart attack, you may undergo the following tests upon arrival and/or during the next few days of your hospital stay.

Blood tests: Routine blood tests include blood cell counts, chemistry and electrolytes, and coagulation (clotting) function.
Cardiac enzymes: When heart muscle is damaged, certain muscle proteins are released into the bloodstream and can be measured. Elevations of the levels of certain of these proteins, known as cardiac enzymes, strongly suggest that a heart attack is in progress or has occurred recently. Repeated testing of blood samples for cardiac enzymes is helpful in making the diagnosis of a heart attack, especially when the ECG is not diagnostic.

Other enzymes: Some other enzymes tested include AST (SGOT, aspartate transferase) and LDH (lactate dehydrogenase).

The 2 most measured enzymes are creatine kinase (CK) and troponin.

Creatine kinase is released from the cardiac muscle cells as they die and as their membranes dissolve. The level of this enzyme takes a number of hours after the beginning of the heart attack to peak. It returns to normal by 24 hours after the beginning of the heart attack. A form of this enzyme called MB subform is quite specific in showing cardiac damage.

Troponin-I and troponin-T are very useful enzyme tests. The levels of these enzymes rise by 6-8 hours after the heart attack begins and remain elevated above normal for as long as a week. To some extent, the level of troponin can predict the likelihood of complications for a person with a heart attack. The levels may also helpful in deciding what treatments should be used.

Electrocardiogram: This test detects the electrical activity of the heart and records graphlike tracings of each heartbeat (waves).
It is safe and painless, and it takes only a few minutes.

An ECG is performed by taping electrodes on your arms, legs, and chest. The electrodes pick up the electrical impulses of your heart from different points of view in your chest.

ECG abnormalities diagnostic of heart attack are sometimes seen early in a heart attack, but the ECG may be normal at first and need to be repeated.

Sometimes existing ECG abnormalities may make the diagnosis difficult.

Chest x-ray: This is not always done, but it can show abnormalities in the size or shape of the heart and indicate if fluid is collecting in the lungs, a sign or poor circulation.

Echocardiogram (echo): This is an ultrasound examination of the heart. The ultrasound device uses sound waves to create a detailed "picture" of the heart, which are then transmitted to a video monitor.
This is a safe, noninvasive, and very helpful test.

Echo may show problems in the heart structure, such as abnormalities in the movements of the heart wall. A heart attack is a damaged heart wall.

It can show abnormal enlargement or pouching of the heart wall (aneurysm).
Echo may also visualize complications of heart attack including valve problems, rupture of the heart muscle, or accumulation of fluid in the cardiac sac (pericardial effusion).

The most important information obtained from the echo is the ejection fraction. This is a measurement of the strength of heart muscle. This information may be used to help predict outcome and to decide on treatment.

Coronary angiography: This is the best test for identifying blockages in the coronary arteries.
It often is performed for people with persistent pain and those who have not received "clot-busting" drugs to re-open their blocked artery.

At some hospitals, people are taken directly into the catheterization, or cath, lab from the emergency department after initial evaluation.

In the cath lab, a long, thin plastic tube (catheter) is put into the femoral artery (in the groin) or the brachial or radial artery (in the arm) and guided into the openings of the coronary arteries. Dye is injected into the arteries to make them stand out on x-ray. Pictures are recorded for later review.

Coronary angiography is an invasive test with potentially serious complications, but when performed by an experienced doctor, the risk of complications is relatively small.

An angiogram is the best test to determine which treatment is most appropriate: medication, angioplasty, stent placement, or bypass surgery.

A stress test may be performed before a person leaves the hospital, after the patient is stable and recovering from the heart attack and/or procedure.
Exercise stress testing involves recording an ECG while the heart is stressed and again at rest.

The "stress" is usually exercise, namely, walking on a treadmill.

Speed and elevation are gradually increased while recording the ECG.

Certain changes in the ECG indicate possible coronary artery blockage.

The exercise stress test is about 60-70% accurate in predicting increased risk of future heart attacks.

If the stress test indicates fairly severe blockage, coronary angiography may be needed to confirm the diagnosis and determine the need for further treatment.

Radionuclide stress testing is another type of stress testing.

It uses a special camera that sees blood flow after a tiny dose of a radioactive "dye" (isotope) is injected into the blood.

It measures the quantities of blood flow that reach the different parts of the heart muscle through the coronary arteries.

Like the exercise stress test, pictures are obtained with exercise on the treadmill and then with rest.

People who are unable to walk on the treadmill may be given medication to "stress" the heart muscle.

If a particular coronary artery is blocked partially or completely, the part of the heart supplied with blood by that artery would appear as a "cold spot" on the pictures because no radioactive isotope reaches that area.

This test is quite accurate in diagnosing coronary artery blockage. The small amount of radioactivity is not considered to be harmful.

Heart Attack Treatment

Self-Care at Home

If you think you are having a heart attack, seek help immediately. Do not ignore chest pain or discomfort. Time is of vital importance. Call 911 for emergency transport to the hospital. Do not try to drive yourself or being driven by someone else.

If you have regular-strength or baby aspirin available and you are not strongly allergic, chew and swallow 1 regular aspirin or a baby aspirin.
At this dose, aspirin may help maintain blood flow through a clot-filled artery by inhibiting blood clotting.

Chewing gets the aspirin into your system faster than swallowing it whole.

If you have had angina and been given nitroglycerin, take as recommended by your health care provider. Exact instructions will depend on the form of the nitroglycerin.

If you have had a heart attack before, or if you have several risk factors, the following steps may help prevent heart attacks and save you from severe disability or even death.
Take a low-dose aspirin tablet (160 or 325 mg) every day. Aspirin increases the risk of bleeding in some people. Ask your health care provider before taking daily aspirin.

If you smoke, quit. This is the single best lifestyle change you can make. After 3 years of not smoking, the risk of heart disease drops to the level of a nonsmoker. Your health care provider can help you quit smoking through behavioral changes, medications, or use of nicotine replacement products.

Lower the cholesterol level in your blood. Lowering your cholesterol, especially the level of "bad" LDL cholesterol, keeps plaques from building up in the coronary arteries. The total cholesterol level should be kept below 200 mg/dL, and the LDL cholesterol level below 130 mg/dL (under 100 mg/dL in those with known heart disease or diabetes). Some people are able to control their cholesterol level by changing what they eat, lose weight, and exercise more; others require medication.

Keep your intake of calories from fat under 30% of your total calories. This translates to an intake of less than 60 grams of fat per day for an adult. Most diets in Western countries contain more fat than is recommended.

Control blood pressure. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is one of the most common causes of heart disease.

Control diabetes carefully. Uncontrolled diabetes increases your risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and circulation problems.

If you take hormone replacement therapy (HRT), talk with your health care provider right away. HRT is no longer considered to protect women from heart disease and heart attacks.

Medical Treatment

Medical treatment may be started immediately, before a definite diagnosis of a heart problem is made.

General treatment measures include the following:
Oxygen through a tube in the nose or face mask

Nitroglycerin under the tongue

Pain medicines (morphine or meperidine)

Aspirin: Those with allergy to aspirin may be given clopidogrel (Plavix).

Clot-dissolving medicines: The tissue plasminogen activators (tPAs) can actually dissolve clots.
The earlier these drugs are given, the better the chance of dissolving the clot and opening the blocked artery, protecting the heart muscle from further injury.

If more than 12 hours has passed since the onset of chest pain, these drugs are less helpful.

Potential risks of this therapy include bleeding.

The most serious risk is a stroke (bleeding into the brain).

Angioplasty: Emergency coronary angiography and coronary balloon angioplasty (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, or PTCA) are available in hospitals equipped with a full-service cardiac catheterization laboratory. This is the most direct method of removing blockage in a coronary artery.
Coronary balloon angioplasty is an extension of coronary angiography.

A long, thin tube (catheter) is inserted in an artery in the groin or arm.

At the tip of the catheter is a tiny, elongated balloon, which is threaded over a hair-thin guidewire into the narrowed coronary artery.

Once the balloon is positioned at the blockage in the coronary artery, it is inflated.

The balloon pushes aside the plaque and clot that are blocking the artery, allowing blood to flow more freely.

The balloon is then deflated and removed with the catheter.

Stenting: A stent is a small, metal springlike device that may be inserted into a coronary artery after balloon angioplasty. After the catheter and balloon are removed, the stent stays in place, holding the artery open. A stent is better than angioplasty alone at keeping the artery from narrowing again.

Atherectomy: Sometimes the plaques are too rigid, bulky, or calcified to be treated by balloon angioplasty. In these cases, the plaque often can be removed by cutting it out with a drill-like rotary blade or a laser or other tool.

Medications

If you are having a heart attack, you will almost certainly be given some or all of these medications while you are in the hospital. Some you will continue taking at home.
Intravenous (IV) nitroglycerin has been shown to improve blood flow to the heart muscle by relaxing (dilating) the coronary arteries and increasing blood flow. It is usually given for 24-48 hours continuously.

Heparin is a "blood thinner," or anticoagulant, which may be given after a heart attack. Heparin does not remove an existing clot, but it reduces the tendency of blood to clot in the coronary arteries. Some newer forms of heparin have recently been introduced that can be given as a shot instead of through an IV line.

Beta-blockers are medications that decrease the heart rate and blood pressure. This reduces the heart's workload and thus the amount of oxygen it needs. Beta-blockers may help prevent heart irregularities/life threatening rhythm disorders and future heart attacks.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may prevent repeat heart attacks and other problems when started early during a heart attack. They are especially useful in people with diabetes and those with a weakened heart muscle congestive heart failure).

Surgery

Sometimes cardiac catheterization reveals extensive coronary artery disease. In such cases, you will need to undergo coronary bypass surgery.

Standard coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is performed if many coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked. This is especially recommended when the left main coronary artery shows significant blockage. This is "open heart surgery," meaning that the chest wall is opened. When performing a bypass, heart surgeons use sections of the mammary artery from the chest, radial arteries from the arms, or veins from the legs to create detours around the blocked arteries. For this surgery, you will be connected to a bypass pump, which does the work of the heart during the operation. Although this sounds dangerous, this surgery is considered very safe and has a very low rate of complications.

Off-pump bypass surgery: Sometimes the surgeon can perform open heart surgery without using a bypass pump. The heart continues to beat during surgery. This type of surgery has even fewer complications than the standard procedure but is not always feasible.

Minimally invasive coronary bypass: If just the front or the right coronary artery needs bypass, the bypass may be performed via a small keyhole-type incision without a large incision in the chest. The internal mammary artery is used for the bypass.

Next Steps

Follow-up

If you have a heart attack, you will receive detailed instructions for your care after leaving the hospital. You should follow these instructions carefully. The following general guidelines apply to recovery from an uncomplicated heart attack.

You may return to work or prior activity levels after about 2 weeks, resume sexual activity in 7-10 days, drive a week after leaving the hospital, and continue commercial air travel after 2 weeks, if you are feeling fine and totally asymptomatic. Those with complicated heart attacks or who still have symptoms should wait at least 2-3 weeks after symptoms go away before driving.

After a heart attack, you will need close follow-up with your health care provider.
Coronary heart disease is a chronic (ongoing, long-term), progressive condition.

Changing your risk factors only slows its pace.

Angioplasty or bypass surgery only alleviates the symptoms and is not a cure. The disease may recur and progress.

Your health care provider will watch you carefully for the following developments:
Any new symptoms or signs of disease progression through clinical evaluation, physical examination, and periodic ECGs or stress tests

Silent ischemia by periodic treadmill or radionuclide stress tests or stress echocardiography

He or she will also manage the following aspects of your treatment and recovery:
Risk factor management by checking blood pressure and cholesterol levels periodically

Adjustment of medicines and management of their side effects

Prescription for an exercise program (cardiac rehabilitation)

Prevention

Heart attack prevention depends on monitoring and modifying certain risk factors. These risk factors are interrelated. Each of us may have one or more risk factors. If we make moderate change in one area of life, we may reduce other risk factors at the same time.

Keep blood cholesterol levels in check.
Everyone adult should know what his or her cholesterol level is.

According to the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines, if your cholesterol level is greater than 240 mg/dL or if the level of bad cholesterol (LDL) is above 130 mg/dL, aggressive measures should be taken to lower it.

If you can't lower your levels through diet alone, medications can help.

Lipid- and cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins can reduce the rate of progression of coronary heart disease and also reduce repeat heart attacks. They work by lowering cholesterol and modifying the inner lining of your arteries.

Eat a well-balanced diet.
Avoid eating large amounts of fat and cholesterol in your diet because these can accelerate the progression of hardening and clogging of coronary arteries.

A well-balanced diet is good not only for those with high cholesterol but also for everyone. It helps to control cholesterol level as well as weight.

The American Heart Association recommends that the maximum number of calories from fat be less than 30% of total calories.

Limit the amount of fast food you eat.
Most fast food is very high in fat, even the salads and other so-called "healthy" foods.

This may not be convenient but may provide significant benefit in the long run.

Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.
Although some research suggests that alcohol can help protect against heart disease, limit your intake to 1-2 drinks per day.

Larger amounts can increase blood pressure, cause heart rhythm disturbances, and damage the heart muscle or liver.

Stop smoking.
Quitting smoking is the single best lifestyle change you can make.

Passive smoking, smoking cigars, or chewing tobacco are also dangerous to health.

Quitting is difficult for most people. Ask your health care provider for advice and support.

Increase your physical activity.
Exercise helps to lower the blood pressure, increase the level of good cholesterol (HDL), and control excess weight.

Start slowly if you need to, but try to reach the goal of at least 30 minutes of endurance exercise 3-5 times a week. Such exercises include walking, swimming, biking, and aerobics.

Almost everyone can take part in some form of physical activity.

Before beginning an exercise program, talk to your health care provider.

Lose extra weight.
Being overweight puts extra strain on the heart and blood vessels.

A high-fiber, low-fat diet and regular exercise can help you lose weight and keep it off.

Many diets are promoted by people with self-interest. Some of these may be unsafe.

Get advice from your health care provider before starting any nontraditional weight loss program.

Avoid "diet pills" (such as Fen-Phen). Some of these have been found to cause heart valve disease or other dangerous conditions in some users.

"Natural" weight-loss products such as ephedrine can be very dangerous.

Genital Warts HPV Infection

2007-11-06T03:02:00.000-08:00

Genital Warts (HPV) Overview

Genital warts are flesh–colored or gray growths found in the genital area and anal region in both men and women. It is the most common sexually transmitted disease caused by a virus. The warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Infection with genital warts may not be obvious.

Genital warts affect both men and women and can occur at any age.
Most patients with genital warts are seen between the ages of 17–33 years. Genital warts are highly contagious. You have a 60% risk of getting the infection in a single sexual contact with someone who has genital warts.
In children younger than three years, genital warts are thought to be transmitted by nonsexual modes such as direct manual contact. The presence of genital warts in children should raise the suspicion for sexual abuse.

Genital Warts Causes (HPV)

Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Over 100 types of HPVs have been identified; about 40 of these types have the potential to infect the genital area.

About 90% of genital warts are caused by two specific types of the virus (6 and 11), and these HPV types are considered "low risk," having a low cancer–causing potential. Other HPV types have been strongly associated with premalignant changes and cervical cancers in women. HPV–16 is responsible for about 50% of cervical cancers, and types 16, 18, 31, and 45 together account for 80% of cancers.

Common warts are not the same as genital warts and are caused by different HPV types that infect the skin.

The viral particles are able to penetrate the skin and mucosal surfaces through microscopic abrasions in the genital area, which occur during sexual activity. Once cells are invaded by HPV, a latency (quiet) period of months to years may occur.

Generally, two–thirds of people who have sexual contact with a partner who has genital warts develop them within three months (after one episode or many).

Genital warts are associated with use of birth control pills due to increased sexual contact without the use of barrier protection, multiple sex partners, and having sex at an early age.

Genital Warts Symptoms (HPV)

Although genital warts are painless, they may be bothersome because of their location, size, or due to itching.
The size may range from less than one millimeter across to several square centimeters when many warts join together.

Men and women with genital warts will often complain of painless bumps, itching, and discharge.

In rare cases, bleeding or urinary obstruction may be the initial problem when the wart involves the urethral opening (the opening where urine exits the body.)

Warts in more than one area are common.

There may be a history of previous sexually transmitted diseases.

Specific descriptions

In men, genital warts can infect the urethra, penis, scrotum, and rectal area. The warts can appear as soft, raised masses with a surface that can be smooth (on the penile shaft) or rough with many fingerlike projections (anal warts). Others may appear pearly, cauliflower–like, or rough with a slightly dark surface. Most lesions are raised, but some may be flat with only slight elevation above the skin surface. Infection with HPV may be dormant or undetectable, with some lesions hidden by hair or in the inner aspect of the uncircumcised foreskin in males.

In women, genital warts have a similar appearance and usually occur in the moist areas of the labia minora and vaginal opening. Lesions visible on the outer genitals require a thorough examination of the vaginal canal, cervix, and anorectal area. Most vaginal warts occur without symptoms. Rarely, women may experience bleeding after sexual intercourse, itching, or vaginal discharge.

When to Seek Medical Care

If you have genital warts, see your doctor and discuss treatment options.

Bleeding of warts that cannot be controlled with direct pressure should be seen by a doctor. Warts that obstruct the urethral opening and don't allow you to urinate are an emergency and should be treated as soon as possible.

Exams and Tests

Diagnosis is often based on findings from the history and appearance of the genital warts.
Sometimes, lesions are only visible with an enhancing technique called acetowhitening. This technique involves the application of 5% acetic acid solution to the lesion for about 5–10 minutes. Infected areas will turn white.
Magnification of the area (colposcopy) using a scope may be necessary to see the lesions. In females, a colposcope may be used to look for lesions in the vaginal canal and on the cervix.
A routine Pap smear should always be done in order to look for evidence of HPV infection and abnormal cells on the cervix.
A biopsy can be performed if the lesion appears unusual or recurs after treatment.
Special tests can also be used to confirm the presence of HPV infection.

Genital Warts Treatment (HPV)

Self–Care at Home

Because genital warts essentially have no symptoms, there is little need for home treatment. It is important, however, to recognize that the warts exist.
You need to take the necessary precautions to prevent trauma to the area, which can result in bleeding.
You should take care to prevent transmission to sexual partners.
Because the warts themselves are infectious, avoid touching them. Do not pick or squeeze the warts.

Medical Treatment

No single treatment is effective in eliminating warts and preventing them from coming back. Genital warts may go away on their own in about 10–20% of people over a period of three to four months.
Cryotherapy: This technique freezes the wart using liquid nitrogen or a "cryoprobe." It is an excellent first–line treatment because response rates are high with few side effects.
Laser treatment: This treatment is used for extensive or recurrent genital warts. It may require local, regional, or general anesthesia. The laser physically destroys the HPV–induced lesion. Disadvantages include high cost, increased healing time, scarring, and potentially infectious viral particles in the air caused by the laser plume.
Electrodesiccation: This technique uses an electric current to destroy the warts. It can be done in the office with local anesthesia. The resulting smoke plume may be infectious.

Medications

Several medications exist for treating genital warts and can be used as an alternative to other treatments.
podophyllum resin (Pod–Ben–25, Podofin) – Topically applied by a doctor
podofilox (Condylox) – Can be topically applied at home, higher cure rates than Podophyllum resin, useful for prevention
trichloroacetic acid – Topically applied, response is often incomplete and recurrence is higher, may cause pain and burning
5–Fluorouracil (Efudex) – Applied as a cream, long treatment time, can cause burning and irritation, many side effects
Interferon alpha–n3 (Alferon N) – Used as an injection for warts that do not respond to other therapies, many side effects
imiquimod (Aldara) – New treatment, applied as a cream, local skin irritation is a common side effect

Food Poisoning

2007-11-06T02:54:00.000-08:00

Food Poisoning Overview

Food poisoning is a common, usually mild, but sometimes deadly illness. Typical symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea that come on suddenly (within 48 hours) of consuming a contaminated food or drink. Depending on the contaminant, fever and chills, bloody stools, dehydration, and nervous system damage may follow. These symptoms may affect one person or a group of people who ate the same thing (this would be called an outbreak).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in the United States alone, food poisoning causes about 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and up to 5,000 deaths each year. One of the most common bacterial forms of infection, the salmonellae organisms, account for one billion dollars in medical costs and lost work time.
Worldwide, diarrheal illnesses are among the leading causes of death. Travelers to developing countries often encounter food poisoning in the form of traveler's diarrhea or "Montezuma’s revenge." Additionally, there are new global threats to the world's food supply through terrorist actions using food toxins as weapons.

Food Poisoning Causes

More than 200 known diseases can be transmitted through food. Those are just the ones we know about. The CDC estimates unknown or undiscovered agents cause 81% of all food–borne illnesses and related hospitalizations. Many cases of food poisoning are not reported because people suffer mild symptoms and recover quickly. Also, doctors do not test for a cause in every suspected case because it does not change the treatment or the outcome.

The known causes of food poisoning can be divided into two categories: infective agents and toxic agents.

Infective agents include viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

Toxic agents include poisonous mushrooms, improperly prepared exotic foods (such as barracuda), or pesticides on fruits and vegetables.

Food usually becomes contaminated from poor sanitation or preparation. Food handlers who do not wash their hands after using the bathroom or have infections themselves often cause contamination. Improperly packaged food stored at the wrong temperature also promotes contamination.

Food Poisoning Symptoms

Symptoms of food poisoning depend on the type of contaminant and the amount eaten. The symptoms can develop rapidly, within 30 minutes, or slowly, worsening over days to weeks. Most of the common contaminants cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping. Usually food poisoning is not serious, and the illness runs its course in 24–48 hours.
Viruses account for most food poisoning cases where a specific contaminant is found.

Norwalk virus: Causes a mild illness with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, and low–grade fever. These symptoms usually resolve in two to three days. It is the most common viral cause of adult food poisoning and is transmitted from water, shellfish, and vegetables contaminated by feces, as well as from person to person.

Rotavirus: Causes moderate to severe illness with vomiting followed by watery diarrhea and fever. It is the most common cause of food poisoning in infants and children and is transmitted from person to person by fecal contamination of food and shared play areas.

Hepatitis A: Causes mild illness with sudden onset of fever, loss of appetite, and feeling of tiredness followed by jaundice, which is a yellowing of the eyes and skin. It is transmitted from person to person by fecal contamination of food.

Bacteria can cause food poisoning by two different ways. Some bacteria infect the intestines, causing inflammation and problems with normal absorption of nutrients and water that leads to diarrhea. Other bacteria produce chemicals in foods (known as toxins) that are poisonous to the human digestive system. When eaten, these chemicals can lead to nausea and vomiting, kidney failure, and even death.

Salmonellae: Salmonellae are bacteria that may cause food poisoning; the illness itself is often referred to as Salmonella or Salmonella infection. Salmonellae cause a moderate illness with nausea, vomiting, crampy diarrhea, and headache, which may come back a few weeks later as arthritis (joint pains). In people with impaired immune systems (such as people with kidney disease or HIV/AIDS or those on chemotherapy for cancer), Salmonellae can cause a life–threatening illness. The illness is transmitted by undercooked foods such as eggs, poultry, dairy products, and seafood.

Campylobacter: Causes mild illness with fever, watery diarrhea, headache, and muscle aches. Campylobacter is the most commonly identified food–borne bacterial infection encountered in the world. It is transmitted by raw poultry, raw milk, and water contaminated by animal feces.

Staphylococcus aureus: Causes moderate to severe illness with rapid onset of nausea, severe vomiting, dizziness, and abdominal cramping. These bacteria produce a toxin in foods such as cream–filled cakes and pies, salads (most at risk are potato, macaroni, egg, and tuna salads, for example) and dairy products. Contaminated potato salad at a picnic is common if the food is not chilled properly.

Bacillus cereus: Causes mild illness with rapid onset of vomiting, with or without diarrhea and abdominal cramping. It is associated with rice (mainly fried rice) and other starchy foods such as pasta or potatoes. May also be used as a potential terrorist weapon.

Escherichia coli (E coli): Causes moderate to severe illness that begins as large amounts of watery diarrhea, and then turns into bloody diarrhea. There are many different types of this bacterium. The worst strain can cause kidney failure and death (about 3–5% of all cases). It is transmitted by eating raw or undercooked hamburger, unpasteurized milk or juices, or contaminated well water. Outbreaks of food poisoning due to E.coli have also occurred following ingestion of contaminated produce.

Shigella (traveler’s diarrhea): Causes moderate to severe illness with fever, diarrhea containing blood or mucus or both, and the constant urge to have bowel movements. It is transmitted in water polluted with human wastes.

Clostridium botulinum (botulism): Causes severe illness affecting the nervous system. Symptoms start as blurred vision. The person then has problems talking and overall weakness. Symptoms then progress to breathing difficulty and inability to move arms or legs. Infants and young children are particularly at risk. It is transmitted in foods such as home–packed canned goods, honey, sausages, and seafood.

Vibrio cholerae: Causes mild to moderate illness with crampy diarrhea, headache, nausea, vomiting, and fever with chills. It strikes mostly in the warmer months of the year and is transmitted by infected, undercooked, or raw seafood.

Parasites rarely cause food poisoning. When they do, they are usually swallowed in contaminated or untreated water and cause long–lasting but mild symptoms.

Giardia (beaver fever): Causes mild illness with watery diarrhea often lasting one to two weeks. It is transmitted by drinking contaminated water, often from lakes or streams in cooler mountainous climates.

Cryptosporidium: Causes moderate illness with large amounts of watery diarrhea lasting two to four days. May become a long–lasting problem in people with poor immune systems (such as people with kidney disease or HIV/AIDS or those on chemotherapy for cancer). It is transmitted by contaminated drinking water.

Toxic agents are the least common cause of food poisoning. Illness is often an isolated episode caused by poor food preparation or selection (such as picking wild mushrooms).

Mushroom toxins: Illness can range from mild to deadly depending on the type of mushroom eaten. Often there is nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Some types of mushrooms produce a nerve toxin, which causes sweating, shaking, hallucinations, and coma.

Ciguatera poisoning: Causes moderate to severe illness with numbness of the area around the mouth and lips that can spread to the arms and legs, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain and weakness, headache, dizziness, and rapid heartbeat. It is transmitted by eating certain large game fish from tropical waters—most specifically barracuda and jacks.

Scombroid: Causes mild to moderate illness with burning around the mouth and lips, a red rash to the upper body, dizziness, headache, and itchy skin. It is transmitted in seafood, mostly mahi–mahi and tuna, but can also be in Swiss cheese.

Pesticides: Cause mild to severe illness with weakness, blurred vision, headache, cramps, diarrhea, increased production of saliva, and shaking of the arms and legs. Toxins are transmitted by eating unwashed fruits or vegetables contaminated with pesticides.

When to Seek Medical Care

Contact your doctor if any of the following situations occur:
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea lasts for more than two days.
The ill person is younger than three years.
The abdominal symptoms are associated with a low–grade fever.
Symptoms begin after recent foreign travel.
Other family members or friends who ate the same thing are also sick.
You cannot keep any liquids down.
You do not improve within two days even though you are drinking large amounts of fluids.
You have a disease or illness that weakens your immune system (for example, HIV/AIDS, cancer and undergoing chemotherapy, kidney disease).
You cannot take your normal prescribed medications because of vomiting.
You have any nervous system symptoms such as slurred speech, muscle weakness, double vision, or difficulty swallowing.

Go to the nearest hospital's emergency department if any of the following situations occur:
You pass out or collapse, become dizzy, lightheaded, or have problems with your vision.
A fever higher than 101°F occurs with the abdominal symptoms.
Sharp or cramping pains do not go away after 10–15 minutes.
Your stomach or abdomen swells.
The skin and/or eyes turn yellow.
You are vomiting blood or having bloody bowel movements.
You stop urinating, have decreased urination, or have urine that is dark in color.
You develop problems with breathing, speaking, or swallowing.
One or more joints swell or a rash breaks out on your skin.
The ill person or caretaker considers the situation to be an emergency.

Exams and Tests

If you visit a doctor or a hospital emergency department because you think you may have food poisoning, a thorough examination will be performed, including measurements of blood pressure, pulse, breathing rate, and temperature will be done. The doctor will perform a physical exam, which screens for outward signs and symptoms of your illness. They will assess how dehydrated you are and examine your abdominal area to make sure your illness is not serious.
The doctor may need to do a rectal examination. The doctor performs this test by inserting a lubricated and gloved finger gently into your rectum. The purpose is to make sure there are no breaks in your rectal wall. A sample of your stool is taken and tested for blood and mucus. In some cases, a sample of stool or vomit can be sent to the laboratory for further testing to find out which toxin caused the illness. In a majority of cases, a specific cause is not found.

A urine sample helps assess how dehydrated you are and indicates possible kidney damage.

Blood tests may be performed to determine the seriousness of your illness. An x–ray of the abdomen or a CT scan may be taken if the doctor suspects your symptoms may be caused by another illness.

Food Poisoning Treatment

Self–Care at Home

Short episodes of vomiting and small amounts of diarrhea lasting less than 24 hours can usually be cared for at home.

Do not eat solid food while nauseous or vomiting but drink plenty of fluids.

Small, frequent sips of clear liquids (those you can see through) are the best way to stay hydrated.

Avoid alcoholic, caffeinated, or sugary drinks, if possible. Over–the–counter rehydration products made for children such as Pedialyte and Rehydralyte are expensive but good to use if available.

Sports drinks such as Gatorade and Powerade are fine for adults if they are diluted with water because at full strength they contain too much sugar, which can worsen diarrhea.

After successfully tolerating fluids, eating should begin slowly, when nausea and vomiting have stopped. Plain foods that are easy on the stomach should be started in small amounts. Consider eating rice, wheat, breads, potatoes, cereals (low–sugar cereals), lean meats, and chicken (not fried) to start. Milk can be given safely, although some people may experience additional stomach upset due to lactose intolerance.

Most food poisonings do not require the use of over–the–counter medicines to stop diarrhea, but they are generally safe if used as directed. It is not recommended that these medications be given to children. If there is a question or concern, you should always check with your doctor.

Medical Treatment

The main treatment for food poisoning is putting fluids back in the body (the process of rehydration) through an IV and by drinking. You may need to be admitted to the hospital. This depends on the severity of the dehydration, your response to therapy, and your ability to drink fluids without vomiting. Children, in particular, may need close observation.
Antivomiting and diarrhea medications may be given.
The doctor may also treat any fever to make you more comfortable.
Antibiotics are rarely needed for food poisoning. In some cases, antibiotics would worsen the condition. Only a few specific causes of food poisoning are improved by using these medications. The length of illness with traveler's diarrhea (shigellae) can be decreased with antibiotics, but this specific illness usually runs its course and improves without treatment.
With mushroom poisoning or eating foods contaminated with pesticides, aggressive treatment may include pumping the stomach (lavage) or giving medications as antidotes. These poisonings are very serious and may require intensive care in the hospital.

Next Steps

Follow–up

After visiting your doctor or the emergency department, follow any specific directions and take any medications prescribed exactly as directed. Continue to drink extra fluids until the diarrhea stops completely. You may need to miss one to two days of work or school to let your body recover. If any symptoms change or continue to worsen, contact your doctor.

Prevention

Safe steps in food handling, cooking, and storage are essential to avoiding food–borne illness. You cannot see, smell, or taste bacteria, which may be on any food.

Follow these food safety guidelines to keep contaminants away.
Safe shopping

Buy cold foods last during your shopping trip. Get them home fast.

Never choose torn or leaking packages.

Do not buy foods past their "sell–by" or expiration dates.

Keep raw meat and poultry separate from other foods.

Place refrigerated or frozen items in the shopping cart last, right before heading for the checkout counter.

Safe storage of foods

Keep it safe; refrigerate.

Unload perishable foods first and immediately refrigerate them. Place raw meat, poultry, or fish in the coldest section of your refrigerator.

Check the temperature of your appliances. To slow bacterial growth, the refrigerator should be at 40°F, the freezer at 0°F.

Cook or freeze fresh poultry, fish, ground meats, and variety meats within two days.

Safe food preparation

Keep everything clean!

Wash hands before and after handling raw meat and poultry.

Sanitize cutting boards often in a solution of one teaspoon chlorine bleach in one quart of water.

Do not cross–contaminate. Keep raw meat, poultry, fish, and their juices away from other food. After cutting raw meats, wash hands, cutting board, knife, and counter tops with hot, soapy water.

Marinate meat and poultry in a covered dish in the refrigerator. Discard any uncooked/unused marinade.

Thawing food safely

Refrigerator: Allows slow, safe thawing. Make sure thawing juices do not drip on other foods.

Cold water: For faster thawing, place food in a leak–proof plastic bag and submerge in cold tap water.

Microwave: Cook meat and poultry immediately after microwave thawing.

Safe cooking

Use a meat thermometer.

Cook ground meats to 160°F; ground poultry to 165°F. Beef, veal, and lamb steaks, roasts and chops may be cooked to 145°F; all cuts of fresh pork, 160°F. Whole poultry should reach 180°F in the thigh; breasts 170°F.

Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.

Never leave food out more than two hours (or more than 1 hour in temperatures above 90°F).

Bacteria that cause food poisoning grow rapidly at room temperature.

Use cooked leftovers within four days.

Thyroid Problems

2007-11-06T02:44:00.000-08:00

Thyroid Problems Overview

The thyroid gland is located on the front part of the neck below the thyroid cartilage (Adam's apple). The gland produces thyroid hormones, which regulate body metabolism. Thyroid hormones are important in regulating body energy, the body's use of other hormones and vitamins, and the growth and maturation of body tissues.

Diseases of the thyroid gland can result in either production of too much (hyperthyroidism) or too little (hypothyroidism) hormone.
Production of thyroid hormones: The process of hormone synthesis begins in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus releases thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). The TRH travels through the bloodstream to the pituitary gland, also in the brain. In response, the pituitary gland then releases thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) into the blood. The TSH then stimulates the thyroid to produce the two main thyroid hormones, L-thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The thyroid gland also needs adequate amounts of dietary iodine to be able to produce T4 and T3.
Regulation of thyroid hormone production: To prevent the overproduction or underproduction of thyroid hormones, the pituitary gland can sense how much hormone is in the blood and adjust the production of hormones accordingly. For example, when there is too much thyroid hormone in the blood, the TRH does not work effectively to stimulate the pituitary gland. In addition, too much thyroid hormone will prevent the release of TSH from the pituitary gland. The sum effect of this is to decrease the amount of TSH released from the pituitary gland, resulting in less production of thyroid hormones in the thyroid gland. This then works to restore the amount of thyroid hormone in the blood to normal. Defects in these regulatory pathways may result in hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
Hypothyroidism in pregnancy

Newly diagnosed hypothyroidism in pregnancy is rare because most women with untreated hypothyroidism have ovulatory problems, which make it difficult for them to conceive.

It is a difficult new diagnosis to make. Many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism (fatigue, poor attention, weight gain, numbness, and tingling of the hands or feet) are also prominent symptoms of a normal pregnancy.

Undiagnosed hypothyroidism during pregnancy increases the chance of stillbirth or growth retardation of the fetus. It also increases the chance that the mother may experience complications such as anemia, eclampsia, and placental abruption.

Probably the largest group of women who will have hypothyroidism during pregnancy are those who are currently on thyroid hormone replacement. The ideal thyroxine replacement dose during pregnancy may rise by 25-50% during pregnancy. It is important to have regular checks of T4 and TSH during pregnancy to make sure you are at the correct medication dose.
Hyperthyroidism in pregnancy

Newly diagnosed hyperthyroidism occurs in about 1 in 2,000 pregnancies. Graves disease accounts for 95% of hyperthyroidism newly diagnosed during pregnancy.

Like hypothyroidism, many symptoms of mild hyperthyroidism mimic those of normal pregnancy. However, anyone experiencing symptoms such as significant weight loss, vomiting, increased blood pressure, or persistently fast heart rate should have blood tests to look for hyperthyroidism.

Untreated hyperthyroidism does cause fetal and maternal complications similar to untreated hypothyroidism.

Treatment of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy is primarily medical. Propylthiouracil or methimazole are usual first-line agents to block the synthesis of thyroid hormone. They appear to be equally effective and have the same rate of side effects. The rate of side effects of each medication is not increased in pregnancy.

Iodine will cross the placenta, so its use in either a thyroid scan or in treatment with radioactive iodine is prohibited in pregnancy.

One positive note for women with hyperthyroidism is that those with Graves disease or Hashimoto thyroiditis may have improvement in their symptoms during pregnancy.

Postpartum thyroid disease
Some women may have thyroiditis that usually occurs within 3-6 months after birth. It also may occur after miscarriage. The classic clinical picture is a woman who will first have symptoms of hyperthyroidism, followed by hypothyroidism, culminating in normal thyroid function.

Women with insulin-dependent diabetes have a 25% risk of developing postpartum thyroid dysfunction.

Consult your doctor if you have symptoms of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism after pregnancy or miscarriage.

Thyroid Problems Causes

Hypothyroidism

Loss of tissue: Treatment of hyperthyroidism by radioactive destruction of thyroid tissue or surgical removal of thyroid tissue can result in hypothyroidism.

Antithyroid antibodies: These may be present in people who have diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic hepatitis, or Sjögren syndrome. These antibodies may cause decreased production of thyroid hormones.

Congenital: Hypothyroidism can be present from birth. This is commonly discovered early with nationwide newborn screening for this disease.

Defects in the production of thyroid hormone: Hashimoto thyroiditis occurs when there are defects in the production of thyroid hormone, resulting in an increased amount of TSH. The increased TSH results in a goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland itself that can be seen as an obvious swelling in the front of the neck).

Medications: Some medications, particularly lithium, may cause a drug-induced hypothyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism

Graves disease: This thyroid condition results from abnormal stimulation of the thyroid gland by a material in the blood termed the long-acting thyroid stimulator (LATS). LATS overstimulates the thyroid causing a goiter. It also causes Graves eye disease, including a "bug-eyed" look and "frightened stare." This can progress to severe eye pain or eye muscle weakness. It also causes raised, thickened skin over the shins or tops of the feet.

Toxic multinodular goiter: This occurs when part of the thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones all by itself, without regard to TSH stimulation. It usually occurs in people with a long-standing goiter—usually in the elderly. Toxic multinodular goiter is different from Graves disease because of the general lack of eye complications and less severe signs of hyperthyroidism.

Thyroiditis: This inflammatory disorder of the thyroid gland includes such conditions as de Quervain thyroiditis or Hashimoto thyroiditis. In these conditions, you may have periods of increased thyroid hormone release due to the inflammation, causing a hyperthyroid state. As thyroid failure occurs due to the inflammatory response, hypothyroidism may occur.

Pituitary adenoma: This tumor of the pituitary gland causes independent TSH production leading to overstimulation of the thyroid gland.

Drug-induced hyperthyroidism: This is most commonly caused by a heart medication called amiodarone. It may be prevented by monitoring this possible side effect and weighing it against the benefits of using the heart medication.

Thyroid Problems Symptoms

Hypothyroidism

Infants

Constipation

Poor feeding

Jaundice (yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes)

Excessive tiredness
Children

Similar to adult symptoms

Poor school performance
Adults

Early symptoms

Easy fatigue, exhaustion

Poor tolerance to cold temperatures

Constipation

Carpal tunnel syndrome (pain at the wrists and numbness of the hands)

Later symptoms

Poor appetite

Weight increase

Dry skin

Hair falls out

Intellectual ability worsens

Deeper, hoarse voice

Puffiness around the eyes

Depression
Hyperthyroidism

Children

Similar to adult symptoms

Declining school performance

Behavior problems
Adults

Insomnia

Hand tremors

Nervousness

Feeling excessively hot in normal or cold temperatures

Frequent bowel movements

Losing weight despite normal or increased appetite

Excessive sweating

Menstrual period becomes scant, or ceases altogether

Joint pains

Difficulty concentrating

Eyes seem to be enlarging
Elderly

Worsening of angina (chest pain) in person with heart disease

Worsening of shortness of breath in person with heart failure

Muscle weakness, especially in the shoulders and thighs

When to Seek Medical Care

The signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism typically develop slowly over a period of weeks to months. If you have prolonged symptoms or signs of either condition, call your doctor to be evaluated.

Untreated hypothyroidism may have severe effects on the brain as well as cause intestinal obstruction and inability of the heart to beat effectively. An infection, exposure to cold, trauma, and certain medications may often cause a worsening of hypothyroidism.
Seek immediate attention at a hospital's emergency department if you have these signs and symptoms associated with thyroid problems.

Shortness of breath

Abdominal pain

Vomiting

Confusion

Coma
Severe hyperthyroidism, called thyrotoxic crisis, may be life threatening because of the effects it has on the heart and brain. It often occurs in people who are untreated or are receiving inadequate treatment for thyroid problems. A severe infection can also cause a thyrotoxic crisis.

Seek immediate attention at a hospital's emergency department if you have these signs and symptoms associated with thyroid problems.

Chest pain

Shortness of breath

Abdominal pain

Vomiting

Extreme agitation or irritability

Disorientation (person has no knowledge of the date or location)

Coma

Exams and Tests

The medical history and physical exam are important parts of the evaluation for thyroid problems. The doctor will focus on eye, skin, cardiac, and neurologic findings.
Blood tests

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): In most cases, this is the single most useful lab test in diagnosing thyroid disease. When there is an excess of thyroid hormone in the blood, as in hyperthyroidism, the TSH is low. When there is too little thyroid hormone, as in hypothyroidism, the TSH is high.

L-thyroxine (T4): T4 is one of the thyroid hormones. High T4 may indicate hyperthyroidism. Low T4 may indicate hypothyroidism.

Triiodothyronine (T3): T3 is another one of the thyroid hormones. High T3 may indicate hyperthyroidism. Low T3 may indicate hypothyroidism.

TSH receptor antibody: This antibody is present in Graves disease.

Antithyroid antibody: This antibody is present in Hashimoto disease.

Thyroid scan: For this test, a small amount of radioactive iodine is given into the blood, and then an x-ray image of the thyroid is taken. Increased uptake of the radioactive material in the thyroid gland indicates hyperthyroidism, while decreased uptake is present in hypothyroidism. This test should not be done on pregnant women.

Thyroid ultrasound: This exam helps to differentiate between different types of nodules of the thyroid gland.

Fine-needle aspiration: For this test, a small needle is inserted into the thyroid gland in order to get a sample of thyroid tissue, usually from a nodule. The tissue is then observed under a microscope to look for any signs of cancer.

Thyroid Problems Treatment

Medications

Medications for hyperthyroidism
Beta-blockers: This class of medications works by blocking many of the body’s responses to hyperthyroidism. It decreases tremor, nervousness, and agitation. It also reduces the fast heart rate. It is given as tablets to the person with mild to moderate symptoms, and as an IV preparation to the person with the severe form of hyperthyroidism (thyrotoxic crisis).
Propylthiouracil: This antithyroid drug works by blocking thyroid hormone synthesis. It takes about a week after starting the medication for full therapeutic effect. Common mild side effects include rash, itching, and mild fever. More rare, serious side effects include a decrease in white blood cell count, which can decrease the ability to fight off infection. Therefore, a high fever should prompt a call to the doctor.
Methimazole (Tapazole): This antithyroid drug also works by blocking thyroid hormone synthesis. It may take slightly longer than propylthiouracil to achieve full effect. It has similar side effects as propylthiouracil and may also cause a decreased white blood cell count.
Iodide (Lugol’s solution, Strong iodine): This medication works by inhibiting the release of thyroid hormone from the overfunctioning thyroid gland. It must be used in conjunction with an antithyroid drug because the iodine can be used to increase the amount of thyroid hormone and worsen the hyperthyroidism. Common side effects include nausea and a metallic taste in the mouth.

Medications for hypothyroidism
L-thyroxine: This medication is the mainstay of thyroid hormone replacement therapy in hypothyroidism. This is a synthetic form of thyroxine. The body tissues convert it to the active product L-triiodothyronine. Side effects are rare, and it has an excellent safety record.
L-triiodothyronine: This is rarely used alone as thyroid hormone replacement, because it has less uniform potency than L-thyroxine. Its use can cause rapid increases in L-triiodothyronine concentration, which can be dangerous in the elderly and in people with cardiac disease. It may be used in combination with L-thyroxine for people who have poor symptomatic relief with L-thyroxine alone.

Surgery

Surgery for hyperthyroidism may involve removal of much of the thyroid tissue, leaving some intact to continue to produce thyroid hormone. Risks in this procedure include damage to nerves that control the vocal cords, damage to the parathyroid glands, which lie just behind the thyroid gland, and bleeding causing breathing problems. Hypothyroidism may also occur, but occurs less frequently than in radioactive iodine treatment. Persistent hyperthyroidism may also occur. If so, the entire thyroid gland is removed. In general, in the hands of an experienced surgeon, this is considered an effective and relatively safe procedure.

Next Steps

Follow-up

Anyone diagnosed with Graves disease should stop smoking immediately because smoking increases the risk of progression to Graves eye disease.

Follow the medication schedule prescribed by your doctor. In addition, ask what side effects the medications may cause. Also discuss with your doctor the kinds of symptoms that would prompt a call to the doctor or a visit to the emergency department.

Prevention

There is no known way to prevent hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.

Outlook

Most people with either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, with proper diagnosis and treatment, can control their condition with no long-term effects. However, those with undiagnosed disease may progress to coma or thyrotoxic crisis, with death rates approaching 50%.

Graves eye disease has been treated with corticosteroid medication, radiotherapy, and surgery with varying success.

Blood in Urine

2007-11-06T02:35:00.000-08:00

Blood in Urine Overview

Blood in the urine is a common problem. The medical term for red blood cells in the urine is hematuria. Sometimes blood in the urine is a sign of a serious problem in the urinary tract, while other times it is not serious and requires no treatment. Only after a thorough evaluation by a healthcare provider should blood in the urine be attributed to a non-serious cause.

The urinary tract consists of the following structures:
Kidneys: You have two kidneys, located closer to your back than your front at about waist level. The kidneys filter the blood in your body and produce urine.

Ureters: These narrow, hollow tubes carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.

Bladder: The bladder is a balloon-like organ that holds urine until it is convenient for you to empty your bladder (urinate).

Urethra: This narrow, hollow tube carries urine from the bladder to the outside of your body. The flow of urine is controlled by internal and external sphincter muscles, which tighten or relax around the urethra, holding or releasing urine.

In men, the genitals and prostate are considered part of the urinary system. The prostate surrounds the urethra in men. It is made up of glands that secrete a fluid that is part of semen. The prostate often becomes enlarged in older men.

Blood in the urine is not always visible. If the amount of blood is small, the urine looks normal. This is called microscopic hematuria because the blood cells are visible only under a microscope. Typically, this is discovered when the patient has a urine test for some other reason.

When there is enough blood to be visible, the urine may look pinkish, red, or smoky brown (like tea or cola). This is called gross or frank hematuria. It takes very little blood in urine to be visible —about one-fifth of a teaspoon in a half quart of urine.

A trace amount of blood in your urine is normal. The average person with a healthy urinary tract excretes about 1 million red blood cells (RBC) in the urine each day. This amount of blood is not visible. This is not considered to be hematuria.

An abnormal amount of blood in the urine can be acute (new, occurring suddenly) or chronic (ongoing, long term). Acute hematuria can occur just once, or it can occur many times.

Sometimes the urine can appear with a color indicating hematuria, but the urine actually does not contain red blood cells, but rather is discolored by medications or foods.

Up to 10% of people have hematuria. About 3% of people develop gross hematuria.
Women develop hematuria more than men because women are more likely to have urinary tract infections.

Older adults, especially men, have hematuria more often than younger people because they are more likely to take medications that can irritate the urinary tract, have enlargement of the prostate, or cancer.

Causes of Blood in Urine

Hematuria has many different causes.
Blood in the urine can come from any condition that results in infection, inflammation, or injury to the urinary system.

Typically, microscopic hematuria indicates damage to the upper urinary tract (kidneys), while visible blood indicates damage to the lower tract (ureters, bladder, or urethra). But this is not always the case.

The most common causes in people younger than 40 years of age are kidney stones or urinary tract infections.

These may also cause hematuria in older people, but cancers of the kidney, bladder, and prostate become a more common concern in people older than 40 years of age.

Several conditions causing hematuria may exist at the same time.

Some causes of hematuria are serious, others are not. Your healthcare provider will perform tests to help tell the difference.

The well-known causes of blood in the urine include the following:
Kidney stones

Infections of the urinary tract or genitals

Blockage of the urinary tract, usually the urethra - by a stone, a tumor, a narrowing of the opening (stricture), or a compression from surrounding structures

Cancer of the kidney, bladder, or prostate

Kidney disease

Blood clotting disorders

Injury to the upper or lower urinary tract, as in a car accident or a bad fall

Medications - Antibiotics [for example, rifampin (Rifadin)], analgesics such as aspirin, anticoagulants [blood thinners such as warfarin, (Coumadin)], phenytoin (Dilantin), quinine (Quinerva, Quinite, QM-260)

Benign (noncancerous) enlargement of the prostate - known as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), a common condition in older men

Chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and sickle cell anemia

Viral infections

Inflammation of the kidney - usually of unknown cause

Strenuous exercise, especially running - results from repeated jarring of the bladder

Sometimes no cause is found for blood in the urine.
If serious conditions such as cancer, kidney disease, and other chronic diseases that cause kidney damage or bleeding are ruled out, the cause is usually not serious.

The hematuria will probably go away by itself or continue as a chronic condition without doing harm. Any changes should immediately trigger a return visit and evaluation by your healthcare provider.

Urine can be colored pink, red, or brown for reasons that have nothing to do with bleeding in the urinary tract:
Foods - beets, berries, rhubarb in large amounts

Food coloring

Medications - Certain laxatives and pain medications

Menstrual blood

Liver diseases - also can be very serious

Blood in Urine Symptoms

Blood in the urine is itself a symptom rather than a disease. The appearance of the urine is usually not a clue as to the cause.
In gross hematuria, the urine appears pinkish, red, or smoky brown (like cola or tea). There may be small blood clots. The amount of blood in the urine does not indicate the seriousness of the condition.

In microscopic hematuria, the urine appears normal.

Many people with hematuria have no other symptoms. Other symptoms are related to the underlying cause of the bleeding.
Pain in the flank (side of the body between the ribs and the hips), back, or lower belly (abdomen) or groin

Burning sensation or pain when urinating (dysuria)

Fever

Nausea or vomiting

Weight loss

Decreased appetite

Kidney stones: Not all people with kidney stones have all of these symptoms.
Pain, often severe, in the flank, back, or lower abdominal pain that may radiate to the groin area

Nausea and vomiting

Usually a normal temperature

Frequent urination

Burning sensation with urination

Restlessness - constant moving around (writhing) to find relief from pain

Urinary tract infection: Symptoms may be similar to those of kidney stones.
Pain in lower back, flank, lower abdomen, or groin - may be severe but not enough to cause writhing

Fever with or without chills

More frequent urination

Sensation of having to urinate but little urine produced (urgency)

Burning sensation or pain with urination

Cloudy urine - due to pus in the urine

When to Seek Medical Care

Any time you have blood in the urine or other symptoms of urinary tract disease call your healthcare provider. If you cannot get in touch with your provider or get an appointment that day, go to a hospital emergency department.

Any time you have the combination of blood in the urine, fever, and flank pain, you should seek emergency medical care, because this may represent a severe infection in your kidney.

Blood in Urine Treatment

Self-Care at Home

If you have visible blood in your urine, do not attempt to treat yourself with home remedies. See a medical professional without delay.

If you have a urinary tract infection, you will take antibiotics for 3-14 days, depending on what part of the urinary tract is infected.

If you have kidney stones, be sure to drink plenty of liquids to help pass the stones and prevent other stones from forming. You may need to take pain relievers.

Medical Treatment

Many conditions can cause blood in the urine. Some of these have no medical significance and do not require treatment. They usually go away by themselves. Others can be serious and require immediate treatment. Treatment depends on the underlying cause of the bleeding. Anytime you notice blood in the urine you need to consult a healthcare provider for an evaluation.

Kidney stones: For most cases of kidney stones, you will be told to drink plenty of water and other fluids and to take pain relievers.
Most stones will pass through urinary system by themselves. In certain instances, more extensive measures may be required.

One form of therapy, called extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, uses sound waves to crush the stones. The smaller pieces can then pass through more easily, though some pain will remain.

Another form of therapy uses cystoscopy to find the stone in the ureter and then to grab and remove it with a small scoop.

Urinary tract infection: Treatment seeks to get rid of the bacteria responsible for the infection. If you have no other significant illness, you will take a course of antibiotics for 3-14 days, depending on the source of the infection.

Benign prostate enlargement: Sometimes eliminating certain foods and medications that irritate the prostate can help shrink the prostate. Sometimes medication is necessary.

Medications: If a medication is causing hematuria, the medication should be stopped. Some medications only discolor the urine without actually causing hematuria. Your healthcare provider should determine if these can be continued. Do not stop a medication without talking it over with your healthcare provider.

Urinary tract blockage: A blockage usually requires surgery or other procedure to correct or remove the block.

Injury: These may heal over time, or you may need surgery or another procedure to repair the injury or remove the damaged tissue.

Next Steps

Follow-up

Follow-up is very important if you have blood in your urine.
Typically, you will go back to your health care provider in one to two weeks for a repeat analysis of your urine to make sure the hematuria has cleared up.

If bloody urine continues, you might need further testing or need to see a specialist (urologist).

You should drink plenty of water and take all medications as recommended if the hematuria is to go away.

Men older than 50 years of age for whom no definite cause is found should have yearly screening for prostate cancer.

Alcohol Intoxication

2007-11-05T23:34:00.000-08:00

Alcohol Intoxication Definition and Causes

Definition: A person is said to suffer from alcohol intoxication when the quantity of alcohol the person consumes exceeds the individual's tolerance for alcohol and produces behavioral or physical abnormalities. In other words, the person's mental and physical abilities are impaired. The person can't function and certainly should not be operating a motor vehicle.
Causes: Alcohol is a generic term for ethanol, which is a particular type of alcohol produced by the fermentation of many foodstuffs—most commonly barley, hops, and grapes. Other types of alcohol commonly available such as methanol (common in glass cleaners), isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), and ethylene glycol (automobile antifreeze solution) are highly poisonous when swallowed, even in small quantities. Ethanol produces intoxication because of its depressive effects on various areas of the brain causing these impairments in a progressive order as the person gets more and more drunk:

Disinhibition of normal social functioning (excessive talking, showing off)

Loss of memory

Confusion

Disorientation

Movement not coordinated

Progressive lethargy

Coma

Ultimately the shutdown of the respiratory centers (death)

What happens in the brain: Alcohol increases the effect of the body's naturally occurring neurotransmitter GABA (gamma amino butyric acid). Neurotransmitters are substances that chemically connect the signals from one nerve to the next allowing a signal to flow along a neural pathway. An inhibitory neurotransmitter (alcohol) reduces this signal flow in the brain. This explains how alcohol depresses both a person's mental and physical activities. By way of comparison, cocaine does the opposite by producing a general excitatory effect on the nervous system.

Available forms and measurement: A standard "drink" of ethanol consists of 10 grams. This amount is equal to 10 ounces (300 cc) of regular beer (5% alcohol content); 3-4 ounces of wine (12% alcohol content); or 1 ounce of hard liquor (40% alcohol content, 80 "proof").

Absorption: Approximately 20% of ethanol is absorbed into the bloodstream directly from the stomach, and 80% from the small intestine. Consequently, the longer the ethanol/alcohol remains in the stomach, the slower it will be absorbed and the lower will be the peak in the blood alcohol concentration (known as BAC).
This explains the apparent sobering effect of food, which slows the process of emptying the stomach contents, slows the absorption of alcohol, and reduces the peak BAC reached.

When alcohol is taken with food, absorption generally is complete in 1-3 hours during which time the BAC will peak. If no further alcohol is consumed, sobering up will follow this peak level of BAC.

Distribution: Ethanol is highly soluble in water and is absorbed much less in fat. So alcohol tends to distribute itself mostly in tissues rich in water (muscle) instead of those rich in fat.

Two people may weigh the same, yet their bodies may have different proportions of tissue containing water and fat. Think of a tall, thin person and a short, fat person who both weigh 150 pounds. The short, fat person will have more fat and less water making up his body than the tall, thin person. If both people, in this example, consume the same amount of alcohol, the short, fat person will end up with a higher BAC. This is because the alcohol he drank was spread into a smaller water "space."

Women's bodies, on average, have more fat and less water than men's bodies. Using the same logic, this means that a woman will reach a higher BAC than a man of the same weight when both drink the same amount of alcohol.

Metabolism (elimination): Metabolism is the method by which the body processes alcohol (and everything else you eat). Some of the alcohol is converted to other substances (such as fat, as in "beer belly"). Some is burned as energy (and converted to water and carbon dioxide). A small amount is excreted unchanged (in your breath and urine). The liver metabolizes about 90% of the ethanol. The lungs excrete about 5% during exhalation (breathing out). Alcohol excretion by the lungs forms the basis for Breathalyzer testing. Another 5% is excreted into the urine.

The average person metabolizes about 1 standard drink (10 grams) per hour.

Heavy drinkers have more active livers and may be able to metabolize up to 3 drinks per hour.

People with liver diseases will metabolize less than 1 drink per hour. In many chronic alcoholics, the liver gets burned out and can no longer metabolize alcohol, or anything else, efficiently. This is known as alcoholic cirrhosis.

In alcoholic cirrhosis, the liver cells become badly scarred. This scarring has the effect of blocking blood flow through the liver, impeding exchange of metabolic chemicals into and out of the liver cells and damaging the cells' ability to function.

Alcohol Intoxication Signs and Symptoms

The effects of alcohol vary widely from person to person. Several factors can account for obvious differences in how certain amounts of alcohol can affect one person more than another. These factors also affect the particular signs and symptoms the person may have to indicate alcohol intoxication.

Major factors account for this variation in signs and symptoms:
Prior experience with alcohol. A longtime, heavy drinker may achieve blood alcohol concentration levels that would kill the average casual drinker. Conversely, a college student (typically a freshman) who is a novice drinker may get knocked out by a 6-pack of beer. As a person's drinking increases, his or her liver will increase its capacity to metabolize alcohol. Put simply, a heavy drinker will be able to burn off drinks much faster. In addition, a heavy drinker's brain gets used to frequent, even constant, high blood alcohol concentrations (BAC). This habituation in a heavy drinker can backfire if this person suddenly stops drinking. The person may go into withdrawal and develop seizures or a condition called delirium tremens (DTs).

Taking drugs. The effects of alcohol are enhanced if someone may be taking other drugs, especially those of the sedative class such as sleeping pills or antianxiety medications. A person who is not habituated to either alcohol or sedatives may cause serious harm, or death, in taking sub-lethal doses of each. Together, they can be a deadly combination. The person may be taking medications prescribed by a doctor or over-the-counter drugs and may not intend for the drugs to enhance the effects of the alcohol.

Medical conditions. The presence of a wide variety of medical conditions may affect how someone reacts to alcohol.

Smell of alcohol on the breath. There is a very poor correlation between the strength of the smell of alcohol on the breath and the BAC. Pure alcohol has very little smell. It is the metabolism of other substances in alcoholic beverages that produces most of the smell. This explains why a person who drinks large amounts of high-proof vodka (a more pure form of alcohol) may have only a faint smell of alcohol on the breath. On the other hand, a person who drinks a modest amount of beer may have a strong smell of alcohol on the breath.

Scale of effects. In the average social drinker (defined as someone who drinks no more than 2 standard drinks per day), there is a rough correlation between blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and how the person acts.

Blood alcohol concentration. BAC commonly is expressed in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Using this measure, 100 mg/dL roughly is equal to 1 part alcohol in 1000 parts of water (or blood). Consequently, 100 mg/dL would be equal to a 0.1% concentration. In most states, 100 mg/dL represents the threshold concentration above which a person is legally drunk when operating a motor vehicle.

To find out more about BAC and how it affects you, go to the Blood Alcohol Educator Web site of the Century Council and the University of Illinois for some startling interactive activities.

The following scale details the expected effects of alcohol at various BACs. There is a tremendous variation from person to person, and not all people exhibit all the effects. This scale would apply to a typical social drinker:

50 mg/dL: Loss of emotional restraint, vivaciousness, feeling of warmth, flushing of skin, mild impairment of judgment

100 mg/dL: Slight slurring of speech, loss of control of fine motor movements (such as writing), confusion when faced with tasks requiring thinking, emotionally unstable, inappropriate laughter

200 mg/dL: Very slurred speech, staggering gait, double vision, lethargic but able to be aroused by voice, difficulty sitting upright in a chair, memory loss

300 mg/dL: Stuporous, able to be aroused only briefly by strong physical stimulus (such as a face slap or deep pinch), deep snoring

400 mg/dL: Comatose, not able to be aroused, incontinent (wets self), low blood pressure, irregular breathing

500 mg/dL: Death possible, either from cessation of breathing, excessively low blood pressure, or vomit entering the lungs without the presence of the protective reflex to cough it out

Other conditions that look like alcohol intoxication. It is important to recognize the symptoms of alcohol intoxication not only to confirm the presence and severity of the alcohol effect, but also to be able to differentiate the symptoms from other conditions that may coexist, mimic, or mask the symptoms of alcohol intoxication. Admittedly, such a distinction can be exceedingly difficult for a lay person (such as a police officer) and equally difficult for inexperienced doctors. See, in particular, Advice to Law Enforcement Personnel.

Home Care

The majority of people with simple alcohol intoxication can be cared for by a friend or relative at home.

Remove the person from all sources of alcohol. Remove the person from the bar or party. If in a home environment, get rid of all the liquor.

Provide a safe environment (prevent falls, keep away from dangerous machines and objects, keep from driving vehicles).

Find out if only ethanol has been ingested. Determine if the person has taken any medications, illegal drugs, or nonethanol alcohols.

See if the person is easy to arouse when spoken to or with a slight shake of a shoulder.

Make sure that the person’s condition is not due to an underlying medical cause or injury. Ask about other conditions and look for any evidence of a head injury.

Have someone in constant attendance to ensure that the person is improving and to obtain medical assistance as needed. If the care-taking person does not feel comfortable monitoring the condition of the intoxicated person, then it would be best to take the person to the hospital.

No medications will speed up the sobering process. Caffeine (by drinking coffee) and cold showers have a minimal and very temporary effect.
NOTE: It is extremely common for an intoxicated person to vomit once. However, vomiting more than once may be a sign of head injury or other cause of serious illness. If a drunken person vomits more than once and is not completely coherent, then he or she should be taken to the hospital's emergency department for evaluation.

When to Seek Medical Care

If all Home Care conditions cannot be assured, if a care-taking person feels uncomfortable monitoring the intoxicated person, or if there is doubt about the person’s condition, then bring the person to a hospital's emergency department. In addition, the person may need attention to chronic medical conditions unrelated to the alcohol intoxication. These could be such conditions as diabetes, renal (kidney) failure, or epilepsy (seizures).

NOTE: It is extremely common for an intoxicated person to vomit once. However, vomiting more than once may be a sign of head injury or other cause of serious illness. If a drunken person vomits more than once and is not completely coherent, then he or she should be taken to the hospital's emergency department for evaluation.

Physician Diagnosis

The doctor will assess the person suspected of alcohol intoxication to answer the following medical questions and provide the appropriate care. Friends or family who accompany a drunken person (or person suspected to be intoxicated) to the hospital can provide invaluable information regarding recent events as well as past medical history.

Does the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) correspond to the physical exam and the person’s apparent degree of intoxication?

Most importantly, in a lethargic, drunken person, a doctor may be more interested in how low the BAC is rather than how high it is. This is because the lower the BAC, the less likely that alcohol explains the abnormal drowsiness.

The dilemma: If the BAC is found to be inappropriately low for the apparent degree of intoxication (for example, a BAC of 150 in a person who is deeply lethargic), then the doctor must look elsewhere for an explanation. Conversely, a BAC of 300 may perfectly explain a stuporous state while masking a coexisting, serious, life-threatening condition.

Is there any evidence of serious physical injury?

In people with mild-to-moderate intoxication, the physical exam alone may often be sufficient to exclude serious physical injuries or at least permit a later reassessment.

The existence or extent of a head injury may be difficult or impossible to assess in a lethargic, intoxicated person. Important information about the person's medical history and recent activities is often lacking, and the person usually is in no condition to talk coherently.

It is entirely possible to have a serious, life-threatening, internal head injury (from a fall, car accident, baseball bat) with no cuts or bleeding in the head. So, deeply lethargic or comatose, intoxicated people should undergo CT scans of their head. A plain skull x-ray is of little value and may actually do harm if the absence of a skull fracture lulls the doctor into thinking there is no head injury. A plain skull x-ray only assesses for a cracked skull. CT scans visualize bleeding in the brain.

Are any medical conditions contributing to the person’s condition?

The assessment of medical conditions in an intoxicated person can be quite complex, as the two often coexist. The doctor will need to assess the status of the person's chronic medical illnesses plus any acute illnesses and injuries. Diagnosis and further investigation of these possibilities are guided by available medical history, physical exam, and results of standard blood tests.

The doctor will check (to rule out) common conditions that mimic those of alcohol intoxication, such as head injuries (usually with internal bleeding), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), seizure disorders, and the influence of illicit drugs (marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, and opiates). Common opiates are heroin and codeine. In addition, psychiatric conditions, especially depression and alcohol abuse, frequently coexist. Until the alcohol wears off, it can be exceedingly difficult for the doctor to separate the effects of each.

The doctor will look for specific conditions. For example, if there is fever, the doctor might consider meningitis, pneumonia, or some other serious infection that might be causing a change of mental status. If the blood pressure is extremely low, the doctor will look for internal bleeding.

In addition, the doctor will be looking for evidence of chronic alcohol abuse, such as red spots on the skin (called spider angiomas), an enlarged liver, or yellow eyes or skin (jaundice, caused by damage to the liver).

Alcohol Intoxication, Physician Treatment and Follow-up

Treatment: No specific treatment can reverse the effects of alcohol intoxication.

Intoxicated people often receive IV fluids and B complex vitamins for dehydration (alcohol is a diuretic and increases urine output) as a precaution or treatment for vitamin deficiency.

In severe cases—those of severe stupor and coma—the person should be intubated (breathing tube placed in airway) to support respirations (which may stop spontaneously) and to protect the lungs from filling with vomit.

Intubation involves placing a short, flexible plastic tube into the windpipe to just below the vocal cords and connecting the tube to a respirator machine. The tip of the tube has a small donut-shaped balloon around it, which is inflated to seal the end of the tube to the inside of the windpipe. This accomplishes two things:

It prevents the air from the respirator from leaking out into the mouth instead of going into the lungs.

It provides a protective seal so that a large amount of vomit in the mouth would be prevented from entering the lungs where it would cause a great deal of damage and possibly suffocation.

Follow-up: Barring any major complications, most intoxicated people may go home from the hospital's Emergency Department. For some medical and many legal reasons, most hospitals prefer to keep people suspected of alcohol intoxication under observation until their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) falls to below 100 mg/dL.
In most people, the liver metabolizes about 10 grams of ethanol per hour. This corresponds to a BAC fall of about 20 mg/dL per hour. Thus, the length of time a person (and family) will need to wait until discharge may be expressed by the formula (BAC-100)/20 = the wait in hours. Example: The BAC from a blood sample drawn at midnight is 280. (280-100)/20 = 9. The BAC should fall to 100 mg/dL by 9 am (midnight plus 9 hours).

A social worker may talk with the intoxicated person prior to discharge from the hospital. The social worker may advise the person to go to an alcohol treatment center. This is an extremely difficult situation because many people either don't recognize their problem, if they are chronic drinkers, or don't have any desire to correct the situation.

Asthma

2007-11-05T23:07:00.000-08:00

Asthma Overview

Asthma is a disease that affects the breathing passages of the lungs (bronchioles). Asthma is caused by chronic (ongoing, long-term) inflammation of these passages. This makes the breathing passages, or airways, of the person with asthma highly sensitive to various "triggers."

When the inflammation is "triggered" by any number of external and internal factors, the passages swell and fill with mucus.

Muscles within the breathing passages contract (bronchospasm), causing even further narrowing of the airways.

This narrowing makes it difficult for air to be breathed out (exhaled) from the lungs.

This resistance to exhaling leads to the typical symptoms of an asthma attack.

Because asthma causes resistance, or obstruction, to exhaled air, it is called an obstructive lung disease. The medical term for such lung conditions is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. COPD is actually a group of diseases that includes not only asthma, but also chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Like any other chronic disease, asthma is a condition you live with every day of your life. You can have an attack any time you are exposed to one of your triggers. Unlike other chronic obstructive lung diseases, asthma is reversible.
Asthma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled.

You have a better chance of controlling your asthma if it is diagnosed early and treatment begun right away.

With proper treatment, people with asthma can have fewer and less severe attacks.

Without treatment, they will have more frequent and more severe asthma attacks and can even die.

Asthma is on the rise in the United States and other developed countries. We are not sure exactly why this is, but these factors may contribute.
We grow up as children with less exposure to infection than did our ancestors, which has made our immune systems more sensitive.

We spend more and more time indoors, where we are exposed to indoor allergens such as dust and mold.

The air we breathe is more polluted than the air most of our ancestors breathed.

Our lifestyle has led to our getting less exercise and an epidemic of obesity. There is some evidence to suggest an association between obesity and asthma.

Asthma is a very common disease in the United States, where more than 17 million people are affected. A third of these are children. In 2002, 478,000 hospitalizations and 4,657 deaths were attributed to asthma.
Asthma affects all races and is slightly more common in African Americans than in other races.

Asthma affects all ages, although it is more common in younger people. The frequency and severity of asthma attacks tend to decrease as a person ages.

Asthma is the most common chronic disease of children.

Asthma has many costs to society as well as to the individual affected.
Many people are forced to make compromises in their lifestyle to accommodate their disease.

Asthma is a major cause of work and school absence and lost productivity.

Asthma is one of the most common reasons for emergency department visits and hospitalization.

Asthma costs the US economy nearly $13 billion each year.

Approximately 5000 people die of asthma each year in this country.

The good news for people with asthma is that you can live your life to the fullest. Current treatments for asthma, if followed closely, allow most people with asthma to limit the number of attacks they have. With the help of your health care provider, you can take control of your care and your life.

Asthma Causes

We do not know exactly what causes asthma.
What all people with asthma have in common is chronic airway inflammation and excessive airway sensitivity to various triggers.

Research has focused on why some people develop asthma while others do not.

Some people are born with the tendency to have asthma, while others are not. Scientists are trying to find the genes that cause this tendency.

The environment you live in and the way you live partly determine whether you have asthma attacks.

An asthma attack is a reaction to a trigger. It is similar in many ways to an allergic reaction.
An allergic reaction is a response by the body's immune system to an "invader."

When the cells of the immune system sense an invader, they set off a series of reactions that help fight off the invader.

It is this series of reactions that causes the production of mucus and bronchospasms. These responses cause the symptoms of as asthma attack.

In asthma the "invaders" are the triggers listed below. Triggers vary by the individual.

Because asthma is a type of allergic reaction, it is sometimes called reactive airway disease.

Each person with asthma has his or her own unique set of triggers. Most triggers cause attacks in some people with asthma and not in others. Common triggers of asthma attacks are the following:
Exposure to tobacco or wood smoke

Breathing polluted air

Inhaling other respiratory irritants such as perfumes or cleaning products

Exposure to airway irritants at the workplace

Breathing in allergy-causing substances (allergens) such as molds, dust, or animal dander

An upper respiratory infection, such as a cold, flu, sinusitis, or bronchitis

Exposure to cold, dry weather

Emotional excitement or stress

Physical exertion or exercise

Reflux of stomach acid - What medical professionals call gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD

Sulfites - An additive to some foods and wine

Menstruation: In some, not all, women, asthma symptoms are closely tied to the menstrual cycle.

Risk factors for developing asthma
Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and other allergies - The single biggest risk factor

Eczema - Another type of allergy affecting the skin

Genetic predisposition - A parent, brother, or sister also has asthma

Asthma Symptoms

When the breathing passages become irritated or infected, an attack is triggered. The attack may come on suddenly or slowly over several days or hours. The main symptoms that signal an attack are as follows:
Wheezing

Breathlessness

Chest tightness

Coughing

Difficulty speaking

Symptoms may occur during the day or at night. If they happen at night, they may disturb your sleep.

Wheezing is the most common symptom of an asthma attack.
Wheezing is a musical, whistling, or hissing sound with breathing.

Wheezes are most often heard during exhalation, but they can occur during breathing in (inhaling).

Not all asthmatics wheeze, and not all people who wheeze are asthmatics.

Current guidelines for the care of people with asthma include classifying the severity of asthma symptoms, as follows:
Mild intermittent - Includes attacks no more than twice a week and nighttime attacks no more than twice a month. Attacks last no more than a few hours to days. Severity of attacks varies, but there are no symptoms between attacks.

Mild persistent - Includes attacks more than twice a week but not every day, and nighttime symptoms more than twice a month. Attacks are sometimes severe enough to interrupt regular activities.

Moderate persistent - Includes daily attacks and nighttime symptoms more than once a week. More severe attacks occur at least twice a week and may last days. Attacks require daily use of quick-relief (rescue) medication and changes in daily activities.

Severe persistent - Includes frequent severe attacks, continual daytime symptoms, and frequent nighttime symptoms. Symptoms require limits on daily activities.

Just because a person has mild or moderate asthma does not mean that he or she cannot have a severe attack. The severity of asthma can change over time, either for better or for worse.

When to Seek Medical Care

If you think you or your child may have asthma, make an appointment with your health care provider. Some clues pointing to asthma include the following:

Wheezing

Difficulty breathing

Pain or tightness in your chest

Recurrent, spasmodic cough that is worse at night

If you or your child has asthma, you should have an action plan worked out in advance with your health care provider. This plan should include instructions on what to do when an asthma attack occurs, when to call the health care provider, and when to go to a hospital emergency department.
Take 2 puffs of an inhaled beta-agonist (a rescue medication), with 1 minute between puffs. If there is no relief, take an additional puff of inhaled beta-agonist every 5 minutes. If there is no response after 8 puffs, which is 40 minutes, your health care provider should be called.

Your provider also should be called if you have an asthma attack when you are already taking oral or inhaled steroids or if your inhaler treatments are not lasting 4 hours.

These are general guidelines only. If your provider recommends another plan for you, follow that plan.

Although asthma is a reversible disease, and treatments are available, people can die from a severe asthma attack.
If you are having an asthma attack and have severe shortness of breath or are unable to reach your health care provider in a short period of time, you must go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Do not drive yourself to the hospital. Have a friend or family member drive. If you are alone, call 911 immediately for emergency medical transport.

Asthma Treatment

Since asthma is a chronic disease, treatment goes on for a very long time. Some people have to stay on treatment for the rest of their lives. The best way to improve your condition and live your life on your terms is to learn all you can about your asthma and what you can do to make it better.

Become a partner with your health care provider and his or her support staff. Use the resources they can offer--information, education, and expertise--to help yourself.

Become aware of your asthma triggers and do what you can to avoid them.

Follow the treatment recommendations of your health care provider. Understand your treatment. Know what each drug does and how it is used.

See your health care provider as scheduled.

Report any changes or worsening of your symptoms promptly.

Report any side effects you are having with your medications.

These are the goals of treatment:
Prevent ongoing and bothersome symptoms

Prevent asthma attacks

Prevent attacks severe enough to require a visit to your provider or an emergency department or hospitalization

Carry on with normal activities

Maintain normal or near-normal lung function

Have as few side effects of medication as possible

Self-Care at Home

Current treatment regimens are designed to minimize discomfort, inconvenience, and the extent to which you have to limit your activities. If you follow your treatment plan closely, you should be able to avoid or reduce your visits to your health care provider or the emergency department.

Know your triggers and do what you can to avoid them.

If you smoke, quit.

Do not take cough medicine. These medicines do not help asthma and may cause unwanted side effects.

Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, can cause asthma to worsen in certain individuals. These medications should not be taken without the advice of your health care provider.

Do not use nonprescription inhalers. These contain very short-acting drugs that may not last long enough to relieve an asthma attack and may cause unwanted side effects.

Take only the medications your health care provider has prescribed for your asthma. Take them as directed.

Do not take any nonprescription preparations, herbs, or dietary supplements, even if they are completely "natural," without talking to your health care provider first. Some of these may have unwanted side effects or interfere with your medications.

If the medication is not working, do not take more than you have been directed to take. Overusing asthma medications can be dangerous.

Be prepared to go on to the next step of your action plan if necessary.
If you think your medication is not working, let your health care provider know right away.

Medical Treatment

If you are in the emergency room, treatment will be started while the evaluation is still going on.
You may be given oxygen through a face mask or a tube that goes in your nose.

You may be given aerosolized beta-agonist medications through a face mask or a nebulizer, with or without an anticholinergic agent.

Another method of providing inhaled beta-agonists is by using a metered dose inhaler or MDI. An MDI delivers a standard dose of medication per puff. MDIs are often used along with a "spacer" or holding chamber. A dose of 6-8 puffs is sprayed into the spacer, which is then inhaled. The advantage of an MDI with a spacer is that it requires little or no assistance from the respiratory therapist.

If you are already on steroid medications, or have recently stopped taking steroid medications, or if this appears to be a very severe attack, you may be given a dose of IV steroids.

If you are taking a methylxanthine, such as theophylline or aminophylline, the blood level of this drug will be checked, and you may be given this medication through an IV.

People who respond poorly to inhaled beta-agonists may be given an injection or IV dose of a beta-agonist such as terbutaline or epinephrine.

You will be observed for at least several hours while your test results are obtained and evaluated. You will be monitored for signs of improvement or worsening.

If you respond well to treatment, you will probably be released from the hospital. Be on the lookout over the next several hours for a return of symptoms. If symptoms should return or worsen, return to the emergency department right away.

Your response will likely be monitored by a peak flow meter.

In certain circumstances, you may need to be put in the hospital. There you can be watched carefully and treated should your condition worsen. Conditions for hospitalization include the following:
An attack that is very severe or does not respond well to treatment

Poor lung function on spirometry

Elevated carbon dioxide or low oxygen levels in your blood

A history of being admitted to the hospital or placed on a ventilator for your asthma attacks

Other serious disease that may jeopardize your recovery

Other serious lung illnesses or injuries, such as pneumonia or pneumothorax (a "collapsed" lung)

If your asthma has just been diagnosed, you may be started on a regimen of medications and monitoring. You will be given 2 types of medications:
Controller medications: These are for long-term control of persistent asthma. They help to reduce the inflammation in the lungs that underlies asthma attacks. You take these every day regardless of whether you are having symptoms or not.

Rescue medications: These are for short-term control of asthma attacks. You take these only when you are having symptoms or are more likely to have an attack--for example, when you have an infection in your respiratory tract.

Your treatment plan will also include other parts:
Awareness of your triggers and avoiding the triggers as much as possible

Recommendations for coping with asthma in your daily life

Regular follow-up visits to your health care provider

Use of a peak flow meter

At your follow-up visits, your health care provider will review how you have been doing.
He or she will ask you about frequency and severity of attacks, use of rescue medications, and peak flow measurements.

Lung functions tests may be done to see how your lungs are responding to your treatment.

This is a good time to discuss medication side effects or any problems you are having with your treatment.

The peak flow meter is a simple, inexpensive device that measures how forcefully you are able to exhale.
Ask your health care provider or an assistant to show you how to use the peak flow meter. He or she should watch you use it until you can do it correctly.

Keep one in your home and use it regularly. Your health care provider will make suggestions as to when you should measure your peak flow.

Checking your peak flow is a good way to help you and your health care provider assess what triggers your asthma and its severity.

Check your peak flow regularly and keep a record of the results. Over time, your health care provider may be able to use this record to improve your medications, reducing dose or side effects.

Peak flow measures fall just before an asthma attack. If you use your peak flow meter regularly, you may be able to predict when you are going to have an attack.

It can also be used to check your response to rescue medications.

Together, you and your health care provider will develop an action plan for you in case of asthma attack. The action plan will include the following:
How to use the controller medication

How to use rescue medication in case of an attack

What to do if the rescue medication does not work right away

When to call the health care provider

When to go directly to the hospital emergency department

A-Z Drug List

2007-11-05T22:49:00.000-08:00

Aa-Ac

Abacavir Sulfate (Ziagen)
Abacavir Sulfate and Lamivudine Tablets (Epzicom)
Abacavir Sulfate, Lamivudine, and Zidovudine (Trizivir)
Abarelix (Plenaxis)
Abatacept (Orencia)
Abciximab (ReoPro)
Abelcet (Amphotericin B)
Abilify (Aripiprazole)
Abraxane (Albumin-bound Paclitaxel)
Acamprosate Calcium (Campral)
Acarbose (Precose)
Accolate (Zafirlukast)
Accupril (Quinapril)
Accutane (Isotretinoin)
Accuzyme (Papain and Urea)
Acebutolol (Sectral)
Aceon (Perindopril Erbumine)
Acetadote (Acetylcysteine Inj)
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Acetaminophen and Codeine (Tylenol-Codeine)
Acetaminophen, Isometheptene and Dichloralphenazone (Midrin)
Acetazolamide (Diamox)
Acetazolamide Injection (Acetazolamide Injection)
Acetazolamide Tablets (Acetazolamide Tablets)
Acetazolamide XR (Diamox Sequels)
Acetic Acid (Vosol Otic)
Acetyl Sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin)
Acetylcholine Chloride (Miochol-E)
Acetylcysteine (Mucomyst)
Acetylcysteine Inj (Acetadote)
Aci-Jel (Vaginal Jelly)
Acidul (Fluoride)
Aciphex (Rabeprazole Sodium)
Acitretin (Soriatane)
Aclovate (Alclometasone Dipropionate)
Acrivastine and Pseudoephedrine (Semprex D)
ActHIB (Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccine)
Acthrel (Corticorelin Ovine)
Acticin (Permethrin)
Actidose (Actidose Aqua)
Actidose Aqua (Actidose)
Actiq (Fentanyl Citrate)
Actisite (Tetracycline (periodontal))
Activase (Alteplase)
Activella (Estradiol/Norethindrone Acetate)
Actonel (Risedronate Sodium)
Actonel with Calcium (Risedronate Sodium with Calcium Carbonate)
Actoplus MET (Pioglitazone Hcl and Metformin Hcl)
Actos (Pioglitazone hydrochloride)
Acular (Ketorolac tromethamine)
Acyclovir (Zovirax)
Acyclovir for Injection (Zovirax Injection)
Acyclovir Transdermal (Zovirax Ointment)
Aczone Gel (Dapsone)

Ad-Af

Adacel (Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed)
Adagen (Pegademase Bovine)
Adalat (Nifedipine)
Adalimumab (Humira)
Adapalene (Differin Gel .3%)
Adapalene Gel (Differin Gel .1%)
Adderall CII (Amphetamine Mixed Salts)
Adderall XR Capsules (Amphetamine)
Adefovir Dipivoxil (Hepsera)
Adenocard (Adenosine)
Adenoscan (Adenosine Inj)
Adenosine (Adenocard)
Adenosine Inj (Adenoscan)
Adrenalin (Epinephrine)
Adria (Doxorubicin hydrochloride)
Advair Diskus (Fluticasone Propionate)
Advair HFA (Fluticasone propionate and Salmeterol)
Advicor (Niacin XR & Lovastatin)
Aerobid (Flunisolide)
Aerospan HFA (Flunisolide Hemihydrate)

Ag-Al

Agalsidase Beta (Fabrazyme)
Agenerase (Amprenavir)
Aggrastat (Tirofiban)
Aggrenox (Aspirin/extended-release dipyridamole)
Agrylin (Anagrelide)
Akineton (Biperiden)
Alamast (Pemirolast potassium)
Albendazole (Albenza)
Albenza (Albendazole)
Albumin (Buminate)
Albumin (Human) (Albuminar)
Albumin-bound Paclitaxel (Abraxane)
Albuminar (Albumin (Human))
Albuterol (Albuterol)
Albuterol Inhalation (Proventil)
Albuterol Inhalation Aerosol (Ventolin Inhalation Aerosol)
Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Aerosol (Proair HFA)
Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution (Ventolin Nebules)
Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution (Ventolin Solution)
Albuterol Sulfate Syrup (Ventolin Syrup)
Albuterol Sulfate Tablets (Ventolin Tab)
Alcaine (Proparacaine)
Alclometasone Dipropionate (Aclovate)
Alcohol (Dehydrated) (Dehydrated Alcohol)
Aldactazide (Spironolactone and Hydrochlorothiazide)
Aldactone (Spironolactone)
Aldara (Imiquimod)
Aldesleukin (Proleukin)
Aldomet (Methyldopa)
Aldomet Inj (Methyldopate)
Aldoril (Methyldopa-Hydrochlorothiazide)
Aldurazyme (Laronidase)
Alefacept (Amevive)
Alemtuzumab (Campath)
Alendronate Sodium (Fosamax)
Alendronate Sodium & Cholecalciferol (Fosamax Plus D)
Alesse (Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol)
Alfenta (Alfentanil)
Alfentanil (Alfenta)
Alfuzosin HCl (Uroxatral)
Alglucerase Inj (Ceredase)
Alglucosidase Alfa (Myozyme)
Alimta (Pemetrexed)
Alinia (Nitazoxanide)
Aliskiren Tablets (Tekturna)
Alitretinoin (Panretin)
Alkeran (Melphalan)
Alkeran Inj (Melphalan Hcl Inj)
Allegra (Fexofenadine Hcl)
Allegra-D (Fexofenadine HCl and Pseudoephedrine HCl)
Alli (Orlistat 60 mg)
Allopurinol (Zyloprim Injection)
Allopurinol (Zyloprim Tablets)
Almotriptan Malate (Axert)
Alocril (Nedocromil)
Alomide (Lodoxamide Tromethamine)
Alora (Estradiol Transdermal System)
Alosetron Hydrochloride (Lotronex)
Aloxi (Palonosetron hydrochloride)
Alpha (Prolastin)
Alpha-Proteinase Inhibitor (Human) (Zemaira)
Alphagan (Brimonidine Tartrate)
Alphagan-P (Brimonidine Tartrate)
Alphanate (Antihemophilic Factor)
Alprazolam (Niravam)
Alprazolam (Xanax)
Alprazolam (Xanax XR)
Alprostadil (Prostin VR Pediatric - Caverject)
Alprostadil for Inj (Edex)
Altabax (Retapamulin)
Altace Capsules (Ramipril)
Altace Tablets (Ramipril Tablets)
Alteplase (Activase)
Altoprev (Lovastatin)
Altretamine (Hexalen)
Alupent (Metaproterenol Sulfate)

Am-Am

Amantadine Hydrochloride (Symmetrel)
Amaryl (Glimepiride)
Ambien (Zolpidem Tartrate)
Ambien CR (Zolpidem Tartrate)
Ambisome (Amphotericin B)
Ambrisentan Tablets (Letairis)
Amcinonide (Cyclocort)
Amerge (Naratriptan)
Americaine (Benzocaine)
Amevive (Alefacept)
Amicar (Aminocaproic Acid)
Amifostine (Ethyol)
Amikacin (Amikin)
Amikin (Amikacin)
Amiloride (Midamor)
Amiloride and Hydrochlorothiazide (Moduretic)
Amino Acid (Aminosyn II)
Amino Acid (HepatAmine)
Amino Acid and Glycerin (Procalamine)
Amino Acids (TrophAmine)
Amino Acids (Injection) (Travasol)
Aminocaproic Acid (Amicar)
Aminoglutethimide (Cytadren)
Aminohippurate (Aminohippurate sodium)
Aminohippurate sodium (Aminohippurate)
Aminolevulinic Acid (Levulan Kerastick)
Aminosalicylic Acid (Paser)
Aminosyn II (Amino Acid)
Amiodarone (Cordarone)
Amiodarone (Cordarone Intravenous)
Amitiza (Lubiprostone)
Amitriptyline (Elavil)
Amlexanox (Aphthasol)
Amlodipine and Valsartan (Exforge)
Amlodipine Besylate (Norvasc)
Amlodipine Besylate and Benazepril HCl (Lotrel)
Amlodipine Besylate/Atorvastatin Calcium (Caduet)
Ammonul (Sodium Phenylacetate and Sodium Benzoate Injection)
Amoxapine (Asendin)
Amoxicillin (Amoxil)
Amoxicillin Clavulanate (Augmentin)
Amoxicillin Clavulanate Potassium (Augmentin ES)
Amoxicillin Clavulanic Potassium (Augmentin XR)
Amoxil (Amoxicillin)
Amphadase (Hyaluronidase Inj)
Amphetamine (Adderall XR Capsules)
Amphetamine (Amphetamine)
Amphetamine Mixed Salts (Adderall CII)
Amphotericin B (Abelcet)
Amphotericin B (Ambisome)
Amphotericin B (Fungizone)
Ampicillin (Omnipen)
Ampicillin and Sulbactam (Unasyn)
Amprenavir (Agenerase)
Amrix (Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride Extended-Release Cap)
Amyl Nitrite (Amyl Nitrite)

An-Ao

Ana-Kit (Epinephrine / Chlorpheniramine)
Anabolic steroids (Winstrol)
Anadrol-50 (Oxymetholone)
Anafranil (Clomipramine Hcl)
Anagrelide (Agrylin)
Anakinra (Kineret)
Anastrozole (Arimidex)
Ancef (Cefazolin)
Ancobon (Flucytosine)
Androderm (Testosterone Transdermal System)
Androgel (Testosterone Gel)
Anectine (Succinylcholine Chloride)
Angeliq (Drospirenone and Estradiol)
Angiomax (Bivalirudin)
Anhydrous Morphine (Paregoric)
Anidulafungin (Eraxis)
Anisindione (Miradon)
Ansaid (Flurbiprofen)
Antabuse (Disulfiram)
Antagon (Ganirelix)
Antara (Fenofibrate)
Anthra Derm (Anthralin)
Anthralin (Anthra Derm)
Anti-Inhibitor Coagulant Complex, Heat Treated (Autoplex-T)
Antihemophilic Factor (Alphanate)
Antihemophilic Factor (Bioclate)
Antihemophilic Factor (Koate)
Antihemophilic Factor (Monoclate-P)
Antihemophilic Factor (Refacto)
Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant) (Helixate FS)
Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant) (Kogenate FS)
Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant) (Recombinate)
Antilirium (Physostigmine Salicylate (injection))
Antipyrine, Benzocaine and Glycerin Dehydrated (Auralgan)
Antithrombin (Thrombate)
Antivenin (Crotalidae) Polyvalent (Rattlesnake Antivenin)
Antivert (Meclizine)
Antizol (Fomepizole)
Anturane (Sulfinpyrazone)
Anusol Hc (Hydrocortisone Cream)
Anzemet Injection (Dolasetron Mesylate Injection)
Anzemet Tablets (Dolasetron)

Ap-Ar

Aphrodyne (Yohimbine)
Aphthasol (Amlexanox)
Apidra (Insulin Glulisine [rDNA origin] Inj)
Apokyn (Apomorphine)
Apomorphine (Apokyn)
Apraclonidine (Iopidine Eye)
Aprepitant (Emend)
Apresazide (Hydralazine and Hydrochlorothiazide)
Apresoline (Hydralazine)
Aprotinin (Trasylol)
Aptivus (Tipranavir)
Aquamephyton (Aqueous Colloidal Solution of Vitamin K1)
Aquasol A (Vitamin A)
Aqueous Colloidal Solution of Vitamin K1 (Aquamephyton)
Aralen (Chloroquine)
Aramine (Metaraminol)
Aranesp (Darbepoetin Alfa)
Arava (Leflunomide)
Aredia (Pamidronate Disodium)
Arformoterol Tartrate Inhalation Solution (Brovana)
Argatroban (Novastan)
Aricept (Donepezil Hydrochloride)
Arimidex (Anastrozole)
Aripiprazole (Abilify)
Aristospan (Triamcinolone Hexacetonide Inj)
Arixtra (Fondaparinux Sodium)
Armodafinil (Nuvigil)
Armour Thyroid (Thyroid tablets)
Aromasin (Exemestane)
Arranon (Nelarabine)
Arsenic (Trisenox)
Artane (Trihexyphenidyl)
Arthrotec (Diclofenac Sodium /Misoprostol)

As-At

Ascorbic Acid (Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C))
Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C) (Ascorbic Acid)
Asendin (Amoxapine)
Asimia (Paroxetine Mesylate)
Asmanex Twisthaler (Mometasone Furoate)
Asparaginase (Elspar)
Aspirin (Bayer ASA)
Aspirin and Codeine (Empirin Codeine)
Aspirin/extended-release dipyridamole (Aggrenox)
Aspirin; Oxycodone Hydrochloride; Oxycodone Terephthalate (Percodan)
Astelin (Azelastine Hydrochloride)
Astemizole (WITHDRAWN FROM US MARKET) (Hismanal)
Atacand (Candesartan Cilexetil)
Atacand HCT (Candesartan Cilexetil-Hydrochlorothiazide)
Atarax (Hydroxyzine)
Atazanavir Sulfate (Reyataz)
Atenolol and Chlorthalidone (Tenoretic)
Atenolol Inj (Tenormin I.V. Injection)
Atenolol Tablets (Tenormin )
Atgam (Lymphocyte immune globulin)
Ativan (Lorazepam)
Atomoxetine HCl (Strattera)
Atorvastatin Calcium (Lipitor)
Atovaquone (Mepron)
Atovaquone and Proguanil Hcl (Malarone)
Atracurium Besylate (Tracrium)
Atralin (Tretinoin)
Atridox (Doxycycline)
Atripla (Efavirenz, Emtricitabine, and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate)
Atromid-S (Clofibrate)
Atropen (Atropine)
Atropine (Atropen)
Atropine (Atropine)
Atrovent (Ipratropium Bromide (Inhalation))
Atrovent Nasal Spray (Ipratropium bromide)
Attenuvax (Measles Virus Vaccine Live)

Au-Ax

Augmentin (Amoxicillin Clavulanate)
Augmentin ES (Amoxicillin Clavulanate Potassium)
Augmentin XR (Amoxicillin Clavulanic Potassium)
Auralgan (Antipyrine, Benzocaine and Glycerin Dehydrated)
Autologous Cultured Chondrocytes for Implantation (Carticel)
Autoplex-T (Anti-Inhibitor Coagulant Complex, Heat Treated)
Avage (Tazarotene)
Avalide (Irbesartan-Hydrochlorothiazide)
Avandamet (Rosiglitazone Maleate and Metformin HCl)
Avandaryl (Rosiglitazone Maleate and Glimepiride)
Avandia (Rosiglitazone Maleate)
Avapro (Irbesartan)
Avastin (Bevacizumab)
Avelox (Moxifloxacin HCL)
Aventyl (Nortriptyline)
Aventyl Sol (Nortriptyline Hcl)
Avinza (Morphine Sulfate)
Avodart (Dutasteride)
Avonex (Interferon beta-1a)
Axert (Almotriptan Malate)
Axid (Nizatidine)
Axid Oral Solution (Nizatidine)

Ay-Az

Aygestin (Norethindrone)
Azacitidine (Vidaza)
Azactam (Aztreonam)
Azactam Inj (Aztreonam Inj)
Azatadine and Pseudoephedrine (Trinalin)
Azathioprine (Imuran)
Azelaic Acid Cream (Azelex)
Azelastine Hydrochloride (Astelin)
Azelastine hydrochloride (Optivar)
Azelex (Azelaic Acid Cream)
Azilect (Rasagiline)
Azithromycin (Zithromax)
Azithromycin (Zithromax Injection)
Azithromycin (Zmax)
Azmacort (Triamcinolone Acetonide (inhalation aerosol))
Azopt (Brinzolamide)
Aztreonam (Azactam)
Aztreonam Inj (Azactam Inj)
Azulfidine (Sulfasalazine)

Ba-Bd

B12 (Liver-Stomach Concentrate With Intrinsic Factor)
Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin (Tice)
Bacitracin (Bacitracin)
Baclofen (Lioresal)
Bacteriostatic NaCl (Bacteriostatic Saline)
Bacteriostatic Saline (Bacteriostatic NaCl)
Bacteriostatic Water (H2O)
Bactocill (Oxacillin Sodium)
Bactrim (Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole)
Bactroban Nasal (Mupirocin)
Bactroban Ointment (Mupirocin)
Bal in Oil Ampules (Dimercarprol Injection)
Balanced Salt Solution (Bss)
Balsalazide (Colazal)
Baraclude (Entecavir)
Basiliximab (Simulect)
Baycol (Cerivastatin (Removed from Market 8/2001))
Bayer ASA (Aspirin)
Baygam (Immune Globulin)
BCG Live (Intravesical) (Theracys)

Be-Bh

Becaplermin (Regranex)
Beclomethasone (Aerosol) (Vanceril)
Beclomethasone (Nasal) (Beconase)
Beclomethasone Dipropionate HFA (Qvar)
Beclomethasone Dipropionate, Monohydrate (Beconase-AQ)
Beconase (Beclomethasone (Nasal))
Beconase-AQ (Beclomethasone Dipropionate, Monohydrate)
Belladonna Alkaloids/PB (Donnatal)
Belladonna and Opium (Belladonna and Opium)
Benadryl (Diphenhydramine)
Benadryl Injection (Diphenhydramine (injection))
Benazepril (Lotensin)
Benazepril HCl and HCTZ (Lotensin Hct)
Benefix (Coagulation Factor IX (Recombinant))
Benicar (Olmesartan Medoxomil)
Benicar HCT (Olmesartan Medoxomil-Hydrochlorothiazide)
Bentyl (Dicyclomine)
Benzac (Benzoyl Peroxide)
BenzaClin (Clindamycin & Benzoyl Peroxide)
Benzamycin (Erythromycin)
Benzocaine (Americaine)
Benzocaine, Aminobenzoate and Tetracaine (Cetacaine)
Benzonatate (Tessalon)
Benzoyl Peroxide (Benzac)
Benzphetamine (Didrex)
Benztropine Mesylate (Benztropine Mesylate)
Benztropine Mesylate Injection (Cogentin)
Bepridil (Vascor)
Beractant (Survanta)
Betagan (Levobunolol)
Betaine Anhydrous (Cystadane)
Betamethasone (Celestone)
Betamethasone (Diprolene AF)
Betamethasone (Luxiq)
Betamethasone (Injectable Suspension) (Celestone Inj)
Betamethasone Dipropionate (Diprolene Lotion)
Betamethasone Dipropionate (Diprolene Ointment)
Betapace (Sotalol)
Betapace AF (Sotalol Hcl)
Betaseron (Interferon beta-1b)
Betaxolol Hydrochloride (Betaxolol Hydrochloride Ophthalmic)
Betaxolol Hydrochloride (Kerlone)
Betaxolol Hydrochloride Ophthalmic (Betaxolol Hydrochloride)
Betaxon (Levobetaxolol)
Bethanechol (Urecholine)
Betoptic S (Betoptic S)
Bevacizumab (Avastin)
Bexarotene (Targretin)
Bextra (Valdecoxib)
Bexxar (Tositumomab and Iodine 1131 Tositumomab)

Bi-Bn

Biavax (Rubella and Mumps Virus Vaccine Live)
Biaxin (Clarithromycin)
Bicalutamide (Casodex)
Bicillin C-R 900/300 (Penicillin G Benzathine and Penicillin G Procaine Inj)
Bicillin C-R Tubex (Penicillin G Benzathine and Penicillin G Procaine Inj)
Bicillin Cr (Penicillin G Benzathine and Penicillin G Procaine Inj)
Bicillin L-A Inj / Disposable Syringe (Penicillin G Benzathine Inj / Disposable Syringe)
Bicillin L-A Inj / Tubex (Penicillin G Benzathine Injectable / Tubex)
BiCNU (Carmustine)
BiDil (Isosorbide Dinitrate and Hydralazine Hcl)
Biltricide (Praziquantel)
Bimatoprost (Lumigan)
Bioclate (Antihemophilic Factor)
Biperiden (Akineton)
Bismuth Subcitrate Potassium (Pylera Capsules)
Bismuth Subsalicylate (Helidac)
Bisoprolol and Hydrochlorothiazide (Ziac)
Bisoprolol Fumarate (Zebeta)
Bivalirudin (Angiomax)
Blenoxane (Bleomycin Sulfate (injection))
Bleomycin Sulfate (injection) (Blenoxane)
Bleph 10 (Sulfacetamide (ophthalmic))
Blephamide (Sulfacetamide and Prednisolone)
Blocadren (Timolol)

Bo-Br

Boniva (Ibandronate Sodium)
Boniva Injection (Ibandronate Sodium Injection)
Boostrix (Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine, Adsorbed)
Bortezomib (Velcade)
Bosentan (Tracleer)
Botox (Botulinum Toxin Type A)
Botulinum Toxin Type A (Botox)
Botulinum Toxin Type B (Myoblock)
Brethine (Terbutaline Sulfate)
Bretylium (Bretylium)
Brevibloc (Esmolol)
Brevicon (Norethindrone and Ethinyl Estradiol)
Brevital Sod (Methohexital)
Brimonidine Tartrate (Alphagan)
Brimonidine Tartrate (Alphagan-P)
Brinzolamide (Azopt)
Bromfenac (Xibrom)
Bromocriptine Mesylate (Parlodel)
Brompheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine, and Codeine (Dimetane)
Brovana (Arformoterol Tartrate Inhalation Solution)

Bs-Bx

Bss (Balanced Salt Solution)
Budesonide (Entocort)
Budesonide (Pulmicort)
Budesonide (Pulmicort Turbuhaler)
Budesonide (Rhinocort Aqua)
Budesonide Inhalation Powder (Pulmicort Flexhaler)
Bumetanide (Bumex)
Bumex (Bumetanide)
Buminate (Albumin)
Bupivacaine (Marcaine)
Buprenex (Buprenorphine)
Buprenorphine (Buprenex)
Buprenorphine HCl and naloxone HCl (Suboxone)
Bupropion Hcl (Wellbutrin)
Bupropion Hcl (Zyban)
Bupropion Hydrochloride Extended-Release (Wellbutrin XL)
Bupropion Hydrochloride Sustained-Release (Wellbutrin SR)
Buspar (Buspirone)
Buspirone (Buspar)
Busulfan (Myleran)
Butabarbital Sodium Tablets (Butisol)
Butalbital Compound With Codeine (Fiorinal with Codeine)
Butalbital, Acetaminophen and Caffeine (Fioricet)
Butenafine (Mentax)
Butisol (Butabarbital Sodium Tablets)
Butoconazole (Gynazole)
Butorphanol Tartrate (Stadol)

By-Bz

Byetta (Exenatide Inj)

Ca-Cd

Ca-DTPA (Pentetate Calcium Trisodium Inj)
Cabergoline (Dostinex)
Caduet (Amlodipine Besylate/Atorvastatin Calcium)
Cafcit (Caffeine Citrate)
Caffeine Alkaloid (Caffeine and Sodium Benzoate Inj)
Caffeine and Sodium Benzoate Inj (Caffeine Alkaloid)
Caffeine Citrate (Cafcit)
Calciferol (Ergocalciferol)
Calcijex Injection (Calcitrol)
Calcipotriene and Betamethasone Dipropionate (Taclonex)
Calcipotriene Cream (Dovonex Cream)
Calcipotriene Ointment (Dovonex Ointment)
Calcipotriene Solution (Dovonex Scalp)
Calcitonin-Salmon (Miacalcin)
Calcitonin-Salmon (rDNA origin) (Fortical)
Calcitrol (Calcijex Injection)
Calcium Chloride (Calcium Chloride Injection 10%)
Calcium Chloride Injection 10% (Calcium Chloride)
Calcium Gluconate (Calcium Gluconate)
Calfactant (Infasurf)
CaloMist Nasal Spray (Cyanocobalamin)
Campath (Alemtuzumab)
Campral (Acamprosate Calcium)
Camptosar Inj (Irinotecan hydrochloride)
Canasa (Mesalamine)
Cancidas (Caspofungin Acetate)
Candesartan Cilexetil (Atacand)
Candesartan Cilexetil-Hydrochlorothiazide (Atacand HCT)
Candida Albicans (Candin)
Candin (Candida Albicans)
Capecitabine (Xeloda)
Capoten (Captopril)
Capozide (Captopril and Hydrochlorothiazide)
Captopril (Capoten)
Captopril and Hydrochlorothiazide (Capozide)
Carac (Fluorouracil)
Carafate Suspension (Sucralfate)
Carafate Tablets (Sucralfate)
Carbachol (Miostat)
Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
Carbamazepine Extended-Release (Carbatrol)
Carbamazepine XR (Equetro)
Carbatrol (Carbamazepine Extended-Release)
Carbenicillin Indanyl Sodium (Geocillin)
Carbidopa (Lodosyn)
Carbidopa, Levodopa and Entacapone (Stalevo)
Carbidopa-Levodopa (Sinemet)
Carbidopa-Levodopa Sustained Release (Sinemet CR)
Carbinoxamine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine HCl (Rondec)
Carbocaine (Mepivacaine)
Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
Carboprost Tromethamine (Hemabate)
Cardene (Nicardipine)
Cardene I.V. (Nicardipine Hydrochloride)
Cardizem Inj (Diltiazem HCl Inj)
Cardizem LA (Diltiazem)
Cardura (Doxazosin Mesylate)
Carisoprodol (Soma)
Carisoprodol and Aspirin (Soma and Aspirin)
Carmustine (BiCNU)
Carnitor (Levocarnitine)
Carteolol (Ocupress)
Carticel (Autologous Cultured Chondrocytes for Implantation)
Carvedilol (Coreg)
Carvedilol Phosphate Extended-Release (Coreg CR)
Casodex (Bicalutamide)
Caspofungin Acetate (Cancidas)
Catapres (Clonidine)
Catapres-TTS (Clonidine)

Ce-Cg

Ceclor (Cefaclor)
Cedax (Ceftibuten)
Ceenu (Lomustine)
Cefaclor (Ceclor)
Cefadroxil (Cefadroxil Hemihydrate)
Cefadroxil (Duricef)
Cefadroxil Hemihydrate (Cefadroxil)
Cefamandole (Mandol)
Cefazolin (Ancef)
Cefazolin (Cefazolin and Dextrose for Inj)
Cefazolin and Dextrose for Inj (Cefazolin)
Cefdinir (Omnicef)
Cefditoren Pivoxil (Spectracef)
Cefepime (Maxipime)
Cefixime (Suprax)
Cefizox (Ceftizoxime)
Cefotan (Cefotetan)
CefOTAXime (Cefotaxime)
Cefotaxime (Claforan)
Cefotetan (Cefotan)
Cefoxitin (Mefoxin)
Cefpodoxmine Proxetil (Vantin)
Cefprozil (Cefzil)
Ceftazidime (Ceptaz)
Ceftazidime (Fortaz)
Ceftibuten (Cedax)
Ceftin (Cefuroxime Axetil)
Ceftizoxime (Cefizox)
CefTRIaxONE (Ceftriaxone)
Ceftriaxone (Rocephin)
Cefuroxime (Cefuroxime Injection)
Cefuroxime (Zinacef)
Cefuroxime Axetil (Ceftin)
Cefuroxime Injection (Cefuroxime)
Cefzil (Cefprozil)
Celebrex (Celecoxib)
Celecoxib (Celebrex)
Celestone (Betamethasone)
Celestone Inj (Betamethasone (Injectable Suspension))
Celexa (Citalopram Hydrobromide)
CellCept (Mycophenolate Mofetil)
Cellulose (Lacrisert)
Celontin (Methsuximide)
Cenestin (Synthetic conjugated estrogens)
Cephalexin (Keflex)
Cephradine (Velosef)
Cephulac (Lactulose)
Ceprotin (Rotein C Concentrate)
Ceptaz (Ceftazidime)
Cerebyx (Fosphenytoin)
Ceredase (Alglucerase Inj)
Ceretec (Technetium Tc99m Exametazime Inj)
Cerezyme (Imiglucerase)
Cerivastatin (Removed from Market 8/2001) (Baycol)
Cernevit (Multivitamins for Infusion)
Certiva (Certiva)
Cerubidine (Daunorubicin)
Cerumenex (Triethanolamine Polypeptide)
Cervidil (Dinoprostone)
Cetacaine (Benzocaine, Aminobenzoate and Tetracaine)
Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
Cetirizine / Pseudoephedrine (Zyrtec-D)
Cetrorelix (Cetrotide)
Cetrotide (Cetrorelix)
Cetuximab (Erbitux)
Cevimeline HCL (Evoxac)

Ch-Ch

Chantix (Varenicline)
Chemet (Succimer)
Chibroxin (Norfloxacin)
ChiRhoStim (Human Secretin)
Chirocaine (Levobupivacaine)
Chlor-Trimeton (Chlorpheniramine Maleate)
Chloral Hydrate (Noctec)
Chlorambucil (Leukeran)
Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin)
Chloramphenicol (Chloroptic)
Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
Chlordiazepoxide and Clidinium (Librax)
Chlorhexidine (Periochip)
Chloromycetin (Chloramphenicol)
Chloroprocaine (Nesacaine)
Chloroptic (Chloramphenicol)
Chloroquine (Aralen)
Chlorothiazide (Diuril)
Chlorpheniramine Maleate (Chlor-Trimeton)
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
Chlorpropamide (Diabinese)
Chlorthalidone (Hygroton)
Chlorzoxazone (Parafon Forte)
Cholera Vaccine (Cholera Vaccine)
Cholestyramine (Questran)
Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate (Trilisate)
Choriogonadotropin Alfa Inj (Ovidrel)
Chorionic Gonadotropin (Pregnyl)
Chromic Chloride Injection (Chromium)
Chromium (Chromic Chloride Injection)

Ci-Ck

Cialis (Tadalafil)
Ciclesonide Nasal Spray (Omnaris)
Ciclopirox (Loprox)
Ciclopirox (Penlac Nail Lacquer)
Cidofovir (Vistide)
Cilostazol (Pletal)
Ciloxan Ophthalmic Ointment (Ciprofloxacin HCl Ophthalmic Ointment)
Ciloxan Ophthalmic Solution (Ciprofloxacin HCL Ophthalmic Solution)
Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Cinacalcet (Sensipar)
Cinobac (Cinoxacin)
Cinoxacin (Cinobac)
Cipro (Ciprofloxacin Tablets / Oral Suspension)
Cipro I.V. (Ciprofloxacin)
Cipro XR (Ciprofloxacin Extended-release)
Ciprodex (Ciprofloxacin and Dexamethasone )
Ciprofloxacin (Cipro I.V.)
Ciprofloxacin and Dexamethasone (Ciprodex)
Ciprofloxacin Extended-release (Cipro XR)
Ciprofloxacin Hcl (Proquin XR)
Ciprofloxacin HCl Ophthalmic Ointment (Ciloxan Ophthalmic Ointment)
Ciprofloxacin HCL Ophthalmic Solution (Ciloxan Ophthalmic Solution)
Ciprofloxacin Tablets / Oral Suspension (Cipro)
CIS-Sulfur Colloid (CIS-Sulfur Colloid)
Cisapride (Removed from US Market) (Propulsid)
Cisatracurium Besylate (Nimbex)
Cisplatin (Platinol)
Citalopram HBr (Citalopram ODT)
Citalopram Hydrobromide (Celexa)
Citalopram ODT (Citalopram HBr)
Citric Acid, Glucono-Delta-Lactone and Magnesium Carbonate Irrigation (Renacidin)

Cl-Cn

Cladribine (Leustatin)
Claforan (Cefotaxime)
Clarinex (Desloratadine)
Clarinex-D (Desloratadine and Pseudoephedrine Sulfate)
Clarinex-D12 (Desloratadine and Pseudoephedrine Sulfate)
Clarithromycin (Biaxin)
Claritin (Loratadine)
Claritin D (Loratadine and Pseudoephedrine)
Clemastin (Clemastine)
Clemastine (Clemastin)
Cleocin HCL (Clindamycin)
Cleocin I.V. (Clindamycin)
Cleocin T (Clindamycin (topical))
Cleocin Vaginal Ovules (Clindamycin)
Climara (Estradiol Transdermal)
Climara Pro (Estradiol/Levonorgestrel Transdermal)
Clindamycin (Cleocin HCL)
Clindamycin (Cleocin I.V.)
Clindamycin (Cleocin Vaginal Ovules)
Clindamycin (Clindets)
Clindamycin & Benzoyl Peroxide (BenzaClin)
Clindamycin (topical) (Cleocin T)
Clindamycin Phosphate (Evoclin)
Clindamycin Phosphate / Tretinoin (Ziana Gel)
Clindets (Clindamycin)
Clinoril (Sulindac)
Clobetasol Propionate (Clobex)
Clobetasol Propionate (Olux)
Clobetasol Propionate (Temovate)
Clobetasol Propionate Foam (Olux-E)
Clobex (Clobetasol Propionate)
Clocortolone (Cloderm)
Cloderm (Clocortolone)
Clofarabine (Clolar)
Clofazimine (Lamprene)
Clofibrate (Atromid-S)
Clolar (Clofarabine)
Clomid (Clomiphene)
Clomiphene (Clomid)
Clomipramine Hcl (Anafranil)
Clonazepam (Klonopin)
Clonidine (Catapres)
Clonidine (Catapres-TTS)
Clonidine (Combipres)
Clonidine Injection (Duraclon)
Clopidogrel Bisulfate (Plavix)
Clorazepate (Tranxene)
Clotrimazole (Mycelex)
Clotrimazole (Vaginal Cream) (Gyne-Lotrimin)
Clotrimazole and Betamethasone (Lotrisone)
Clozapine (Clozaril)
Clozapine (Fazaclo)
Clozaril (Clozapine)

Co-Cq

Coagulation Factor IX (Human) (Mononine)
Coagulation Factor IX (Recombinant) (Benefix)
Coagulation Factor VIIa (Recombinant) (Novoseven)
Cocaine (Cocaine)
Codeine (Codeine Sulfate)
Codeine Phosphate (Codeine Phosphate)
Codeine Phosphate and Promethazine HCl (Phenergan-Codeine)
Codeine Sulfate (Codeine)
Cogentin (Benztropine Mesylate Injection)
Cognex (Tacrine)
Colazal (Balsalazide)
Colbenemid (Probenecid and Colchicine)
Colchicine (Colchicine)
Colesevelam Hcl (Welchol)
Colestid (Colestipol)
Colestipol (Colestid)
Colestipol (Colestitabs)
Colestitabs (Colestipol)
Colfosceril Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Tyloxapol (Suspension) (Exosurf)
Colistimethate Inj (Coly-Mycin)
Collagenase (Santyl)
Coly-Mycin (Colistimethate Inj)
CombiPatch (Estradiol/Norethindrone Acetate Transdermal System)
Combipres (Clonidine)
Combivent (Ipratropium Bromide and Albuterol Sulfate)
Combivir (Lamivudine/Zidovudine)
Combunox (Oxycodone HCl and Ibuprofen)
Compazine (Prochlorperazine)
Compazine Inj (Prochlorperazine)
Comtan (Entacapone)
Comvax (Haemophilus b Conjugate and Hepatitis B Vaccine)
Concerta (Methylphenidate (Ex-R Tablets))
Condylox (Podofilox)
Conivaptan Hcl Inj (Vaprisol)
Conjugated Estrogens (Premarin)
Conjugated Estrogens / Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (Prempro)
Conjugated Estrogens for Inj (Premarin Injection)
Conjugated Estrogens Vaginal Cream (Premarin Vaginal Cream)
Copaxone (Glatiramer Acetate)
Copegus (Ribavirin)
Cordarone (Amiodarone)
Cordarone Intravenous (Amiodarone)
Cordran (Flurandrenolide)
Coreg (Carvedilol)
Coreg CR (Carvedilol Phosphate Extended-Release)
Corgard (Nadolol)
Corlopam (Fenoldopam Mesylate)
Cortaid (Hydrocortisone Cream and Ointment 1.0%)
Cortenema (Hydrocortisone)
Corticorelin Ovine (Acthrel)
Cortisone Acetate (Cortone)
Cortisporin (Hydrocortisone; Neomycin; Polymyxin B)
Cortone (Cortisone Acetate)
Cortrosyn (Cosyntropin)
Corvert (Ibutilide)
Corzide (Nadolol and Bendroflumethiazide)
Cosmegen (Dactinomycin)
Cosopt (Dorzolamide Hydrochloride-Timolol Maleate)
Cosyntropin (Cortrosyn)
Coumadin (Warfarin Sodium)
Covera-HS (Verapamil)
Cozaar (Losartan Potassium)

Cr-Cz

Creon (Lipase, Protease and Amylase)
Crestor (Rosuvastatin Calcium)
Crixivan (Indinavir Sulfate)
Crofab (Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (Ovine))
Crolom (Cromolyn Ophthalmic)
Cromolyn (Intal)
Cromolyn (Opticrom)
Cromolyn Ophthalmic (Crolom)
Cromolyn Sodium (Nasalcrom)
Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (Ovine) (Crofab)
Crotamiton Cream/ Lotion (Eurax)
Cubicin (Daptomycin Inj)
Cuprimine (Penicillamine)
Curosurf (Poractant Alfa)
Cutivate (Fluticasone)
Cyanocobalamin (CaloMist Nasal Spray)
Cyanocobalamin (Cyanocobalamin)
Cyanocobalamin (Nascobal)
Cyanokit (Hydroxocobalamin for Injection)
Cyclessa (Desogestrel Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets)
Cyclobenzaprine Hcl (Flexeril)
Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride Extended-Release Cap (Amrix)
Cyclocort (Amcinonide)
Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
Cyclosporine (Neoral)
Cyclosporine (Restasis)
Cyclosporine (Sandimmune)
Cyklokapron (Tranexamic Acid)
Cylert (Pemoline)
Cymbalta (Duloxetine Hcl)
Cyproheptadine (Periactin)
Cystadane (Betaine Anhydrous)
Cystagon (cysteamine bitartrate)
cysteamine bitartrate (Cystagon)
Cytadren (Aminoglutethimide)
Cytarabine (Injectable) (Cytosar)
Cytarabine Liposome Injection (DepoCyt)
Cytogam (Cytomegalovirus Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human))
Cytomegalovirus Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human) (Cytogam)
Cytomel (Liothyronine Sodium)
Cytosar (Cytarabine (Injectable))
Cytotec (Misoprostol)
Cytovene (Ganciclovir)
Cytoxan (Cyclophosphamide)

Da-Dd

D. H. E. 45 (Dihydroergotamine)
Dacarbazine (Dtic-Dome)
Daclizumab (Zenapax)
Dactinomycin (Cosmegen)
Dalmane (Flurazepam)
Dalteparin (Fragmin)
Danazol (Danocrine)
Danocrine (Danazol)
Dantrium (Dantrolene Sodium)
Dantrolene Sodium (Dantrium)
Dapsone (Aczone Gel)
Dapsone (Dapsone)
Daptomycin Inj (Cubicin)
Daranide (Dichlorphenamide)
Daraprim (Pyrimethamine)
Darbepoetin Alfa (Aranesp)
Darifenacin (Enablex)
Darunavir (Prezista)
Darvocet-N (Propoxyphene Napsylate and Acetaminophen)
Darvon (Propoxyphene)
Darvon Compound (Propoxyphene, Aspirin, and Caffeine)
Dasatinib (Sprycel)
Daunorubicin (Cerubidine)
Daypro Alta (Oxaprozin)
Daytrana (Methylphenidate Transdermal)

De-Dg

Decadron (Dexamethasone )
Declomycin (Demeclocycline HCl)
Deconamine (Guaifenesin; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine)
Deferasirox (Exjade)
Deferoxamine (Desferal)
Definity (Perflutren Lipid Microsphere)
Dehydrated Alcohol (Alcohol (Dehydrated))
Delatestryl (Testosterone Enanthate)
Delavirdine Mesylate (Rescriptor)
Delestrogen (Estradiol valerate)
Deltasone (Prednisone)
Demadex (Torsemide)
Demecarium (Humorsol)
Demeclocycline HCl (Declomycin)
Demerol (Meperidine)
Demser (Metyrosine)
Denavir (Penciclovir)
Denileukin Diftitox (Ontak)
Depacon (Valproate Sodium Inj)
Depakene (Valproic Acid)
Depakote (Sodium Valproate and Valproic Acid)
Depakote ER (Divalproex Sodium)
Depo Medrol (Methylprednisolone)
Depo Provera (Medroxyprogesterone)
Depo-SubQ Provera (Medroxyprogesterone Acetate)
DepoCyt (Cytarabine Liposome Injection)
DepoDur (Morphine Sulfate XR Liposome Inj)
Derma-Smoothe Scalp/FS (Fluocinolone Acetonide)
Derma-Smoothe/FS (Fluocinolone Acetonide)
Dermatop (Prednicarbate)
Desferal (Deferoxamine)
Desflurane (Suprane)
Desipramine Hydrochloride (Norpramin)
Desloratadine (Clarinex)
Desloratadine and Pseudoephedrine Sulfate (Clarinex-D)
Desloratadine and Pseudoephedrine Sulfate (Clarinex-D12)
Desmopress (Desmopressin Acetate)
Desmopressin Acetate (Desmopress)
Desmopressin Acetate (Stimate)
Desogen (Desogestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets)
Desogestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets (Desogen)
Desogestrel Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets (Cyclessa)
Desogestrel/Ethinyl Estradiol and Ethinyl Estradiol (Mircette)
Desonide (Tridesilon)
Desoximetasone (Topicort)
Desoxyn (Methamphetamine Hydrochloride)
Desyrel (Trazodone Hydrochloride)
Detrol (Tolterodine Tartrate)
Detrol LA (Tolterodine Tartrate)
Dexamethasone (Decadron)
Dexamethasone (Dexone)
Dexedrine (Dextroamphetamine)
Dexfenfluramine (FDA Removed From US Market 9/15/97) (Redux)
Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride (Precedex)
Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride (Focalin)
Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride (Focalin XR)
Dexone (Dexamethasone)
Dexrazoxane (Totect)
Dexrazoxane (Zinecard)
Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)
Dextros Injection 5% (Hydrous Dextrose)
Dextrose / Electrolytes No. 48 (5% Dextrose and Electrolyte No. 48 Inj)
Dextrose / Electrolytes No. 75 (5% Dextrose and Electrolyte No. 75 Inj)
Dextrose 5% in 0.9% Sodium Chloride (Dextrose and Sodium Chloride Inj)
Dextrose and Sodium Chloride Inj (Dextrose 5% in 0.9% Sodium Chloride)

Dh-Dl

Dht (Dihydrotachysterol)
Diabinese (Chlorpropamide)
Diamox (Acetazolamide)
Diamox Sequels (Acetazolamide XR)
Dianeal Low Calcium (Low Calcium Peritoneal Dialysis Solutions)
Dianeal PD-1 (Peritoneal Dialysis Solution)
Dianeal PD-2 (Peritoneal Dialysis Solution)
Diastat (Diazepam Rectal Gel)
Diazepam (Valium Tablets)
Diazepam Injection (Valium Injection)
Diazepam Rectal Gel (Diastat)
Dibenzyline (Phenoxybenzamine)
Dichlorphenamide (Daranide)
Diclofenac Epolamine Topical Patch (Flector Patch)
Diclofenac Sodium (Solaraze)
Diclofenac Sodium (Voltaren)
Diclofenac Sodium /Misoprostol (Arthrotec)
Diclofenac Sodium Opthalmic Solution (Voltaren Opthalmic)
Dicloxacillin (Dynapen)
Dicyclomine (Bentyl)
Didanosine (Videx)
Didrex (Benzphetamine)
Didronel (Etidronate Disodium)
Dienestrol (Dienestrol)
Diethylpropion (Tenuate)
Difenoxin and Atropine (Motofen)
Differin Gel .1% (Adapalene Gel)
Differin Gel .3% (Adapalene)
Diflorasone (Maxiflor)
Diflucan (Fluconazole)
Diflunisal (Dolobid)
Digibind (Digoxin Immune Fab)
Digoxin (Lanoxin)
Digoxin Immune Fab (Digibind)
Dihydroergotamine (D. H. E. 45)
Dihydrotachysterol (Dht)
Dilantin (Phenytoin)
Dilaudid (Hydromorphone Hydrochloride)
Dilaudid-HP (Hydromorphone)
Diltiazem (Cardizem LA)
Diltiazem Hcl (Tiazac)
Diltiazem HCl Inj (Cardizem Inj)
Dimercarprol Injection (Bal in Oil Ampules)
Dimetane (Brompheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine, and Codeine)
Dinoprostone (Cervidil)
Dinoprostone (Prostin E2)
Dinoprostone cervical (Prepidil)
Diovan (Valsartan)
Diovan HCT (Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide)
Dipentum (Olsalazine)
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
Diphenhydramine (injection) (Benadryl Injection)
Diphenoxylate & Atropine (Lomotil)
Diphtheria and Tetanus (Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids)
Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids (Diphtheria and Tetanus)
Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis (Infanrix)
Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine (Tripedia)
Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed USP (DTP)
Diphtheria CRM197 Protein Conjugate (HibTITER)
Dipivefrin (Propine)
Diprivan (Propofol)
Diprolene AF (Betamethasone)
Diprolene Lotion (Betamethasone Dipropionate)
Diprolene Ointment (Betamethasone Dipropionate)
Dipyridamole (Persantine)
Dirithromycin (Dynabac)
Disalcid (Salsalate)
Disopyramide (Norpace)
Disulfiram (Antabuse)
Ditropan (Oxybutynin)
Ditropan XL (Oxybutynin Chloride)
Diucardin (Hydroflumethiazide)
Diuril (Chlorothiazide)
Divalproex Sodium (Depakote ER)

Dm-Dq

DMSO (Rimso-50)
Dobutamine (Dobutamine)
Docetaxel for Inj (Taxotere)
Dofetilide (Tikosyn)
Dolasetron (Anzemet Tablets)
Dolasetron Mesylate Injection (Anzemet Injection)
Dolobid (Diflunisal)
Dolophine (Methadone)
Donepezil Hydrochloride (Aricept)
Donnatal (Belladonna Alkaloids/PB)
Dopamine (Dopamine)
Dopar (Levodopa)
Dopram (Doxapram)
Doribax (Doripenem for Injection)
Doripenem for Injection (Doribax)
Dornase alfa (Pulmozyme)
Doryx (Doxycycline Hyclate)
Dorzolamide (Trusopt)
Dorzolamide Hydrochloride-Timolol Maleate (Cosopt)
Dostinex (Cabergoline)
Dovonex Cream (Calcipotriene Cream)
Dovonex Ointment (Calcipotriene Ointment)
Dovonex Scalp (Calcipotriene Solution)
Doxacurium Chloride (Nuromax)
Doxapram (Dopram)
Doxazosin Mesylate (Cardura)
Doxepin (Prudoxin)
Doxepin (Sinequan)
Doxepin (Zonalon)
Doxercalciferol (Hectorol)
Doxercalciferol (Hectorol Inj)
Doxil (Doxorubicin Hcl)
Doxorubicin Hcl (Doxil)
Doxorubicin hydrochloride (Adria)
Doxycycline (Atridox)
Doxycycline (Monodox)
Doxycycline (Oracea)
Doxycycline Hyclate (Doryx)
Doxycycline Hyclate (Periostat)
Doxycycline hyclate (Vibramycin Intravenous)

Dr-Dx

Dronabinol (Marinol)
Droperidol (Inapsine)
Drospirenone and Estradiol (Angeliq)
Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol (Yasmin)
Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol (Yaz)
Drotrecogin alfa (Xigris)
Dtic-Dome (Dacarbazine)
DTP (Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed USP)
Duagen (Dutasteride)
Duetact (Pioglitazone)
Duloxetine Hcl (Cymbalta)
Duoneb (Ipratropium Bromide)
Duraclon (Clonidine Injection)
Duragesic (Fentanyl Transdermal)
Duramorph (Morphine (injection))
Duranest (Etidocaine HCl)
Duratuss (Guaifenesin and Pseudoephedrine)
Duricef (Cefadroxil)
Dutasteride (Avodart)
Dutasteride (Duagen)
Dutoprol (Metroprolol)

Dy-Dz

Dyazide (Hydrochlorothiazide and Triamterene)
Dynabac (Dirithromycin)
Dynacirc (Isradipine)
Dynacirc CR (Isradipine)
Dynapen (Dicloxacillin)
Dyphylline (Lufyllin)
Dyrenium (Triamterene)

Ea-El

E.E.S. (Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate)
Echinacea (Echinacea)
Econazole Nitrate (Spectazole)
Eculizumab (Soliris)
Edecrin (Ethacrynic Acid)
Edetate (Endrate)
Edetate calcium (Versenate)
Edex (Alprostadil for Inj)
Edrophonium Chloride and Atropine Sulfate (Enlon Plus)
Edrophonium Inj (Enlon)
Efalizumab (Raptiva)
Efavirenz (Sustiva)
Efavirenz, Emtricitabine, and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (Atripla)
Effexor (Venlafaxine Hydrochloride)
Effexor XR (Venlafaxine Hydrochloride)
Eflornithine (Vaniqa)
Efudex (Fluorouracil)
Elavil (Amitriptyline)
Eldepryl (Selegiline Hcl)
Eldopaque (Hydroquinone (4% Cream))
Elestat (Epinastine)
Eletriptan hydrobromide (Relpax)
Elidel (Pimecrolimus)
Eligard (Leuprolide Acetate)
Elimite (Permethrin)
Elitek (Rasburicase)
Ellence (Epirubicin hydrochloride)
Elmiron (Pentosan)
Elocon (Mometasone Furoate)
Eloxatin (Oxaliplatin Inj)
Elspar (Asparaginase)

Em-Eo

Emadine (Emedastine)
Emcyt (Estramustine)
Emedastine (Emadine)
Emend (Aprepitant)
Emgel (Erythromycin)
Emla (Lidocaine and Prilocaine)
Empirin Codeine (Aspirin and Codeine)
Emsam (Selegiline Transdermal System)
Emtricitabine (Emtriva)
Emtricitabine and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (Truvada)
Emtriva (Emtricitabine)
Enablex (Darifenacin)
Enalapril (Vasotec)
Enalapril Maleate-Felodipine (Lexxel)
Enalaprilat Injection (Enalaprilat Injection)
Enbrel (Etanercept)
Endometrin (Progesterone)
Endrate (Edetate)
Enduron (Methyclothiazide)
Enflurane (Ethrane)
Enfuvirtide (Fuzeon)
Enjuvia (Synthetic Conjugated Estrogens, B)
Enlon (Edrophonium Inj)
Enlon Plus (Edrophonium Chloride and Atropine Sulfate)
Enoxacin (Penetrex)
Enoxaparin Sodium Inj (Lovenox)
Entacapone (Comtan)
Entecavir (Baraclude)
Entex La (Guaifenesin and Phenylephrine)
Entex Pse (Pseudoephedrine and Guaifenesin)
Entocort (Budesonide)

Ep-Er

Ephedrine (Ephedrine)
Epinastine (Elestat)
Epinephrine (Adrenalin)
Epinephrine (Primatene)
Epinephrine / Chlorpheniramine (Ana-Kit)
Epirubicin hydrochloride (Ellence)
Epivir (Lamivudine)
Eplerenone (Inspra)
Epoetin Alfa (Epogen)
Epoetin Alfa (Procrit)
Epogen (Epoetin Alfa)
Epoprostenol sodium (Flolan)
Eprosartan Mesylate (Teveten)
Eptifibatide (Integrilin)
Epzicom (Abacavir Sulfate and Lamivudine Tablets)
Equagesic (Meprobamate and Aspirin)
Equetro (Carbamazepine XR)
Eraxis (Anidulafungin)
Erbitux (Cetuximab)
Ergamisol (Levamisole Hydrochloride)
Ergocalciferol (Calciferol)
Ergostat (Ergotamine)
Ergotamine (Ergostat)
Ergotamine - Caffeine (Ergotamine Tartrate and Caffeine)
Ergotamine and Caffeine (Wigraine)
Ergotamine Tartrate and Caffeine (Ergotamine - Caffeine)
Erlotinib (Tarceva)
Ertaczo (Sertaconazole Nitrate)
Ertapenem Inj (Invanz)
Ery (Erythromycin)
Eryc (Erythromycin Delayed-Release)
Erythrocin (Erythromycin Stearate)
Erythromycin (Benzamycin)
Erythromycin (Emgel)
Erythromycin (Ery)
Erythromycin (Ilotycin)
Erythromycin (Staticin)
Erythromycin and Sulfisoxazole (Pediazole)
Erythromycin Delayed-Release (Eryc)
Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate (E.E.S.)
Erythromycin PCE (Pce 333)
Erythromycin Stearate (Erythrocin)

Es-Es

Escitalopram Oxalate (Lexapro)
Esclim (Estradiol Transdermal)
Eskalith (Lithium Carbonate)
Esmolol (Brevibloc)
Esomeprazole Magnesium (Nexium)
Esomeprazole Sodium (Nexium I.V.)
Essential Amino Acid Inj (Nephramine)
Estazolam (Prosom)
Esterified Estrogens and Methyltestosterone (Estratest)
Estinyl (Ethinyl Estradiol)
Estrace (Estradiol)
Estrace Vaginal Cream (Estradiol Vaginal Cream)
Estraderm (Estradiol Transdermal)
Estradiol (Estrace)
Estradiol (Evamist)
Estradiol (Vagifem)
Estradiol Acetate (Femring)
Estradiol Gel (EstroGel)
Estradiol Transdermal (Climara)
Estradiol Transdermal (Esclim)
Estradiol Transdermal (Estraderm)
Estradiol Transdermal System (Alora)
Estradiol Transdermal System (Vivelle-Dot)
Estradiol Vaginal Cream (Estrace Vaginal Cream)
Estradiol Vaginal Ring (Estring)
Estradiol valerate (Delestrogen)
Estradiol/Levonorgestrel Transdermal (Climara Pro)
Estradiol/Norethindrone Acetate (Activella)
Estradiol/Norethindrone Acetate Transdermal System (CombiPatch)
Estradiol/Norgestimate (Ortho-Prefest)
Estramustine (Emcyt)
Estratest (Esterified Estrogens and Methyltestosterone)
Estring (Estradiol Vaginal Ring)
EstroGel (Estradiol Gel)
Estrogens (Menest)
Estropipate (Ogen)
Estrostep (Norethindrone Acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol)
Eszopiclone (Lunesta)

Et-Et

Etanercept (Enbrel)
Ethacrynic Acid (Edecrin)
Ethambutol (Myambutol)
Ethamolin (Ethanolamine Oleate)
Ethanolamine Oleate (Ethamolin)
Ethinyl Estradiol (Estinyl)
Ethinyl Estradiol and Ethynodiol Diacetate (Zovia)
Ethiodized Oil (Ethiodol)
Ethiodol (Ethiodized Oil)
Ethionamide Tablets (Trecator)
Ethosuximide (Zarontin)
Ethotoin (Peganone)
Ethrane (Enflurane)
Ethyl Chloride (Ethyl Chloride)
Ethyol (Amifostine)
Etidocaine HCl (Duranest)
Etidronate Disodium (Didronel)
Etodolac (Lodine)
Etodolac Extended Release (Etodolac XR)
Etodolac XR (Etodolac Extended Release)
Etonogestrel Implant (Implanon)
Etonogestrel/Ethinyl Estradiol Vaginal Ring (Nuvaring)
Etopophos (Etoposide Phosphate)
Etoposide (Vepesid)
Etoposide Phosphate (Etopophos)
Etrafon (Perphenazine and Amitriptyline)

Eu-Ez

Eulexin (Flutamide)
Eurax (Crotamiton Cream/ Lotion)
Evamist (Estradiol )
Evista (Raloxifene)
Evoclin (Clindamycin Phosphate)
Evoxac (Cevimeline HCL)
Exelderm (Sulconazole)
Exelon (Rivastigmine Tartrate)
Exelon Patch (Rivastigmine Transdermal System)
Exemestane (Aromasin)
Exenatide Inj (Byetta)
Exforge (Amlodipine and Valsartan)
Exjade (Deferasirox)
Exosurf (Colfosceril Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Tyloxapol (Suspension))
Extina (Ketoconazole Foam, 2%)
Extraneal (Icodextrin)
Exubera (Insulin Human [rDNA origin])
Ezetimibe & Simvastatin (Vytorin)

Fa-Fh

Fabrazyme (Agalsidase Beta)
Factive (Gemifloxacin mesylate)
Factor IX Complex (Konyne)
Factor IX Complex (Proplex-T)
Factrel (Gonadorelin)
Famciclovir (Famvir)
Famotidine (Pepcid)
Famotidine Injection (Pepcid Injection)
Famvir (Famciclovir)
Fansidar (Sulfadoxine and Pyrimethamine)
Fareston (Toremifene)
Faslodex (Fulvestrant)
Fastin (Phentermine)
Fazaclo (Clozapine)
Fdg (Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 Inj)
Feiba Vh (Feiba VH)
Felbamate (Felbatol)
Felbatol (Felbamate)
Feldene (Piroxicam)
Felodipine (Plendil)
Femara (Letrozole)
Femhrt (Norethindrone Acetate/Ethinyl Estradiol)
Femring (Estradiol Acetate)
Fenfluramine - Removed from US Market (Pondimin)
Fenofibrate (Antara)
Fenofibrate (Fenofibrate 40 mg/ 120 mg)
Fenofibrate (Lipofen)
Fenofibrate (Tricor)
Fenofibrate (Triglide)
Fenofibrate 40 mg/ 120 mg (Fenofibrate)
Fenoldopam Mesylate (Corlopam)
Fenoprofen Calcium (Nalfon)
Fentanyl Buccal Tablet (Fentora)
Fentanyl Citrate (Actiq)
Fentanyl Iontophoretic Transdermal System (Ionsys)
Fentanyl Transdermal (Duragesic)
Fentora (Fentanyl Buccal Tablet)
Ferrlecit (Sodium ferric gluconate)
Fertinex (Urofollitropin)
Fexofenadine Hcl (Allegra)
Fexofenadine HCl and Pseudoephedrine HCl (Allegra-D)

Fi-Fl

Filgrastim (Neupogen)
Finasteride (Propecia)
Finasteride (Proscar)
Fioricet (Butalbital, Acetaminophen and Caffeine)
Fiorinal with Codeine (Butalbital Compound With Codeine)
Flagyl (Metronidazole)
Flagyl Inj. (Metronidazole)
Flavocoxid (Limbrel)
Flavoxate HCl (Urispas)
Flecainide (Tambocor)
Flector Patch (Diclofenac Epolamine Topical Patch)
Flexeril (Cyclobenzaprine Hcl)
Flolan (Epoprostenol sodium)
Flomax (Tamsulosin Hydrochloride)
Flonase (Fluticasone propionate)
Florinef (Fludrocortisone)
Flourometholone Opthalmic Suspension (FML)
Flovent (Fluticasone Propionate)
Flovent Diskus (Fluticasone Propionate)
Flovent HFA (Fluticasone Propionate HFA)
Floxin (Ofloxacin)
Floxuridine (Fudr)
Fluarix (Influenza Virus Vaccine)
Fluconazole (Diflucan)
Flucytosine (Ancobon)
Fludara (Fludarabine)
Fludarabine (Fludara)
Fludrocortisone (Florinef)
Flulaval (Flulaval)
Flumadine (Rimantadine)
Flumazenil (Romazicon)
FluMist (Influenza Virus Vaccine)
Flunisolide (Aerobid)
Flunisolide (Nasal Spray) (Nasalide)
Flunisolide Hemihydrate (Aerospan HFA)
Fluocinolone (Fluocinolone Acetonide)
Fluocinolone Acetonide (Derma-Smoothe Scalp/FS)
Fluocinolone Acetonide (Derma-Smoothe/FS)
Fluocinolone Acetonide (Fluocinolone)
Fluocinolone Acetonide (Synalar)
Fluocinolone Acetonide Intravitreal Implant (Retisert)
Fluocinonide (Lidex)
Fluocinonide (Vanos)
Fluorescein (Fluorescite)
Fluorescein and Benoxinate (Fluress)
Fluorescite (Fluorescein)
Fluoride (Acidul)
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 Inj (Fdg)
Fluorometholone (FML Forte)
Fluorouracil (Carac)
Fluorouracil (Efudex)
Fluothane (Halothane)
Fluoxetine Hcl (Prozac)
Fluoxetine Hydrochloride (Sarafem)
Fluoxymesterone (Halotestin)
Fluphenazine (Prolixin)
Flurandrenolide (Cordran)
Flurazepam (Dalmane)
Flurbiprofen (Ansaid)
Flurbiprofen (Ocufen)
Fluress (Fluorescein and Benoxinate)
Flutamide (Eulexin)
Fluticasone (Cutivate)
Fluticasone Furoate (Veramyst)
Fluticasone Propionate (Advair Diskus)
Fluticasone propionate (Flonase)
Fluticasone Propionate (Flovent)
Fluticasone Propionate (Flovent Diskus)
Fluticasone propionate and Salmeterol (Advair HFA)
Fluticasone Propionate HFA (Flovent HFA)
Fluvastatin Sodium (Lescol)
Fluvirin (Influenza Virus Vaccine)
Fluvoxamine Maleate (Luvox)
Fluzone (Influenza Virus Vaccine)

Fm-Fq

FML (Flourometholone Opthalmic Suspension)
FML Forte (Fluorometholone)
Focalin (Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride)
Focalin XR (Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride)
Folacin, Cyanocobalamin & Pyridoxine (Foltx)
Folic Acid (Folvite)
Follistim (Follitropin Beta)
Follitropin Alfa (Gonal-F)
Follitropin Alfa Inj (Gonal-f RFF)
Follitropin Beta (Follistim)
Foltx (Folacin, Cyanocobalamin & Pyridoxine)
Folvite (Folic Acid)
Fomepizole (Antizol)
Fomivirsen (Vitravene)
Fondaparinux Sodium (Arixtra)
Foradil (Formoterol Fumarate)
Foradil Certihaler (Formoterol Fumarate Inhalation Powder)
Forane (Isoflurane)
Formoterol Fumarate (Foradil)
Formoterol Fumarate Inhalation Powder (Foradil Certihaler)
Formoterol Fumarate Inhalation Solution (Perforomist)
Fortamet (Metformin Hcl)
Fortaz (Ceftazidime)
Forteo (Teriparatide (rDNA origin) Inj)
Fortical (Calcitonin-Salmon (rDNA origin))
Fosamax (Alendronate Sodium)
Fosamax Plus D (Alendronate Sodium & Cholecalciferol)
Fosamprenavir Calcium (Lexiva)
Foscarnet Sodium Inj (Foscavir)
Foscavir (Foscarnet Sodium Inj)
Fosfomycin (Monurol)
Fosinopril sodium (Monopril)
Fosphenytoin (Cerebyx)

Fr-Fz

Fragmin (Dalteparin)
Frova (Frovatriptan succinate)
Frovatriptan succinate (Frova)
Fudr (Floxuridine)
Fulvestrant (Faslodex)
Fulvicin (Griseofulvin Microsize)
Fungizone (Amphotericin B)
Furazolidone (Furoxone)
Furosemide (Lasix)
Furoxone (Furazolidone)
Fuzeon (Enfuvirtide)

Ga-Gh

Gabapentin (Neurontin)
Gabitril (Tiagabine Hydrochloride)
Gadodiamide (Omniscan)
Gadopentetate Dimeglumine (Magnevist)
Gadoteridol Injection Solution (ProHance)
Gadoversetamide Injection (OptiMARK)
Galantamine HBr (Razadyne)
Galantamine HBr ER (Razadyne ER)
Galantamine Hydrobromide (Reminyl)
Galsulfase (Naglazyme)
Gammagard (Immune Globulin)
Ganciclovir (Cytovene)
Ganciclovir (Vitrasert)
Ganirelix (Antagon)
Gantanol (Sulfamethoxazole)
Gantrisin (Acetyl Sulfisoxazole)
Gardasil (Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (Types 6, 11, 16, 18) Recombinant Vaccine)
Gatifloxacin (Removed from US Market - May 2006) (Tequin)
Gatifloxacin Ophthalmic Solution (Zymar)
Gemcitabine Hcl (Gemzar)
Gemfibrozil (Lopid)
Gemifloxacin mesylate (Factive)
Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin for Inj (Mylotarg)
Gemzar (Gemcitabine Hcl)
Genoptic (Gentamicin Sulfate Ophthalmic)
Genotropin (Somatropin [rDNA origin])
Gentamicin and Prednisolone Acetate (Pred-G)
Gentamicin Sulfate Ophthalmic (Genoptic)
Geocillin (Carbenicillin Indanyl Sodium)
Geodon (Ziprasidone)
Geref (Sermorelin)
Getfitinib (Iressa)

Gi-Gq

Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo Biloba)
Ginseng (Korean (Panax) Ginseng)
Glatiramer Acetate (Copaxone)
Gleevec (Imatinib Mesylate)
Gliadel (Polifeprosan 20 with Carmustine)
Glimepiride (Amaryl)
Glipizide (Glucotrol)
Glipizide and Metformin (Metaglip)
Glipizide Extended Release (Glucotrol XL)
Glucagon (Glucagon)
Glucophage (Metformin hydrochloride)
Glucotrol (Glipizide)
Glucotrol XL (Glipizide Extended Release)
Glucovance (Glyburide and Metformin)
Glumetza (Metformin Hcl)
Glyburide (Micronase)
Glyburide and Metformin (Glucovance)
Glycopyrrolate (Robinul)
Glyset (Miglitol)
Go-Lytely (PEG Electrolytes Solution)
Gold Thiomalate (Myochrysine)
Gonadorelin (Factrel)
Gonal-F (Follitropin Alfa)
Gonal-f RFF (Follitropin Alfa Inj)
Goserelin (Zoladex)
Goserelin Acetate Implant (Zoladex Implant)

Gr-Gz

Granisetron (Kytril)
Granisetron Hydrochloride (Kytril Inj)
Grepafloxacin - (Raxar)
Gris Peg (Griseofulvin)
Griseofulvin (Gris Peg)
Griseofulvin Microsize (Fulvicin)
Guaifenesin (Humibid La)
Guaifenesin (Oral) (Organidin)
Guaifenesin and Codeine (Robitussin Ac)
Guaifenesin and Phenylephrine (Entex La)
Guaifenesin and Pseudoephedrine (Duratuss)
Guaifenesin; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine (Deconamine)
Guanethidine Monosulfate (Ismelin)
Guanfacine (Tenex)
Gynazole (Butoconazole)
Gyne-Lotrimin (Clotrimazole (Vaginal Cream))

Ha-Hh

H-Big (Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (Human))
H2O (Bacteriostatic Water)
Haemophilus b Conjugate and Hepatitis B Vaccine (Comvax)
Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccine (ActHIB)
Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccine (Prohibit)
Halcinonide (Halog)
Halcion (Triazolam)
Haldol (Haloperidol)
HalfLytely and Bisacodyl Tablets (Sodium Chloride-Sodium Bicarbonate and Potassium Chloride)
Halobetasol Propionate (Ultravate)
Halog (Halcinonide)
Haloperidol (Haldol)
Halotestin (Fluoxymesterone)
Halothane (Fluothane)
Havrix (Hepatitis A Vaccine, Inactivated)
Healon (Sodium Hyaluronate)
Hectorol (Doxercalciferol)
Hectorol Inj (Doxercalciferol)
Helidac (Bismuth Subsalicylate)
Helixate FS (Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant))
Hemabate (Carboprost Tromethamine)
Hemin (Panhematin)
HepaGam B (Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (Human))
Heparin (Heparin)
Heparin Lock Flush Solution (Heparin Lock Preservative Free)
Heparin Lock Flush Solution (Lok Pak)
Heparin Lock Preservative Free (Heparin Lock Flush Solution)
HepatAmine (Amino Acid)
Hepatitis A Inactivated & Hepatitis B (Recombinant) Vaccine (Twinrix)
Hepatitis A Vaccine, Inactivated (Havrix)
Hepatitis A Vaccine, Inactivated (Vaqta)
Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (Human) (H-Big)
Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (Human) (HepaGam B)
Hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombinant) (Recombivax)
Hepsera (Adefovir Dipivoxil)
Herceptin (Trastuzumab)
Hexachlorophene (Phisohex)
Hexalen (Altretamine)

Hi-Hx

HibTITER (Diphtheria CRM197 Protein Conjugate)
Hiprex (Methenamine Hippurate)
Hismanal (Astemizole (WITHDRAWN FROM US MARKET))
Histinex (Phenylpropanolamine, Dextromethorphan and Brompheniramine)
Histinex HC (Phenylephrine/H-Cod/CPM)
Histrelin Acetate Subcutaneous Implant (Supprelin LA)
Hivid (Zalcitabine)
Hms (Medrysone)
Humalog (Insulin Lispro (Human Analog))
Humalog 75-25 (75-25 Insulin Lispro Suspension and 25 Insulin Lispro Injection)
Human Secretin (ChiRhoStim)
Humatin (Paromomycin Sulfate)
Humatrope (Somatropin rDNA Origin)
Humibid La (Guaifenesin)
Humira (Adalimumab)
Humorsol (Demecarium)
Humulin 50-50 (50-50 Human Insulin Isophane Suspension and Human Insulin Injection)
Humulin 70-30 (Insulin (Human Recombinant))
Humulin N (Insulin (Human Recombinant))
Humulin R (Insulin (Human Recombinant))

Hy-Hz

Hyalgan (Hyaluronate)
Hyaluronate (Hyalgan)
Hyaluronidase Human Inj (Hylenex)
Hyaluronidase Inj (Amphadase)
Hycamtin (Topotecan Hydrochloride)
Hycamtin Capsules (Topotecan Capsules)
Hycodan (Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Homatropine Methylbromide)
Hycotuss (Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Guaifenesin)
Hydralazine (Apresoline)
Hydralazine and Hydrochlorothiazide (Apresazide)
Hydrea (Hydroxyurea)
Hydrochlorothiazide and Triamterene (Dyazide)
Hydrocodone (Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen)
Hydrocodone and Chlorpheniramine (Tussionex)
Hydrocodone and Ibuprofen (Vicoprofen)
Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen (Hydrocodone)
Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen (Norco)
Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen (Norco 5/325)
Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen (Vicodin)
Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen (Vicodin ES)
Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen (Zydone)
Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Guaifenesin (Hycotuss)
Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Homatropine Methylbromide (Hycodan)
Hydrocortisone (Cortenema)
Hydrocortisone (Hydrocortisone Cream and Ointment 2.5%)
Hydrocortisone and Acetic Acid (Vosol Hc Otic)
Hydrocortisone and Pramoxine (Proctofoam)
Hydrocortisone Butyrate (Locoid)
Hydrocortisone Cream (Anusol Hc)
Hydrocortisone Cream and Ointment 1.0% (Cortaid)
Hydrocortisone Cream and Ointment 2.5% (Hydrocortisone)
Hydrocortisone Probutate Cream (Pandel)
Hydrocortisone Sodium Succinate (Solu Cortef)
Hydrocortisone Valerate (Westcort)
Hydrocortisone; Neomycin; Polymyxin B (Cortisporin)
Hydroflumethiazide (Diucardin)
Hydromorphone (Dilaudid-HP)
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride (Dilaudid)
Hydroquinone (Hydroquinone (3% Topical Solution))
Hydroquinone (3% Topical Solution) (Hydroquinone)
Hydroquinone (4% Cream) (Eldopaque)
Hydrous Dextrose (Dextros Injection 5%)
Hydroxocobalamin for Injection (Cyanokit)
Hydroxyamphetamine Hydrobromide/ Tropicamide (Paremyd)
Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil)
Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (Ocucoat)
Hydroxyurea (Hydrea)
Hydroxyzine (Atarax)
Hydroxyzine (Vistaril)
Hygroton (Chlorthalidone)
Hylan G-F 20 (Synvisc)
Hylenex (Hyaluronidase Human Inj)
Hyoscyamine (Levsin)
Hypertonic Saline (3% and 5% Sodium Chloride Inj)
Hytrin (Terazosin Hcl)
Hyzaar (Losartan Potassium-Hydrochlorothiazide)

Ia-Im

Ibandronate Sodium (Boniva )
Ibandronate Sodium Injection (Boniva Injection)
Ibritumomab Tiuxetan (Zevalin)
Ibuprofen (Motrin)
Ibuprofen Lysine Inj (NeoProfen)
Ibutilide (Corvert)
Ic-Green (Tricarbocyanine)
Icodextrin (Extraneal)
Idamycin (Idarubicin)
Idarubicin (Idamycin)
Ifex (Ifosfamide)
Ifosfamide (Ifex)
Iloprost (Ventavis)
Ilotycin (Erythromycin)
Imatinib Mesylate (Gleevec)
Imiglucerase (Cerezyme)
Imipenem and Cilastatin (Primaxin IM)
Imipramine (Tofranil)
Imipramine Pamoate (Tofranil-PM)
Imiquimod (Aldara)
Imitrex (Sumatriptan Succinate)
Imitrex Inj (Sumatriptan Succinate)
Imitrex Nasal Spray (Sumatriptan)
Immune Globulin (Baygam)
Immune Globulin (Gammagard)
Immune Globulin Intravenous (Privigen)
Immune Globulin Subcutaneous (Human) (Vivaglobin)
Imodium (Loperamide Hcl)
Imogam Rabies (Rabies Immune Globulin (Human))
Imovax (Rabies Vaccine)
Implanon (Etonogestrel Implant)
Imuran (Azathioprine)

In-In

Inapsine (Droperidol)
Increlex (Mecasermin [rDNA origin] Inj)
Indapamide (Lozol)
Inderal (Propranolol)
Inderal LA (Propranolol)
Inderide (Propranolol Hydrochloride and Hydrochlorothiazide)
Indigo Carmine (Indigotindisulfonate)
Indigotindisulfonate (Indigo Carmine)
Indinavir Sulfate (Crixivan)
Indocin (Indomethacin)
Indocin IV (Indomethacin Inj)
Indomethacin (Indocin)
Indomethacin Inj (Indocin IV)
Infanrix (Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis)
Infasurf (Calfactant)
Infed (Iron Dextran)
Infergen (Interferon Alfacon-1)
Infliximab (Remicade)
Influenza Virus Vaccine (Fluarix)
Influenza Virus Vaccine (FluMist)
Influenza Virus Vaccine (Fluvirin )
Influenza Virus Vaccine (Fluzone)
Innohep (Tinzaparin)
Inomax (Nitric Oxide)
Insoluble Prussian blue (Radiogardase)
Inspra (Eplerenone)
Insulin (Human Recombinant) (Humulin 70-30)
Insulin (Human Recombinant) (Humulin N)
Insulin (Human Recombinant) (Humulin R)
Insulin Aspart [rDNA origin] Inj (NovoLog)
Insulin Aspart Protamine and Insulin Aspart (rDNA origin) (NovoLog Mix 70/30)
Insulin Detemir (Levemir)
Insulin Glargine [rDNA origin] Inj (Lantus)
Insulin Glulisine [rDNA origin] Inj (Apidra)
Insulin Human (Velosulin)
Insulin Human [rDNA origin] (Exubera)
Insulin Lispro (Human Analog) (Humalog)
Intal (Cromolyn)
Integrilin (Eptifibatide)
Interferon alfa-2a, Recombinant (Roferon-A alfa-2a)
Interferon alfa-2b, Recombinant for Inj (Intron A)
Interferon Alfacon-1 (Infergen)
Interferon beta-1a (Avonex)
Interferon beta-1a (Rebif)
Interferon beta-1b (Betaseron)
Intralipid 10% (10% I.V Fat Emulsion)
Intralipid 20% (20% I.V. Fat Emulsion)
Intron A (Interferon alfa-2b, Recombinant for Inj)
Intron A - Rebetol (Ribavirin/Interferon Alfa-2b, Recombinant)
Invanz (Ertapenem Inj)
Invega (Paliperidone)
Inversine (Mecamylamine)
Invirase (Saquinavir Mesylate)

Io-Is

Iodide (Pima)
Ionamin (Phentermine Resin Complex)
Ionsys (Fentanyl Iontophoretic Transdermal System)
Iopidine Eye (Apraclonidine)
Ioxilan (Oxilan)
Iplex (Mecasermin Rinfabate [rDNA origin] Inj)
Ipol (Poliovirus Vaccine Inactivated)
Ipratropium bromide (Atrovent Nasal Spray)
Ipratropium Bromide (Duoneb)
Ipratropium Bromide (Inhalation) (Atrovent)
Ipratropium Bromide and Albuterol Sulfate (Combivent)
Irbesartan (Avapro)
Irbesartan-Hydrochlorothiazide (Avalide)
Iressa (Getfitinib)
Irinotecan hydrochloride (Camptosar Inj)
Iron Dextran (Infed)
Iron Sucrose Inj (Venofer)
Isentress (Raltegravir Tablets)
Ismelin (Guanethidine Monosulfate)
Ismo (Isosorbide Mononitrate)
Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
Isoflurane (Forane)
Isoniazid (Nydrazid)
Isoproterenol (Isuprel)
Isoptin (Verapamil HCl)
Isopto Carpine (Pilocarpine)
Isopto Hyoscine (Scopolamine)
Isordil (Isosorbide)
Isosorbide (Isordil)
Isosorbide Dinitrate and Hydralazine Hcl (BiDil)
Isosorbide Mononitrate (Ismo)
Isosulfan Blue (Lymphazurine)
Isotretinoin (Accutane)
Isradipine (Dynacirc)
Isradipine (Dynacirc CR)
Isuprel (Isoproterenol)

It-Iz

Itraconazole Capsules (Sporanox)
Ivermectin (Stromectol)
Ixabepilone (Ixempra)
Ixempra (Ixabepilone)

Ja-Jz

Jadelle (Levonorgestrel)
Janumet (Sitagliptin Metformin HCL)
Januvia (Sitagliptin Phosphate)
Japanese Encephalitis Virus Vaccine Inactivated (Je-Vax)
Je-Vax (Japanese Encephalitis Virus Vaccine Inactivated)

Ka-Kh

Kadian (Morphine Sulfate Extended-Release)
Kaletra Capsules (Lopinavir Ritonavir )
Kaletra Tablets (Lopinavir/Ritonavir)
Kanamycin (Kantrex)
Kantrex (Kanamycin)
Kayexalate (Sodium Polystyrene)
KCL in D5LR (Potassium Chloride in Lactated Ringer's and 5% Dextrose Inj)
KCL in D5NS (Potassium Chloride in 5% Dextrose and Sodium Chloride Inj)
KCL in D5W (Potassium Chloride in 5% Dextrose Inj)
KCL in NS (Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Inj)
Keflex (Cephalexin)
Kepivance (Palifermin)
Keppra (Levetiracetam)
Keppra Injection (Levetiracetam)
Kerlone (Betaxolol Hydrochloride)
Ketalar (Ketamine HCl)
Ketamine HCl (Ketalar)
Ketek (Telithromycin)
Ketoconazole (Nizoral)
Ketoconazole (Xolegel)
Ketoconazole Cream (Nizoral Cream)
Ketoconazole Foam, 2% (Extina)
Ketoprofen (Orudis)
Ketorolac tromethamine (Acular)
Ketorolac Tromethamine (Toradol Oral)
Ketotifen Fumarate (Zaditor)

Ki-Kz

Kineret (Anakinra)
Kinevac (Sincalide)
Kinlytic (Urokinase Injection)
Kionex (Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate)
Klaron (Sodium Sulfacetamide (Lotion))
Klonopin (Clonazepam)
Klor-Con (Potassium Chloride)
Koate (Antihemophilic Factor)
Kogenate FS (Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant))
Konyne (Factor IX Complex)
Korean (Panax) Ginseng (Ginseng)
Kwell (Lindane Lotion)
Kytril (Granisetron)
Kytril Inj (Granisetron Hydrochloride)

La-Ld

Labetalol (Trandate)
Lac-Hydrin (Lactic Acid)
Lacrisert (Cellulose)
Lactated Ringer's (Lactated Ringer's Inj)
Lactated Ringer's and 5% Dextrose Inj (Lactated Ringer's in 5% Dextrose)
Lactated Ringer's in 5% Dextrose (Lactated Ringer's and 5% Dextrose Inj)
Lactated Ringer's Inj (Lactated Ringer's)
Lactic Acid (Lac-Hydrin)
Lactulose (Cephulac)
Lamictal (Lamotrigine)
Lamisil (Terbinafine)
Lamisil Oral Granules (Terbinafine Hydrochloride)
Lamivudine (Epivir)
Lamivudine/Zidovudine (Combivir)
Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
Lamprene (Clofazimine)
Lanoxin (Digoxin)
Lansoprazole (Prevacid)
Lansoprazole (Prevacid NapraPAC)
Lansoprazole for Injection (Prevacid I.V.)
Lansoprazole, Amoxicillin and Clarithromycin (Prevpac)
Lantus (Insulin Glargine [rDNA origin] Inj)
Lapatinib (Tykerb)
Lariam (Mefloquine)
Laronidase (Aldurazyme)
Lasix (Furosemide)
Latanoprost (Xalatan)

Le-Lh

Leflunomide (Arava)
Lenalidomide (Revlimid)
Lepirudin (Refludan)
Lescol (Fluvastatin Sodium)
Letairis (Ambrisentan Tablets)
Letrozole (Femara)
Leucovorin (Leucovorin)
Leucovorin Calcium (Leucovorin Calcium)
Leukeran (Chlorambucil)
Leukine (Sargramostim)
Leuprolide Acetate (Eligard)
Leuprolide Acetate (Lupron Depot)
Leuprolide Acetate for Depot Suspension (Lupron Depot 11.25 mg)
Leuprolide Acetate for Depot Suspension (Lupron Depot 7.5 mg)
Leuprolide Acetate Implant (Viadur)
Leuprolide Acetate Inj (Lupron)
Leuprolide Acetate Inj (Lupron Depot 3.75 mg)
Leuprolide Acetate Inj (Lupron Pediatric)
Leustatin (Cladribine)
Levalbuterol (Xopenex)
Levalbuterol Tartrate (Xopenex HFA)
Levamisole Hydrochloride (Ergamisol)
Levaquin (Levofloxacin)
Levemir (Insulin Detemir)
Levetiracetam (Keppra)
Levetiracetam (Keppra Injection)
Levitra (Vardenafil HCl)
Levo Dromoran (Levorphanol)
Levobetaxolol (Betaxon)
Levobunolol (Betagan)
Levobupivacaine (Chirocaine)
Levocabastine (Livostin)
Levocarnitine (Carnitor)
Levocetirizine Dihydrochloride Tablets (Xyzal)
Levodopa (Dopar)
Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
Levofloxacin (Quixin)
Levomethadyl Acetate (Orlaam)
Levonorgestrel (Jadelle)
Levonorgestrel (Plan B)
Levonorgestrel (Unavailable in US) (Norplant)
Levonorgestrel / Ethinyl Estradiol (Seasonale)
Levonorgestrel / Ethinyl Estradiol (Seasonique)
Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol (Alesse)
Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol (Lutera)
Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradol Tablets (Lybrel)
Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine (Mirena)
Levophed (Norepinephrine Bitartrate)
Levorphanol (Levo Dromoran)
Levothroid (Levothyroxine Sodium)
Levothyroxine Sodium (Levothroid)
Levothyroxine Sodium (Levoxyl)
Levothyroxine Sodium (Synthroid)
Levothyroxine Sodium (Thyro-Tabs)
Levothyroxine Sodium (Unithroid)
Levothyroxine Sodium Capsules (Tirosint)
Levoxyl (Levothyroxine Sodium)
Levsin (Hyoscyamine)
Levulan Kerastick (Aminolevulinic Acid)
Lexapro (Escitalopram Oxalate)
Lexiva (Fosamprenavir Calcium)
Lexxel (Enalapril Maleate-Felodipine)

Li-Ln

Lialda (Mesalamine)
Librax (Chlordiazepoxide and Clidinium)
Librium (Chlordiazepoxide)
Lidex (Fluocinonide)
Lidocaine (Xylocaine)
Lidocaine and Prilocaine (Emla)
Lidocaine and Tetracaine (S-Caine)
Lidocaine and Tetracaine (Synera)
Lidocaine Patch 5% (Lidoderm)
Lidocaine Viscous (Xylocaine Viscous)
Lidoderm (Lidocaine Patch 5%)
Limbrel (Flavocoxid)
Lincocin (Lincomycin Hcl)
Lincomycin Hcl (Lincocin)
Lindane Lotion (Kwell)
Lindocaine Hydrochloride Monohydrate (Zingo)
Linezolid (Zyvox)
Lioresal (Baclofen)
Liothyronine Sodium (Cytomel)
Liotrix (Thyrolar)
Lipase, Protease and Amylase (Creon)
Lipitor (Atorvastatin Calcium)
Lipofen (Fenofibrate)
Lipoprotein Outer Surface A Vaccine (Lymerix)
Liposyn (Liposyn II)
Liposyn II (Liposyn)
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate (Vyvanse)
Lisinopril (Prinivil)
Lisinopril (Zestril)
Lisinopril and Hydrochlorothiazide (Zestoretic)
Lisinopril-Hydrochlorothiazide (Prinzide)
Lithium Carbonate (Eskalith)
Liver-Stomach Concentrate With Intrinsic Factor (B12)
Livostin (Levocabastine)

Lo-Lt

Lo Ovral (Norgestrel And Ethinyl Estradiol)
Locoid (Hydrocortisone Butyrate)
Lodine (Etodolac)
Lodosyn (Carbidopa)
Lodoxamide Tromethamine (Alomide)
Loestrin Fe (Norethindrone Acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol)
Lok Pak (Heparin Lock Flush Solution)
Lomefloxacin Hcl (Maxaquin)
Lomotil (Diphenoxylate & Atropine)
Lomustine (Ceenu)
Loniten (Minoxidil)
Loperamide Hcl (Imodium)
Lopid (Gemfibrozil)
Lopinavir Ritonavir (Kaletra Capsules)
Lopinavir/Ritonavir (Kaletra Tablets)
Lopressor (Metoprolol Tartrate)
Loprox (Ciclopirox)
Lorabid (Loracarbef)
Loracarbef (Lorabid)
Loratadine (Claritin)
Loratadine and Pseudoephedrine (Claritin D)
Lorazepam (Ativan)
Losartan Potassium (Cozaar)
Losartan Potassium-Hydrochlorothiazide (Hyzaar)
Lotemax (Loteprednol Etabonate)
Lotensin (Benazepril)
Lotensin Hct (Benazepril HCl and HCTZ)
Loteprednol Etabonate (Lotemax)
Loteprednol Etabonate and Tobramycin (Zylet)
Lotrel (Amlodipine Besylate and Benazepril HCl)
Lotrisone (Clotrimazole and Betamethasone)
Lotronex (Alosetron Hydrochloride)
Lovastatin (Altoprev)
Lovastatin (Mevacor)
Lovenox (Enoxaparin Sodium Inj)
Low Calcium Peritoneal Dialysis Solutions (Dianeal Low Calcium)
Loxapine (Loxapine)
Loxapine Succinate (Loxitane)
Loxitane (Loxapine Succinate)
Lozol (Indapamide)

Lu-Lz

Lubiprostone (Amitiza)
Lucentis (Ranibizumab Inj)
Lufyllin (Dyphylline)
Lumigan (Bimatoprost)
Lunesta (Eszopiclone)
Lupron (Leuprolide Acetate Inj)
Lupron Depot (Leuprolide Acetate)
Lupron Depot 11.25 mg (Leuprolide Acetate for Depot Suspension)
Lupron Depot 3.75 mg (Leuprolide Acetate Inj)
Lupron Depot 7.5 mg (Leuprolide Acetate for Depot Suspension)
Lupron Pediatric (Leuprolide Acetate Inj)
Lutera (Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol)
Luvox (Fluvoxamine Maleate)
Luxiq (Betamethasone)
Lybrel (Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradol Tablets)
Lymerix (Lipoprotein Outer Surface A Vaccine)
Lymphazurine (Isosulfan Blue)
Lymphocyte immune globulin (Atgam)
Lyrica (Pregabalin)
Lysodren (Mitotane)

Ma-Md

M-M-R Ii (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Virus Vaccine Live)
M-R-Vax (Measles and Rubella Virus Vaccine Live)
M/6 Sodium Lactate Inj (Sodium Lactate)
Macrobid (Nitrofurantoin)
Macrodantin (Nitrofurantoin Macrocystals Capsule)
Macugen (Pegaptanib Sodium)
Mafenide Acetate (Sulfamylon)
Mag Sulfate (Magnesium Sulfate Injection)
Magnesium Sulfate Injection (Mag Sulfate)
Magnevist (Gadopentetate Dimeglumine)
Malarone (Atovaquone and Proguanil Hcl)
Malathion (Ovide)
Mandol (Cefamandole)
Mangafodipir (Teslascan)
Mannitol Injection (Mannitol IV)
Mannitol Injection in Aviva Plastic Container (Osmitrol Inj in Aviva)
Mannitol Injection in Viaflex Plastic Container (Osmitrol Inj in Viaflex)
Mannitol IV (Mannitol Injection)
Maraviroc (Selzentry)
Marcaine (Bupivacaine)
Marinol (Dronabinol)
Marplan (Isocarboxazid)
Matulane (Procarbazine)
Mavik (Trandolapril)
Maxair (Pirbuterol)
Maxalt (Rizatriptan)
Maxaquin (Lomefloxacin Hcl)
Maxiflor (Diflorasone)
Maxipime (Cefepime)
Maxitrol (Neomycin; Polymyxin B and Dexamethasone)

Me-Mh

Measles and Rubella Virus Vaccine Live (M-R-Vax)
Measles Mumps Rubella Varicella Vaccine Live (Proquad)
Measles Virus Vaccine Live (Attenuvax)
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Virus Vaccine Live (M-M-R Ii)
Mebaral (Mephobarbital)
Mebendazole (Vermox)
Mecamylamine (Inversine)
Mecasermin [rDNA origin] Inj (Increlex)
Mecasermin Rinfabate [rDNA origin] Inj (Iplex)
Mechlorethamine HCl (Mustargen)
Meclizine (Antivert)
Meclofenamate (Meclofenamate)
Medrol (Methylprednisolone)
Medroxyprogesterone (Depo Provera)
Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (Depo-SubQ Provera)
Medrysone (Hms)
Mefenamic Acid (Ponstel)
Mefloquine (Lariam)
Mefoxin (Cefoxitin)
Megace (Megestrol acetate)
Megace ES (Megestrol Acetate)
Megestrol acetate (Megace)
Megestrol Acetate (Megace ES)
Mellaril (Thioridazine HCl)
Meloxicam (Mobic)
Melphalan (Alkeran)
Melphalan Hcl Inj (Alkeran Inj)
Memantine HCL (Namenda)
Menactra (Polysaccharide Diphtheria Toxoid Conjugate Vaccine)
Menest (Estrogens)
Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (Menomune)
Menomune (Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine)
Menopur (Menotropins Inj)
Menotropins (Pergonal)
Menotropins Inj (Menopur)
Mentax (Butenafine)
Mepergan (Meperidine and Promethazine)
Meperidine (Demerol)
Meperidine and Promethazine (Mepergan)
Mephobarbital (Mebaral)
Mephyton (Phytonadione)
Mepivacaine (Carbocaine)
Meprobamate (Miltown)
Meprobamate and Aspirin (Equagesic)
Mepron (Atovaquone)
Mequinol & Tretinoin (Solage)
Mercaptopurine (Purinethol)
Meridia (Sibutramine Hydrochloride Monohydrate)
Meropenem (Merrem I.V.)
Merrem I.V. (Meropenem)
Meruvax (Rubella Virus Vaccine Live)
Mesalamine (Canasa)
Mesalamine (Lialda)
Mesalamine (Pentasa)
Mesalamine Rectal Suspension Enema (Rowasa)
Mesna (Mesnex)
Mesnex (Mesna)
Mesoridazine Besylate (Serentil)
Mestinon (Pyridostigmine)
Metadate (Methylphenidate Hydrochloride)
Metaglip (Glipizide and Metformin)
Metal-4 Combination (for Neonates) (Neotrace-4)
Metaproterenol Sulfate (Alupent)
Metaraminol (Aramine)
Metastron (Strontium-89)
Metaxalone (Skelaxin)
Metformin Hcl (Fortamet)
Metformin Hcl (Glumetza)
Metformin Hcl (Riomet)
Metformin hydrochloride (Glucophage)
Methadone (Dolophine)
Methamphetamine Hydrochloride (Desoxyn)
Methazolamide (Neptazane)
Methenamine Hippurate (Hiprex)
Methenamine Hippurate (Urex)
Methenamine, Salicylate, Methylene Blue, Benzoic Acid Atropine and Hyoscyamine (Prosed)
Methergine (Methylergonovine Maleate)
Methimazole (Tapazole)
Methocarbamol (Robaxin)
Methocarbamol and Aspirin (Robaxisal)
Methohexital (Brevital Sod)
Methotrexate (Trexall)
Methoxsalen (Uvadex)
Methoxsalen (Capsules) (Oxsoralen-Ultra)
Methoxypsoralen (8-MOP)
Methsuximide (Celontin)
Methyclothiazide (Enduron)
Methyldopa (Aldomet)
Methyldopa-Hydrochlorothiazide (Aldoril)
Methyldopate (Aldomet Inj)
Methylene Blue (Methylene Blue Injection)
Methylene Blue Injection (Methylene Blue)
Methylergonovine Maleate (Methergine)
Methylin (Methylphenidate)
Methylin Oral (Methylphenidate HCl Oral Solution 5 mg/5 mL and 10 mg/5 mL)
Methylphenidate (Methylin)
Methylphenidate (Ex-R Tablets) (Concerta)
Methylphenidate Hcl (Ritalin)
Methylphenidate HCl Oral Solution 5 mg/5 mL and 10 mg/5 mL (Methylin Oral)
Methylphenidate Hydrochloride (Metadate)
Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Extended-Release Capsules (Ritalin LA)
Methylphenidate Transdermal (Daytrana)
Methylprednisolone (Depo Medrol)
Methylprednisolone (Medrol)
Methylprednisolone sodium succinate (Solu Medrol)
Methyltestosterone (Testred)
Methysergide maleate (Sansert)
Metipranolol Ophthalmic Solution (Optipranolol)
Metoclopramide (Reglan)
Metolazone (Mykrox)
Metopirone (Metyrapone)
Metoprolol Succinate (Toprol XL)
Metoprolol Tartrate (Lopressor)
Metrodin (Metrodin (Urofollitropin for injection))
Metrodin (Urofollitropin for injection) (Metrodin)
Metrogel (Metronidazole)
Metrogel Vaginal (Metronidazole)
Metrolotion (Metronidazole (lotion))
Metronidazole (Flagyl)
Metronidazole (Flagyl Inj.)
Metronidazole (Metrogel)
Metronidazole (Metrogel Vaginal)
Metronidazole (Noritate)
Metronidazole (lotion) (Metrolotion)
Metroprolol (Dutoprol)
Metyrapone (Metopirone)
Metyrosine (Demser)
Mevacor (Lovastatin)
Mexiletine HCl (Mexitil)
Mexitil (Mexiletine HCl)

Mi-Mn

Miacalcin (Calcitonin-Salmon)
Micafungin Sodium (Mycamine)
Micardis (Telmisartan)
Micardis HCT (Telmisartan/Hydrochlorothiazide)
Miconazole (Monistat-Derm)
Miconazole Nitrate (vaginal) (Monisat Vaginal Cream)
Miconazole Nitrate, 15% Zinc Oxide, and 81.35% White Petrolatum (Vusion)
Micro-K (Potassium Chloride Extended-Release)
Micro-K for Liquid Suspension (Potassium Chloride Extended Release Formulation for Liquid Suspension)
Micronase (Glyburide)
Micronor (Norethindrone)
Midamor (Amiloride)
Midazolam (Versed Injection)
Midazolam (Versed Syrup)
Midodrine (Proamatine)
Midrin (Acetaminophen, Isometheptene and Dichloralphenazone)
Mifeprex (RU486) (Mifepristone (RU486))
Mifepristone (RU486) (Mifeprex (RU486))
Miglitol (Glyset)
Miglustat (Zavesca)
Milrinone (Primacor IV)
Miltown (Meprobamate)
Minipress (Prazosin HCl)
Minocin Capsules (Minocycline)
Minocin Injection (Minocycline Inj)
Minocycline (Minocin Capsules)
Minocycline Hydrochloride (Solodyn)
Minocycline Inj (Minocin Injection)
Minoxidil (Loniten)
Mintezol (Thiabendazole)
Miochol-E (Acetylcholine Chloride)
Miostat (Carbachol)
Miradon (Anisindione)
MiraLAX (Polyethylene Glycol 3350 - OTC)
Miraluma (Technetium Tc99m sestamibi)
Mirapex (Pramipexole)
Mircette (Desogestrel/Ethinyl Estradiol and Ethinyl Estradiol)
Mirena (Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine)
Mirtazapine (Remeron)
Mirtazapine (Remeron SolTab)
Misoprostol (Cytotec)
Mithracin (Plicamycin)
Mitomycin (Mutamycin)
Mitotane (Lysodren)
Mitoxantrone (Novantrone)
Mivacron (Mivacurium)
Mivacurium (Mivacron)

Mo-Mr

Moban (Molindone)
Mobic (Meloxicam)
Modafinil (Provigil)
Moduretic (Amiloride and Hydrochlorothiazide)
Moexipril (Univasc)
Molindone (Moban)
Mometasone Furoate (Asmanex Twisthaler)
Mometasone Furoate (Elocon)
Mometasone Furoate (nasal spray) (Nasonex)
Monisat Vaginal Cream (Miconazole Nitrate (vaginal))
Monistat-Derm (Miconazole)
Mono-Vacc (Tuberculin (mono-vaccine))
Monoclate-P (Antihemophilic Factor)
Monodox (Doxycycline)
Mononine (Coagulation Factor IX (Human))
Monopril (Fosinopril sodium)
Montelukast Sodium (Singulair)
Monurol (Fosfomycin)
Morphine (MS-Contin)
Morphine (injection) (Duramorph)
Morphine Sulfate (Avinza)
Morphine Sulfate (Roxanol)
Morphine Sulfate Extended-Release (Kadian)
Morphine Sulfate XR Liposome Inj (DepoDur)
Morrhuate Sod (Morrhuate Sodium (injection))
Morrhuate Sodium (injection) (Morrhuate Sod)
Motofen (Difenoxin and Atropine)
Motrin (Ibuprofen)
Moxifloxacin (Vigamox)
Moxifloxacin HCL (Avelox)

Ms-Mx

MS-Contin (Morphine)
Mte 5 (Trace Metal-5 Combination)
Mucomyst (Acetylcysteine)
Multi Vitamin Concentrate (intravenous infusion) (MVI)
Multiple Electrolytes and Dextrose Inj (Plasma-Lyte 148d5)
Multiple Electrolytes Inj (Plasma-Lyte 148)
Multiple Electrolytes Inj (Plasma-Lyte 56)
Multiple Electrolytes Inj (Plasma-Lyte 56d5)
Multiple Electrolytes Inj (Plasmalyte A)
Multiple Electrolytes Inj (Plasmalyte R)
Multivitamin, Iron and Fluoride (Poly-Vi-Flor)
Multivitamins for Infusion (Cernevit)
Mumps Skin Test Antigen (Mumps Skin Test Antigen)
Mumps Virus Vaccine Live (Mumpsvax)
Mumpsvax (Mumps Virus Vaccine Live)
Mupirocin (Bactroban Nasal)
Mupirocin (Bactroban Ointment)
Mustargen (Mechlorethamine HCl)
Mutamycin (Mitomycin)
MVI (Multi Vitamin Concentrate (intravenous infusion))

My-Mz

Myambutol (Ethambutol)
Mycamine (Micafungin Sodium)
Mycelex (Clotrimazole)
Mycobutin (Rifabutin)
Mycolog Ii (Nystatin and Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream)
Mycophenolate Mofetil (CellCept)
Mycostatin (Nystatin)
Mycostatin Powder (Nystatin (topical))
Mykrox (Metolazone)
Myleran (Busulfan)
Mylotarg (Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin for Inj)
Myoblock (Botulinum Toxin Type B)
Myochrysine (Gold Thiomalate)
Myozyme (Alglucosidase Alfa)
Mysoline (Primidone)

Na-Nd

Nabumetone (Relafen)
Nadolol (Corgard)
Nadolol and Bendroflumethiazide (Corzide)
Nafarelin Acetate (Synarel)
Nafcillin Sodium (Unipen)
Naftifine (Naftin Gel)
Naftifine Hcl (Naftin Cream)
Naftin Cream (Naftifine Hcl)
Naftin Gel (Naftifine)
Naglazyme (Galsulfase)
Nalbuphine hydrochloride (Nubain)
Nalfon (Fenoprofen Calcium)
Nalidixic Acid (NegGram)
Nalmefene Hydrochloride (Revex)
Naloxone (Narcan)
Naltrexone (Revia)
Naltrexone XR Inj (Vivitrol)
Namenda (Memantine HCL)
Naprelan (Naproxen Sodium)
Naprosyn (Naproxen)
Naproxen (Naprosyn)
Naproxen Sodium (Naprelan)
Naratriptan (Amerge)
Narcan (Naloxone)
Nardil (Phenelzine)
Naropin (Ropivacaine Hcl)
Nasacort (Triamcinolone Acetonide)
Nasacort AQ (Triamcinolone Acetonide)
Nasalcrom (Cromolyn Sodium)
Nasalide (Flunisolide (Nasal Spray))
Nascobal (Cyanocobalamin)
Nasonex (Mometasone Furoate (nasal spray))
Natacyn (Natamycin)
Natalizumab (Tysabri)
Natamycin (Natacyn)
Nateglinide (Starlix)
Natrecor (Nesiritide)
Navane (Thiothixene Hcl)
Navelbine (Vinorelbine Tartrate)

Ne-Nh

Nebcin (Tobramycin)
Nebupent (Pentamidine Isethionate)
Nedocromil (Alocril)
Nedocromil (inhalation) (Tilade)
Nefazodone (Serzone)
NegGram (Nalidixic Acid)
Nelarabine (Arranon)
Nelfinavir Mesylate (Viracept)
Nembutal (Pentobarbital)
Neo-Synephrine (Phenylephrine (Injection))
Neodecadron (Neomycin and Dexamethasone)
Neomycin and Dexamethasone (Neodecadron)
Neomycin and Polymyxin (Neosporin)
Neomycin Sulfate (Neomycin Sulfate)
Neomycin,Polymyxin B and Hydrocortisone (Pediotic)
Neomycin; Polymyxin B and Dexamethasone (Maxitrol)
NeoProfen (Ibuprofen Lysine Inj)
Neoral (Cyclosporine)
Neosporin (Neomycin and Polymyxin)
Neostigmine (Neostigmine Methylsulfate (injection))
Neostigmine (Prostigmin)
Neostigmine Methylsulfate (injection) (Neostigmine)
NeoTect (Neotect)
Neotrace-4 (Metal-4 Combination (for Neonates))
Nepafenac (Nevanac)
Nephramine (Essential Amino Acid Inj)
Neptazane (Methazolamide)
Nesacaine (Chloroprocaine)
Nesiritide (Natrecor)
Neulasta (Pegfilgrastim)
Neumega (Oprelvekin)
Neupogen (Filgrastim)
Neupro (Rotigotine Transdermal System)
Neurontin (Gabapentin)
Neutra Phos (Phosphates)
Neutrexin (Trimetrexate Glucuronate Inj)
Nevanac (Nepafenac)
Nevirapine (Viramune)
Nexavar (Sorafenib)
Nexium (Esomeprazole Magnesium)
Nexium I.V. (Esomeprazole Sodium)

Ni-Nn

Niacin (Niaspan)
Niacin Tablets (Niacor)
Niacin XR & Lovastatin (Advicor)
Niacor (Niacin Tablets)
Niaspan (Niacin)
Nicardipine (Cardene)
Nicardipine Hydrochloride (Cardene I.V.)
Nicotine Inhalation System (Nicotrol)
Nicotrol (Nicotine Inhalation System)
Nifedipine (Adalat)
Nifedipine (Procardia)
Niferex (Polysaccharide-Iron Complex (Capsules))
Niferex-Pn (Polysaccharide-Iron Complex (Tablets))
Nilandron (Nilutamide)
Nilstat (Nystatin (oral))
Nilutamide (Nilandron)
Nimbex (Cisatracurium Besylate)
Nimodipine (Nimotop)
Nimotop (Nimodipine)
Niravam (Alprazolam)
Nisoldipine (Sular)
Nitazoxanide (Alinia)
Nitisinone (Orfadin)
Nitric Oxide (Inomax)
Nitrodur (Nitroglycerin)
Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid)
Nitrofurantoin Macrocystals Capsule (Macrodantin)
Nitroglycerin (Nitrodur)
Nitroglycerin (Nitrostat)
Nitroglycerin (Transderm Nitro)
Nitroglycerin Lingual Aerosol (NitroMist)
NitroMist (Nitroglycerin Lingual Aerosol)
Nitropress (Nitroprusside Sodium)
Nitroprusside Sodium (Nitropress)
Nitrostat (Nitroglycerin)
Nizatidine (Axid)
Nizatidine (Axid Oral Solution)
Nizoral (Ketoconazole)
Nizoral Cream (Ketoconazole Cream)

No-Nt

Noctec (Chloral Hydrate)
Nolvadex (Tamoxifen Citrate)
Nor-QD (Norethindrone)
Norco (Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen)
Norco 5/325 (Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen)
Norditropin (Somatropin Injection)
Norelgestromin / Ethinyl Estradiol (Ortho Evra)
Norepinephrine Bitartrate (Levophed)
Norethindrone (Aygestin)
Norethindrone (Micronor)
Norethindrone (Nor-QD)
Norethindrone Acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol (Estrostep)
Norethindrone Acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol (Loestrin Fe)
Norethindrone Acetate/Ethinyl Estradiol (Femhrt)
Norethindrone and Ethinyl Estradiol (Brevicon)
Norethindrone and Ethinyl Estradiol (Ortho-Novum)
Norflex (Orphenadrine)
Norfloxacin (Chibroxin)
Norfloxacin (Noroxin)
Norgesic (Orphenadrine Citrate w/ Aspirin and Caffeine)
Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol (Ortho Tri-Cyclen / Ortho-Cyclen)
Norgestimate/Ethinyl Estradiol (Ortho-Tri-Cyclen Lo Tablets)
Norgestrel And Ethinyl Estradiol (Lo Ovral)
Noritate (Metronidazole)
Normal Saline (Sodium Chloride Inj)
Noroxin (Norfloxacin)
Norpace (Disopyramide)
Norplant (Levonorgestrel (Unavailable in US))
Norpramin (Desipramine Hydrochloride)
Nortriptyline (Aventyl)
Nortriptyline Hcl (Aventyl Sol)
Nortriptyline HCl (Pamelor)
Norvasc (Amlodipine Besylate)
Norvir (Ritonavir)
Novantrone (Mitoxantrone)
Novastan (Argatroban)
NovoLog (Insulin Aspart [rDNA origin] Inj)
NovoLog Mix 70/30 (Insulin Aspart Protamine and Insulin Aspart (rDNA origin))
Novoseven (Coagulation Factor VIIa (Recombinant))
Noxafil (Posaconazole)

Nu-Nz

Nubain (Nalbuphine hydrochloride)
Numorphan (Oxymorphone)
Nuromax (Doxacurium Chloride)
Nutropin (Somatropin (rDNA origin) for Inj)
Nutropin AQ (Somatropin (rDNA origin))
Nutropin Depot (Somatropin (rDNA origin) for Inj)
Nuvaring (Etonogestrel/Ethinyl Estradiol Vaginal Ring)
Nuvigil (Armodafinil)
Nydrazid (Isoniazid)
Nystatin (Mycostatin)
Nystatin (oral) (Nilstat)
Nystatin (topical) (Mycostatin Powder)
Nystatin and Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream (Mycolog Ii)
Nystatin Cream (Nystatin Cream)

Oa-Om

Octreotide Acetate (Sandostatin)
Octreotide Acetate inj (Sandostatin LAR)
Ocucoat (Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose)
Ocufen (Flurbiprofen)
Ocuflox (Ofloxacin (ophthalmic))
Ocupress (Carteolol)
Ofloxacin (Floxin)
Ofloxacin (ophthalmic) (Ocuflox)
Ogen (Estropipate)
Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
Olanzapine and fluoxetine (Symbyax)
Olmesartan Medoxomil (Benicar)
Olmesartan Medoxomil-Hydrochlorothiazide (Benicar HCT)
Olopatadine (Patanol)
Olopatadine Hydrochloride Ophthalmic Solution (Pataday)
Olsalazine (Dipentum)
Olux (Clobetasol Propionate)
Olux-E (Clobetasol Propionate Foam)
Omacor (Omega-3-Acid Ethyl Esters)
Omalizumab (Xolair)
Omega-3-Acid Ethyl Esters (Omacor)
Omeprazole (Prilosec)
Omeprazole/Sodium Bicarbonate (Zegerid)
Omnaris (Ciclesonide Nasal Spray)
Omnicef (Cefdinir)
Omnipen (Ampicillin)
Omnipred (Prednisolone Acetate)
Omniscan (Gadodiamide)
Omnitrope (Somatropin [ rDNA origin] Inj)

On-Or

Oncaspar (Pegaspargase)
Oncovin (Vincristine Sulfate)
Ondansetron Hydrochloride (Zofran)
Ondansetron Hydrochloride Inj (Zofran Injection)
Ontak (Denileukin Diftitox)
Opana (Oxymorphone Hydrochloride)
Opana ER (Oxymorphone Hydrochloride Extended Release)
Oprelvekin (Neumega)
Opticrom (Cromolyn)
OptiMARK (Gadoversetamide Injection)
Optipranolol (Metipranolol Ophthalmic Solution)
Optison (Perflutren)
Optivar (Azelastine hydrochloride)
Oracea (Doxycycline)
Oral Poliovirus Vaccine (Orimune)
Orap (Pimozide)
Orapred ODT (Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate)
Orencia (Abatacept)
Orfadin (Nitisinone)
Organidin (Guaifenesin (Oral))
Orimune (Oral Poliovirus Vaccine)
Orlaam (Levomethadyl Acetate)
Orlistat 120 mg (Xenical)
Orlistat 60 mg (Alli)
Orphenadrine (Norflex)
Orphenadrine Citrate w/ Aspirin and Caffeine (Norgesic)
Orphenadrine Citrate, Aspirin and Caffeine (tablets) (Orphenadrine Compound)
Orphenadrine Compound (Orphenadrine Citrate, Aspirin and Caffeine (tablets))
Ortho Evra (Norelgestromin / Ethinyl Estradiol)
Ortho Tri-Cyclen / Ortho-Cyclen (Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol)
Ortho-Novum (Norethindrone and Ethinyl Estradiol)
Ortho-Prefest (Estradiol/Norgestimate)
Ortho-Tri-Cyclen Lo Tablets (Norgestimate/Ethinyl Estradiol)
Orudis (Ketoprofen)

Os-Oz

Oseltamivir Phosphate (Tamiflu)
Osmitrol Inj in Aviva (Mannitol Injection in Aviva Plastic Container)
Osmitrol Inj in Viaflex (Mannitol Injection in Viaflex Plastic Container)
OsmoPrep (Sodium Phosphate Monobasic Monohydrate and Sodium Phosphate Dibasic Anhydrous)
Ovide (Malathion)
Ovidrel (Choriogonadotropin Alfa Inj)
Oxacillin Sodium (Bactocill)
Oxaliplatin Inj (Eloxatin)
Oxandrin (Oxandrolone)
Oxandrolone (Oxandrin)
Oxaprozin (Daypro Alta)
Oxazepam (Serax)
Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)
Oxiconazole (Oxistat)
Oxilan (Ioxilan)
Oxistat (Oxiconazole)
Oxsoralen-Ultra (Methoxsalen (Capsules))
Oxybutynin (Ditropan)
Oxybutynin Chloride (Ditropan XL)
Oxybutynin Transdermal (Oxytrol)
Oxycodone (Roxicodone)
Oxycodone and Acetaminophen (Percocet)
Oxycodone HCl (Oxycontin)
Oxycodone HCl and Ibuprofen (Combunox)
Oxycontin (Oxycodone HCl)
Oxymetholone (Anadrol-50)
Oxymorphone (Numorphan)
Oxymorphone Hydrochloride (Opana)
Oxymorphone Hydrochloride Extended Release (Opana ER)
Oxytetracycline (Terramycin)
Oxytetracycline and Hydrocortisone (Terra-Cortril)
Oxytetracycline,Sulfamethizole and Phenazopyridine (Urobiotic)
Oxytocin Inj (Pitocin)
Oxytrol (Oxybutynin Transdermal)

Pa-Pa

Paclitaxel (Taxol)
Palifermin (Kepivance)
Paliperidone (Invega)
Palivizumab (Synagis)
Palonosetron hydrochloride (Aloxi)
Pamelor (Nortriptyline HCl)
Pamidronate Disodium (Aredia)
Pancrecarb (Pancrelipase)
Pancrelipase (Pancrecarb)
Pancrelipase (Ultrase)
Pancrelipase (Viokase)
Pandel (Hydrocortisone Probutate Cream)
Panhematin (Hemin)
Panretin (Alitretinoin)
Pantoprazole (Protonix Tablets)
Pantoprazole Sodium (Protonix I.V.)
Papain and Urea (Accuzyme)
Papaverine (Papaverine)
Papaverine Hydrochloride Inj (Papaverine Injection)
Papaverine Injection (Papaverine Hydrochloride Inj)
Parafon Forte (Chlorzoxazone)
Paraplatin (Carboplatin)
Paregoric (Anhydrous Morphine)
Paremyd (Hydroxyamphetamine Hydrobromide/ Tropicamide)
Paricalcitol (Zemplar Capsules)
Paricalcitol Injection Fliptop Vial (Zemplar Inj)
Parlodel (Bromocriptine Mesylate)
Parnate (Tranylcypromine)
Paromomycin Sulfate (Humatin)
Paroxetine Hydrochloride (Paxil)
Paroxetine Hydrochloride (Paxil-CR)
Paroxetine Mesylate (Asimia)
Paroxetine Mesylate (Pexeva)
Paser (Aminosalicylic Acid)
Pataday (Olopatadine Hydrochloride Ophthalmic Solution)
Patanol (Olopatadine)
Paxil (Paroxetine Hydrochloride)
Paxil-CR (Paroxetine Hydrochloride)

Pb-Pe

Pb (Phenobarbital)
Pce 333 (Erythromycin PCE)
Pediapred (Prednisolone Sodium)
Pediatrace (Pedtrace)
Pediatric Gentamicin (Pediatric Gentamicin)
Pediazole (Erythromycin and Sulfisoxazole)
Pediotic (Neomycin,Polymyxin B and Hydrocortisone)
Pedtrace (Pediatrace)
PEG Electrolytes Solution (Go-Lytely)
Pegademase Bovine (Adagen)
Peganone (Ethotoin)
Pegaptanib Sodium (Macugen)
Pegaspargase (Oncaspar)
Pegasys (Peginterferon alfa-2a)
Pegfilgrastim (Neulasta)
Peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys)
Peginterferon alfa-2b (Roferon-A alfa-2b)
Pegvisomant (Somavert)
Pemetrexed (Alimta)
Pemirolast potassium (Alamast)
Pemoline (Cylert)
Penciclovir (Denavir)
Penetrex (Enoxacin)
Penicillamine (Cuprimine)
Penicillin G Benzathine and Penicillin G Procaine Inj (Bicillin C-R 900/300)
Penicillin G Benzathine and Penicillin G Procaine Inj (Bicillin C-R Tubex)
Penicillin G Benzathine and Penicillin G Procaine Inj (Bicillin Cr)
Penicillin G Benzathine Inj / Disposable Syringe (Bicillin L-A Inj / Disposable Syringe)
Penicillin G Benzathine Injectable / Tubex (Bicillin L-A Inj / Tubex)
Penicillin G Potassium (Penicillin G Potassium)
Penicillin G potassium (Pfizerpen)
Penicillin V Potassium (Penicillin VK)
Penicillin VK (Penicillin V Potassium)
Penlac Nail Lacquer (Ciclopirox)
Pentamidine Isethionate (Nebupent)
Pentasa (Mesalamine)
Pentazocine and Acetaminophen (Talacen)
Pentazocine and Aspirin (Talwin Compound)
Pentazocine and Naloxone (Talwin Nx)
Pentetate Calcium Trisodium Inj (Ca-DTPA)
Pentetate Zinc Trisodium Inj (Zn-DTPA)
Pentobarbital (Nembutal)
Pentosan (Elmiron)
Pentothal (Thiopental Sodium)
Pentoxifylline (Trental)
Pepcid (Famotidine)
Pepcid Injection (Famotidine Injection)
Percocet (Oxycodone and Acetaminophen)
Percodan (Aspirin; Oxycodone Hydrochloride; Oxycodone Terephthalate)
Perfluoroalkylpolyether (PFPE) / Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) (Skin Exposure Paste)
Perflutren (Optison)
Perflutren Lipid Microsphere (Definity)
Perforomist (Formoterol Fumarate Inhalation Solution)
Pergolide Mesylate (Permax)
Pergonal (Menotropins)
Periactin (Cyproheptadine)
Perindopril Erbumine (Aceon)
Periochip (Chlorhexidine)
Periostat (Doxycycline Hyclate)
Peritoneal Dialysis Solution (Dianeal PD-1)
Peritoneal Dialysis Solution (Dianeal PD-2)
Permax (Pergolide Mesylate)
Permethrin (Acticin)
Permethrin (Elimite)
Perphenazine (Trilafon)
Perphenazine and Amitriptyline (Etrafon)
Persantine (Dipyridamole)
Persantine (Persantine IV)
Persantine IV (Persantine)
Pexeva (Paroxetine Mesylate)

Pf-Ph

Pfizerpen (Penicillin G potassium)
Phenazopyridine (Pyridium)
Phendimetrazine (Prelu-2)
Phenelzine (Nardil)
Phenergan (Promethazine)
Phenergan Vc (Promethazine HCl and Phenylephrine HCl (syrup))
Phenergan-Codeine (Codeine Phosphate and Promethazine HCl)
Phenobarbital (Pb)
Phenoxybenzamine (Dibenzyline)
Phentermine (Fastin)
Phentermine Resin Complex (Ionamin)
Phentolamine Mesylate (Regitine)
Phenylephrine (Injection) (Neo-Synephrine)
Phenylephrine, Chlorpheniramine, and Pyrilamine (Rynatan)
Phenylephrine/H-Cod/CPM (Histinex HC)
Phenylpropanolamine, Dextromethorphan and Brompheniramine (Histinex)
Phenytoin (Dilantin)
Phisohex (Hexachlorophene)
Phosphates (Neutra Phos)
Phospholine (Phospholine)
Photofrin (Porfimer Sodium)
Physostigmine Salicylate (injection) (Antilirium)
Phytonadione (Mephyton)

Pi-Pm

Pilocarpine (Isopto Carpine)
Pilocarpine (Pilopine)
Pilocarpine Hydrochloride (Salagen)
Pilopine (Pilocarpine)
Pima (Iodide)
Pimecrolimus (Elidel)
Pimozide (Orap)
Pindolol (Visken)
Pioglitazone (Duetact)
Pioglitazone Hcl and Metformin Hcl (Actoplus MET)
Pioglitazone hydrochloride (Actos)
Piperacillin and Tazobactam Inj (Zosyn)
Piperacillin Sodium (Pipracil)
Pipracil (Piperacillin Sodium)
Pirbuterol (Maxair)
Piroxicam (Feldene)
Pitocin (Oxytocin Inj)
Pitressin (Vasopressin)
Plan B (Levonorgestrel)
Plaquenil (Hydroxychloroquine)
Plasma-Lyte 148 (Multiple Electrolytes Inj)
Plasma-Lyte 148d5 (Multiple Electrolytes and Dextrose Inj)
Plasma-Lyte 56 (Multiple Electrolytes Inj)
Plasma-Lyte 56d5 (Multiple Electrolytes Inj)
Plasma-Lyte M and 5% Dextrose Inj (Plasma-Lyte Md5)
Plasma-Lyte Md5 (Plasma-Lyte M and 5% Dextrose Inj)
Plasmalyte A (Multiple Electrolytes Inj)
Plasmalyte R (Multiple Electrolytes Inj)
Platinol (Cisplatin)
Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate)
Plenaxis (Abarelix)
Plendil (Felodipine)
Pletal (Cilostazol)
Plexion (Sulfacetamide)
Plicamycin (Mithracin)

Pn-Pq

Pneumococcal 7-valent Conjugate (Prevnar)
Pneumococcal Vaccine Polyvalent (Pneumovax)
Pneumovax (Pneumococcal Vaccine Polyvalent)
Pododerm (Podophyllin)
Podofilox (Condylox)
Podofilox (Podofilox Topical Solution)
Podofilox Topical Solution (Podofilox)
Podophyllin (Pododerm)
Polifeprosan 20 with Carmustine (Gliadel)
Poliovirus Vaccine Inactivated (Ipol)
Poly-Pred (Prednisolone,Neomycin and Polymyxin B)
Poly-Vi-Flor (Multivitamin, Iron and Fluoride)
Polyethylene Glycol 3350 - OTC (MiraLAX)
Polymyxin B (Polymyxin B Sulfate)
Polymyxin B Sulfate (Polymyxin B)
Polysaccharide Diphtheria Toxoid Conjugate Vaccine (Menactra)
Polysaccharide-Iron Complex (Capsules) (Niferex)
Polysaccharide-Iron Complex (Tablets) (Niferex-Pn)
Polythiazide (Renese)
Pondimin (Fenfluramine - Removed from US Market)
Ponstel (Mefenamic Acid)
Poractant Alfa (Curosurf)
Porfimer Sodium (Photofrin)
Posaconazole (Noxafil)
Potassium Acetate (Potassium Acetate)
Potassium Chloride (Klor-Con)
Potassium Chloride (Slow-K)
Potassium Chloride Extended Release Formulation for Liquid Suspension (Micro-K for Liquid Suspension)
Potassium Chloride Extended-Release (Micro-K)
Potassium Chloride in 5% Dextrose and Sodium Chloride Inj (KCL in D5NS)
Potassium Chloride in 5% Dextrose Inj (KCL in D5W)
Potassium Chloride in Lactated Ringer's and 5% Dextrose Inj (KCL in D5LR)
Potassium Chloride in Sodium Chloride Inj (KCL in NS)

Pr-Pr

Pralidoxime Chloride (Protopam)
Pramipexole (Mirapex)
Pramlintide Acetate Inj (Symlin)
Prandin (Repaglinide)
Pravachol (Pravastatin Sodium)
Pravastatin Sodium (Pravachol)
Praziquantel (Biltricide)
Prazosin HCl (Minipress)
Precedex (Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride)
Precose (Acarbose)
Pred-G (Gentamicin and Prednisolone Acetate)
Prednicarbate (Dermatop)
Prednisolone (Prednisolone (Tablets))
Prednisolone (syrup) (Prelone)
Prednisolone (Tablets) (Prednisolone)
Prednisolone Acetate (Omnipred)
Prednisolone Sodium (Pediapred)
Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate (Orapred ODT)
Prednisolone,Neomycin and Polymyxin B (Poly-Pred)
Prednisone (Deltasone)
Pregabalin (Lyrica)
Pregnyl (Chorionic Gonadotropin)
Prelone (Prednisolone (syrup))
Prelu-2 (Phendimetrazine)
Premarin (Conjugated Estrogens)
Premarin Injection (Conjugated Estrogens for Inj)
Premarin Vaginal Cream (Conjugated Estrogens Vaginal Cream)
Prempro (Conjugated Estrogens / Medroxyprogesterone Acetate)
Prepidil (Dinoprostone cervical)
Prevacid (Lansoprazole)
Prevacid I.V. (Lansoprazole for Injection)
Prevacid NapraPAC (Lansoprazole)
Prevnar (Pneumococcal 7-valent Conjugate)
Prevpac (Lansoprazole, Amoxicillin and Clarithromycin)
Prezista (Darunavir)
Prialt (Ziconotide)
Priftin (Rifapentine)
Prilosec (Omeprazole)
Primacor IV (Milrinone)
Primatene (Epinephrine)
Primaxin IM (Imipenem and Cilastatin)
Primidone (Mysoline)
Prinivil (Lisinopril)
Prinzide (Lisinopril-Hydrochlorothiazide)
PrismaSol Solution (Sterile Hemofiltration Hemodiafiltration Solution)
Privigen (Immune Globulin Intravenous)
Proair HFA (Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Aerosol)
Proamatine (Midodrine)
Probenecid and Colchicine (Colbenemid)
Procainamide (Procan Sr)
Procainamide (Pronestyl)
Procalamine (Amino Acid and Glycerin)
Procan Sr (Procainamide)
Procarbazine (Matulane)
Procardia (Nifedipine)
Prochlorperazine (Compazine)
Prochlorperazine (Compazine Inj)
Procrit (Epoetin Alfa)
Proctofoam (Hydrocortisone and Pramoxine)
Progesterone (Endometrin)
Progesterone (Prometrium)
Prograf (Tacrolimus)
ProHance (Gadoteridol Injection Solution)
Prohibit (Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccine)
Prolastin (Alpha)
Proleukin (Aldesleukin)
Prolixin (Fluphenazine)
Prometh Dm (Promethazine and Dextromethorphan)
Promethazine (Phenergan)
Promethazine and Dextromethorphan (Prometh Dm)
Promethazine HCl and Phenylephrine HCl (syrup) (Phenergan Vc)
Promethazine Hydrochloride Inj (Promethazine Hydrochloride Inj)
Prometrium (Progesterone)
Pronestyl (Procainamide)
Propafenone (Rythmol)
Proparacaine (Alcaine)
Propecia (Finasteride)
Propine (Dipivefrin)
Proplex-T (Factor IX Complex)
Propofol (Diprivan)
Propoxyphene (Darvon)
Propoxyphene Napsylate and Acetaminophen (Darvocet-N)
Propoxyphene, Aspirin, and Caffeine (Darvon Compound)
Propranolol (Inderal)
Propranolol (Inderal LA)
Propranolol Hydrochloride and Hydrochlorothiazide (Inderide)
Propulsid (Cisapride (Removed from US Market))
Proquad (Measles Mumps Rubella Varicella Vaccine Live)
Proquin XR (Ciprofloxacin Hcl)
Proscar (Finasteride)
Prosed (Methenamine, Salicylate, Methylene Blue, Benzoic Acid Atropine and Hyoscyamine)
Prosom (Estazolam)
Prostigmin (Neostigmine)
Prostin E2 (Dinoprostone)
Prostin VR Pediatric - Caverject (Alprostadil)
Protamine (Protamines)
Protamines (Protamine)
Protirelin (Thyrel Trh)
Protonix I.V. (Pantoprazole Sodium)
Protonix Tablets (Pantoprazole)
Protopam (Pralidoxime Chloride)
Protopic (Tacrolimus)
Protropin (Somatrem)
Proventil (Albuterol Inhalation)
Provigil (Modafinil)
Provisc (Sodium Hyaluronate)
Prozac (Fluoxetine Hcl)
Prudoxin (Doxepin)

Ps-Pz

Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
Pseudoephedrine and Guaifenesin (Entex Pse)
Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride; Terfenadine (Removed from market 1998) (Seldane D)
Pulmicort (Budesonide)
Pulmicort Flexhaler (Budesonide Inhalation Powder)
Pulmicort Turbuhaler (Budesonide)
Pulmozyme (Dornase alfa)
Purinethol (Mercaptopurine)
Pylera Capsules (Bismuth Subcitrate Potassium)
Pyrazinamide (Pyrazinamide)
Pyrazolopyrimidine (Sonata)
Pyridium (Phenazopyridine)
Pyridostigmine (Mestinon)
Pyrimethamine (Daraprim)

Qa-Qz

Quadramet (Samarium SM 153 Lexidronam)
Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (Types 6, 11, 16, 18) Recombinant Vaccine (Gardasil)
Qualaquin (Quinine Sulfate Capsules)
Questran (Cholestyramine)
Quetiapine Fumarate (Seroquel)
quetiapine fumarate extended-release tablets (Seroquel XR)
Quinaglute (Quinidine Gluconate)
Quinapril (Accupril)
Quinidex (Quinidine)
Quinidine (Quinidex)
Quinidine (Quinidine)
Quinidine Gluconate (Quinaglute)
Quinine S04 (Quinine Sulfate)
Quinine Sulfate (Quinine S04)
Quinine Sulfate Capsules (Qualaquin)
Quinupristin and Dalfopristin (Synercid)
Quixin (Levofloxacin)
Qvar (Beclomethasone Dipropionate HFA)

Ra-Rd

Rabavert (Rabies Vaccine)
Rabeprazole Sodium (Aciphex)
Rabies Immune Globulin (Human) (Imogam Rabies)
Rabies Vaccine (Imovax)
Rabies Vaccine (Rabavert)
Radiogardase (Insoluble Prussian blue)
Raloxifene (Evista)
Raltegravir Tablets (Isentress)
Ramelteon (Rozerem)
Ramipril (Altace Capsules)
Ramipril Tablets (Altace Tablets)
Ranexa (Ranolazine)
Ranibizumab Inj (Lucentis)
Ranitidine Bismuth Citrate (Tritec)
Ranitidine Hcl (Zantac)
Ranolazine (Ranexa)
Rapacuronium (Raplon)
Rapamune (Sirolimus)
Raplon (Rapacuronium)
Raptiva (Efalizumab)
Rasagiline (Azilect)
Rasburicase (Elitek)
Rattlesnake Antivenin (Antivenin (Crotalidae) Polyvalent)
Raxar (Grepafloxacin -)
Razadyne (Galantamine HBr)
Razadyne ER (Galantamine HBr ER)

Re-Rg

Rebetol (Ribavirin)
Rebetron (Ribavirin)
Rebif (Interferon beta-1a)
Reclast (Zoledronic Acid Injection)
Recombinate (Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant))
Recombivax (Hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombinant))
Redux (Dexfenfluramine (FDA Removed From US Market 9/15/97))
Refacto (Antihemophilic Factor)
Refludan (Lepirudin)
Regitine (Phentolamine Mesylate)
Reglan (Metoclopramide)
Regranex (Becaplermin)
Relafen (Nabumetone)
Relenza (Zanamivir)
Relpax (Eletriptan hydrobromide)
Remeron (Mirtazapine)
Remeron SolTab (Mirtazapine)
Remicade (Infliximab)
Remifentanil (Ultiva)
Reminyl (Galantamine Hydrobromide)
Remodulin (Treprostinil Sodium)
Renacidin (Citric Acid, Glucono-Delta-Lactone and Magnesium Carbonate Irrigation)
Renagel (Sevelamer Hcl)
Renese (Polythiazide)
Renova (Tretinoin Emollient Cream 0.05%)
Renvela (Sevelamer Carbonate)
ReoPro (Abciximab)
Repaglinide (Prandin)
Requip (Ropinirole Hcl)
Rescriptor (Delavirdine Mesylate)
Rescula (Unoprostone isopropyl)
Restasis (Cyclosporine)
Restoril (Temazepam)
Retapamulin (Altabax)
Retavase (Reteplase)
Reteplase (Retavase)
Retin A (Tretinoin Gel)
Retisert (Fluocinolone Acetonide Intravitreal Implant)
Retrovir (Zidovudine)
Retrovir IV (Zidovudine Injection)
Revatio (Sildenafil Citrate)
Revex (Nalmefene Hydrochloride)
Revia (Naltrexone)
Revlimid (Lenalidomide)
Reyataz (Atazanavir Sulfate)
Rezulin (Troglitazone (removed from the US market 3/21/00))

Rh-Rn

Rhinocort Aqua (Budesonide)
Rho(D) Immune Globulin (Human) (Rhogam)
Rhogam (Rho(D) Immune Globulin (Human))
Rhophylac (Rhophylac)
Ribavirin (Copegus)
Ribavirin (Rebetol)
Ribavirin (Rebetron)
Ribavirin (Virazole)
Ribavirin/Interferon Alfa-2b, Recombinant (Intron A - Rebetol)
Rifabutin (Mycobutin)
Rifadin (Rifampin)
Rifamate (Rifampin and Isoniazid)
Rifampin (Rifadin)
Rifampin and Isoniazid (Rifamate)
Rifampin, Isoniazid and Pyrazinamide (Rifater)
Rifapentine (Priftin)
Rifater (Rifampin, Isoniazid and Pyrazinamide)
Rifaximin (Xifaxan)
Rilutek (Riluzole)
Riluzole (Rilutek)
Rimantadine (Flumadine)
Rimexolone (Vexol)
Rimso-50 (DMSO)
Ringer's and 5% Dextrose Inj (Ringers in Dextrose)
Ringer's Inj (Ringers Injection)
Ringers in Dextrose (Ringer's and 5% Dextrose Inj)
Ringers Injection (Ringer's Inj)
Riomet (Metformin Hcl)
Risedronate Sodium (Actonel)
Risedronate Sodium with Calcium Carbonate (Actonel with Calcium)
Risperdal (Risperidone)
Risperdal Consta (Risperidone)
Risperidone (Risperdal)
Risperidone (Risperdal Consta)
Ritalin (Methylphenidate Hcl)
Ritalin LA (Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Extended-Release Capsules)
Ritonavir (Norvir)
Rituxan (Rituximab)
Rituximab (Rituxan)
Rivastigmine Tartrate (Exelon)
Rivastigmine Transdermal System (Exelon Patch)
Rizatriptan (Maxalt)

Ro-Rt

Robaxin (Methocarbamol)
Robaxisal (Methocarbamol and Aspirin)
Robinul (Glycopyrrolate)
Robitussin Ac (Guaifenesin and Codeine)
Rocaltrol (Vitamin D/ Calcitriol)
Rocephin (Ceftriaxone)
Rocuronium (Zemuron)
Rofecoxib (Vioxx)
Roferon-A alfa-2a (Interferon alfa-2a, Recombinant)
Roferon-A alfa-2b (Peginterferon alfa-2b)
Romazicon (Flumazenil)
Rondec (Carbinoxamine Maleate and Pseudoephedrine HCl)
Ropinirole Hcl (Requip)
Ropivacaine Hcl (Naropin)
Rosiglitazone Maleate (Avandia)
Rosiglitazone Maleate and Glimepiride (Avandaryl)
Rosiglitazone Maleate and Metformin HCl (Avandamet)
Rosuvastatin Calcium (Crestor)
RotaTeq (Rotavirus Vaccine, Live, Oral, Pentavalent)
Rotavirus Vaccine, Live, Oral, Pentavalent (RotaTeq)
Rotein C Concentrate (Ceprotin)
Rotigotine Transdermal System (Neupro)
Rowasa (Mesalamine Rectal Suspension Enema)
Roxanol (Morphine Sulfate)
Roxicodone (Oxycodone)
Rozerem (Ramelteon)

Ru-Rz

Rubella and Mumps Virus Vaccine Live (Biavax)
Rubella Virus Vaccine Live (Meruvax)
Rynatan (Phenylephrine, Chlorpheniramine, and Pyrilamine)
Rythmol (Propafenone)

Sa-Sh

S-Caine (Lidocaine and Tetracaine)
Saint John's Wort (St. John's Wort)
Saizen (Somatropin Injection)
Salagen (Pilocarpine Hydrochloride)
Salmeterol Xinafoate (Serevent Diskus)
Salsalate (Disalcid)
Samarium SM 153 Lexidronam (Quadramet)
Sanctura (Trospium)
Sandimmune (Cyclosporine)
Sandostatin (Octreotide Acetate)
Sandostatin LAR (Octreotide Acetate inj)
Sansert (Methysergide maleate)
Santyl (Collagenase)
Saquinavir Mesylate (Invirase)
Sarafem (Fluoxetine Hydrochloride)
Sargramostim (Leukine)
Scopolamine (Isopto Hyoscine)
Scopolamine (Transderm Scop)
Seasonale (Levonorgestrel / Ethinyl Estradiol)
Seasonique (Levonorgestrel / Ethinyl Estradiol)
Secretin (Secretin)
Sectral (Acebutolol)
Seldane (Terfenadine (Removed from market 1998))
Seldane D (Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride; Terfenadine (Removed from market 1998))
Selegiline Hcl (Eldepryl)
Selegiline Hydrochloride (Zelapar)
Selegiline Transdermal System (Emsam)
Selenium (Selsun)
Selsun (Selenium)
Selzentry (Maraviroc)
Semprex D (Acrivastine and Pseudoephedrine)
Sensipar (Cinacalcet)
Septra (Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole)
Serax (Oxazepam)
Serentil (Mesoridazine Besylate)
Serevent Diskus (Salmeterol Xinafoate)
Sermorelin (Geref)
Seroquel (Quetiapine Fumarate)
Seroquel XR (quetiapine fumarate extended-release tablets)
Serostim (Somatropin (rDNA origin))
Serostim LQ (Somatropin (rDNA origin) Inj)
Sertaconazole Nitrate (Ertaczo)
Sertraline Hcl (Zoloft)
Serzone (Nefazodone)
Sevelamer Carbonate (Renvela)
Sevelamer Hcl (Renagel)
Sevoflurane (Ultane)

Si-Sn

Sibutramine Hydrochloride Monohydrate (Meridia)
Sildenafil Citrate (Revatio)
Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra)
Silvadene (Silver Sulfadiazine)
Silver Sulfadiazine (Silvadene)
Simulect (Basiliximab)
Simvastatin (Zocor)
Sincalide (Kinevac)
Sinecatechins Ointment (Veregen)
Sinemet (Carbidopa-Levodopa)
Sinemet CR (Carbidopa-Levodopa Sustained Release)
Sinequan (Doxepin)
Singulair (Montelukast Sodium)
Sirolimus (Rapamune)
Sitagliptin Metformin HCL (Janumet)
Sitagliptin Phosphate (Januvia)
Skelaxin (Metaxalone)
Skelid (Tiludronate)
Skin Exposure Paste (Perfluoroalkylpolyether (PFPE) / Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE))
Slo-phyllin (Theophylline, Anhydrous)
Slow-K (Potassium Chloride)

So-So

Sod Bicarbonate (Sodium Bicarbonate)
Sod. Acetate (Sodium Acetate)
Sodium Acetate (Sod. Acetate)
Sodium Bicarbonate (Sod Bicarbonate)
Sodium Chloride Inj (Normal Saline)
Sodium Chloride-Sodium Bicarbonate and Potassium Chloride (HalfLytely and Bisacodyl Tablets)
Sodium ferric gluconate (Ferrlecit)
Sodium Hyaluronate (Healon)
Sodium Hyaluronate (Provisc)
Sodium Iodide I 131 (Sodium Iodide I 131 Capsules USP)
Sodium Iodide I 131 Capsules USP (Sodium Iodide I 131)
Sodium Lactate (M/6 Sodium Lactate Inj)
Sodium Oxybate (Xyrem)
Sodium Phenylacetate and Sodium Benzoate Injection (Ammonul)
Sodium Phosphate Monobasic Monohydrate and Sodium Phosphate Dibasic Anhydrous (OsmoPrep)
Sodium Phosphate Monobasic Monohydrate, Sodium Phosphate Dibasic Anhydrous (Visicol)
Sodium Polystyrene (Kayexalate)
Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate (Kionex)
Sodium Sulfacetamide (Lotion) (Klaron)
Sodium Tetradecyl (Sotradecol)
Sodium Valproate and Valproic Acid (Depakote)
Solage (Mequinol & Tretinoin)
Solaraze (Diclofenac Sodium)
Solifenacin Succinate (VESIcare)
Soliris (Eculizumab)
Solodyn (Minocycline Hydrochloride)
Soltamox (Tamoxifen Citrate)
Solu Cortef (Hydrocortisone Sodium Succinate)
Solu Medrol (Methylprednisolone sodium succinate)
Soma (Carisoprodol)
Soma and Aspirin (Carisoprodol and Aspirin)
Somatrem (Protropin)
Somatropin (rDNA origin) (Nutropin AQ)
Somatropin (rDNA origin) (Serostim)
Somatropin (rDNA origin) for Inj (Nutropin)
Somatropin (rDNA origin) for Inj (Nutropin Depot)
Somatropin (rDNA origin) Inj (Serostim LQ)
Somatropin [ rDNA origin] Inj (Omnitrope)
Somatropin [rDNA origin] (Genotropin)
Somatropin Injection (Norditropin)
Somatropin Injection (Saizen)
Somatropin Injection (Valtropin)
Somatropin rDNA Origin (Humatrope)
Somatropin, rDNA Origin, for Inj (Tev-Tropin)
Somavert (Pegvisomant)
Sonata (Pyrazolopyrimidine)
Sorafenib (Nexavar)
Soriatane (Acitretin)
Sotalol (Betapace)
Sotalol Hcl (Betapace AF)
Sotradecol (Sodium Tetradecyl)

Sp-St

Sparfloxacin (Zagam)
Spectazole (Econazole Nitrate)
Spectinomycin (Trobicin)
Spectracef (Cefditoren Pivoxil)
Spiriva (Tiotropium Bromide)
Spironolactone (Aldactone)
Spironolactone and Hydrochlorothiazide (Aldactazide)
Sporanox (Itraconazole Capsules)
Sprycel (Dasatinib)
St. John's Wort (Saint John's Wort)
Stadol (Butorphanol Tartrate)
Stalevo (Carbidopa, Levodopa and Entacapone)
Starlix (Nateglinide)
Staticin (Erythromycin)
Stavudine (Zerit)
Stelazine (Trifluoperazine)
Sterile Hemofiltration Hemodiafiltration Solution (PrismaSol Solution)
Stimate (Desmopressin Acetate)
Strattera (Atomoxetine HCl)
Streptase (Streptokinase)
Streptokinase (Streptase)
Streptomycin (Streptomycin)
Streptozocin (Zanosar)
Striant (Testosterone)
Stromectol (Ivermectin)
Strontium-89 (Metastron)

Su-Sx

Suboxone (Buprenorphine HCl and naloxone HCl)
Succimer (Chemet)
Succinylcholine Chloride (Anectine)
Sucralfate (Carafate Suspension)
Sucralfate (Carafate Tablets)
Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine)
Sufenta (Sufentanil Citrate Injection)
Sufentanil Citrate Injection (Sufenta )
Sular (Nisoldipine)
Sulconazole (Exelderm)
Sulfacet R (Sulfacetamide and Sulfur)
Sulfacetamide (Plexion)
Sulfacetamide (ophthalmic) (Bleph 10)
Sulfacetamide and Prednisolone (Blephamide)
Sulfacetamide and Sulfur (Sulfacet R)
Sulfadoxine and Pyrimethamine (Fansidar)
Sulfamethoxazole (Gantanol)
Sulfamethoxazole, Trimethoprim, Phenazopyridine (Zotrim)
Sulfamylon (Mafenide Acetate)
Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
Sulfathiazole, Sulfacetamide and Sulfabenzamide (Sultrin)
Sulfinpyrazone (Anturane)
Sulindac (Clinoril)
Sultrin (Sulfathiazole, Sulfacetamide and Sulfabenzamide)
Sumatriptan (Imitrex Nasal Spray)
Sumatriptan Succinate (Imitrex)
Sumatriptan Succinate (Imitrex Inj)
Sumycin (Tetracycline)
Sunitinib Malate (Sutent)
Supprelin LA (Histrelin Acetate Subcutaneous Implant)
Suprane (Desflurane)
Suprax (Cefixime)
Surmontil (Trimipramine)
Survanta (Beractant)
Sustiva (Efavirenz)
Sutent (Sunitinib Malate)

Sy-Sz

Symbyax (Olanzapine and fluoxetine)
Symlin (Pramlintide Acetate Inj)
Symmetrel (Amantadine Hydrochloride)
Synagis (Palivizumab)
Synalar (Fluocinolone Acetonide)
Synarel (Nafarelin Acetate)
Synera (Lidocaine and Tetracaine)
Synercid (Quinupristin and Dalfopristin)
Synthetic conjugated estrogens (Cenestin)
Synthetic Conjugated Estrogens, B (Enjuvia)
Synthroid (Levothyroxine Sodium)
Synvisc (Hylan G-F 20)
Syprine (Trientine)

Ta-Td

Taclonex (Calcipotriene and Betamethasone Dipropionate)
Tacrine (Cognex)
Tacrolimus (Prograf)
Tacrolimus (Protopic)
Tadalafil (Cialis)
Tagamet (Cimetidine)
Talacen (Pentazocine and Acetaminophen)
Talwin Compound (Pentazocine and Aspirin)
Talwin Nx (Pentazocine and Naloxone)
Tambocor (Flecainide)
Tamiflu (Oseltamivir Phosphate)
Tamoxifen Citrate (Nolvadex)
Tamoxifen Citrate (Soltamox)
Tamsulosin Hydrochloride (Flomax)
Tao (Troleandomycin)
Tapazole (Methimazole)
Tarceva (Erlotinib)
Targretin (Bexarotene)
Tarka (Trandolapril and Verapamil)
Tasmar (Tolcapone)
Taxol (Paclitaxel)
Taxotere (Docetaxel for Inj)
Tazarotene (Avage)
Tazarotene (Tazorac)
Tazorac (Tazarotene)

Te-Tg

Technetium (Technetium)
Technetium Tc99m Exametazime Inj (Ceretec)
Technetium Tc99m sestamibi (Miraluma)
Tegaserod Maleate (Zelnorm)
Tegretol (Carbamazepine)
Tekturna (Aliskiren Tablets)
Telbivudine (Tyzeka)
Telithromycin (Ketek)
Telmisartan (Micardis)
Telmisartan/Hydrochlorothiazide (Micardis HCT)
Temazepam (Restoril)
Temodar (Temozolomide)
Temovate (Clobetasol Propionate)
Temozolomide (Temodar)
Temsirolimus Injection (Torisel)
Tenecteplase (Tnkase)
Tenex (Guanfacine)
Teniposide (Vumon)
Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (Viread)
Tenoretic (Atenolol and Chlorthalidone)
Tenormin (Atenolol Tablets)
Tenormin I.V. Injection (Atenolol Inj)
Tenuate (Diethylpropion)
Tequin (Gatifloxacin (Removed from US Market - May 2006))
Terazol 3 (Terconazole)
Terazosin Hcl (Hytrin)
Terbinafine (Lamisil)
Terbinafine Hydrochloride (Lamisil Oral Granules)
Terbutaline Sulfate (Brethine)
Terconazole (Terazol 3)
Terfenadine (Removed from market 1998) (Seldane)
Teriparatide (rDNA origin) Inj (Forteo)
Terra-Cortril (Oxytetracycline and Hydrocortisone)
Terramycin (Oxytetracycline)
Teslac (Testolactone)
Teslascan (Mangafodipir)
Tessalon (Benzonatate)
Testoderm (Testosterone (transdermal))
Testolactone (Teslac)
Testosterone (Striant)
Testosterone (transdermal) (Testoderm)
Testosterone Enanthate (Delatestryl)
Testosterone Gel (Androgel)
Testosterone Transdermal System (Androderm)
Testred (Methyltestosterone)
Tetanus (Tetanus Toxoid)
Tetanus Toxoid (Tetanus)
Tetanus Toxoid Absorbed (Tetanus Toxoid Absorbed)
Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed (Adacel)
Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine, Adsorbed (Boostrix)
Tetracycline (Sumycin)
Tetracycline (periodontal) (Actisite)
Tev-Tropin (Somatropin, rDNA Origin, for Inj)
Teveten (Eprosartan Mesylate)

Th-Th

Thalidomide (Thalomid)
Thallium (Thallous Chloride)
Thallous Chloride (Thallium)
Thalomid (Thalidomide)
Theodur (Theophylline)
Theophylline (Theodur)
Theophylline, Anhydrous (Slo-phyllin)
Theracys (BCG Live (Intravesical))
Thiabendazole (Mintezol)
Thiethylperazine (Torecan)
Thioguanine (Thioguanine)
Thiopental Sodium (Pentothal)
Thioplex (Thiotepa (injection))
Thioridazine (Thioridazine)
Thioridazine HCl (Mellaril)
Thiotepa (injection) (Thioplex)
Thiothixene Hcl (Navane)
Thorazine (Chlorpromazine)
Thrombate (Antithrombin)
Thrombin Topical (Thrombostat)
Thrombostat (Thrombin Topical)
Thymalfasin (Zadaxin)
Thyrel Trh (Protirelin)
Thyro-Tabs (Levothyroxine Sodium)
Thyrogen (Thyrotropin Alfa for Inj)
Thyroid tablets (Armour Thyroid)
Thyrolar (Liotrix)
Thyrotropin Alfa for Inj (Thyrogen)

Ti-Tm

Tiagabine Hydrochloride (Gabitril)
Tiazac (Diltiazem Hcl)
Ticarcillin and Clavulanate (Timentin)
Tice (Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin)
Ticlid (Ticlopidine Hcl)
Ticlopidine Hcl (Ticlid)
Tigan (Trimethobenzamide hydrochloride)
Tigecycline (Tygacil)
Tikosyn (Dofetilide)
Tilade (Nedocromil (inhalation))
Tiludronate (Skelid)
Timentin (Ticarcillin and Clavulanate)
Timolide (Timolol Maleate-Hydrochlorothiazide)
Timolol (Blocadren)
Timolol Maleate (Timoptic)
Timolol Maleate (Timoptic-XE)
Timolol Maleate Opthalmic Solution (Timoptic Sol)
Timolol Maleate-Hydrochlorothiazide (Timolide)
Timoptic (Timolol Maleate)
Timoptic Sol (Timolol Maleate Opthalmic Solution)
Timoptic-XE (Timolol Maleate)
Tindamax (Tinidazole)
Tinidazole (Tindamax)
Tinzaparin (Innohep)
Tioconazole (Vagistat-1)
Tiotropium Bromide (Spiriva)
Tipranavir (Aptivus)
Tirofiban (Aggrastat)
Tirosint (Levothyroxine Sodium Capsules)
Tizanidine (Zanaflex)

Tn-Tq

Tnkase (Tenecteplase)
Tobi (Tobramycin)
Tobradex (Tobramycin and Dexamethasone)
Tobramycin (Nebcin)
Tobramycin (Tobi)
Tobramycin and Dexamethasone (Tobradex)
Tocainide HCl (Tonocard)
Tofranil (Imipramine)
Tofranil-PM (Imipramine Pamoate)
Tolazamide (Tolinase)
Tolcapone (Tasmar)
Tolectin (Tolmetin Sodium)
Tolinase (Tolazamide)
Tolmetin Sodium (Tolectin)
Tolterodine Tartrate (Detrol)
Tolterodine Tartrate (Detrol LA)
Tonocard (Tocainide HCl)
Topamax (Topiramate)
Topicort (Desoximetasone)
Topiramate (Topamax)
Topotecan Capsules (Hycamtin Capsules)
Topotecan Hydrochloride (Hycamtin)
Toprol XL (Metoprolol Succinate)
Toradol Oral (Ketorolac Tromethamine)
Torecan (Thiethylperazine)
Toremifene (Fareston)
Torisel (Temsirolimus Injection)
Torsemide (Demadex)
Tositumomab and Iodine 1131 Tositumomab (Bexxar)
Totect (Dexrazoxane)

Tr-Tt

Trace Metal-5 Combination (Mte 5)
Tracleer (Bosentan)
Tracrium (Atracurium Besylate)
Tramadol (Ultracet)
Tramadol ER (Tramadol Hcl)
Tramadol Hcl (Tramadol ER)
Tramadol Hcl (Tramadol Hydrochloride)
Tramadol Hcl (Ultram)
Tramadol Hydrochloride (Tramadol Hcl)
Trandate (Labetalol)
Trandolapril (Mavik)
Trandolapril and Verapamil (Tarka)
Tranexamic Acid (Cyklokapron)
Transderm Nitro (Nitroglycerin)
Transderm Scop (Scopolamine)
Tranxene (Clorazepate)
Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
Trastuzumab (Herceptin)
Trasylol (Aprotinin)
Travasol (Amino Acids (Injection))
Travatan (Travoprost)
Travoprost (Travatan)
Trazodone Hydrochloride (Desyrel)
Trecator (Ethionamide Tablets)
Trelstar Depot (Triptorelin pamoate)
Trelstar LA (Triptorelin pamoate)
Trental (Pentoxifylline)
Treprostinil Sodium (Remodulin)
Tretinoin (Atralin)
Tretinoin (Vesanoid)
Tretinoin Emollient Cream 0.05% (Renova)
Tretinoin Gel (Retin A)
Trexall (Methotrexate)
Triamcinolone Acetonide (Nasacort)
Triamcinolone Acetonide (Nasacort AQ)
Triamcinolone Acetonide (inhalation aerosol) (Azmacort)
Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream (Triamcinolone Cream)
Triamcinolone Acetonide Lotion (Triamcinolone Lotion)
Triamcinolone Acetonide Ointment (Triamcinolone Ointment)
Triamcinolone Cream (Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream)
Triamcinolone Hexacetonide Inj (Aristospan)
Triamcinolone Lotion (Triamcinolone Acetonide Lotion)
Triamcinolone Ointment (Triamcinolone Acetonide Ointment)
Triamterene (Dyrenium)
Triazolam (Halcion)
Tricarbocyanine (Ic-Green)
Tricor (Fenofibrate)
Tridesilon (Desonide)
Trientine (Syprine)
Triethanolamine Polypeptide (Cerumenex)
Trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
Trifluridine (Viroptic)
Triglide (Fenofibrate)
Trihexyphenidyl (Artane)
Trilafon (Perphenazine)
Trileptal (Oxcarbazepine)
Trilisate (Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate)
Trimethobenzamide hydrochloride (Tigan)
Trimethoprim (Trimpex)
Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim)
Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole (Septra)
Trimetrexate Glucuronate Inj (Neutrexin)
Trimipramine (Surmontil)
Trimpex (Trimethoprim)
Trinalin (Azatadine and Pseudoephedrine)
Tripedia (Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine)
Triple Vita Drops with Fluoride (Vitamin A, D, C, and Fluoride)
Triptorelin pamoate (Trelstar Depot)
Triptorelin pamoate (Trelstar LA)
Trisenox (Arsenic)
Tritec (Ranitidine Bismuth Citrate)
Trizivir (Abacavir Sulfate, Lamivudine, and Zidovudine)
Trobicin (Spectinomycin)
Troglitazone (removed from the US market 3/21/00) (Rezulin)
Troleandomycin (Tao)
TrophAmine (Amino Acids)
Trospium (Sanctura)
Trovafloxacin and Azithromycin (Trovan - Zithromax)
Trovan - Zithromax (Trovafloxacin and Azithromycin)
Trusopt (Dorzolamide)
Truvada (Emtricitabine and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate)
Trypan Blue (VisionBlue)

Tu-Tz

Tuberculin (mono-vaccine) (Mono-Vacc)
Tuberculin Purified Protein (Tubersol)
Tubersol (Tuberculin Purified Protein)
Tussionex (Hydrocodone and Chlorpheniramine)
Twinrix (Hepatitis A Inactivated & Hepatitis B (Recombinant) Vaccine)
Tygacil (Tigecycline)
Tykerb (Lapatinib)
Tylenol (Acetaminophen)
Tylenol-Codeine (Acetaminophen and Codeine)
Typhim (Typhoid Vi Polysaccharide Vaccine)
Typhoid Vaccine (Typhoid Vaccine)
Typhoid Vi Polysaccharide Vaccine (Typhim)
Tysabri (Natalizumab)
Tyzeka (Telbivudine)

Ua-Uu

Ultane (Sevoflurane)
Ultiva (Remifentanil)
Ultracet (Tramadol)
Ultram (Tramadol Hcl)
Ultrase (Pancrelipase)
Ultravate (Halobetasol Propionate)
Unasyn (Ampicillin and Sulbactam)
Unipen (Nafcillin Sodium)
Unithroid (Levothyroxine Sodium)
Univasc (Moexipril)
Unoprostone isopropyl (Rescula)
Urecholine (Bethanechol)
Urex (Methenamine Hippurate)
Urispas (Flavoxate HCl)
Urobiotic (Oxytetracycline,Sulfamethizole and Phenazopyridine)
Urofollitropin (Fertinex)
Urokinase Injection (Kinlytic)
Uroxatral (Alfuzosin HCl)
Urso (Ursodiol)
Ursodiol (Urso)

Uv-Uz

Uvadex (Methoxsalen)

Va-Vd

Vaccinia Immune Globulin Intravenous (VIGIV)
Vagifem (Estradiol)
Vaginal Jelly (Aci-Jel)
Vagistat-1 (Tioconazole)
Valacyclovir Hydrochloride (Valtrex)
Valcyte (Valganciclovir Hcl)
Valdecoxib (Bextra)
Valganciclovir Hcl (Valcyte)
Valium Injection (Diazepam Injection)
Valium Tablets (Diazepam)
Valproate Sodium Inj (Depacon)
Valproic Acid (Depakene)
Valrubicin (Valstar)
Valsartan (Diovan)
Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide (Diovan HCT)
Valstar (Valrubicin)
Valtrex (Valacyclovir Hydrochloride)
Valtropin (Somatropin Injection)
Vanceril (Beclomethasone (Aerosol))
Vancomycin Hydrochloride (Vancomycin Injection)
Vancomycin Injection (Vancomycin Hydrochloride)
Vaniqa (Eflornithine)
Vanos (Fluocinonide)
Vantin (Cefpodoxmine Proxetil)
Vaprisol (Conivaptan Hcl Inj)
Vaqta (Hepatitis A Vaccine, Inactivated)
Vardenafil HCl (Levitra)
Varenicline (Chantix)
Varicella Virus Vaccine Live (Varivax)
Varivax (Varicella Virus Vaccine Live)
Vascor (Bepridil)
Vasopressin (Pitressin)
Vasotec (Enalapril)

Ve-Ve

Velban (Vinblastine Sulfate)
Velcade (Bortezomib)
Velosef (Cephradine)
Velosulin (Insulin Human)
Venlafaxine Hydrochloride (Effexor)
Venlafaxine Hydrochloride (Effexor XR)
Venofer (Iron Sucrose Inj)
Ventavis (Iloprost)
Ventolin Inhalation Aerosol (Albuterol Inhalation Aerosol)
Ventolin Nebules (Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution)
Ventolin Solution (Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution)
Ventolin Syrup (Albuterol Sulfate Syrup)
Ventolin Tab (Albuterol Sulfate Tablets)
Vepesid (Etoposide)
Veramyst (Fluticasone Furoate)
Verapamil (Covera-HS)
Verapamil (Verelan PM)
Verapamil HCl (Isoptin)
Veregen (Sinecatechins Ointment)
Verelan PM (Verapamil)
Vermox (Mebendazole)
Versed Injection (Midazolam)
Versed Syrup (Midazolam)
Versenate (Edetate calcium)
Verteporfin Inj (Visudyne)
Vesanoid (Tretinoin)
VESIcare (Solifenacin Succinate)
Vexol (Rimexolone)

Vf-Vn

Vfend (Voriconazole)
Viadur (Leuprolide Acetate Implant)
Viagra (Sildenafil Citrate)
Vibramycin Intravenous (Doxycycline hyclate)
Vicodin (Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen)
Vicodin ES (Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen)
Vicoprofen (Hydrocodone and Ibuprofen)
Vidarabine (Vira-A)
Vidaza (Azacitidine)
Videx (Didanosine)
Vigamox (Moxifloxacin)
VIGIV (Vaccinia Immune Globulin Intravenous)
Vinblastine Sulfate (Velban)
Vincasar PFS (Vincristine Sulfate Injection)
Vincristine Sulfate (Oncovin)
Vincristine Sulfate Injection (Vincasar PFS)
Vinorelbine Tartrate (Navelbine)
Viokase (Pancrelipase)
Vioxx (Rofecoxib)
Vira-A (Vidarabine)
Viracept (Nelfinavir Mesylate)
Viramune (Nevirapine)
Virazole (Ribavirin)
Viread (Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate)
Viroptic (Trifluridine)
Visicol (Sodium Phosphate Monobasic Monohydrate, Sodium Phosphate Dibasic Anhydrous)
VisionBlue (Trypan Blue)
Visken (Pindolol)
Vistaril (Hydroxyzine)
Vistide (Cidofovir)
Visudyne (Verteporfin Inj)
VitaCon (Vitamins Multi w/ Minerals)
Vitamin A (Aquasol A)
Vitamin A, D, C, and Fluoride (Triple Vita Drops with Fluoride)
Vitamin D/ Calcitriol (Rocaltrol)
Vitamins Multi w/ Minerals (VitaCon)
Vitamins Prenatal w/ Zinc (Zenate Prenatal)
Vitrasert (Ganciclovir)
Vitravene (Fomivirsen)
Vivaglobin (Immune Globulin Subcutaneous (Human))
Vivelle-Dot (Estradiol Transdermal System)
Vivitrol (Naltrexone XR Inj)

Vo-Vz

Voltaren (Diclofenac Sodium)
Voltaren Opthalmic (Diclofenac Sodium Opthalmic Solution)
Voriconazole (Vfend)
Vorinostat (Zolinza)
Vosol Hc Otic (Hydrocortisone and Acetic Acid)
Vosol Otic (Acetic Acid)
Vumon (Teniposide)
Vusion (Miconazole Nitrate, 15% Zinc Oxide, and 81.35% White Petrolatum)
Vytorin (Ezetimibe & Simvastatin)
Vyvanse (Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate)

Wa-Wz

Warfarin Sodium (Coumadin)
Welchol (Colesevelam Hcl)
Wellbutrin (Bupropion Hcl)
Wellbutrin SR (Bupropion Hydrochloride Sustained-Release)
Wellbutrin XL (Bupropion Hydrochloride Extended-Release)
Westcort (Hydrocortisone Valerate)
Wigraine (Ergotamine and Caffeine)
Winstrol (Anabolic steroids)

Xa-Xz

Xalatan (Latanoprost)
Xanax (Alprazolam)
Xanax XR (Alprazolam)
Xeloda (Capecitabine)
Xenical (Orlistat 120 mg)
Xibrom (Bromfenac)
Xifaxan (Rifaximin)
Xigris (Drotrecogin alfa)
Xolair (Omalizumab)
Xolegel (Ketoconazole)
Xopenex (Levalbuterol)
Xopenex HFA (Levalbuterol Tartrate)
Xylocaine (Lidocaine)
Xylocaine Viscous (Lidocaine Viscous)
Xyrem (Sodium Oxybate)
Xyzal (Levocetirizine Dihydrochloride Tablets)

Ya-Yz

Yasmin (Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol)
Yaz (Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol)
Yellow Fever Vaccine (Yf-Vax)
Yf-Vax (Yellow Fever Vaccine)
Yocon (Yohimbine Hydrochloride)
Yohimbine (Aphrodyne)
Yohimbine Hydrochloride (Yocon)

Za-Zh

Zadaxin (Thymalfasin)
Zaditor (Ketotifen Fumarate)
Zafirlukast (Accolate)
Zagam (Sparfloxacin)
Zalcitabine (Hivid)
Zanaflex (Tizanidine)
Zanamivir (Relenza)
Zanosar (Streptozocin)
Zantac (Ranitidine Hcl)
Zarontin (Ethosuximide)
Zavesca (Miglustat)
Zebeta (Bisoprolol Fumarate)
Zegerid (Omeprazole/Sodium Bicarbonate)
Zelapar (Selegiline Hydrochloride)
Zelnorm (Tegaserod Maleate)
Zemaira (Alpha-Proteinase Inhibitor (Human))
Zemplar Capsules (Paricalcitol)
Zemplar Inj (Paricalcitol Injection Fliptop Vial)
Zemuron (Rocuronium)
Zenapax (Daclizumab)
Zenate Prenatal (Vitamins Prenatal w/ Zinc)
Zerit (Stavudine)
Zestoretic (Lisinopril and Hydrochlorothiazide)
Zestril (Lisinopril)
Zevalin (Ibritumomab Tiuxetan)

Zi-Zx

Ziac (Bisoprolol and Hydrochlorothiazide)
Ziagen (Abacavir Sulfate)
Ziana Gel (Clindamycin Phosphate / Tretinoin)
Ziconotide (Prialt)
Zidovudine (Retrovir)
Zidovudine Injection (Retrovir IV)
Zileutin (Zyflo)
Zileuton Extended Release Tablets (Zyflo CR)
Zinacef (Cefuroxime)
Zinecard (Dexrazoxane)
Zingo (Lindocaine Hydrochloride Monohydrate)
Ziprasidone (Geodon)
Zithromax (Azithromycin)
Zithromax Injection (Azithromycin)
Zmax (Azithromycin)
Zn-DTPA (Pentetate Zinc Trisodium Inj)
Zocor (Simvastatin)
Zofran (Ondansetron Hydrochloride)
Zofran Injection (Ondansetron Hydrochloride Inj)
Zoladex (Goserelin)
Zoladex Implant (Goserelin Acetate Implant)
Zoledronic Acid for Inj (Zometa)
Zoledronic Acid Injection (Reclast)
Zolinza (Vorinostat)
Zolmitriptan (Zomig)
Zoloft (Sertraline Hcl)
Zolpidem Tartrate (Ambien)
Zolpidem Tartrate (Ambien CR)
Zometa (Zoledronic Acid for Inj)
Zomig (Zolmitriptan)
Zonalon (Doxepin)
Zonegran (Zonisamide)
Zonisamide (Zonegran)
Zostavax (Zoster Vaccine Live)
Zoster Vaccine Live (Zostavax)
Zosyn (Piperacillin and Tazobactam Inj)
Zotrim (Sulfamethoxazole, Trimethoprim, Phenazopyridine)
Zovia (Ethinyl Estradiol and Ethynodiol Diacetate)
Zovirax (Acyclovir)
Zovirax Injection (Acyclovir for Injection)
Zovirax Ointment (Acyclovir Transdermal)

Zy-Zz

Zyban (Bupropion Hcl)
Zydone (Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen)
Zyflo (Zileutin)
Zyflo CR (Zileuton Extended Release Tablets)
Zylet (Loteprednol Etabonate and Tobramycin)
Zyloprim Injection (Allopurinol)
Zyloprim Tablets (Allopurinol)
Zymar (Gatifloxacin Ophthalmic Solution)
Zyprexa (Olanzapine)
Zyrtec (Cetirizine)
Zyrtec-D (Cetirizine / Pseudoephedrine)
Zyvox (Linezolid)

New Drugs at RxList

2007-11-05T07:35:00.001-08:00

Butisol (butabarbitol sodium)
Doribax (doripenem) Injection
FML (flurometholone ophthalmic suspension)
Flulaval Influenza Virus Vaccine
Fluvirin Influenza Virus Vaccine
HalfLytely and Bisacodyl Tablets Bowel Prep Kit
Helidac (bismuth subsalicylate)
Hycamtin (topotecan) Capsules
Isentress (raltegravir) Tablets
Ixempra (ixabepilone)
Kionex (sodium polystyrene sulfonate) USP Cation-Exchange Resin
Lamisil Oral Granules (terbinafine hydrochloride)
Levothroid (levothyroxine sodium) Tablets
Macrodantin (nitrofurantoin macrocystals) Capsule
Qualaquin (quinine sulfate) Capsules
Renvela (sevelamer carbonate) Tablet
Technetium (technetium) Injection
Voltaren Opthalmic (diclofenac sodium) Opthalmic Solution

Recent Drug Updates at RxList

2007-11-05T07:34:00.001-08:00

Abilify (aripiprazole) Tablets
Accutane (isotretinoin) Capsules
Aptivus (tipranavir) Capsules
Astelin (azelastine hydrochloride) Nasal Spray
Caduet (amlodipine besylate atorvastatin calcium) Tablets
Campath (alemtuzumab) Injection
Cellcept (cefprozil) Tablets
Coreg CR (carvedilol phosphate) Extended-Release Capsules
Cubicin (daptomycin) Injection
Daypro Alta (oxaprozin potassium) Tablets
Depo-SubQ Provera 104 (medroxyprogesterone acetate)
Duetact (pioglitazone hydrochloride and glimepiride) Tablets
Effexor (venlafaxine hydrochloride) Tablets
Effexor XR (venlafaxine hydrochloride) Extended Release Capsules
Emsam (selegiline transdermal system)
Erbitux (cetuximab) Solution
Fentora (fentanyl buccal) Tablet
Fluarix Influenza Virus Vaccine
Fluzone Influenza Virus Vaccine
Januvia (sitagliptin) Tablets
Lexiva (fosamprenavir calcium)
Levaquin (levofloxacin)
Lexiva (fosamprenavir calcium)
Lexxel (enalapril maleate-felodipine ER) Tablets
Mefoxin (cefotaxitin) Injection
Menactra Vaccine
Nalfon (fenoprofen calcium) Capsules
Naprosyn (naproxen)
Nuvaring (etonogestrel-ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring)
Omnipred (prednisolone acetate opthalmic) Suspension
Remeron SolTab (mirtazapine) Orally Disintegrating Tablets
Renagel (sevelamer hydrochloride) Tablets
Romazicon (flumazenil) Injection
Sensipar (cinacalcet) Tablets
Serostim (somatropin) Injection
Stromectol (ivermectin)
Taclonex (cacipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate) Ointment
Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) Capsules
Taxotere (docetaxel)
Velcade (bortezomib) Injection

Top 200 Drugs

2007-11-05T07:29:00.000-08:00

A

Abilify
Accutane
Aciphex
Actos
Acyclovir
Adderall XR
Adderall
Advair
Albuterol
Aldactone
Allegra
Allopurinol
Altace
Ambien
Amiodarone
Amoxicillin
Aricept
Atarax
Atenolol
Ativan
Atrovent
Augmentin
Avalide
Avandia
Avelox
Azithromycin

B
Baclofen
Bactrim
Bayer ASA
Benadryl
Benicar
Bentyl
Biaxin
Botox
Bupropion
Buspar
C
Cardura
Ceftin
Celebrex
Celexa
Chantix
Cialis
Cipro
Claritin
Clindamycin
Clonidine
Cogentin
Concerta
Coreg
Coumadin
Cozaar
Crestor
Cymbalta
D
Darvocet
Decadron
Demerol
Depakote
Desyrel
Diflucan
Dilantin
Dilaudid
Diovan HCT
Diovan
Dopamine
Doxycycline
Duragesic
Dyazide

E
Effexor
Elavil
Enebrel
Erythromycin

F
Fioricet
Flagyl
Flexeril
Flomax
Flonase
Fosamax

G
Geodon
Glipizide
Glucophage

H
Haldol
Heparin
Hydrocodone

I
Imitrex
Inderal
Indocin
Insulin

K
Keflex
Keppra
Klonopin

L
Lamictal
Lanoxin
Lasix
Levaquin
Lexapro
Lipitor
Lisinopril
Lodine
Lomotil
Lopressor
Lotrel Lovenox
Lunesta
Lyrica

M
Macrobid
Meclizine
Medrol
Meridia
Methadone
Methotrexate
Mevacor
Mirapex
Mirena
Mobic
Morphine
Motrin
MS-Contin
Mucomyst

N
Naprosyn
Neurontin
Nexium
Niaspan
Noctec
Norvasc
NuvaRing

O
Omnicef
Ortho Tricyclen
Oxycodone
Oxycontin

P
Paxil
Penicillin
Pepcid
Percocet
Phenergan
Phentermine
Piroxicam
Plavix
Pravachol
Prednisone
Prevacid
Prilosec
Prometrium
Propoxyphene
Protonix
Provera
Provigil
Prozac
Pseudoephedrine
Pyridium

R
Reglan
Relafen
Remeron
Restoril
Retin-A
Risperdal
Ritalin
Robaxin

S
Septra
Seroquel
Sinemet
Singulair
Skelaxin
Soma
Strattera
Suboxone
Synthroid

T
Tegretol
Terazosin
Tessalon
Topamax
Toprol
Toradol
Tricor
Trileptal
Tussionex
Tylenol
Tylenol-Codeine

U
Ultracet
Ultram

V
Valium
Valtrex
Vasotec
Verapamil
Viagra
Vicodin
Voltaren
Vytorin

X
Xanax
Xenical

Y
Yasmin
Yaz

Z
Zanaflex
Zantac
Zestoretic
Zetia
Zocor
Zoloft
Zyban
Zyprexa
Zyrtec

Criticism

2007-11-05T03:00:00.001-08:00

Criticism of medicine has a long history. In the Middle Ages, some people did not consider it a profession suitable for Christians, as disease was often considered God-sent. God was considered to be the 'divine physician' who sent illness or healing depending on his will. However, many monastic orders, particularly the Benedictines, considered the care of the sick as their chief work of mercy. Barber-surgeons generally had a bad reputation that was not to improve until the development of academic surgery as a speciality of medicine, rather than an accessory field. [citation needed]

Through the course of the twentieth century, healthcare providers focused increasingly on the technology that was enabling them to make dramatic improvements in patients' health. The ensuing development of a more mechanistic, detached practice, with the perception of an attendant loss of patient-focused care, known as the medical model of health, led to further criticisms. This issue started to reach collective professional consciousness in the 1970s and the profession had begun to respond by the 1980s and 1990s. [citation needed]

The noted anarchist Ivan Illich heavily criticized modern medicine. In his 1976 work Medical Nemesis, Illich stated that modern medicine only medicalises disease and causes loss of health and wellness, while generally failing to restore health by eliminating disease. This medicalisation of disease forces the human to become a lifelong patient.[5] Other less radical philosophers have voiced similar views, but none were as virulent as Illich. Another example can be found in Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology by Neil Postman, 1992, which criticises overreliance on technological means in medicine. [citation needed]

Criticism of modern medicine has led to some improvements in the curricula of medical schools,[citation needed] which now teach students systematically on medical ethics, holistic approaches to medicine, the biopsychosocial model and similar concepts.

The inability of modern medicine to properly address some common complaints continues to prompt many people to seek support from alternative medicine. Although most alternative approaches lack scientific validation, some may be effective in individual cases. Some physicians combine alternative medicine with orthodox approaches.

Medical errors and overmedication are also the focus of many complaints and negative coverage. Practitioners of human factors engineering believe that there is much that medicine may usefully gain by emulating concepts in aviation safety, where it was long ago realized that it is dangerous to place too much responsibility on one "superhuman" individual and expect him or her not to make errors. Reporting systems and checking mechanisms are becoming more common in identifying sources of error and improving practice.

Legal restrictions

2007-11-05T02:59:00.003-08:00

In most countries, it is a legal requirement for medical doctors to be licensed or registered. In general, this entails a medical degree from a university and accreditation by a medical board or an equivalent national organization, which may ask the applicant to pass exams. This restricts the considerable legal authority of the medical profession to physicians that are trained and qualified by national standards. It is also intended as an assurance to patients and as a safeguard against charlatans that practice inadequate medicine for personal gain. While the laws generally require medical doctors to be trained in "evidence based", Western, or Hippocratic Medicine, they are not intended to discourage different paradigms of health.

Medical education

2007-11-05T02:59:00.001-08:00

Medical education is education connected to the practice of being a medical practitioner, either the initial training to become a physician or further training thereafter.

Medical education and training varies considerably across the world, however typically involves entry level education at a university medical school, followed by a period of supervised practice (Internship and/or Residency) and possibly postgraduate vocational training. Continuing medical education is a requirement of many regulatory authorities.

Various teaching methodologies have been utilised in medical education, which is an active area of educational research.

Presently, in England, a typical medicine course at university is 5 years (4 if the student already holds a degree). Amongst some institutions and for some students, it may be 6 years (including the selection of an intercalated BSc - taking one year - at some point after the pre-clinical studies). This is followed by 2 Foundation years afterwards, namely F1 and F2. Students register with the UK General Medical Council at the end of F1. At the end of F2, they may pursue further years of study.

In the USA, a potential medical student must first complete an undergraduate degree (Typically a BSc with a major in biology, biochemistry or medical science), before applying to a graduate medical school to pursue the M.D.

In Australia, students have two options. They can choose to take a six-year undergraduate Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) straight from high school, or complete a undergraduate degree and then a four year Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS) program.

Interdisciplinary fields

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Interdisciplinary sub-specialties of medicine are:
Aerospace medicine deals with medical problems related to flying and space travel.
Bioethics is a field of study which concerns the relationship between biology, science, medicine and ethics, philosophy and theology.
Biomedical Engineering is a field dealing with the application of engineering principles to medical practice.
Clinical pharmacology is concerned with how systems of therapeutics interact with patients.
Conservation medicine studies the relationship between human and animal health, and environmental conditions. Also known as ecological medicine, environmental medicine, or medical geology.
Disaster medicine deals with medical aspects of emergency preparedness, disaster mitigation and management.
Diving medicine (or hyperbaric medicine) is the prevention and treatment of diving-related problems.
Evolutionary medicine is a perspective on medicine derived through applying evolutionary theory.
Forensic medicine deals with medical questions in legal context, such as determination of the time and cause of death.
Keraunomedicine is the medical study of lightning casualties.
Medical humanities includes the humanities (literature, philosophy, ethics, history and religion), social science (anthropology, cultural studies, psychology, sociology), and the arts (literature, theater, film, and visual arts) and their application to medical education and practice.
Medical informatics, medical computer science, medical information and eHealth are relatively recent fields that deal with the application of computers and information technology to medicine.
Naturopathic medicine is concerned with primary care, natural remedies, patient education and disease prevention.
Nosology is the classification of diseases for various purposes.
Occupational Medicine deals with medical problems related to work and the working environment.
Osteopathic medicine claims that much disease results from problems with bones and joints.
Pharmacogenomics is a form of individualized medicine.
Sports medicine deals with the treatment and preventive care of athletes, amateur and professional. The team includes specialty physicians and surgeons, athletic trainers, physical therapists, coaches, other personnel, and, of course, the athlete.
Therapeutics is the field, more commonly referenced in earlier periods of history, of the various remedies that can be used to treat disease and promote health [1].
Travel medicine or emporiatrics deals with health problems of international travelers or travelers across highly different environments.

Clinical disciplines

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Anesthesiology (AE) or anaesthesia (BE) is the clinical discipline concerned with providing anesthesia. Pain medicine is often practiced by specialised anesthesiologists/anesthetists.
Dermatology is concerned with the skin and its diseases. In the UK, dermatology is a subspeciality of general medicine.
Emergency medicine is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of acute or life-threatening conditions, including trauma, surgical, medical, pediatric, and psychiatric emergencies.
Gender-based medicine studies the biological and physiological differences between the human sexes and how that affects differences in disease.
General practice, family practice, family medicine or primary care is, in many countries, the first port-of-call for patients with non-emergency medical problems. Family practitioners are usually able to treat over 90% of all complaints without referring to specialists.[citation needed]
Geriatrics focuses on health promotion and the prevention and treatment of disease and disability in later life.
Hospital medicine is the general medical care of hospitalized patients. Physicians whose primary professional focus is hospital medicine are called hospitalists in the USA.
Internal medicine is concerned with systemic diseases of adults, i.e. those diseases that affect the body as a whole (restrictive, current meaning), or with all adult non-operative somatic medicine (traditional, inclusive meaning), thus excluding pediatrics, surgery, gynaecology and obstetrics, and psychiatry. There are several subdisciplines of internal medicine:
Cardiology
Critical Care
Endocrinology
Gastroenterology
Hematology
Infectious Diseases
Intensive care medicine
Nephrology
Oncology
Pulmonology
Rheumatology
Urology
Neurology is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of nervous system diseases. It is a subspeciality of general medicine in the UK.
Obstetrics and gynaecology (often abbreviated as Ob/Gyn) are concerned respectively with childbirth and the female reproductive and associated organs. Reproductive medicine and fertility medicine are generally practiced by gynecological specialists.
Palliative care is a relatively modern branch of clinical medicine that deals with pain and symptom relief and emotional support in patients with terminal illnesses including cancer and heart failure.
Pediatrics (AE) or paediatrics (BE) is devoted to the care of infants, children, and adolescents. Like internal medicine, there are many pediatric subspecialities for specific age ranges, organ systems, disease classes, and sites of care delivery. Most subspecialities of adult medicine have a pediatric equivalent such as pediatric cardiology, pediatric endocrinology, pediatric gastroenterology, pediatric hematology, pediatric oncology, pediatric ophthalmology, and neonatology.
Physical medicine and rehabilitation (or physiatry) is concerned with functional improvement after injury, illness, or congenital disorders.
Preventive medicine is the branch of medicine concerned with preventing disease.
Psychiatry is the branch of medicine concerned with the bio-psycho-social study of the etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cognitive, perceptual, emotional and behavioral disorders. Related non-medical fields include psychotherapy and clinical psychology.
Radiation therapy is concerned with the therapeutic use of ionizing radiation and high energy elementary particle beams in patient treatment.
Radiology is concerned with the interpretation of imaging modalities including x-rays, ultrasound, radioisotopes, and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). A newer branch of radiology, interventional radiology, is concerned with using medical devices to access areas of the body with minimally invasive techniques.
Surgical specialties employ operative treatment. These include Orthopedics, Urology, Ophthalmology, Neurosurgery, Plastic Surgery, Otolaryngology and various subspecialties such as transplant and cardiothoracic. Some disciplines are highly specialized and are often not considered subdisciplines of surgery, although their naming might suggest so.
Urgent care focuses on delivery of unscheduled, walk-in care outside of the hospital emergency department for injuries and illnesses that are not severe enough to require care in an emergency department.

Diagnostic specialties

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Clinical laboratory sciences are the clinical diagnostic services which apply laboratory techniques to diagnosis and management of patients. In the United States these services are supervised by a pathologist. The personnel that work in these medical laboratory departments are technically trained staff, each of whom usually hold a medical technology degree, who actually perform the tests, assays, and procedures needed for providing the specific services.
Pathology is the branch of medicine that deals with the study of diseases and the morphologic, physiologic changes produced by them. As a diagnostic specialty, pathology can be considered the basis of modern scientific medical knowledge and plays a large role in evidence-based medicine. Many modern molecular tests such as flow cytometry, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunohistochemistry, cytogenetics, gene rearragements studies and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) fall within the territory of pathology.
Radiology is concerned with imaging of the human body, e.g. by x-rays, x-ray computed tomography, ultrasonography, and nuclear magnetic resonance tomography.

Branches of medicine

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Working together as an interdisciplinary team, many highly trained health profession also besides medical practitioners are involved in the delivery of modern health care. Some examples include: nurse(s) emergency medical technicians and paramedics, laboratory scientists, (pharmacy, pharmacists), (physiotherapy,physiotherapists), respiratory therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, radiographers, dietitians and bioengineers.

The scope and sciences underpinning human medicine overlap many other fields. Dentistry and psychology, while separate disciplines from medicine, are considered medical fields.
Midlevel Practitioners
Nurse practitioners, midwives and physician assistants, treat patients and prescribe medication in many legal jurisdictions.
Veterinary Medicine
Veterinarians apply similar techniques as physicians to the care of animals. The original focus of veterinary medicine was primarily the health care of domestic animals. In recent years the discipline has broadened to include all vertebrate animals and even some of the more economically valuable or scientifically interesting invertebrates. Veterinary and human medicine had similar origins but diverged in the West largely under the influence of Christian doctrine which emphasized a fundamental difference between humans and all other species. The two disciplines re-converged to some degree after the Renaissance when scientific study of anatomy and physiology revealed undeniable similarities between humans and other animals. The similarities further extend into pathology and disease control leading the early pioneer in scientific pathology Rudolph Virchow to proclaim the doctrine of "one medicine."

Physicians have many specializations and subspecializations which are listed below. There are variations from country to country regarding which specialties certain subspecialities are in.

Clinical skills

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A complete medical evaluation includes a medical history, a systems enquiry, a physical examination, appropriate laboratory or imaging studies, analysis of data and medical decision making to obtain diagnoses, and a treatment plan.[4]

The components of the medical history are:

Chief complaint (CC): the reason for the current medical visit. These are the 'symptoms.' They are in the patient's own words and are recorded along with the duration of each one. Also called 'presenting complaint.'

History of present illness / complaint (HPI): the chronological order of events of symptoms and further clarification of each symptom.

Current activity: occupation, hobbies, what the patient actually does.

Medications (DHx): what drugs the patient takes including prescribed, over-the-counter, and home remedies, as well as alternative and herbal medicines/herbal remedies such as St John's wort. Allergies are also recorded.

Past medical history (PMH/PMHx): concurrent medical problems, past hospitalizations and operations, injuries, past infectious diseases and/or vaccinations, history of known allergies.

Social history (SH): birthplace, residences, marital history, social and economic status, habits (including diet, medications, tobacco, alcohol).

Family history (FH): listing of diseases in the family that may impact the patient. A family tree is sometimes used.

Review of systems (ROS) or systems inquiry: a set of additional questions to ask which may be missed on HPI: a general enquiry (have you noticed any weight loss, fevers, lumps and bumps? etc), followed by questions on the body's main organ systems (heart, lungs, digestive tract, urinary tract, etc).

The physical examination is the examination of the patient looking for signs of disease ('Symptoms' are what the patient volunteers, 'Signs' are what the healthcare provider detects by examination). The healthcare provider uses the senses of sight, hearing, touch, and sometimes smell (taste has been made redundant by the availability of modern lab tests). Four chief methods are used: inspection, palpation (feel), percussion (tap to determine resonance characteristics), and auscultation (listen); smelling may be useful (e.g. infection, uremia, diabetic ketoacidosis).

The clinical examination involves study of:

Vital signs including height, weight, body temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration rate, hemoglobin oxygen saturation

General appearance of the patient and specific indicators of disease (nutritional status, presence of jaundice, pallor or clubbing)

Skin

Head, eye, ear, nose, and throat (HEENT)

Cardiovascular (heart and blood vessels)

Respiratory (large airways and lungs)

Abdomen and rectum

Genitalia (and pregnancy if the patient is or could be pregnant)

Musculoskeletal (spine and extremities)

Neurological (consciousness, awareness, brain, cranial nerves, spinal cord and peripheral nerves)

Psychiatric (orientation, mental state, evidence of abnormal perception or thought)

Laboratory and imaging studies results may be obtained, if necessary.

The medical decision-making (MDM) process involves analysis and synthesis of all the above data to come up with a list of possible diagnoses (the differential diagnoses), along with an idea of what needs to be done to obtain a definitive diagnosis that would explain the patient's problem.

The treatment plan may include ordering additional laboratory tests and studies, starting therapy, referral to a specialist, or watchful observation. Follow-up may be advised.

This process is used by primary care providers as well as specialists. It may take only a few minutes if the problem is simple and straightforward. On the other hand, it may take weeks in a patient who has been hospitalized with bizarre symptoms or multi-system problems, with involvement by several specialists.

On subsequent visits, the process may be repeated in an abbreviated manner to obtain any new history, symptoms, physical findings, and lab or imaging results or specialist consultations.

Patient-physician-relationship

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This kind of relationship and interaction is a central process in the practice of medicine. There are many perspectives from which to understand and describe it.

An idealized physician's perspective, such as is taught in medical school, sees the core aspects of the process as the physician learning the patient's symptoms, concerns and values; in response the physician examines the patient, interprets the symptoms, and formulates a diagnosis to explain the symptoms and their cause to the patient and to propose a treatment. The job of a physician is similar to a human biologist: that is, to know the human frame and situation in terms of normality. Once the physician knows what is normal and can measure the patient against those norms, he or she can then determine the particular departure from the normal and the degree of departure. This is called the diagnosis.

The four great cornerstones of diagnostic medicine are anatomy (structure: what is there), physiology (how the structure/s work), pathology (what goes wrong with the anatomy and physiology) and psychology (mind and behavior). In addition, the physician should consider the patient in their 'well' context rather than simply as a walking medical condition. This means the socio-political context of the patient (family, work, stress, beliefs) should be assessed as it often offers vital clues to the patient's condition and further management. In more detail, the patient presents a set of complaints (the symptoms) to the physician, who then obtains further information about the patient's symptoms, previous state of health, living conditions, and so forth. The physician then makes a review of systems (ROS) or systems inquiry, which is a set of ordered questions about each major body system in order: general (such as weight loss), endocrine, cardio-respiratory, etc. Next comes the actual physical examination; the findings are recorded, leading to a list of possible diagnoses. These will be in order of probability. The next task is to enlist the patient's agreement to a management plan, which will include treatment as well as plans for follow-up. Importantly, during this process the healthcare provider educates the patient about the causes, progression, outcomes, and possible treatments of his ailments, as well as often providing advice for maintaining health. This teaching relationship is the basis of calling the physician doctor, which originally meant "teacher" in Latin. The patient-physician relationship is additionally complicated by the patient's suffering (patient derives from the Latin patior, "suffer") and limited ability to relieve it on his/her own. The physician's expertise comes from his knowledge of what is healthy and normal contrasted with knowledge and experience of other people who have suffered similar symptoms (unhealthy and abnormal), and the proven ability to relieve it with medicines (pharmacology) or other therapies about which the patient may initially have little knowledge.

The physician-patient relationship can be analyzed from the perspective of ethical concerns, in terms of how well the goals of non-maleficence, beneficence, autonomy, and justice are achieved. Many other values and ethical issues can be added to these. In different societies, periods, and cultures, different values may be assigned different priorities. For example, in the last 30 years medical care in the Western World has increasingly emphasized patient autonomy in decision making.

The relationship and process can also be analyzed in terms of social power relationships (e.g., by Michel Foucault), or economic transactions. Physicians have been accorded gradually higher status and respect over the last century, and they have been entrusted with control of access to prescription medicines as a public health measure. This represents a concentration of power and carries both advantages and disadvantages to particular kinds of patients with particular kinds of conditions. A further twist has occurred in the last 25 years as costs of medical care have risen, and a third party (an insurance company or government agency) now often insists upon a share of decision-making power for a variety of reasons, reducing freedom of choice of healthcare providers and patients in many ways.

The quality of the patient-physician relationship is important to both parties. The better the relationship in terms of mutual respect, knowledge, trust, shared values and perspectives about disease and life, and time available, the better will be the amount and quality of information about the patient's disease transferred in both directions, enhancing accuracy of diagnosis and increasing the patient's knowledge about the disease. Where such a relationship is poor the physician's ability to make a full assessment is compromised and the patient is more likely to distrust the diagnosis and proposed treatment. In these circumstances and also in cases where there is genuine divergence of medical opinions, a second opinion from another physician may be sought.

In some settings, e.g. the hospital ward, the patient-physician relationship is much more complex, and many other people are involved when somebody is ill: relatives, neighbors, rescue specialists, nurses, technical personnel, social workers and others.

Medicine

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Medicine

Medicine is the science and "art" of maintaining and/or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of patients. The term is derived from the Latin ars medicina meaning the art of healing.[1][2]

The modern practice of medicine occurs at the many interfaces between the art of healing and various sciences. Medicine is directly connected to the health sciences and biomedicine. Broadly speaking, the term 'Medicine' today refers to the fields of clinical medicine, medical research and surgery, thereby covering the challenges of disease and injury.

History of medicine

The earliest type of medicine in most cultures was the use of plants (Herbalism) and animal parts. This was usually in concert with 'magic' of various kinds in which: animism (the notion of inanimate objects having spirits); spiritualism (here meaning an appeal to gods or communion with ancestor spirits); shamanism (the vesting of an individual with mystic powers); and divination (the supposed obtaining of truth by magic means), played a major role.

The practice of medicine developed gradually in ancient Egypt, India, China, Greece, Persia, the Islamic world, medieval Europe, and elsewhere. Medicine as it is now practiced largely developed during the 2nd millenium in Spain (Abulcasis, 11th century), Persia (Avicenna, 11th century), Syria (Ibn al-Nafis, 13th century), England (William Harvey, 17th century), Germany (Rudolf Virchow) and France (Jean-Martin Charcot, Claude Bernard and others). The new "scientific" medicine (where results are testable and repeatable) replaced early Western traditions of medicine, based on herbalism, the Greek "four humours" and other pre-modern theories. The focal points of development of clinical medicine shifted to the United Kingdom and the USA by the early 1900s (Canadian-born) Sir William Osler, Harvey Cushing). Possibly the major shift in medical thinking was the gradual rejection in the 1400s during the Black Death of what may be called the 'traditional authority' approach to science and medicine. This was the notion that because some prominent person in the past said something must be so, then that was the way it was, and anything one observed to the contrary was an anomaly (which was paralleled by a similar shift in European society in general - see Copernicus's rejection of Ptolemy's theories on astronomy). People like Vesalius led the way in improving upon or indeed rejecting the theories of great authorities from the past such as Galen, Hippocrates, and Avicenna/Ibn Sina, all of whose theories were in time almost totally discredited. Such new attitudes were also only made possible by the weakening of the Roman Catholic church's power in society, especially in the Republic of Venice.

Evidence-based medicine is a recent movement to establish the most effective algorithms of practice (ways of doing things) through the use of the scientific method and modern global information science by collating all the evidence and developing standard protocols which are then disseminated to healthcare providers. One problem with this 'best practice' approach is that it could be seen to stifle novel approaches to treatment.
Drug ampoules

Genomics and knowledge of human genetics is already having some influence on medicine, as the causative genes of most monogenic genetic disorders have now been identified, and the development of techniques in molecular biology and genetics are influencing medical practice and decision-making.

Pharmacology has developed from herbalism and many drugs are still derived from plants (atropine, ephedrine, warfarin, aspirin, digoxin, vinca alkaloids, taxol, hyoscine, etc). The modern era began with Robert Koch's discoveries around 1880 of the transmission of disease by bacteria, and then the discovery of antibiotics shortly thereafter around 1900. The first of these was arsphenamine / Salvarsan discovered by Paul Ehrlich in 1908 after he observed that bacteria took up toxic dyes that human cells did not. The first major class of antibiotics was the sulfa drugs, derived by French chemists originally from azo dyes. Throughout the twentieth century, major advances in the treatment of infectious diseases were observable in (Western) societies. The medical establishment is now developing drugs targeted towards one particular disease process. Thus drugs are being developed to minimise the side effects of prescribed drugs, to treat cancer, geriatric problems, long-term problems (such as high cholesterol), chronic diseases type 2 diabetes, lifestyle and degenerative diseases such as arthritis and Alzheimer's disease.

Practice of medicine

The practice of medicine combines both science as the evidence base and art in the application of this medical knowledge in combination with intuition and clinical judgment to determine the treatment plan for each patient.

Central to medicine is the patient-physician relationship established when a person with a health concern seeks a physician's help; the 'medical encounter'. Other health professionals similarly establish a relationship with a patient and may perform various interventions, e.g. nurses, radiographers and therapists.

As part of the medical encounter, the healthcare provider needs to:
develop a relationship with the patient
gather data (medical history, systems enquiry, and physical examination, combined with laboratory or imaging studies (investigations))
analyze and synthesize that data (assessment and/or differential diagnoses), and then:
develop a treatment plan (further testing, therapy, watchful observation, referral and follow-up)
treat the patient accordingly
assess the progress of treatment and alter the plan as necessary (management).

The medical encounter is documented in a medical record, which is a legal document in many jurisdictions.

Health care delivery systems

Medicine is practiced within the medical system, which is a legal, credentialing and financing framework, established by a particular culture or government. The characteristics of a health care system have significant effect on the way medical care is delivered.

Financing has a great influence as it defines who pays the costs. Aside from tribal cultures, the most significant divide in developed countries is between universal health care and market-based health care (such as practiced in the U.S.). Universal health care might allow or ban a parallel private market. The latter is described as single-payer system.

Transparency of information is another factor defining a delivery system. Access to information on conditions, treatments, quality and pricing greatly affects the choice by patients / consumers and therefore the incentives of medical professionals. While US health care system has come under fire for lack of openness, new legislation may encourage greater openness. There is a perceived tension between the need for transparency on the one hand and such issues as patient confidentiality and the possible exploitation of information for commercial gain on the other.

Health care delivery

Medical care delivery is classified into primary, secondary and tertiary care.

Primary care medical services are provided by physicians or other health professionals who have first contact with a patient seeking medical treatment or care. These occur in physician offices, clinics, nursing homes, schools, home visits and other places close to patients. About 90% of medical visits can be treated by the primary care provider. These include treatment of acute and chronic illnesses, preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes.

Secondary care medical services are provided by medical specialists in their offices or clinics or at local community hospitals for a patient referred by a primary care provider who first diagnosed or treated the patient. Referrals are made for those patients who required the expertise or procedures performed by specialists. These include both ambulatory care and inpatient services, emergency rooms, intensive care medicine, surgery services, physical therapy, labor and delivery, endoscopy units, diagnostic laboratory and medical imaging services, hospice centers, etc. Some primary care providers may also take care of hospitalized patients and deliver babies in a secondary care setting.

Tertiary care medical services are provided by specialist hospitals or regional centers equipped with diagnostic and treatment facilities not generally available at local hospitals. These include trauma centers, burn treatment centers, advanced neonatology unit services, organ transplants, high-risk pregnancy, radiation oncology, etc.

Modern medical care also depends on information - still delivered in many health care settings on paper records, but increasingly nowadays by electronic means.