Accolate diminishes the
effect of chemicals – called leukotrienes -- released by inflamed
cells in our lungs. By decreasing the effect of leukotrienes, accolate
decreases swelling in the bronchial tubes. Side effects are unusual,
but include nausea, headache and vomiting.
For more information,
go to www.accolate.com
Advair comes
in the form of a discus with two separate medications, salmeterol
and fluticasone. The fluticasone contains a low dose of steroid
used to diminish swelling and inflammation in the bronchial tubes.
The salmeterol relaxes the muscle constricting the bronchial tubes,
allowing more air to enter the lungs. These two medications work
together to prevent future asthma attacks, but they will not provide
immediate relief from sudden wheezing or shortness of breath. Side
effects are rare, but could include dizziness, dry mouth, shakiness
or heart palpitations.
For more information,
go to www.advair.com
Allegra falls into a category
of medications called anti-histamines, which doctors use to treat
common symptoms of allergies including runny nose, sneezing, itchy
eyes and hives. Allegra and the newer anti-histamines offer a big
advantage over the older anti-histamines – less drowsiness.
Despite causing less drowsiness, allegra does cause rare side effects
including headaches or backaches.
For more information,
go to www.allegra.com
Atrovent dilates the large
bronchial tubes, allowing more air to enter the lungs. Atrovent
is currently available in the form of a hand held inhaler and a
liquid delivered as a mist through a nebulizer. Potential side effects
are rare, but include dry mouth, palpitations, headache and rare
allergic reactions.
Pharmaceutical
manufacturers offer albuterol in multiple forms: a hand held inhaler,
an aerosolized mist delivered through a machine called a nebulizer,
and a pill form. Albuterol opens up constricted and inflamed bronchial
tubes and allows more air to enter the lungs. Doctors prescribe
albuterol as a “rescue medication,” offering immediate
relief from difficulty breathing or wheezing. Common side effects
include tremors, anxiety and increases in the heart rate. Allergic
reactions can also occur, but are rare.
Azmacort was one of
the first inhaled, steroid medications used to decrease the swelling
and inflammation in the bronchial tubes of patients with asthma.
Like the other steroid inhalers, azmacort helps prevent attacks
of asthma, but it will not provide immediate relief of wheezing,
coughing, or difficulty breathing. Side effects are rare, but can
include dry mouth, yeast infections in the mouth, dizziness or headache.
Since Azmacort requires multiple doses a day, doctors now tend to
prescribe it less frequently than its’ modern counterparts,
which require only once or twice daily dosing.
Biaxin is an antibiotic
used to treat outpatient pneumonias, sinusitis, and bronchitis.
It effectively kills a large variety of bacteria, but carries the
risk of some mild side effects, including a metallic taste in the
mouth, nausea, vomiting, or headache.
For more information,
go to
www.biaxin.com
Cetin is an antibiotic used
for treatment of bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis and other infections.
Patients take ceftin for seven to fourteen days to eradicate their
infections. Most patients tolerate ceftin well, but occasional patients
will suffer an allergic reaction marked by hives, itching, rash,
wheezing, or throat swelling. Patients with a history of allergic
reactions to other antibiotics in the penicillin or cephalosporin
classes are more likely to experience an allergic reaction to ceftin.
Doctors use clarinex
to treat air-borne allergies, itching and hives. Clarinex falls
into a class of medications called anti-histamines, which inhibit
the effect of histamines, body chemicals causing allergic symptoms
such as nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy eyes and hives. Clarinex
and the other newer anti-histamines cause less drowsiness than their
predecessors, but in rare cases lead to headache, nausea or fatigue.
Taking clarinex may also be risky for patients with liver or kidney
problems and should not be taken during pregnancy without an obstetrician’s
supervision.
For more information,
go to www.clarinex.com
Combivent is a commercial preparation combining albuterol and ipatropium
into a single inhaler. The combined preparation dilates constricted
bronchial tubes and works rapidly. Because of the rapid onset of
action, doctors often prescribe combivent as a “rescue medication”
for immediate relief of wheezing or difficulty breathing. Just like
albuterol, combivent can cause shakiness, heart palpitations, or
anxiety.
Coumadin inhibits the formation
of clots in the blood stream. Doctors use coumadin to treat blood
clots in the legs and lungs. Because coumadin “thins”
the blood, it also creates a risk of bleeding. Patients on coumadin
are more likely to bleed after falling or having surgery; therefore,
doctors monitor the dose of coumadin closely through serially blood
tests. A blood test will be necessary at least once every month
for patients on coumadin. Coumadin also interacts with some other
medications, and patients will need more frequent blood tests when
taking antibiotics, seizure medications, or theodur.
Flonase decreases
nasal drainage and helps alleviate symptoms of nasal congestion,
runny nose, and cough. Patients apply one squirt to each nostril
daily for relief. Although Flonase contains a small quantity of
steroid medicine, side effects are rare. Flonase does not cause
the common side effects of oral steroids (elevated blood sugar,
weight gain, osteoporosis), but may cause nasal irritation or bleeding
in rare instances.
For more information,
go to www.flonase.com
Glaxo-Wellcome manufactures
flovent in the form of a hand-held inhaler. The inhaled medication
contains a steroid, which decreases the swelling and irritation
of the bronchial tubes caused by asthma. Rare side effects include
yeast formation in the mouth, hoarseness, or irritation of the throat.
Manufacturers produce
foradil in an inhaled form used once daily. Doctors usually recommend
it to prevent attacks of asthma and chronic bronchitis; it should
not be used to treat emergent problems or suddenly worsening symptoms.
Potential side effects of foradil include fast heart rate, tremors,
headache, nausea, and rare allergic reactions.
For more information,
go to www.foradil.com
Doctors prescribe humabid
to thin secretions in the lungs and help patients cough up trapped
mucous, but experts are divided as to how well the medicine works.
It is available in a standard pill form and a longer acting sustained
release tablet. Side effects are unusual, but could include nausea,
vomiting, headache or difficulty urinating.
Doctors use isoniazid to treat tuberculosis
and other infections falling into the category of mycobacterial
illnesses. Important side effects of isoniazid include liver injury
and nerve damage. In order to prevent nerve injury, doctors prescribe
vitamin B6 along with the isoniazid. For protection of the liver,
physicians monitor liver blood tests closely and council patients
to avoid drinking alcohol.
Doctors prescribe
nasonex to treat nasal congestion, runny nose, and coughing from
nasal drainage. Patients take the medication in the form of a nasal
spray squirted in each nostril twice daily. The nasal spray contains
a low dose of steroid medication, which decreases inflammation and
drainage in the nose. Side effects are rare, but could include nasal
irritation or bleeding.
For more information,
go to www.nasonex.com
Levaquin is an antibiotic,
used by physicians to treat pneumonia, sinusitis, bronchitis and
urinary tract infections. It effectively treats these infections
over a period of seven to fourteen days and rarely has side effects,
although restlessness, dizziness, nausea, and headache have occurred
in some patients. Levaquin can interact with other medications metabolized
by the liver, including coumadin, dilantin, quinidine, and theodur,
and one should consult with a physician before taking these medications
together.
For more information,
go to www.levaquin.com
Doctors prescribe prolastin to treat
patients with certain types of hereditary lung disease. Low levels
of a protein in the lung -- alpha-1-antitrypsin -- cause this group
of hereditary lung diseases and prolastin replaces this missing
protein. Patients suffering from deficiencies in alpha-1-antitrypsin
receive prolastin weekly in the form of an intravenous infusion.
Patients usually tolerate the infusions well, but occasional side
effects include fever, dizziness, lightheadedness or flu-like symptoms.
For more information,
go to www.prolastin.com
Pulmicort contains a steroid
medication and decreases inflammation in the bronchial tubes present
in patients with asthma and chronic bronchitis. Pulmicort accomplishes
this decrease in inflammation through a once daily dose. The daily
dose can be administered through either a hand-held inhaler or an
aerosolized mist through a machine called a nebulizer. Like other
inhaled, steroid medications, side effects with pulmicort are rare,
but can include dizziness, yeast formation in the mouth, or hoarseness.
For more information,
go to www.pulmicort.com
Pulmozyme contains an
enzyme that thins mucous in the lungs; thereby, helping patients
to cough out trapped mucous. Studies have proven pulmozyme helps
patients with cystic fibrosis cough up mucous, but scientific studies
have never proven any benefit in other lung diseases. Patients with
cystic fibrosis use pulmozyme through a nebulizer twice daily. Side
effects with pulmozyme are uncommon, but could include hoarseness,
chest discomfort, dry mouth, or allergic reactions.
For more information,
go to www.pulmozyme.com
Doctors use rifampin to treat tuberculosis
and other mycobacterial infections. Rifampin carries a small risk
of liver damage and may also change the color of the urine or tears
to orange. Because of the potential liver toxicity, patients taking
rifampin should avoid alcohol and warn their physician if they take
other medications metabolized by the liver, including dilantin,
coumadin, and theodur.
Robitussin is a cough
syrup containing a medicine called guafenesin, which thins mucous
from the lungs and decreases coughing. Wyeth pharmaceuticals manufactures
a variety of robitussin preparations including Robitussin DM, Robitussin
CF, Robitussin PM, and Robitussin with codeine. The Robitussin DM
preparation combines the guafenesin with a cough suppressant called
dextromefophan. The Robitussin CF preparation combines the guafenesin
with a decongestant and dextromeforphan ( a cough suppressant),
and Robitussin PM combines the guafenesin with an anti-histamine.
The strongest preparation for suppressing cough is robitussin with
codeine, which requires a prescription.
For more information,
go
to www.robitussin.com
Manufactures
currently produce Serevent in the form of a “discus”
inhaler. Patients inhale through the discus twice daily, allowing
the medicine to flow directly into the lungs. Once inside the lungs,
the medication relaxes the tightened muscles surrounding the medium
and small sized bronchial tubes, enlarging the diameter. By opening
the bronchial tubes, the medication reduces the coughing, wheezing
and shortness of breath associated with asthma and chronic bronchitis.
Side effects are unusual, but can include a fast heart rate, allergic
reactions, nausea or headaches. Patients should only use Serevent
to help prevent future attacks of asthma or chronic bronchitis;
it should not be used to treat emergencies or suddenly worsening
symptoms. Patients should also be careful not to exceed the recommended
twice daily dosing.
Singulair comes in the
form of a pill taken once daily. This pill blocks the lung’s
usage of chemicals called leukotrienes, thereby decreasing inflammation
in the bronchial tubes. This decrease in inflammation occurs gradually;
therefore, singulair only works when taken on a daily basis. It
should not be used to treat emergent situations or sudden changes
in symptoms.
For more information,
go to www.singulair.com
Spiriva is an inhaled medicine
that dilates narrowed bronchial tubes in patients with chronic bronchitis
and emphysema. For patients with emphysema and chronic bronchitis,
spiriva helps to prevent sudden attacks and worsening symptoms,
but it should not be used to relieve emergent symptoms and respiratory
distress. Spiriva rarely causes side effects, but patients occasionally
complain of dry mouth or difficulty urinating. In rare cases, spiriva
may precipitate an eye disease know as acute angle glaucoma. For
this reason patients should notify their doctors of difficulty seeing
or any prior history of glaucoma while taking spiriva.
Tequin is an antibiotic
used to treat pneumonias and bronchitis. For the treatment of pneumonia
or bronchitis, patients take tequin once daily for seven to fourteen
days. Side effects are uncommon, but could include nausea, headache
or upset stomach. Because the liver metabolizes tequin, drug interactions
may occur, and patients should consult their physicians before taking
tequin with seizure medications, coumadin, theodur or certain heart
medicines.
For more information,
go to www.tequin.com
Tessalon is an non-narcotic
pill used to stop coughing. Patients take tessalon up to every four
to six hours on an as needed basis. Side effects are rare, but could
include dizziness, headache, nausea or upset stomach.
Theodur was one of the
first medications used by physicians to treat lung disease, and
it is still available in pill form. The pills open constricted bronchial
tubes and strengthen the large muscle between the thorax and the
abdomen called the diaphragm. Despite these beneficial effects,
most experts consider theodur less effective than the modern inhaled
medications. Theodur also carries a greater risk of side effects
than the more modern inhaled medications. Common side effects include
anxiety, shaking, fast heart rates and even seizures.
This cough syrup combines an anti-histamine (chlorpheniramine)
with a codeine-like cough suppressant called hydrocodone. Tussionex
stops coughing well, but it carries a risk of potential side effects,
including drowsiness, constipation, lightheadedness, and vomiting.
The hydrocodone component is also an addictive medication and should
be used with caution.
Vanceril is a hand-held
inhaler, containing a steroid medication. The inhaled steroid decreases
inflammation in the bronchial tubes and helps prevent asthma attacks.
Rare side effects include hoarseness, yeast in the mouth, and throat
irritation.
Xopinex dilates the
inflamed, constricted bronchial tubes commonly found with asthma
and chronic bronchitis. At this time, xopinex is only available
in an aerosolized form delivered through a nebulizer machine. Despite
the high cost compared with its’ primary competitor, albuterol,
the manufacturer claims xopinex causes less shaking, anxiety, and
heart palpitations than other comparable medications.
Zithromax contains an
antibiotic used for the treatment of pneumonia and bronchitis. It
offers the advantage of convenient dosing – once daily for
five days. Although patients only take zithromax for only five days,
it remains in the body fighting infection for ten days. Most patients
tolerate zithromax well, but rare side effects include nausea, vomiting
and fatigue, and interactions with other drugs metabolized by the
liver (tegretol, coumadin, theodur) can occur.
For more information,
go to www.zithromax.com
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