DEXAMETHASONE – Classification, uses, dosages, common side effects, interaction, generic and brand name
CLASSIFICATION: Corticosteroid, Glucocorticoid
USES:
It is used for treating rheumatic problems, skin diseases,
allergies, asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, brain swelling, eye pain,
tuberculosis along with antibiotics.
It can be taken orally, through injection or intravenously.
DOSAGES:
Adult dosage (18
years up to 60 years)
0.75–9 mg (depends on the doctor advice)
Pediatric (1–17
years)
0.02–0.3 mg per kilogram of body weight per day
(depends on the doctor advice)
NOTE:
Dosages can be given or taken as per physician’s instructions and guidance that
depends upon the patient’s health condition
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS
Mild side effects are
Dizziness
Edema
Nausea
Mood swings
Vomiting
Headache
Stomach upset
High blood pressure
Tiredness
Anxiety
Increase in blood glucose level
Serious Side effects (rarely occurs) are
Black stools
Blood in stool or urine
Bleeding
Bruising
Swelling throughout the body
Abdomen bloating
Frequent Infections
Euphoria
Allergies
Heart failure
Stomach ulcer
Osteoporosis
INTERACTIONS:
Drugs(to name a few) that may interact with dexamethasone
include:
Classification, uses, dosages, common side effects, interactions, generic
and brand name
CLASSIFICATION: Opiate (narcotic) Analgesics and Antitussives
USES:
It is used for treating pain, cough and diarrhea. Codeine is
mostly a habit-forming (addictive) drug if used excessively. This drug has to
be given or taken as per physician’s advice.
It can be taken orally.
DOSAGES:
The usual
adult dose of codeine for pain is 15-60 mg every 4-6 hours as needed.
The dose
for cough is 10 to 20 mg every 4-6 hours as needed.
The
maximum dose for treating cough is 120 mg every 24 hours.
NOTE:
Dosages can be given or taken as per physician’s instructions and guidance that
depends upon the patient’s health condition
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS
Mild side effects are
Constipation
Nausea
Vomiting
Dizzy
Feeling sleepy
Confusion
Vertigo
Dry mouth
headache
Serious Side effects (rarely occurs) are
Breathing difficulty
Short shallow breathing
Muscle stiffness
Low blood pressure with dizziness and tiredness
seizures
INTERACTIONS:
Drugs (to name a few) that may interact with codeine
include:
Amiodarone (Cordarone)
Fenatyl
Pentazocine
apomorphine
Imatinib (Gleevec)
Clomipramine
Cocaine
Diamorphine
Antihistamines, such as doxylamine (Unisom), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), and chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
Ethanol
Formoterol
Potassium phosphate/sodium phosphate (K-Phos) and potassium citrate (Urocit-K)
HIV/AIDS drugs, such as ritonavir (Norvir) and tipranavir (Aptivus)
Classification, Uses, Dosages, Common Side Effects, Generic Name and Brand Name
PARACETAMOL (Acetaminophen)
CLASSIFICATION:
Analgesics and Antipyretics
USES:
It is used for treating pain and fever. It is mainly used as
a mild moderate pain reliever.
Generally it can be taken orally. Rectally or intravenously
can be given upon Physician’s advice.
DOSAGES:
Adult Paracetamol Dose for
Fever:
325 to 650 mg every 4 to 6 hours or 1000 mg every 6
to 8 hours orally
Paracetamol 500mg tablets: Two 500 mg tablets orally every 4 to 6 hours
Adult Paracetamol Dose for
Pain:
325 to 650 mg every 4 to 6 hours or 1000 mg every 6
to 8 hours orally.
Paracetamol 500mg tablets: Two 500 mg tablets orally
every 4 to 6 hours
Pediatric Dose for Fever:
Oral:
<=1 month: 10 to 15 mg/kg/dose every 6 to 8 hours as needed.
>1 month to 12 years: 10 to 15 mg/kg/dose every 4 to 6 hours as needed
(Maximum: 5 doses in 24 hours)
Fever: 4 months to 9 years: as per physician guidance
>=12 years: 325 to 650 mg every 4 to 6 hours or
1000 mg every 6 to 8 hours.
Pediatric Dose for Pain:
Oral:
<=1 month: 10 to 15 mg/kg/dose every 6 to 8 hours as needed.
>1 month to 12 years: 10 to 15 mg/kg/dose every 4 to 6 hours as needed
(Maximum: 5 doses in 24 hours)
Fever: 4 months to 9 years: as per physician’s guidance
>=12 years: 325 to 650 mg every 4 to 6 hours or 1000 mg every 6 to 8 hours.
NOTE:
Dosages can be given or taken as per physician’s instructions and guidance that
depends upon the patient’s health condition
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS
If Paracetamol is
taken with right guidance and right dosage there won’t be any side effects. In
case if it is taken in overdose there will be serious side effects that are
given below;
Serious side effects are
Hives
Difficulty in breathing
Swelling in lips, face, tongue, or throat
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Stomach pain
Dark urine
Jaundice
Bloody or clay colored stools
Diarrhea
Liver damage
Skin allergies
Asthma
INTERACTIONS:
Drugs that may interact with ibuprofen paracetamol
include:
Few drugs that can interact with Paracetamol or
acetaminophen are given below:
CLASSIFICATION, USES, DOSAGES, COMMON SIDE EFFECTS, INTERACTION, GENERIC AND BRAND NAME
ASPIRIN (Acetylsalicylic acid)
CLASSIFICATION:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
USES:
It is used for treating pain, fever and inflammation.
Kawasaki disease, pericarditis, rheumatic fever are specific inflammatory
condition where Aspirin is used. Aspirin will be given shortly after a heart
attack to decrease the risk of death. It’s also used long term to aid in
preventing further heart attacks, ischaemic strokes, and blood clots for
patients who are at high risks.
DOSAGES:
Aspirin should be taken with food. Doses range from 50 mg
to 6000 mg daily depending on the use.
Usual
doses for mild to moderate pain are 350 or 650 mg every 4 hours or 500 mg
every 6 hours.
Doses
for rheumatoid arthritis include 500 mg every 4-6 hours; 650 mg
every 4 hours; 1000 mg every 4-6 hours; 1950 mg twice daily.
Heart
attacks are prevented with 75, 81, 162 or 325 mg daily.
160 to
325 mg of non-enteric coated aspirin should be chewed immediately when
experiencing symptoms of a heart attack.
The dose
for preventing another stroke is 75 to 100 mg daily.
NOTE:
Dosages can be given or taken as per physician’s instructions and guidance that
depends upon the patient’s health condition
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS
Mild side effects are
Excess stomach acid secretion
Heartburn
Irritation of stomach or cramps in stomach
Nausea
Vomiting
Belching
Dizziness
Hyperventilation
Shaking
Trouble sleeping
Drowsiness, dullness
Serious Side effects (rarely occurs) are
Decreased platelet clotting
Anaphylaxis
Angioedema
Hemolytic Anemia
Interstitial Nephritis
Anemia
Bleeding in stomach, skull
Branchospasm
Liver damage
Hives
Seizures
Wheezing
Ulcer
Ringing in the ears
Erythema
INTERACTIONS:
Drugs that may interact with aspirin include:
Anti-inflammatory painkillers, such as diclofenac, ibuprofen, indomethacin, and naproxen. These can increase the risk of stomach bleeding if taken in combination with aspirin.
Methotrexate, used in the treatment of cancer and some autoimmune diseases. Aspirin can make it harder for the body to eliminate methotrexate, resulting in high and potentially dangerous levels of methotrexate in the body.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) antidepressants, such as citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine, and sertraline. Taken with aspirin, these can increase the risk of bleeding.
Warfarin, an anticoagulant drug, or a blood thinner, which stops the blood from clotting. If aspirin is taken with warfarin, it can reduce the drug’s anticoagulant effects and increase the risk of bleeding. In some situations, however, a doctor may prescribe aspirin together with warfarin.
IBUPROFEN – Classification, Uses, Dosages, Common Side Effects, Interactions, Generic and Brand Name
CLASSIFICATION:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
USES:
It is used for treating pain, fever and inflammation. That includes migraines, rheumatoid arthritis, severe painful menstrual cramps, tooth aches, headaches.
It can be used via both mouth or intravenously.
DOSAGES:
Adult
Dose for Dysmenorrhea:
200-400 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours as needed.
Adult Dose for Osteoarthritis:
Initial dose: 400 to 800 mg orally every 6 to 8
hours.
Maintenance dose: May be increased to a maximum daily dose of 3200 mg based on
patient response and tolerance.
Adult Dose for Rheumatoid Arthritis:
Initial dose: 400 to 800 mg orally every 6 to 8
hours.
Maintenance dose: May be increased to a maximum daily dose of 3200 mg based on
patient response and tolerance.
Adult Dose for Pain or Fever:
Oral: Mild to moderate pain:
200 to 400 mg orally every 4 to 6 hours as needed. Doses greater than 400 mg
have not been proven to provide greater efficacy.
IV: (Patients should be well hydrated before IV ibuprofen administration):
Pain: 400 to 800 mg intravenously over 30 minutes every 6 hours as needed.
Fever: Initial: 400 mg intravenously over 30 minutes
Maintenance: 400 mg every 4 to 6 hours or 100 to 200 mg every 4 hours as
needed.
Pediatric Dose for Fever or Pain:
Greater than 6 months to 12 years:
5 mg/kg/dose for temperature less than 102.5 degrees F (39.2 degrees C) orally
every 6 to 8 hours as needed.
10 mg/kg/dose for temperature greater than or equal to 102.5 degrees F (39.2
degrees C) orally every 6 to 8 hours as needed.
The recommended maximum daily dose is 40 mg/kg.
OTC pediatric labeling (analgesic, antipyretic): 6 months to 11 years: 7.5
mg/kg/dose every 6 to 8 hours;
Maximum daily dose: 30 mg/kg
NOTE:
Dosages can be given or taken as per physician’s instructions and guidance that
depends upon the patient’s health condition
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS
Mild side effects are
Stomach pain
Heart burn
Nausea
Vomiting
Gas
Constipation
Diarrhea
Serious Side effects (rarely occurs) are
Heart attack and stroke
Decreased kidney function and increased blood
pressure
Ulcers and bleeding in the stomach and intestine
(internal bleeding)
Allergies
Liver Failure
INTERACTIONS:
Drugs that may interact with ibuprofen include:
Antihypertensive medications: Drugs taken for high blood pressure, or
hypertension. Ibuprofen can sometimes lead to a rise in blood
pressure if used alongside antihypertensives.
Anti-inflammatory painkillers: Ibuprofen should not be taken with diclofenac
(Voltarol), indometacin, or naproxen because there is an increased risk of
stomach bleeding. Ibuprofen should not be necessary with these drugs, as they
are already painkillers.
Aspirin:
Ibuprofen and aspirin taken together significantly raise the risk of stomach
bleeding. Patients taking low-dose aspirin for blood thinning should not take
ibuprofen because the blood thinning effect will be diminished.
Digoxin: This
is often used to treat atrial fibrillation. Ibuprofen and digoxin together
can raise blood pressure levels.
Lithium: This
drug is used for some mental disorders. Ibuprofen can make it harder for the
body to eliminate lithium, resulting in potentially dangerous levels of lithium
in the body.
Methotrexate:
This is used to treat cancer and some auto-immune diseases. Ibuprofen
can make it harder for the body to eliminate methotrexate. Potentially
hazardous levels of methotrexate may build up in the body.
Tacrolimus:
This drug is mainly used after an organ transplant, to stop the body’s immune
system rejecting the new organ. Ibuprofen with tacrolimus can cause kidney
damage.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): This type of antidepressant drugs,
such as citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine and sertraline, taken with ibuprofen
can increase the risk of bleeding.
Warfarin: An
anticoagulant drug, or blood thinner, that stops the blood from clotting.
Ibuprofen taken with warfarin can reduce the drug’s anticoagulant effects.
Alcohol :
Drinking alcohol along with ibuprofen may lead to serious stomach bleeding.
