List 241 drugs

Full list 241 drug

Information and practical advice on 241 individual drugs.

Reference and guidance for non-medical people taking drug treatment. You should always follow their doctor’s or pharmacist’s instructions in instances where these differ from the advice in this section. The drugs have been selected in order to provide representative coverage of the principal classes of drugs in medical use today. For those disorders for which a number of drugs are available, the ones that are used most commonly have been selected. Emphasis has also been placed on the drugs likely to be used in the home, although in a few cases those that are administered only in hospital have been included when it has been judged the drug is of sufficient general interest. Each drug profile is organized in the same way, using standard headings.
How To Understand The Profiles

For ease of reference, the information on each drug is arranged in a consistent format under standard headings. ;Drug name Tells YOU the drug’s generic name, brand names under which the drug is marketed, and combined preparations that contain the drug. General information Gives you a brief summary of the drug’s important characteristics. Information for users Practical information on how and when to take the drug, the usual recommended dosage, how soon it takes effect, how long it is active, and advice on diet, storage, and missed doses. Possible adverse effects Indicates adverse effects that you may experience with the drug. Interactions Tells you how the drug may interact with other drugs or substances taken at the same time. Quick reference Summarizes important facts regarding the drug. Special precautions Describes circumstances in which the drug should be taken with special caution. Overdose action Indicates the symptoms that may occur if an overdose has been taken and tells you what immediate action is required. Prolonged use Tells you what effects the drug may have when taken over a long period and what monitoring may be advised.
Drug Name

Generic name The main heading on the page is the shortest form of the drug’s generic name, unless the short form causes confusion with another drug, in which case the full generic name is given. For example, proguanil hydrochloride, an antimalarial drug, is listed as proguanil because there is no other generic drug of this name. However, magnesium hydroxide, an antacid, is listed under its full name to avoid confusing it with the mineral magnesium, or other compounds of the mineral, such as magnesium sulphate. Brand names Under the generic name are the brand names of products in which the drug is the major single active ingredient. There are many different brand names of the drug. The names of the principal preparations, if any, in which the drug is combined with other drugs, are also listed. .
General Information

The information here gives an overall picture of the drug. It may include notes on the drug’s history (for example, when it was first introduced) and the principal disorders for which it is prescribed. This section also discusses the drug’s major advantages and disadvantages.
Quick Reference

The text in this box summarizes the important facts regarding your drug, and is organized under five headings. Drug group This tells you which of the major groups the drug belongs to, and the links on which you can find out more about the drugs in the group and the various disorders or conditions they are used to treat. Overdose danger rating Gives an indication of the seriousness of the drug’s effects if the dosage prescribed by your doctor, or that recommended on the label of an over-the-counter drug, is exceeded. The ratings – low, medium, and high – are explained below. The rating also determines the advice given under Exceeding the dose. • Low Symptoms unlikely. Death unknown. • Medium Medical advice needed.Death rare. • High Medical attention needed urgently. Potentially fatal. If you do exceed the dose, advice is given under Exceeding the dose. Dependence rating Drugs are rated low, medium, or high on the basis of the risk of dependence. • Low Dependence unknown. • Medium Rare possibility of dependence. • High Dependence is likely in long-term use. Prescription needed This tells you whether or not you need a prescription to obtain the drug. Some drugs are currently having their status reviewed and may soon be available without prescription from the pharmacy counter. Certain other prescription drugs are subject to government regulations . Available as generic Tells you if the drug is available as a generic product.
Information for users

(for common forms of each medication) This section contains information on the following: administration, dosage frequency and amount, effects and actions, and advice on diet, storage, missed closes, stopping drug treatment, and overdose. All of the information is generalized and should not be taken as a recommendation for an individual dosing schedule. Always follow your doctor’s instructions in the case of prescription drugs, and those of the manufacturer or pharmacist for over-the-counter medications. Frequency and timing of doses This refers to the standard number of times each day that the drug should be taken and, where relevant, whether it should be taken with liquid, with meals, or on an empty stomach. Dosage range This is generally given as the normal oral dosage range for an adult; dosages for injection are not usually given. In cases where the dosages for specific age groups vary significantly from the normal adult dosage, these will also be given. Where dosage varies according to use, the dosage for each is included. The vast majority of drug dosages are expressed in metric units, usually milligrams (mg) or micrograms (mcg). In a few, dosage is given in units (u) or international units (IU). Onset of effect The onset of effect is the time it takes for the drug to become active in the body. This sometimes coincides with the onset of beneficial effects, but there may sometimes be an interval between the time when a drug is pharmacologically active and when you start to notice improvement in your symptoms or your underlying condition. Duration of action The information given here refers to the length of time that one dose of the drug remains active in the body. Diet advice With some drugs, it is important to avoid certain foods, either because they reduce the effect of the drug or because they interact adversely. This section of the profile tells you what, if any, dietary changes are necessary. Storage Drugs will deteriorate and may become inactive if they are not stored under suitable conditions. The advice usually given is to store in a cool, dry place out of the reach of children. Some drugs must also be protected from light. Others, especially liquid medications, need to be kept in a refrigerator, but should not be frozen. Further advice on storing drugs. Missed dose This section gives advice on what to do if you forget a dose of your drug, so that the effectiveness and safety of your treatment is maintained as far as possible. If you forget to take several doses in succession, consult your doctor. Read more about missed doses. Stopping the drug If you are taking a drug regularly you should know how and when you can safely stop taking it. Some drugs can be safely stopped as soon as you feel better, or as soon as your symptoms have disappeared. Others must not be stopped until the full course of treatment has been completed, or they must be gradually withdrawn under the supervision of a doctor. Failure to comply with instructions for stopping a drug may lead to adverse effects. It may also cause your condition to worsen or your symptoms to reappear. Read more about Ending drug treatment. Exceeding the dose The information in this section expands on that in the quick reference box on the drug’s overdose danger rating. It explains possible consequences of exceeding the dose and what to do if an overdose is taken. Examples of wording used for low, medium, and high overdose ratings are as follows: Low An occasional extra dose is unlikely to be a cause for concern. But if you notice any unusual symptoms, or if a large overdose has been taken, notify your doctor. Medium An occasional extra dose is unlikely to cause problems. Large overdoses may cause [symptoms]. Notify your doctor. High Seek immediate medical advice in all cases. Take emergency action if [relevant symptoms] occur. Overdose Action Seek immediate medical advice in all cases. Take emergency action if palpitations are noted or consciousness is lost. About Drug poisoning emergency guide.
Special Precautions

Many drugs need to be taken with care by people with a history of particular conditions. The profile lists conditions you should tell your doctor about when you are prescribed a drug, or about which you should consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking an over-the-counter drug. Certain groups of people (pregnant women, breast-feeding mothers, children, and the over 60s) may also be at special risk from drug treatment. Advice for each of these groups is given in every profile. Information is also included about driving, undertaking hazardous work, and drinking alcohol.
Be sure to tell your doctor if:

You have long-term liver or kidney problems. You have had a previous sensitivity reaction to allopurinol. You have a current acute case of gout. You are taking other medications. Pregnancy Safety in pregnancy not established. Discuss with your doctor. Breast-feeding The drug passes into the breast milk and may affect the baby. Discuss with your doctor. Infants and children Reduced dose necessary. Over 60 Reduced dose may be necessary. Driving and hazardous work Avoid such activities until you have learned how allopurinol affects you because the drug can cause drowsiness. Alcohol Avoid. Alcohol may worsen gout.
Weights And Measures

Metric equivalents of measurements used in this website: 1,000mcg (microgram) = 1mg (milligram) 1,000mg = 1g(gram) 1,000ml (millilitre) = 1l (litre)
Possible Adverse Effects

The adverse effects discussed in the drug profile are symptoms or reactions that may arise when you take the drug. The emphasis is on symptoms that you, the patient, are likely to notice, rather than on the findings of laboratory tests that your doctor may order.
Interactions

The interactions that are discussed here are those that may occur between the drug under discussion and other drugs. Information includes the name of the interacting drug or group of drugs and the effect of the interaction. Units or international units Units (u) and international units (IU) are also used to express drug dosages. They represent the biological activity of a drug (its effect on the body). This ability cannot be measured in terms of weight or volume, but must be calculated in a laboratory.
Prolonged Use

The information given here concerns the adverse, and sometimes beneficial, effects of the drug that may occur during long-term use. These may differ from those listed under Possible adverse effects. This section of the profile also includes information on monitoring the effects of the drug during long-term treatment, explaining the tests you may be given if your doctor thinks they are necessary.