Welcome to the A-Z Medicine Guide, your trusted guide to understanding medicines from A to Z. This dictionary provides detailed information on a wide range of medications, categorized alphabetically for ease of use. Whether you are looking for dosage guidelines, side effects, interactions, or usage instructions, this resource is designed to be an invaluable reference for healthcare professionals, students, and patients. With a focus on accuracy and accessibility, it ensures you have reliable insights into the medicines you need to understand. Explore this extensive catalog and empower yourself with essential knowledge for informed medical decisions.
- Category: Antiretroviral
- Purpose: Treatment of HIV/AIDS by slowing the replication of the virus.
- Mechanism: Abacavir is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) that prevents HIV’s RNA from converting to DNA, inhibiting viral replication.
- Indications: Used as part of combination therapy for HIV-1 infection.
- Dosage Forms: Tablets and oral solution.
- Common Side Effects: Hypersensitivity reaction, fever, rash, nausea, fatigue.
- Special Precautions: Genetic testing for HLA-B*5701 allele is recommended to reduce the risk of hypersensitivity reactions.
- Category: Analgesic/Antipyretic
- Purpose: Relief of mild to moderate pain and fever reduction.
- Mechanism: Reduces pain by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis in the brain and lowers fever by acting on the hypothalamic heat-regulating center.
- Indications: Headache, muscle pain, arthritis, fever.
- Dosage Forms: Tablets, capsules, syrups, suppositories, and injectables.
- Common Side Effects: Rare but may include liver toxicity at high doses.
- Special Precautions: Use with caution in patients with liver disease or alcohol dependency.
- Category: Antidiabetic
- Purpose: Controls post-meal blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetes.
- Mechanism: Inhibits alpha-glucosidase in the intestine, slowing carbohydrate breakdown and absorption.
- Indications: Used in combination with diet and exercise to manage Type 2 diabetes.
- Dosage Forms: Tablets.
- Common Side Effects: Gas, bloating, diarrhea.
- Special Precautions: Avoid in patients with gastrointestinal disorders.
- Category: Antiviral
- Purpose: Treats herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox and shingles).
- Mechanism: Inhibits viral DNA synthesis by mimicking guanosine, preventing viral replication.
- Indications: Genital herpes, cold sores, shingles, chickenpox.
- Dosage Forms: Tablets, capsules, creams, injectables.
- Common Side Effects: Nausea, headache, diarrhea, and local irritation with topical forms.
- Special Precautions: Ensure adequate hydration to prevent kidney toxicity.
- Category: Immunosuppressant (Biologic)
- Purpose: Treats inflammatory autoimmune diseases.
- Mechanism: A monoclonal antibody that inhibits tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), reducing inflammation.
- Indications: Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, ankylosing spondylitis.
- Dosage Forms: Injectable solution.
- Common Side Effects: Injection site reactions, infections, headache, rash.
- Special Precautions: Increased risk of serious infections; avoid live vaccines during treatment.
- Category: Antiviral
- Purpose: Treats chronic hepatitis B by lowering viral load.
- Mechanism: Inhibits hepatitis B virus DNA polymerase, disrupting viral replication.
- Indications: Chronic hepatitis B infection.
- Dosage Forms: Tablets.
- Common Side Effects: Nausea, weakness, kidney dysfunction.
- Special Precautions: Monitor renal function regularly.
- Category: Bronchodilator
- Purpose: Relieves bronchospasm in asthma and COPD.
- Mechanism: Stimulates beta-2 adrenergic receptors, causing airway relaxation.
- Indications: Asthma, COPD, exercise-induced bronchospasm.
- Dosage Forms: Inhalers, nebulizers, tablets.
- Common Side Effects: Tremors, palpitations, nervousness, dry mouth.
- Special Precautions: Use cautiously in patients with heart disease.
- Category: Antiparasitic
- Purpose: Treats a wide range of parasitic worm infections.
- Mechanism: Disrupts glucose uptake in parasites, leading to their death.
- Indications: Tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, hydatid disease.
- Dosage Forms: Tablets and oral suspensions.
- Common Side Effects: Stomach pain, dizziness, increased liver enzymes.
- Special Precautions: Avoid during pregnancy; monitor liver function.
- Category: Bisphosphonate
- Purpose: Prevents and treats osteoporosis by improving bone density.
- Mechanism: Inhibits bone resorption by osteoclasts, increasing bone strength.
- Indications: Osteoporosis, Paget’s disease of bone.
- Dosage Forms: Tablets.
- Common Side Effects: Esophageal irritation, muscle pain.
- Special Precautions: Take with water on an empty stomach; remain upright for 30 minutes post-dose.
- Category: Uric Acid Reducer
- Purpose: Treats gout and prevents uric acid kidney stones.
- Mechanism: Inhibits xanthine oxidase, reducing uric acid production.
- Indications: Chronic gout, hyperuricemia.
- Dosage Forms: Tablets.
- Common Side Effects: Rash, gastrointestinal upset.
- Special Precautions: Monitor uric acid levels regularly; stay hydrated.
- Category: Antimigraine
- Purpose: Relieves acute migraine attacks in adults.
- Mechanism: Binds to serotonin (5-HT1B/1D) receptors in cranial blood vessels, causing vasoconstriction and reducing inflammation associated with migraines.
- Indications: Acute migraine with or without aura.
- Dosage Forms: Tablets.
- Common Side Effects: Drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, fatigue.
- Special Precautions: Not recommended for patients with cardiovascular diseases or uncontrolled hypertension. Avoid as a preventive therapy.
- Category: Benzodiazepine
- Purpose: Manages anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and short-term symptoms of anxiety.
- Mechanism: Enhances the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that calms the nervous system.
- Indications: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic attacks.
- Dosage Forms: Immediate-release tablets, extended-release tablets, oral solution.
- Common Side Effects: Drowsiness, fatigue, memory issues, risk of dependency.
- Special Precautions: Avoid abrupt discontinuation to prevent withdrawal symptoms; use cautiously in elderly or those with a history of substance abuse.
- Category: Aminoglycoside Antibiotic
- Purpose: Treats severe bacterial infections, especially those resistant to other antibiotics.
- Mechanism: Binds to bacterial ribosomes, inhibiting protein synthesis and leading to bacterial death.
- Indications: Infections like sepsis, respiratory tract infections, and urinary tract infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria.
- Dosage Forms: Injectable solution.
- Common Side Effects: Hearing loss (ototoxicity), kidney damage (nephrotoxicity), nausea.
- Special Precautions: Regular monitoring of kidney function and hearing is required during treatment.
- Category: Calcium Channel Blocker (Antihypertensive)
- Purpose: Lowers blood pressure and prevents angina (chest pain).
- Mechanism: Relaxes blood vessels by inhibiting calcium influx in vascular smooth muscle.
- Indications: Hypertension, stable angina, variant angina (Prinzmetal’s angina).
- Dosage Forms: Tablets.
- Common Side Effects: Swelling in the legs (edema), dizziness, flushing, fatigue.
- Special Precautions: Use cautiously in patients with severe heart conditions or liver impairment.
- Category: Penicillin Antibiotic
- Purpose: Treats bacterial infections by killing or inhibiting bacterial growth.
- Mechanism: Inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis, leading to cell death.
- Indications: Respiratory infections, ear infections, urinary tract infections, and skin infections.
- Dosage Forms: Tablets, capsules, oral suspensions.
- Common Side Effects: Diarrhea, nausea, rash, yeast infections.
- Special Precautions: Avoid in patients with penicillin allergy.
- Category: Penicillin Antibiotic
- Purpose: Treats bacterial infections, particularly those caused by Gram-positive and some Gram-negative bacteria.
- Mechanism: Inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis, causing bacterial lysis.
- Indications: Respiratory infections, gastrointestinal infections, meningitis.
- Dosage Forms: Capsules, oral suspensions, injectable solution.
- Common Side Effects: Diarrhea, rash, nausea.
- Special Precautions: May reduce the efficacy of oral contraceptives; monitor for allergic reactions.
- Category: Aromatase Inhibitor
- Purpose: Treats hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
- Mechanism: Blocks the enzyme aromatase, reducing estrogen production, which slows cancer growth.
- Indications: Breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
- Dosage Forms: Tablets.
- Common Side Effects: Hot flashes, joint pain, weakness, osteoporosis.
- Special Precautions: Regular bone density monitoring is recommended during long-term use.
- Category: Anticoagulant
- Purpose: Prevents blood clots and reduces the risk of stroke in certain conditions.
- Mechanism: Inhibits Factor Xa, a critical component in the blood clotting cascade.
- Indications: Atrial fibrillation (non-valvular), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE).
- Dosage Forms: Tablets.
- Common Side Effects: Bleeding, anemia, nausea.
- Special Precautions: Avoid in patients with active bleeding or severe liver disease; regular monitoring isn’t required but assess bleeding risk.
- Category: Atypical Antipsychotic
- Purpose: Manages psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder.
- Mechanism: Partial agonist at dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT1A receptors and antagonist at 5-HT2A receptors, modulating neurotransmitter balance.
- Indications: Schizophrenia, bipolar mania, adjunctive treatment in depression.
- Dosage Forms: Tablets, oral solution, injectable solution.
- Common Side Effects: Weight gain, drowsiness, restlessness, nausea.
- Special Precautions: Monitor for worsening depression or suicidal thoughts in early treatment.
- Category: Analgesic/Antipyretic/Antiplatelet
- Purpose: Relieves pain, reduces fever, and prevents blood clot formation.
- Mechanism: Irreversibly inhibits cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2), reducing prostaglandins and thromboxane production.
- Indications: Pain, fever, prevention of heart attack and stroke in high-risk patients.
- Dosage Forms: Tablets, enteric-coated tablets.
- Common Side Effects: Stomach irritation, bleeding, ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
- Special Precautions: Avoid in children with viral infections (risk of Reye’s syndrome).
- Category: Antiretroviral
- Purpose: Treats HIV-1 infection by suppressing viral replication.
- Mechanism: Protease inhibitor that blocks the protease enzyme, preventing the maturation of infectious HIV particles.
- Indications: HIV-1 infection in combination with other antiretroviral agents.
- Dosage Forms: Capsules, oral powder.
- Common Side Effects: Jaundice, nausea, diarrhea, rash, elevated bilirubin levels.
- Special Precautions: Avoid concurrent use with proton pump inhibitors; monitor liver function.
- Category: Beta-Blocker
- Purpose: Manages hypertension, angina, and certain heart rhythm disorders.
- Mechanism: Blocks beta-1 adrenergic receptors, reducing heart rate and blood pressure.
- Indications: Hypertension, angina pectoris, post-myocardial infarction management.
- Dosage Forms: Tablets, injectable solution.
- Common Side Effects: Fatigue, cold extremities, dizziness, bradycardia.
- Special Precautions: Avoid abrupt withdrawal; caution in patients with asthma or diabetes.
- Category: Non-Stimulant for ADHD
- Purpose: Treats Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
- Mechanism: Selectively inhibits the norepinephrine transporter, increasing norepinephrine levels in the brain.
- Indications: ADHD in children, adolescents, and adults.
- Dosage Forms: Capsules.
- Common Side Effects: Decreased appetite, fatigue, mood swings, nausea.
- Special Precautions: Monitor for suicidal thoughts, particularly in children and adolescents.
- Category: Statin (Lipid-Lowering Agent)
- Purpose: Lowers cholesterol and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Mechanism: Inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis in the liver.
- Indications: Hypercholesterolemia, prevention of heart attack and stroke.
- Dosage Forms: Tablets.
- Common Side Effects: Muscle pain, liver enzyme elevation, nausea.
- Special Precautions: Monitor liver function and lipid levels; avoid grapefruit juice.
- Category: Antiprotozoal/Antimalarial
- Purpose: Treats and prevents Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) and malaria.
- Mechanism: Disrupts the electron transport chain in protozoal mitochondria, impairing energy production.
- Indications: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, malaria (in combination therapy).
- Dosage Forms: Oral suspension, tablets.
- Common Side Effects: Nausea, vomiting, rash, diarrhea.
- Special Precautions: Take with food to improve absorption.
- Category: Neuromuscular Blocking Agent
- Purpose: Facilitates skeletal muscle relaxation during surgery or mechanical ventilation.
- Mechanism: Blocks acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, preventing muscle contraction.
- Indications: Surgical relaxation, endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation support.
- Dosage Forms: Injectable solution.
- Common Side Effects: Hypotension, flushing, bronchospasm.
- Special Precautions: Use cautiously in patients with asthma or cardiovascular conditions.
- Category: Anticancer (Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor)
- Purpose: Treats advanced renal cell carcinoma.
- Mechanism: Inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors, reducing tumor blood supply.
- Indications: Advanced renal cell carcinoma.
- Dosage Forms: Tablets.
- Common Side Effects: High blood pressure, fatigue, diarrhea, hand-foot syndrome.
- Special Precautions: Regularly monitor blood pressure and thyroid function during therapy.
- Category: Immunosuppressant
- Purpose: Prevents organ transplant rejection and treats autoimmune conditions.
- Mechanism: Suppresses DNA synthesis in immune cells, reducing their activity.
- Indications: Rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, transplant rejection.
- Dosage Forms: Tablets, injectable solution.
- Common Side Effects: Bone marrow suppression, nausea, increased infection risk.
- Special Precautions: Monitor blood counts regularly; avoid live vaccines during treatment.
- Category: Macrolide Antibiotic
- Purpose: Treats bacterial infections by stopping bacterial growth.
- Mechanism: Inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit.
- Indications: Respiratory infections, skin infections, sexually transmitted infections, otitis media.
- Dosage Forms: Tablets, oral suspension, injectable solution.
- Common Side Effects: Nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain.
- Special Precautions: Use cautiously in patients with heart rhythm disorders.
- Category: Monobactam Antibiotic
- Purpose: Treats Gram-negative bacterial infections.
- Mechanism: Inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis, leading to bacterial death.
- Indications: Urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, sepsis.
- Dosage Forms: Injectable solution, inhalation solution for cystic fibrosis patients.
- Common Side Effects: Rash, diarrhea, local pain at the injection site.
- Special Precautions: Safe for most patients with penicillin allergy; monitor kidney function during therapy.
