Tuesday, 30 July 2013

438. Drugs A-Z


Drugs A-Z

Acamprosate
Acamprosate helps recovering alcoholics stay sober by maintaining the chemical balance of the brain. Acamprosate must be combined with therapy and complete abstinence from alcohol to remain effective. There is also evidence that acamprosate protects against neuron death caused by alcohol withdrawal.

Actiq
Actiq is the brand name for fentanyl citrate, which is a narcotic used for the treatment of pain. This particular narcotic is used primarily for cancer patients who experience pain that is not relieved by other types of medications.

Adderall is a medication that is given to treat symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Adderall can be habit-forming and is usually given in conjunction with therapy or other treatment. It comes in tablet form and is taken by mouth.

Alcohol is an intoxicating substance made from the fermentation of sugar, starch, and yeast. Consumption of it depresses the central nervous system. Alcohol is quickly absorbed and affects the body’s neurotransmitters, resulting in enhanced or depressed sensations and moods.

Alprazolam is a medication used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. It can also be used to treat depression or pre-menstrual syndrome and may be habit-forming. This medication decreases levels of abnormal excitement in the brain.

Ambien is a brand name of the drug zolpidem. It is commonly used as a short-term treatment for insomnia, and it can also be used to treat certain brain disorders. Ambien effectively initiates sleep, but does not effectively maintain sleep.

Amobarbital
Amobarbital is a barbiturate-derived medication used as an injection before anesthesia prior to surgery, as short-term treatment for insomnia or anxiety relief. It has sedative and analgesic effects and if taken for extended periods of time, dependence can occur.

Amphetamine
Amphetamines are psychoactive drugs that stimulate the central nervous system. They increase the release of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain while inhibiting reuptake. Amphetamines are prescribed for several conditions, but they are also abused illegally.

Amytal
Amytal is a strong sedative used to treat sleeping disorders like insomnia. It affects the nervous system by inducing drowsiness, eventually allowing the user to sleep. Because of its strength, it is prescribed only for short periods of time.


Anexsia
Anexsia is a brand name used for the combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone. This narcotic drug is used for the relief of moderate to severe pain. Acetaminophen is used to increase the effectiveness of the hydrocodone.

Antabuse
Antabuse is a brand name of the drug disulfiram, which prevents the breakdown of dopamine. It is used to treat chronic alcoholism by causing sensitivity to alcohol. Antabuse is a possible treatment for cocaine dependence.

Ativan is a brand name for lorazepam, which is a benzodiazepine used in the treatment of anxiety, epilepsy, IBS, and several other conditions. Low doses have sedative effects, whereas high doses can be hypnotic. It decreases activity in the brain for relaxation.

Avinza
Avinza is a morphine sulfate extended-release capsule administered once a day. It is used to relieve moderate to severe chronic, long-term, noncancerous pain in adults requiring around-the-clock pain relief. Avinza is used to treat osteoarthritis and lower-back pain.

Biocodone
Biocondone is a brand name medication that contains the narcotic opioid drug hydrocodone. It is most commonly prescribed to treat patients with moderate to severe pain. Side effects can include itching, nausea, drowsiness, and vomiting.

Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is a drug that causes effects similar to methadone and heroin. When given at low doses, it can help individuals addicted to opioids avoid withdrawal symptoms. The drug is available as a tablet to be placed under the tongue.

Butalbital
Butalbital is a barbiturate, which reduces anxiety and promotes relation. It is combined with acetaminophen and sometimes caffeine, and it is prescribed to treat tension headaches or other serious headaches. Butalbital is not available by itself. It may cause dependency.

Butorphanol
Butorphanol is a drug most commonly used to manage pain. It is a common treatment for sufferers of migraine headaches. Studies have shown that women typically feel more pain relief from this drug than men.

Campral
Campral is a brand name for acamprosate, a medicine given to people who have formerly consumed alcohol to help them avoid drinking again. While it does not prevent withdrawal symptoms, it does help the brain function normally again.

Carisoprodol
Carisoprodol is a muscle relaxant commonly prescribed for muscle injuries such as strains or sprains. Taken as a pill by mouth, the main side effect may be an upset stomach and should be taken with food or milk.

Chlordiazepoxide
Chlordiazepoxide is used to treat the effects of alcohol withdrawal as well as the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. To be effective it must be taken regularly; however, it can be habit-forming. Chloridiazepoxide should not be taken for more than four months.


Clonazepam is a medication used to help control seizures. It also can be prescribed to alleviate panic attacks. This drug works by decreasing electrical activity in the brain. It may take several weeks to see improvement of symptoms.

Clonidine
Clonidine is an antihypertensive used in the treatment of high blood pressure, ADHD, and dysmenorrhea, among other conditions. It relaxes blood vessels and decreases a person’s heart rate. Clonidine is taken orally in tablet form and is often combined with other medications.

Cocaine is a stimulant drug and is very addictive. The three routes of administration for cocaine are snorting, injecting, and smoking. It stimulates the brain by releasing dopamine, which causes the user to feel pleasure.

Codeine
Codeine is a prescription pain reliever that is classified as an antitussive and opiate analgesic. This narcotic suppresses coughing, and it alters the body’s perception of pain by mimicking natural endorphins. It is taken in pill or liquid form.

Concerta
Concerta is a branded version of methylphenidate. This medication is used to treat the symptoms of ADHD. It is sometimes used to treat narcolepsy. It is part of the central nervous stimulant drug family. It’s available in chewable, pill, and liquid form.

Crack cocaine is freebase cocaine. It produces an immediate high and is considered a highly addictive stimulant. Crack cocaine can produce psychological effects that include intense feelings of euphoria, increased energy, insomnia, paranoia, and more.

Crystal Meth is one of the street names for methamphetamine. It is a powerful stimulant that speeds up the central nervous system and the effects can last from 6-12 hours depending on the method of use.

Damason-P
Damason-P is a prescription pain reliever that contains a combination of aspirin and hydrocodone. The aspirin reduces fevers and inflammation while the hydrocodone alters the nervous system’s response to pain. This drug is classified as a narcotic and can be habit-forming.

Darvocet
Darvocet is a combination of acetaminophen and propoxyphene. It is used to treat pain and to reduce fevers. In large doses it can be harmful or fatal. This drug was removed from the United States market in November 2010 by FDA request.
Darvon
Darvon is a pharmaceutical-grade pain reliever that contains propoxyphene, caffeine, and aspirin. The FDA withdrew approval of this opioid in 2010 due to the dangers of propoxyphene, as it can have negative effects on the heart.

Demerol
Demerol is a brand name for meperidine, which is a pain reliever in the narcotics category. This medication is used for pain that is moderate to severe. It is similar to morphine, which can be extremely habit-forming.

Depade
Depade is used as an addiction-recovery medication to help patients avoid taking drugs or drinking alcohol. This drug is an opiate antagonist, which means it works in the brain to prevent opiate effects and reduce the desire to take opiates.

Desoxyn
Desoxyn is a brand name for methamphetamine hydrochloride. It is a stimulant drug that causes appetite suppression and is sometimes used to treat obesity in patients who have had unsuccessful outcomes with other treatments. Desoxyn is also used to treat ADHD.

Dexedrine
Dexedrine is a brand name of the drug dextroamphetamine, which produces feelings of wakefulness, focus, decreased fatigue, and decreased appetite. It is commonly used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy, and it may be used to treat obesity and certain types of depression.

Dextroamphetamine
Dextroamphetamine is used to increase alertness and focus, as well as to reduce appetite and fatigue. This drug makes up approximately 75 percent of the ADHD treatment Adderall. It also treats narcolepsy, treatment-resistant depression, and exogenous obesity.

Dextromethorphan (DXM)
Dextromethorphan (DXM) is widely used in over-the-counter cough syrups. It works by affecting the part of the brain that controls coughing. DXM is part of the antitussive family of drugs. It can cause dizziness and stomach discomfort.

Dextropropoxyphene
Dextropropoxyphene is a type of medication that is used to treat mild pain. This analgesic is in the opioid drug category, and is also used for its local anesthetic and anti-tussive effects. It can be found under the brands Darvon and Darvocet.

Dextrostat
Dextrostat is a brand name for dextroamphetamine, which is a stimulant used in the treatment of ADHD. It can increase blood pressure and depress the respiratory system while altering the brain’s natural chemicals. This amphetamine has high potential for dependence and abuse.

Di-Gesic
Di-Gesic is the trade name for the analgesic dextropropoxyphene. It is an opioid used to treat mild pain. The medication is no longer used in Europe and the United States because it was linked to arrhythmias and fatal overdoses.

Diazepam
Diazepam is used to treat muscle spasms, anxiety disorder, and seizures. It also prescribed to control agitation caused by the withdrawal of alcohol. Diazepam is taken by mouth in tablet, extended-release capsule or liquid concentrate form.

Dicodid
Dicodid is a trade name for hydrocodone, an opioid that acts as both a narcotic analgesic and an antitussive. In addition to managing and relieving moderate to severe pain, Dicodid may also be used as a cough suppressant.

Dilaudid
Dilaudid is a brand name for the narcotic pain reliever hydromorphone. It works in the brain by increasing tolerance to moderate or severe pain, so it is often used after surgery. Dilaudid is available in liquid or tablet form.

Disulfiram
Disulfiram is a medication used to treat chronic alcoholism. It works by causing unpleasant side effects when alcohol is consumed, such as headache, vomiting, chest pain and anxiety. It comes in tablet form and is taken by mouth.

Duodin
Duodin is also known as hydrocodone, which is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from codeine and thebaine. It is used to relieve pain and suppress coughs. It is administered orally in tablet, capsule or syrup form.

Duragesic
Duragesic is an opiate analgesic applied as a skin patch. It is a brand of fentanyl patches, which are used to treat chronic and severe pain that does not lessen considerably with other narcotics. The medication can be habit forming.

Duramorph
Duramorph is an injected form of morphine. It is a narcotic pain reliever typically given in a clinic or hospital to relieve severe pain. Some patients may be able to give themselves injections at home.

Ecstasy is the street name for the drug MDMA. MDMA is a synthetic psychoactive drug that induces feelings of euphoria, increased energy, and emotional warmth in the user. It is taken orally as a capsule or tablet.

Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a potent narcotic analgesic that is used to treat severe or breakthrough pain. It is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine. It is often used in operating rooms, in intensive care units, and for treatment of cancer pain.
Fioricet
Fioricet is a combination of three active ingredients: caffeine, acetaminophen, and butalbital. This medication is taken orally and can be habit forming. It is usually used to treat migraine headaches. It can cause an upset stomach and should be taken with food.

Fiorinal
Fiorinal is a medication that contains aspirin, caffeine, and butalbital. Butalbital is a barbiturate. Fiorinal is most commonly used to treat tension headaches and is sometimes used to treat migraines. Butalbital is habit-forming and can lead to dependency.

Flunitrazepam
Flunitrazepam is a potent hypnotic and sedative drug most commonly known as Rohypnol. It is used medically to treat severe insomnia on a short-term basis. Non-medically, it is commonly known as a date rape drug.

GHB
GHB, which is short for gamma hydroxybutyrate, is a pharmacological substance that was approved to treat narcolepsy. The odorless powder or liquid is often used illegally for intoxication, as it affects the brain’s GABA receptors and depresses the central nervous system.

Halcion
Halcion is a brand name for triazolam, which is a benzodiazepine. This medication is generally used as a short-term treatment for insomnia. It acts as a sedative and hypnotic, and it has a calming effect on the mind and body.

Hash
Hashish, often referred to as hash, is a product of the cannabis plant. Prepared from marijuana buds, hash is commonly burned and inhaled. The effects are often many times more potent than those of unprocessed marijuana buds.

Heroin is an addictive recreational drug known to induce feelings of intense relaxation and euphoria. It is an opioid derived from morphine, which is derived from the opium poppy. Heroin can be injected, smoked, snorted, or taken orally.

Hycodan
Hycodan is a brand name version of hydrocodone bibartate that is mixed with homatropine methylbromide. This drug is an antitussive and analgesic that reduces coughing. Too much hycodan can cause breathing difficulties. This drug can be physically and mentally addictive.

Hydrococet
Hydrococet is the brand name for the generic drug hydrocodone. Hydrococet is a narcotic pain reliever that is approximately two-thirds as powerful as oxycodone. Hydrococet is an addictive drug and is among one of the most abused drugs.

Hydrocodone is only available as a component in other medications. It is an opiate analgesic that can control pain as well as minimize coughing. It is taken orally and is available in many forms, including as a tablet and syrup.

Hydromorphone
Hydromorphone is an opioid narcotic drug that is a derivative of morphine. It is medically used as an alternative to morphine to relieve chronic or severe pain. It is also commonly known as Palladone and Dilaudid.

Inhalant
An inhalant is a chemical vapor that is inhaled through the mouth or nose. It can be classified as volatile solvents, gases, aerosol sprays, and nitrites. The effects of inhalants range from an alcohol-like intoxication and intense euphoria to vivid hallucinations.

Kadian
Kadian is a brand name for the generic drug morphine sulfate. It is used to relieve moderate to severe pain. Kadian is classified as a narcotic pain reliever and an opioid. Kadian can be habit-forming.

Kapanol
Kapanol is made of morphine sulfate and is used to treat acute and chronic pain. It is a member of the opioid analgesic drug group. It is available in capsule form. Kapanol can cause drowsiness.

Ketamine
Originally developed as a general anesthetic, ketamine is a form of PCP. Ketamine causes its user to have a dissociative experience from his surroundings and himself. In controlled mediums, the drug is also used as an anesthetic for humans and animals.

Klonopin, the brand name for clonazepam, is used to control certain types of seizures caused by epilepsy. It decreases abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Klonopin is also prescribed to treat panic attacks by relieving anxiety.

LSD
LSD is the abbreviation for lysergic acid diethylamide. LSD, or acid as it is usually called, is a drug that causes several psychological effects including hallucinations. It isn’t addictive and is commonly taken orally, via things like sugar cubes or blotter paper.

Laudanum
Laudanum is an alcoholic narcotic mixture that generally contains 10 percent opium, or the equivalent of 1 percent morphine. Commonly available without a prescription until the early 20th century, its use is limited now to severe cases of pain and other conditions.

Levacetylmethadol (LAAM)
Levacetylmethadol (LAAM) is an opioid analgesic and used in the treatment of opioid addiction. It is administered in conjunction with counseling and other rehabilitative measures. Only treatment programs have approval to administer levacetylmethadol in the U.S.

Librium
Librium is a brand name for chlordiazepoxide, which is used to treat the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and IBS. It reduces anxiety and agitation by depressing the central nervous system. Librium is classified as a benzodiazepine and can be habit forming.

Lorazepam is an antianxiety medication that works by slowing brain activity. Often marketed under the names Ativan and Temesta, lorazepam is also helpful in treating insomnia, epilepsy, and nausea caused by cancer treatments. This drug can be habit-forming.

Lorcet
Lorcet is a narcotic analgesic that is combined with acetaminophen, a non-narcotic pain reliever. Patients should avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice while taking this medication as it can increase the amount of drug in the bloodstream.

Lortab
Lortab is a brand name of a pill that combines the drugs hydrocodone and acetaminophen. It is commonly given to patients to relieve moderate to severe pain. Common side effects include an upset stomach, nausea, and dizziness.

Luminal
Luminal is a brand name of the drug phenobarbital. This drug has sedative and hypnotic effects, but it is most commonly used as an anticonvulsant to treat patients who suffer from any type of seizures.

MS Contin
MS Contin is a version of morphine for oral use. It is available in liquid and tablet forms. This drug is used to control moderate to severe pain. It can be habit-forming. MS Contin should be taken with plenty of liquid.

MSIR
MSIR is the brand name for morphine sulfate immediate release. It is an opiate narcotic analgesic known as morphine. MSIR is a pain reliever often used by cancer patients to relieve long-term moderate to severe pain.

Marijuana, also called cannabis, is a psychoactive drug that is most often smoked. The chemical compound tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly referred to as THC, is the major psychoactive element of cannabis. Marijuana is controversially used to treat some common medical conditions.

Meperidine
Meperidine is a habit-forming narcotic pain reliever that is often compared to morphine. This medication is used to treat pain that is considered moderate to severe. It can also be found under the brand name, Demerol.

Mescaline
Mescaline is a naturally occurring psychedelic drug found in the peyote cactus. Mescaline visually distorts the user’s vision. It does not cause hallucinations, and tolerance is built with continued use. Mescaline is illegal in the United States.

Methadone
Methadone is a narcotic analgesic that is prescribed to help patients with withdrawal symptoms from illegal drug use or to deal with severe pain. This medication can be habit-forming and may be prescribed in decreasing amounts to alleviate additional withdrawal.

Methadrine
Methadrine is another name for methamphetamine, an addictive stimulant. It causes brief increases in energy and feelings of euphoria, but it also leads to cognitive impairment and confusion. It has a high potential for abuse and addiction.

Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a stimulant that is highly addictive and has a high potential for widespread abuse. This drug affects the central nervous system and is also referred to as speed, ice, crank, meth and crystal.

Methaqualone
Methaqualone is the generic term for Quaaludes. It was initially marketed as a non-habit-forming substitute for barbiturates, but it has slightly different properties and ultimately had a high rate of abuse. This sedative-hypnotic drug can cause euphoric feelings and sleepiness.

Methylphenidate
Methylphenidate, also known under the brand name Ritalin, is a medication used to help control the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It can be habit-forming and is often used in conjunction with therapy and counseling to obtain the best results.

Morphine
Morphine is an opiate analgesic classified as a narcotic. The drug is derived from opium and used to relieve severe pain. It impairs mental and physical functions, which can result in a euphoric feeling and decreased hunger, among other effects.

Mushrooms
Mushrooms, often called Magic Mushrooms, are a specific strain of fungi that contain the hallucinogens psilocybin. It causes a distortion of the senses, which can be pleasurable or terrifying, when the mushroom is consumed whole or brewed into tea.

Naltrexone
Naltrexone is an opioid receptor antagonist used for the treatment of alcohol or drug dependency. Naltrexone is available in tablet form or in an extended-release injection format and acts by blocking the effects of opioids.

Nembutal
Nembutal is a brand name for pentobarbital sodium, which is a part of the group of barbiturate drugs. This medication is primarily used for the purpose of insomnia treatment for short-term relief. It can also be used as a sedative before surgery.

Norco
Norco is a pharmaceutical-grade pain reliever that contains hydrocodone and acetaminophen. This medication is classified as a narcotic and is used to treat moderate to severe pain. The acetaminophen boosts the effects of the hydrocodone, which is an opioid analgesic.

Opium
Opium is a street drug that is eaten, injected, or smoked. It is highly addictive and tolerance is quickly developed in the user. It has analgesic effects and severe withdrawal symptoms including nausea and chills.

Oramorph
Oramorph, most commonly known as morphine, is an opioid drug used to treat chronic or severe pain. Oramorph has the potential to be highly addictive and can cause physiological and physical dependence that can result in difficult withdrawal.



Orlaam
Orlaam is a narcotic analgesic that is prescribed as part of a treatment plan for recovery from illegal narcotic drugs. It helps prevent withdrawal symptoms. It is usually given in gradually decreasing doses until the patient is drug-free.

OxyContin
OxyContin, generically known as oxycodone, is a narcotic used for pain relief. It can be habit-forming. Side effects include fatigue, dizziness, and fainting. It is available as a liquid, tablet, extended-release tablet, and capsule. It can be taken with or without food.

Oxycodone is a medication prescribed to reduce and control pain. It is a narcotic that can be addictive. An overdose of oxycodone can be fatal. Oxycodone is a class B drug, meaning that it may be safe for use during pregnancy.

PCP
PCP is the abbreviation for phencyclidine, an addictive drug with anesthetic, sedative, and hallucinogenic effects. It is a white powder that can be dissolved in water or alcohol. PCP can be smoked, snorted, injected, or taken orally.

Palladone
Palladone, also called hydromorphone, is normally prescribed for pain relief and cough control. It is available in liquid, tablet, and suppository form. Palladone can be habit-forming. It can also cause an upset stomach; it should be taken with food.

Panacet
Panacet is a drug used as a pain medication and fever reducer. It contains hydrocodone, which is a narcotic pain reliever, and acetaminophen, which is a non-narcotic pain reliever and fever reducer. Panacet is most commonly swallowed in pill form.

Pentobarbital
Pentobarbital is a type of barbiturate that works by slowing the brain and nervous system activity. It is used to treat insomnia for short-term relief, and has been used for sedation before surgery and as a treatment for seizures in an emergency.

Percocet is an analgesic that contains a combination of acetaminophen and oxycodon, used in the management and relief of moderate to severe pain. Percocet is typically used to deal with non-chronic pain. The drug is usually not used for breakthrough pain.

Percodan
Percodan is a mixture of aspirin and oxycodone. The aspirin reduces inflammation while the oxycodone serves as an opiate analgesic. This drug is used to relieve moderate to severe pain, and it can be habit forming.

Peyote
Peyote is a drug found in a small spineless cactus. After eating peyote, the user experiences dream-like hallucinations. The active ingredient in peyote is mescaline, and the effect varies from person to person. Indigenous Americans often used peyote for rituals.




Phenobarbital
Phenobarbital,also known as Luminal, is a barbiturate. It is commonly used as an anticonvulsant to treat patients with seizures. It can also be used to treat those experiencing acute withdrawal from benzodiazepines, which can cause tremors and seizures.

Quaalude
Quaalude is a sedative drug that was once prescribed for insomnia and as a muscle relaxant. It gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s as a recreational drug and is currently a drug that cannot be prescribed by physicians.

ReVia
ReVia is classified as an opiate antagonist. Also known as naltrexone, this drug is used to help people avoid drinking and using drugs once they have stopped. It is available in tablet form and used in conjunction with counseling.

Ritalin
Ritalin is one of the trade names for the stimulant methylphenidate. It is commonly used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the sleep disorder narcolepsy. Ritalin is available in tablet, capsule, and liquid form.

Rohypnol
Rohypnol is used to treat patients in a pre-surgery situation and to treat insomnia. It can be used to reduce muscle tension, to induce sedation, to reduce anxiety, and to prevent convulsions. Rohyphnol causes partial amnesia.

Roxanol
Roxanol, also known as rectal morphine, is an opiate analgesic that is used to relieve moderate to severe pain. This medication comes in suppository form that must be inserted into the rectum. This drug can be habit-forming.

Roxicodone
Roxicondone is an opium-derived drug commonly used to treat patients that suffer from moderate to severe pain. This drug is commonly used in formulations with other drugs, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to create brand name pharmaceuticals.

Ryzolt
Ryzolt is a brand name for tramadol, which is a prescription pain reliever. It is classified as an opiate agonist. Ryzolt is taken as a pill and mimics the effects of natural endorphins to change the body’s perception of pain.

Secobarbital
Secobarbital is a barbiturate that slows the activity of your nervous system and your brain. Its main uses are as a pre-surgery sedative and as a short-term insomnia treatment to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.

Seconal
Seconal is a brand name for secobarbital, which is a prescription barbituate. It decreases activity in the brain and is used to control seizures, insomnia, and severe anxiety. This medication is taken orally as a pill.




Soma
Soma is the brand name for the drug carisoprodol, which is a muscle relaxant. It is used as treatment for acute back pain. Dependency and side effects of this drug are controversial and have caused concern in some countries.

Speed
Speed is a slang term for methamphetamine made from chemicals and over-the-counter ingredients. This synthetic drug stimulates the central nervous system, resulting in a short-lived euphoric feeling and an increased heart rate and breathing rate, among other effects.

Steroids
Steroids are a class of drugs used to stimulate certain functions in the body. Medicinally, steroids are prescribed to stimulate cell production or a patient’s appetite. When combined with hormones, steroids can be used as a contraceptive.

Stilnox
Stilnox is a brand name for zolpidem, which is a drug that is used to treat insomnia for short-term relief. Additionally, it can also be used for the treatment of some brain disorders. This drug is an anticonvulsant and muscle relaxant.

Sublimaze
Sublimaze is a potent narcotic analgesic that comes in injection form. It is commonly used in or after an operative setting, such as during anesthesia or in the recovery room. It should only be given by those trained specifically in its use.

Suboxone
Suboxone is an FDA-approved drug used to supplement additional detox treatments for pain killer addictions. It contains buprenorphine and naloxone. When used under the supervision of a physician, this medicine can help an individual overcome an opioid dependence.

Subutex
Subutex is a brand name version of buprenorphine that is used to treat an addiction to narcotics. This is an opioid and is considered addictive. It must be taken as directed to avoid the risk of serious injury or death.

Symtan
Symtan is a combination medication used to treat symptoms of coughing associated with influenza or during a cold. It contains a decongestant and a narcotic cough suppressant. This medication is not recommended for patients under 6 years of age.

Temesta
Temesta is a brand name for lorazepam, which is a type of medication that is used to treat anxiety, acute seizures and insomnia. This benzodiazepine drug is a muscle relaxant, antiemetic, anticonvulsant, sedative, amnesic and anxiolytic.

Tramadol is a member of the opiate agonists drug family. Its primary use is pain relief, and it is administered in tablet form. Tramadol can be habit-forming. Tramadol dosage should be gradually decreased; abruptly stopping tramadol therapy can have unpleasant side effects.



Tramal
Tramal is a centrally acting analgesic. Tramal is typically used in the management of moderate to severe pain and is effective on pain of all types. The drug has a low risk of dependency and tends to provide relief quickly.

Triazolam
Triazolam is a drug that treats insomnia, so you are better able to fall asleep and stay asleep. It is a part of the benzodiazepines group, and works by affecting the unbalanced brain chemicals that cause the sleeping problems.

Tussionex
Tussionex is a prescription medication that contains a combination of hydrocodone and chlorpheniramine. The hydrocodone suppresses coughing while the other active ingredient serves as an antihistamine. It is used to relieve symptoms of colds and the flu.

Tylox
Tylox is a combination of acetaminophen and oxycodone. It is a narcotic that can become addictive. This drug is contraindicated for patients who are heavy drinkers or who suffer from liver disease. Tylox can cause drowsiness and dizziness.

Ultram
Ultram, also known as tramadol, is used as a pain reliever similar to narcotics. It can help ease moderate to severe pain and is often used to treat chronic pain. Ultram is available in tablet form.

Valium is in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. It is used to treat anxiety, seizures and muscle spasms. It can be habit forming, so it should not be taken for an extended period of time.

Vicodin is a mixture of acetaminophen and hydrocodone. This pharmaceutical pain reliever is classified as a narcotic, as hydrocodone is an opioid analgesic. Vicodin depresses the central nervous system and impairs mental and physical functions.

Vicoprofen
Vicoprofen is the brand name of the combination drug that contains hydrocodone and ibuprofen. This narcotic and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug combination is used for the treatment of severe pain as a short-term option for relief.

Vivitrol
Vivitrol is another name for a naltrexone injection. It is prescribed in conjunction with psychological counseling for patients recovering from drug or alcohol addiction. It reduces the urge to drink or use drugs. It cannot be taken together with drugs or alcohol.

Xanax is the name brand of the generic drug alprazolam, which is a benzodiazepine. It is primarily used to prevent anxiety and panic attacks, as well as anxiety caused by depression in some patients, by altering the chemicals in the brain.




Xodol
Xodol is a combination of two pain relievers known as hydrocodone and acetaminophen. The presence of acetaminophen increases the effects of hydrocodone, which is classified as a narcotic pain reliever. Xodol is used to relieve moderate to severe pain.

Zolpidem
Zolpidem is a sedative-hypnotic medication used in the treatment of insomnia. It depresses the central nervous system and decreases activity in the brain to cause drowsiness. The drug is taken orally as a pill or spray.

Zydone
Zydone is an opiate that contains a mixture of Hydrocodone Bitartrate and acetaminophen. Zydone is commonly used in the management of pain ranging from moderate to moderately severe. The substance should always be used under the direction of a physician.

437. Are generic drugs safe?


Are generic drugs safe?

Despite widespread use, our survey shows concerns persist

About three-quarters of prescription medication American adults take are generics, but 43 percent of us have a concern or misperception about them, according to a 2012 poll by the Consumer Reports National Research Center.
Indeed, the drugs—copies of brand-name medication whose patents have expired—contain the identical active ingredients in the same quantity. And because brand-name drugs are prescribed for many years before they can be copied, their generic clones are considered, by extension, “tried and true.” Overall, generic drugs appear no more likely than brand-name drugs to pose risks.
But generic and branded drugs do differ in one important area: price. Generics can cost up to 95 percent less because manufacturers don’t have the expense of developing them from scratch and rarely spend money on advertising. The lower price not only helps your wallet but might also help your health. Research suggests that people who use generics are more likely to stay on the drugs as directed, compared with those who use costlier brand-name drugs.  

FDA standards for approving generic drugs

The Food and Drug Administration requires that over-the-counter and prescription generic drugs have exactly the same active ingredients in the same strength as the brands they copy. It also requires that they have the same purity and stability, come in the same form—for example, tablet, patch, or liquid—and be administered the same way (for example, swallowed as a pill or given as an injection). In addition, manufacturers of a generic must demonstrate that the drug is “bioequivalent” to its corresponding brand by showing that it delivers the same amount of active ingredients into a person’s bloodstream in the same time as the original brand. A 2009 analysis of 2,070 bioequivalence studies found that the average difference in absorption—using two measures—between a generic and its branded prototype was about 4 percent, the same variation that is found between two batches of the same brand-name drug.

Are generic drugs made overseas safe?

Yes, or at least as safe as brand-name drugs made overseas. Eighty percent of the active ingredients in all U.S. drugs—generic and branded—are now made in foreign countries. In fact, most brand-name drugs are produced in the same countries and often the same factories as their generic counterparts. There have been concerns about generic drugs made overseas, but there have been reports of problems with brand-name drugs, too. For example, in 2009 the FDA took action against a generic drug-maker for falsifying data and test results at one of its facilities in India. The previous year, an FDA investigation found that the active ingredient in branded versions of the blood thinner heparin, made in China, had been contaminated. The agency has not had have sufficient resources or access to inspect foreign facilities as often as it does domestic ones.
“That potentially affects both brand-name and generic drugs, and we need to be vigilant about it,” Kesselheim says. “But so far, it appears that counterfeit or adulterated drugs are extremely rare in the U.S.”
The FDA has recently taken steps to increase overseas inspections, and some U.S. drugmakers inspect their foreign facilities. The Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act of 2012, signed by President Obama in July, provides additional resources for inspections of manufacturing facilities overseas.

When to use caution: The NTIs

Some experts think so, though that’s controversial. Articles in medical journals and other media have debated the safety of using generics in place of brand-name drugs that have a “narrow therapeutic index” (NTI) because they are effective and safe only within a small dosing range. In other words, too little active ingredient and the drug doesn’t work; too much and it becomes toxic. NTI drugs include antiseizure medication for treating epilepsy, blood-thinning drugs like warfarin, antiarrhythmics for controlling irregular heartbeats, and drugs that help prevent the rejection of a transplanted organ. Several states have restricted generic substitutions of NTI drugs, and last year an FDA committee recommended that the agency tighten bioequivalence standards for them.
This has been an ongoing issue for people with epilepsy. In 2006 the American Academy of Neurology recommended that pharmacists not substitute generic versions of antiseizure drugs for people with epilepsy without their consent and their doctor’s. The concerns stem from anecdotal reports of treatment failures, such as an increase in epileptic seizures, after patients switched from a branded to a generic medication. Observational studies involving epilepsy patients who switched to generic versions reported higher switchback rates to branded drugs than for other classes of drugs, and more epilepsy-related doctor visits, hospitalizations, and prescription drug use.
Those studies, however, contradict the findings of randomized controlled trials. For example, a 2010 meta-analysis conducted by Kesselheim and his colleagues comparing brand-name antiepileptic drugs with generics found no difference in seizure control in seven such trials. But the trials were small and had other limitations. Another 2010 study reported increased seizures around the time the prescription was refilled—whether it involved a switch from brand to generic, generic to generic, or even a refill of the same medication. This might be due to a brief lapse in treatment during the refilling process, or to slight variations between different drugs or different lots of the same drug produced by the same manufacturer.
Cardiovascular drugs were investigated in a 2008 meta-analysis of 38 randomized controlled trials, also conducted by Kesselheim and his colleagues. They found no evidence that brand-name heart drugs worked any better than their generic versions. The analysis included NTI drugs such as antiarrythmics and the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin), as well as drugs to lower blood pressure, cholesterol-lowering statins, and the antiplatelet drugs aspirin and clopidogrel (Plavix).
For NTI drugs, particularly those to treat epilepsy, our medical consultants recommend staying on a generic made by one manufacturer to avoid slight variations that may occur with different manufacturers. Talk with your pharmacist to ensure that he or she can provide that consistency month-to-month, or at least tell you if the pharmacy switches its generic supplier. If you do switch to a different generic or from a brand to a generic, your doctor may want to monitor your response more closely during the transition period.

Bottom line

When your doctor prescribes a drug, ask if there is a generic version that would be just as safe and effective but less expensive. If one isn’t available, as is the case with many newer brand-name drugs, ask if a generic version of an older drug in the same class would work as well.
Keep in mind that branded and generic drugs can contain different inactive ingredients that may alter their look and taste. That won’t affect how they work. But if you’re allergic or sensitive to lactose or gluten—which may be used to fill and bind pills—ask your pharmacist to verify the ingredients in the product you receive. Or go to DailyMed, which has a searchable database of package inserts. Although they’re written for health-care professionals, not consumers, they can be helpful. You can usually skip to the section of the package insert titled “Description” to find the list of inactive ingredients.
For products such as inhalers, the transition from brand to generic may involve a device that looks or operates a little differently. Ask the pharmacist to show you how to use them.  
Learn the generic and brand names of your medication to avoid taking multiple versions of the same drug.
To find out if your medication is available as a generic, go to DailyMed. If you know the drug’s active ingredient, search using that; search results with multiple manufacturers indicate the generic is probably available. (If you don’t know the name of a drug’s active ingredient, search by proprietary (brand) name to find it.)
Editor's Note: These materials were made possible by a grant from the state Attorney General Consumer and Prescriber Education Grant Program, which is funded by a multistate settlement of consumer fraud claims regarding the marketing of the prescription drug Neurontin (gabapentin).

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