Major depressive disorder and mild, chronic depression affect approximately 18 million adults ages 18 and older in the United States, according to 2010 information from the National Institute of Mental Health. People with depression experience...
Medications to treat anxiety usually fall under three types: antidepressants, beta blockers and anti-anxiety drugs. Each type of drug has side effects, but the results often outweigh them. Some of these drugs begin to have an effect immediately,...
Cholesterol levels directly correspond to an increased risk for heart disease. Increased cholesterol levels, especially low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol levels, are associated with atherosclerosis, stroke and heart attacks. Reducing...
Anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used to treat conditions that cause pain and inflammation in the body. The body’s immune system releases inflammatory cells in response to infections but also in response to injured tissues. Inflammation...
All of the drugs used to treat people with autism carry some side effects. Depending on which type of drug your child needs, however, there are different side effects you can expect. There are two main types of psychotropic drugs used in autism...
If you have high cholesterol, you may have already tried diet and exercise to lower your LDL cholesterol and raise your HDL cholesterol. For some people, especially those with a family history of hypercholesterolemia, diet and exercise alone are...
Anesthetic drugs are used during surgical procedures to cause sedation or reduce the ability to feel. MedlinePlus says there are four types of anesthetic drugs. Local anesthesia numbs a small area of the body. Intravenous administration of a mild...
According to Mayoclinic.com, Alli is the weight loss medication, orlistat and is available as an over-the-counter medicine in 60 mg capsules. Alli works in the body by blocking lipase, a digestive enzyme that helps break down fat for absorption....
Statins are a class of drugs that block an enzyme in the liver that forms cholesterol. They are prescribed when cholesterol levels are high, to reduce risk of heart attack in diabetics and in people with family history of early heart disease, and...
Almost all drugs have effects beyond their intended action. This is because most drugs have more than one action in the body and patients can react unpredictability to a given drug. There are two kinds of effects---side effects and adverse...
Elidel (pimecrolimus) is a topical prescription cream used to manage symptoms associated with a skin condition called eczema. This medication is steroid-free and can be used in people over the age of 2 who cannot use other eczema medications....
Atenolol is a prescription medication used to lower high blood pressure or prevent symptoms of chest pain (angina). This medication is part of a class of drugs called beta blockers and works by decreasing your heart rate and relaxing your blood...
If you have rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or chronic psoriasis, your doctor may recommend the use of a prescription medication called Enbrel (etanercept). This injectable medication helps regulate the way your immune...
Depression is thought to occur because of a chemical imbalance in the brain. If you are suffering from depression, antidepressants may help relieve your symptoms. However, certain medications may have unpleasant side effects, all of which should...
Antiplatelets are medications that prevent blood from clotting. According to the American Heart Association, blood clots can block the flow of blood to the heart and brain, leading to heart attacks and strokes. Doctors prescribe antiplatelets to...
Antipsychotics are a type of drug prescribed to treat the symptoms of disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and Alzheimer's disease. The term "psychotic" is used to describe symptoms exhibited by a person who seems to have lost touch...
As described by the National Institute of Mental Health, antidepressant medications come in many types and include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, commonly called SSRIs, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs,...
Fosamax (alendronate) is in a classification of drugs known as bisphosphonates. According to Drugs.com,it alters the cycle of bone formation and breakdown in the body, and slows bone loss while increasing bone mass, which may prevent bone...
Effexor (venlafaxine) is a prescription antidepressant medication indicated for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, depression, social anxiety disorder and panic disorder. This medication is a type of serotonin and norepinephrine...
Avandia (rosiglitazone maleate) is a prescription medication indicated for the management of type 2 diabetes in adults. This medication works by increasing your body's ability to effectively utilize the insulin it produces, allowing for better...
The brand-name drug Hyzaar combines hydrochlorothiazide with losartan to control high blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic. Hydrochlorothiazide classifies as a diuretic, a type of medicine that flushes excess fluid from the body, thus...
Toprol (metoprolol)---also called Toprol-XL---is a prescription beta-blocker medication that is used to treat high blood pressure (hypotension) and chest pain (angina). This medication is administered orally and should be taken with a full glass...
Abilify (aripiprazole) is a prescription medication indicated for the treatment of symptoms associated with depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and irritability with autistic disorder. This medication can be orally administered as a liquid...
Arthritis encompasses a group of more than 100 disorders characterized by joint inflammation, stiffness and pain, states the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 46 million adult Americans have been diagnosed with arthritis,...
Antineoplastic drugs, also known as chemotherapy agents, are used to treat cancer---the uncontrolled, invasive growth of abnormal cells. Chemotherapy agents treat cancer by inhibiting cell growth. Unfortunately, most agents are not selective for...
Sulfa drugs describe a class of antibiotics known as sulfonamides. Members of this antibiotic class include sulfadiazine and sulfamethoxazole. These medications can be used to treat a variety of bacterial infections, but their use can be limited...
The most common and typically most effective prescription drugs for erectile dysfunction include sildenafil citrate (Viagra), vardenafil HCl (Levitra) and tadalafil (Cialis). These drugs relax blood vessels in the penile region, increasing blood...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the prevalence of ADHD in children between the ages of 4 and 17 was 7.8 percent in 2003. Of these children, 4.5 percent were reported to be taking medication, meaning that more...
Aciphex is a medication in a class of drugs known as proton pump inhibitors. According to Drugs.com, Aciphex is used to treat symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. It also promotes healing of erosive...
Incontinence is the loss of control of excretory functions. Get expert tips and advice on treating and living with incontinence in this medical video.
Running a marathon could be the biggest accomplishment of your life but it take a lot of exercise. Here are some workout tips in this marathon video.
