Cryptococcal meningitis is a fungal infection of the meninges, which are membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. A fungus found in soil called cryptococcus neoformans causes cryptococcal meningitis. A major risk factor for cryptococcal...
Ohm Allergy Relief is an antihistamine, meaning it reduces the natural chemical produced by your body called histamine that's produced during an allergic reaction. The generic name for its active ingredient is loratadine. Ohm is used to treat...
Eating iron-rich foods or taking a multivitamin with iron helps your body maintain adequate iron stores. But when your body's stores are low, it can lead to unusual tiredness, weakness, an inability to concentrate or chronic infections. To...
The pneumonia vaccine works by introducing the body to a small quantity of the bacteria responsible for the illness. MayoClinic.com reports that the bacteria helps the body build antibodies to defend itself against future exposure to the illness....
According to the National Cancer Institute, quinacrine, brand name Atabrine, is a drug used to treat giardiasis, a protozoal infection of the intestinal tract. Quinacrine is also used to treat lupus erythematosus, which is an inflammatory disease...
When the body does not have enough water and fluids to carry out normal functions, the consequences can be serious. The Mayo Clinic defines the loss of fluid and inadequate replenishment as dehydration. There are some early signs of dehydration...
According to the Mayo Clinic, Topamax (topiramate) is used in the treatment of epilepsy to control some types of seizures, and is also prescribed for prevention of adult migraine headaches. Available in tablets and capsules, Topamax is only...
The drug amphotericin B is marketed under two names in the United States, Fungizone and Amphocin. Fungizone may be administered as either an injection or as a topical cream, ointment or lotion. In either the topical or intravenous form, your...
Fenofibric acid (Fibricor) is used together with proper diet to lower triglyceride (fat-like substances) levels and cholesterol levels in the blood, as well as raise the amount of good cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) in the blood, as reported by...
Progesterone is a hormone that is naturally produced by the body. According to the American Pregnancy Association, during the earlier stages of pregnancy, days 12 to 16 of the cycle, it is released by the part of the egg follicle known as the...
Flecainide acetate (also known as Tambocor) is a medication that is commonly used to treat severe cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms). Flecainide is useful for these disorders because it slows nerve impulses in the heart, making the heart...
Solifenacin, or brand name VESICare, is a drug prescribed to treat bladder problems including the frequent need to urinate or the inability to control urination, according to the Mayo Clinic. This is often called incontinence. Individuals may...
According to the Mayo Clinic, imiquimod is a topical drug used to treat genital warts. Genital warts are fleshy bumps that can appear on the vaginal, penile or rectal areas. They can be flat or raised, alone or in clusters, and have a...
Pravastatin is a generic prescription medication prescribed to lower high cholesterol levels in conjunction with healthy lifestyle changes. This medication is a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A, abbreviated HMG-CoA, reductase inhibitor, and...
Human immunodeficiency virus infects and kills white blood cells. The decrease in the number of these cells, called T cells, affects the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to certain types of infections and cancers. According to the...
When you exercise, your body uses both circulating and stored supplies of glucose to provide energy to your muscles. When glucose levels are depleted, your body uses your fat as an alternate source of energy. If you have type I diabetes and you do...
The Myositis Association defines muscle enzymes as proteins present inside muscle fibers serving a metabolic function. When muscle cells break down, they leak these enzymes into the blood stream. Muscle enzymes are detected in the blood to...
If you experience nausea and vomiting as a side effect of your cancer chemotherapy, your doctor can help by prescribing antinausea drugs. These drugs can be administered orally, intravenously, or via a patch or suppository. In addition to taking...
Simvastatin is a cholesterol-lowering medication your doctor may prescribe to block the production of cholesterol in your body. Simvastatin reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol in the blood, according to...
Fluoxetine, often sold under the brand name Prozac, can be prescribed for a number of mental conditions, including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia, anxiety and panic disorder. Although the medication can be quite effective,...
Antihistamines are sold under many brand names that include Allegra, Zyrtec, Periactin, Unisom, Atarax, Benadryl, Clarinex, Vistaril, Sominex, Nolahist and many others. Antihistamines may be used to treat a variety of conditions including...
You may take potassium iodide to combat an overactive thyroid. Potassium iodide also is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a thyroid blocking agent that can be used during radiation emergencies. This drug can be obtained without...
Iron is an essential mineral that your body needs to produce healthy red blood cells. If you have low levels of iron in your body, you might develop iron deficiency anemia. Your doctor will most likely prescribe you iron supplements to treat iron...
Although women on average tend to develop heart disease a decade later than men, the Mayo Clinic reports that more females than males die of heart disease each year. Because heart disease symptoms in women can be more subtle, victims may take much...
Apexicon E is the brand name for a topical corticosteroid product containing 0.05 percent diflorasone diacetate. Manufactured by PharmaDerm, this cream is available by prescription only, as it is one of the stronger corticosteroids on the market....
Many people struggle with weight gain caused by medications. In many cases, people do not realize that the sudden increase in their waistline can be associated with their new medications. Patients who do suspect that their medications are causing...
PEG-Intron is the brand name of peginterferon alfa-2b, a synthetic form of substances that normally occur in the body and fight infection, according to Drugs.com. PEG-Intron may be prescribed to treat individuals with liver damage. Physicians'...
Errin is one of the many brand names of a progestin oral contraceptive: "The Pill." It is a low-dose form of the medication known alternately as progestin-only pills or minipills. They stop the ovary's egg from developing fully, thus preventing...
One of the first signs of arthritic psoriasis is the presence of joint stiffness with the itchiness and flakiness of psoriasis. Not everyone with psoriasis gets arthritis; when it does happen, the symptoms of arthritis usually come along well...
The common cold: elusive yet ubiquitous physical ailment. Learn about the cold and treatment options in this health video.
