Name That Drug

Description: This is an antiepileptic drug.

Indication: Partial onset/primary generalized, tonic /clonic seizures. Prophylaxis of migraine.

Availability: Tablet 25, 50, 100, 200 mg. Sprinkle capsules 15, 25 mg.

Side Effects: Paresthesia, taste perversion, anorexia.

Precautions: Watch for eye complaints, visual field defects, glaucoma, acute myopia must lead to discontinuation.

NDC: 50458-639

Hint: The head is the top part of the body.

Description: This drug is a topical high potency steroid for allergic and chronic dermatologic conditions.

Pharmacology: It is a synthetic adrenocortical steroid, analog of prednisone with anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, and vasoconstrictive actions.

Indication: Eczema, allergic dermatitis, psoriasis.

Availability: Cream, ointment, lotion, gel .05%, 0.1%, 0.12% regular or augmented potency intermediate or super high.

Side Effects: Usually none. Skin atrophy with chronic use.

Precautions: Large area occlusive dressings, prolonged regular use can lead to systemic absorption and suppress hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Hint: It is not triamcinolone!

Description: This drug helps in weight reduction and is an adjunct to other measures in patients with BMI>30 kg/m2.

Pharmacology: It is a serotonin 2C receptor agonist (serotonergic).

Indication: Morbid obesity.

Availability: Tablet 10 mg BID. Dosage: 1 tab BID.

Side Effects: Headache, hypoglycemia in diabetics on antidiabetic therapy, nausea, constipation.

Precautions: Do baseline CBC, EKG. Beware the possibility of serotonin excess syndrome with neurologic, cardiovascular, and GI symptoms. Use with caution in patients with erectile dysfunction.

Contraindication: Pregnancy.

NDC: 62856-529

Hint: The only 5-HT2C receptor agonist approved for weight loss.

Description: This drug lowers high blood pressure and heart rate.

Pharmacology: It is a synthetic beta-1 cardioselective adrenoreceptor blocking agent.

Indication: Hypertension, angina, myocardial infarction.

Availability: Tablet 25, 50, 100mg.IV dose 5 mg/mL.

Dosage: 50-200 mg qd.

Side Effects: Hypotension, sinus bradycardia, bronchospasm, CHF.

Precautions: Evaluate heart rate and rhythm, hypotension, bradycardia, heart block.

Contraindication: Sinus bradycardia, 2nd and 3rd degree heart block, congestive heart failure, asthma, COPD.

NDC: 42291-140

Hint: Do not confuse it with Toprol.

Description: This drug is an antiprotozoal agent.

Pharmacology: It is an analog of naphthoquinone.

Indication: Pneumocystis carinii treatment and prevention in HIV patients that cannot tolerate TMP-SMX.

Availability: Suspension 750 mg/5mL. Dosage 5 mL BID for 21 days.

Side Effects: Rash, headache, GI upset.

Precautions: Rifampin can decrease absorption by 50%.

Hint: Absorption of the medicine is increased with meal!

Description: This drug is useful in the management of HIV infection.

Pharmacology: It is a nucleoside analogue, an inhibitor of reverse transcriptase, an antiretroviral agent.

Indication: HIV infection.

Availability: Tablet 300 mg. Oral Solution 20 mg/mL.

Dosage: One tablet BID.

Side Effects: Bad dreams, sleep problems, nausea, headache,

tiredness, vomiting.

Precautions: Patient should be evaluated for allele HLA-B*5701 as they are high risk for hypersensitivity reaction. Reduce dose for hepatic involvement. Watch for hypersensitivity reaction.

NDC: 0378-4105

Hint: The brand name starts with the letter Z, but it is neither Zerit nor Zovirax.

Description: This drug is helpful in the management of neuropathic and muscle pain.

Pharmacology: It has high affinity to the α 2-delta site in CNS tissues, probably causing antinociceptive and anti-seizure effects.

Indication: Peripheral neuropathy, fibromyalgia, adjunct in

partial onset seizures. Postherpetic

Availability: Capsule 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 225, 300 mg.

‘Oral solution 20 mg/mL.

Side Effects: Dizziness, somnolence, dry mouth.

Precautions: Watch for angioedema and myopathy.

NDC: 50436-1265

Hint: It is not Cymbalta!

Description: This is a lipid-lowering agent.

Pharmacology: It is an HMG-COA reductase inhibitor.

Indication: Hyperlipidemia.

Availability: Tablet 1, 2, 4, mg. Dosage: 2 mg qd.

Side Effects: Back pain, GI symptoms.

Precautions: Increased risk of myopathy with higher dose of 4 mg qd. Monitor liver enzymes and CK levels.

NDC: 66869-104

Hint: It is the only statin with 1 mg dosage. The brand name is suggested by words livelong!

Description: This is an antibacterial drug. It is helpful in diarrhea and liver failure.

Pharmacology: It is a structured analog of Rifampin.

Indication: Traveler’s diarrhea due to non-invasive E. coli,

reduction of overt hepatic encephalopathy.

Availability: Tablet 200, 550 mg. Dosage: For diarrhea: 200 mg TID x 3 days. For encephalopathy: 550 mg BID.

Side Effects: GI related.

Precautions: Not effective in other. coli organism causing diarrhea.

NDC: 54868-6154

Hint: The brand name has the strength of the tablets, 200 mg or 550 mg. It is the only medicine with dosage 200 mg TID for 3 days.

Description: This drug helps in smoking cessation treatment.

Pharmacology: It binds with high affinity and selectivity at 4B2 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. This binding is considered to produce agonist activity and prevents nicotine binding.

Indication: Smokers with nicotine dependency.

Availability: Tablet 0.5 mg, 1 mg. Dosage: 1 mg BID x 12 weeks.

Side Effects: Nausea and other GI related symptoms, sleep disturbance.

Precautions: Observe for serious neuropsychiatric symptoms including depression and/or suicidal thoughts.

NDC: 54868-5664

Hint: It is not Zyban!

Description: This drug is an alkaloid useful for prevention and management of acute flare up of gout.

Pharmacology: The drug suppresses activation of interleukin-1B and neutrophils.

Indication: Prophylaxis and treatment of gout flares.

Availability: Tablet 0.6 mg. Dosage: 0.6 mg 1-2 per day.

Maximum 3 tabs/day.

Side Effects: GI related, blood dyscrasias.

Precautions: Monitor CBS, chemistry. Watch for myopathy when using lipid-lowering agent concomitantly.

Contraindication: Severe renal or hepatic impairment.

NDC: 0143-3018

Hint: It is the only arthritic medicine that comes in 0.6 mg tablet form.

Description: This drug is useful in the management of rheumatoid arthritis.

Pharmacology: It inhibits T cell activation and production of cytokines.

Indication: Rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Availability: IV: 250 mg vial. Subcutaneous injection 125 mg syringe.Dosage: 1-4 vials depending on weight every four weeks.

Side Effects: Headache, upper respiratory tract infection, nausea.

Precautions: Avoid concomitant use of TNF antagonists,

watch COPD patients for exacerbation.

NDC: 0003-2187

Hint: This is not methotrexate or prednisone.

Description: This drug reduces thrombotic events in the coronary artery system.

Pharmacology: It is a thienopyridine, a P2Y12 inhibitor of platelet activation and...