What are nitrates (nitrate medications)? Nitrates are medications used for treating or preventing heart pain (angina, chest pain) caused by heart disease, usually of the arteries in the heart. What are examples of nitrates available in the United States? Examples of generic and brand names of nitrates include: nitroglycerin sublingual tablet (Nitrostat) nitroglycerin lingual aerosol...
What is Optiray Injection, and how does it work? Optiray (ioversol) is a radiopaque contrast agent that contains iodine, a substance that absorbs x-rays, and is used to help diagnose certain disorders of the heart. What are the side effects of Optiray Injection? Common side effects of Optiray include fever, warmth and pain at the...
Clopidogrel vs. Effient: What’s the difference? Clopidogrel and Effient (prasugrel) are antiplatelet drugs used for preventing strokes, heart attacks, and death in individuals who have had a previous stroke, unstable angina, heart attack, or have peripheral arterial disease (PAD). A brand name for clopidogrel is Plavix. Side effects of clopidogrel and Effient that are similar...
What is heparin, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Heparin is a widely used injectable anticoagulant (stops the formation of blood clots). The blood coagulation system is composed of various steps and heparin acts at multiple sites in this process. Heparin prevents blood clots by blocking the action of two of the 12...
What are oral potassium supplements, and how do they work (mechanism of action)? Potassium preparations are used for supplementing potassium in order to treat or prevent low potassium levels in the blood (hypokalemia). Potassium is a major mineral (electrolyte) that is important for the function of every cell in the body. For example, it is...
What is isosorbide mononitrate, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Isosorbide mononitrate is in the class of drugs called nitrates that are used for treating and preventing angina. Other nitrates include nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, NitroQuick, Nitrolingual, Nitro-Dur and others) and isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil Titradose, Dilatrate-SR, Isochron). Nitrates are vasodilators (dilators of blood vessels). Blood...
Lipitor vs. Niacin: What’s the difference? Lipitor (atorvastatin) and niacin (nicotinic acid, vitamin B3) are used to lowers cholesterol levels in the blood. Lipitor and niacin belong to different drug classes. Lipitor is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (a “statin” drug) and niacin is a nutrient. Brand names for niacin include Niacor, Niaspan, Slo-Niacin, and Nicolar....
Lipitor (atorvastatin) vs. Crestor (rosuvastatin): What’s the difference? Lipitor (atorvastatin) and Crestor (rosuvastatin) are HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (“statin” drugs) that lower cholesterol levels in the blood. Lipitor and Crestor are also used to reduce the risk of heart attacks, stroke, and arterial revascularization procedures in patients with multiple risk factors for heart disease. Side effects...
lovastatin vs. simvastatin comparison Both lovastatin (Mevacor, Altoprev) and simvastatin (Zocor) are members of the statin family of cholesterol-lowering drugs. Statins revolutionized the treatment and prevention of a host of cardiovascular diseases including coronary artery disease and other cholesterol-related problems that cause debilitating and fatal heart attacks and strokes. Lovastatin and simvastatin are chemically similar....
What is idarucizumab, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Dabigatran prevents blood clots by binding to thrombin and preventing thrombin from combining with other proteins to form a blood clot. Dabigatran increases the risk of bleeding because it reduces the ability of blood to clot. Patients who are taking dabigatran may develop serious...