Wednesday 10 October 2012

Antidiuretic hormones


A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. Each drug can be classified into one or more drug classes.

Antidiuretic hormone, also known as vasopressin is a hormone released by the posterior pituitary. It is important mainly for its actions on the kidneys where it increases the re-absorption of water. Vasopressin is also a powerful vasoconstrictor. Its effects are through two types of receptors, V1 and V2.


Water retention is mediated through V2 receptors, occurs at low plasma concentrations of vasopressin and is due to activation of adenylate cyclase and increased cAMP production in the collecting ducts of the nephrons. It increases the permeability of the membrane to water.


Vasopressin causes contraction of smooth muscle, mainly in the cardiovascular system. Vasocontriction occurs by mediation of V1 receptors and requires higher concentrations if vasopressin.

See also

Medical conditions associated with antidiuretic hormones:

  • Abdominal Distension Prior to Abdominal X-ray
  • Asystole
  • Diabetes Insipidus
  • Esophageal Varices with Bleeding
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
  • Hemophilia A
  • Postoperative Gas Pains
  • Primary Nocturnal Enuresis
  • Ventricular Fibrillation
  • Ventricular Tachycardia
  • von Willebrand's Disease

Drug List:

Thursday 4 October 2012

Pediaderm TA Cream


Pronunciation: TRYE-am-SIN-oh-lone
Generic Name: Triamcinolone
Brand Name: Pediaderm TA


Pediaderm TA Cream is used for:

Reducing itching, redness, and swelling associated with many skin conditions. The protective emollient helps to treat and prevent dry skin.


Pediaderm TA Cream is a topical corticosteroid and emollient combination. The corticosteroid works by reducing skin inflammation (redness, swelling, itching, and irritation). The emollient moisturizes the skin.


Do NOT use Pediaderm TA Cream if:


  • you are allergic to any ingredient in Pediaderm TA Cream

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.



Before using Pediaderm TA Cream:


Some medical conditions may interact with Pediaderm TA Cream. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:


  • if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding

  • if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement

  • if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances

  • if you have chickenpox, shingles, measles, or tuberculosis (TB), or have had a positive TB skin test or a recent vaccination

  • if you have had a skin infection, thinning of the skin (atrophy), or a certain type of severe acne (rosacea)

  • if you are taking an oral corticosteroid (eg, prednisone)

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Pediaderm TA Cream. Because little, if any, of Pediaderm TA Cream is absorbed into the blood, the risk of it interacting with another medicine is low.


Ask your health care provider if Pediaderm TA Cream may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.


How to use Pediaderm TA Cream:


Use Pediaderm TA Cream as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.


  • Apply a small amount of medicine to the affected area. Gently rub it in until it is evenly distributed. Wash your hands after applying Pediaderm TA Cream, unless your hands are part of the treated area.

  • Do not bandage or wrap the affected area unless directed otherwise by your doctor.

  • Use the protective emollient cream as directed by your doctor.

  • If you miss a dose of Pediaderm TA Cream, use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Pediaderm TA Cream.



Important safety information:


  • Pediaderm TA Cream is for external use only. Do not get Pediaderm TA Cream in your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you get it in any of these areas, rinse immediately with cool water.

  • Do not use Pediaderm TA Cream for other skin conditions at a later time.

  • Do NOT use more than the recommended dose, use for longer than prescribed, or use over a large area of the body without checking with your doctor.

  • If you use topical products too often, your condition may become worse.

  • If Pediaderm TA Cream was prescribed to treat the diaper area of a child, avoid using tight-fitting diapers or plastic pants.

  • Contact your doctor if you have a cut or sore that does not heal.

  • Check with your doctor before you receive any vaccine while you are using Pediaderm TA Cream.

  • Do not use other medicines or products on your skin without first checking with your doctor.

  • Pediaderm TA Cream has a corticosteroid in it. Before you start any new medicine, check the label to see if it has a corticosteroid in it too. If it does or if you are not sure, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

  • Tell your doctor or dentist that you use Pediaderm TA Cream before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.

  • Serious side effects may occur if too much of Pediaderm TA Cream is absorbed through the skin. This may be more likely to occur if you use Pediaderm TA Cream over a large area of the body. It may also be more likely if you wrap or bandage the area after you apply Pediaderm TA Cream. The risk is greater in children. Do not use more than the prescribed dose. Contact your doctor right away if you develop unusual weight gain (especially in the face), muscle weakness, increased thirst or urination, confusion, unusual drowsiness, severe or persistent headache, or vision changes. Discuss any questions or concerns with your doctor.

  • Corticosteroids may affect growth rate in CHILDREN and teenagers in some cases. They may need regular growth checks while they use Pediaderm TA Cream.

  • Caution is advised when using Pediaderm TA Cream in CHILDREN; they may be more sensitive to its effects.

  • PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Pediaderm TA Cream while you are pregnant. It is not known if Pediaderm TA Cream is found in breast milk after topical use. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Pediaderm TA Cream, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.


Possible side effects of Pediaderm TA Cream:


All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:



Dryness; mild burning, irritation, or itching.



Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); acne-like rash; burning, cracking, itching, pain, peeling, redness, or swelling not present before using Pediaderm TA Cream; excessive hair growth; fever; inflamed hair follicles; inflammation around the mouth; severe or persistent skin irritation; thinning, softening, or discoloration of the skin.



This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.


See also: Pediaderm TA side effects (in more detail)


If OVERDOSE is suspected:


Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include muscle weakness; symptoms of high blood sugar (eg, confusion; flushing; increased hunger, thirst, or urination; rapid breathing; unusual drowsiness); or unusual weight gain, especially in the face.


Proper storage of Pediaderm TA Cream:

Store Pediaderm TA Cream at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Pediaderm TA Cream out of the reach of children and away from pets.


General information:


  • If you have any questions about Pediaderm TA Cream, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

  • Pediaderm TA Cream is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.

  • If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

  • Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Pediaderm TA Cream. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.



Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More Pediaderm TA resources


  • Pediaderm TA Side Effects (in more detail)
  • Pediaderm TA Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
  • Pediaderm TA Drug Interactions
  • 0 Reviews for Pediaderm TA - Add your own review/rating


Compare Pediaderm TA with other medications


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Tuesday 2 October 2012

Zebutal


Generic Name: acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine (a SEET a MIN oh fen, bue TAL bi tal, and KAF een)

Brand Names: Alagesic, Anolor 300, Dolgic LQ, Dolgic Plus, Esgic, Esgic-Plus, Fioricet, Geone, Margesic, Medigesic, Repan, Zebutal


What is Zebutal (acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine)?

Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer.


Butalbital is in a group of drugs called barbiturates. It relaxes muscle contractions involved in a tension headache.


Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. It relaxes muscle contractions in blood vessels to improve blood flow.


The combination of acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine is used to treat tension headaches that are caused by muscle contractions.


Acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.


What is the most important information I should know about Zebutal (acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine)?


Do not use acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects. Tell your doctor if you have ever had alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis) or if you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day. You may not be able to take medicine that contains acetaminophen. Do not take more of this medication than is recommended. An overdose of acetaminophen can damage your liver or cause death. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medication. Acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as APAP) is contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much acetaminophen which can lead to a fatal overdose. Check the label to see if a medicine contains acetaminophen or APAP. Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your risk of liver damage while taking acetaminophen.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Zebutal (acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine)?


Do not use acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects. Tell your doctor if you have ever had alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis) or if you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day. You may not be able to take medicine that contains acetaminophen. You should not take this medication if you are allergic to acetaminophen, butalbital, or caffeine, or if you have porphyria.

To make sure you can safely take acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:



  • kidney disease,




  • liver disease; or




  • a history of mental illness or suicidal thoughts.




Butalbital may be habit forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Never share this medication with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it. FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. Acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take Zebutal (acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine)?


Take exactly as prescribed. Never take acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine in larger amounts, or for longer than recommended by your doctor. An overdose of this medication can damage your liver or cause death.Follow the directions on your prescription label. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain. Take the medicine with food or milk if it upsets your stomach. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Butalbital is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.


What happens if I miss a dose?


Since this medication is usually taken as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.


What happens if I overdose?


Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

The first signs of an acetaminophen overdose include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, sweating, and confusion or weakness. Later symptoms may include pain in your upper stomach, dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.


Overdose symptoms may also include insomnia, restlessness, tremor, dizziness, drowsiness, diarrhea, increased sweating, shallow breathing, confusion, uneven heartbeats, seizure (convulsions), or coma.


What should I avoid while taking Zebutal (acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine)?


This medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your risk of liver damage while taking acetaminophen. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medication. Acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as APAP) is contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much acetaminophen which can lead to a fatal overdose. Check the label to see if a medicine contains acetaminophen or APAP.

While you are taking this medication, avoid taking diet pills, caffeine pills, or other stimulants (such as ADHD medications) without your doctor's advice.


Zebutal (acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine) side effects


Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat;




  • feeling light-headed or short of breath;




  • nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or




  • easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms.



Less serious side effects may include:



  • drowsiness;




  • dizziness, confusion or lightheadedness;




  • dry mouth;




  • nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite;




  • feeling anxious or jittery;




  • drunk feeling; or




  • headache.



This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.


What other drugs will affect Zebutal (acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine)?


Tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by butalbital.

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:



  • an antibiotic;




  • a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);




  • isoniazid (for treating tuberculosis);




  • zidovudine (Retrovir, AZT);




  • seizure medication such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton);




  • gout medications such as probenecid (Benemid) or sulfinpyrazone;




  • steroids such as prednisone, fluticasone (Advair), mometasone (Asmanex, Nasonex), dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol) and others; or




  • an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip, Limbitrol), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), and others.



This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.



More Zebutal resources


  • Zebutal Side Effects (in more detail)
  • Zebutal Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
  • Drug Images
  • Zebutal Drug Interactions
  • Zebutal Support Group
  • 0 Reviews for Zebutal - Add your own review/rating


  • Zebutal Prescribing Information (FDA)

  • Anolor 300 Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

  • Capacet Prescribing Information (FDA)

  • Dolgic LQ Elixir MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

  • Dolgic Plus Prescribing Information (FDA)

  • Dolgic Plus MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

  • Esgic Prescribing Information (FDA)

  • Esgic-Plus Prescribing Information (FDA)

  • Fioricet Prescribing Information (FDA)

  • Fioricet Consumer Overview

  • Margesic Prescribing Information (FDA)

  • Nonbac Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

  • Orbivan Prescribing Information (FDA)



Compare Zebutal with other medications


  • Headache


Where can I get more information?


  • Your pharmacist can provide more information about acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine.

See also: Zebutal side effects (in more detail)