Info

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Buspar

Generic Name: buspirone

Most important information I should know about BuSpar?
Do not this medication if you are allergic to BuSpar, or if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take BuSpar before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body. BuSpar 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 some of the side effects caused by BuSpar.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with BuSpar and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

BuSpar is usually taken for only a short time. Do not take this medication for longer than 4 weeks without your doctors advice.

What is BuSpar?

BuSpar is an anti-anxiety medicine that affects chemicals in your brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety.

BuSpar is used to treat symptoms of anxiety, such as fear, tension, irritability, dizziness, pounding heartbeat, and other physical symptoms.

BuSpar may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking BuSpar?
Do not this medication if you are allergic to BuSpar, or if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take BuSpar before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.

Before taking BuSpar, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

* kidney disease; or
* liver disease.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use BuSpar, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether BuSpar passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give this medication to a child younger than 18 years old.

How should I take BuSpar?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

BuSpar is usually taken for only a short time. Do not take this medication for longer than 4 weeks without your doctors advice.

You may take BuSpar with or without food but take it the same way each time.
Some tablet forms of buspirone (Buspar Dividose) may need to be broken before you take the medicine. These tablets have special scored marks on them to make breaking the tablet easy. Do not use the tablet if it has not broken correctly and the piece is too big or too small. Follow your doctors instructions about how much of the tablet to take.

If you have been switched to BuSpar from another anxiety medication, you may need to slowly decrease your dose of the other medication rather than stopping suddenly. Some anxiety medications can cause withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking them suddenly after long-term use.
Store BuSpar at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Buspar missed dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Symptoms of a BuSpar overdose may include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, and stomach pain.

What should I avoid while taking BuSpar?
BuSpar 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 some of the side effects caused by BuSpar.

Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, and other medicines to treat anxiety or depression). They may add to the side effects of BuSpar.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with BuSpar and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

What are the possible side effects of BuSpar?
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. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

*feeling light-headed, fainting;
*fast or uneven heart rate;
*depressed mood, unusual thoughts or behavior; or
*lack of balance or coordination.

Less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as:

*drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision;
*feeling restless;
*nausea, upset stomach;
*sleep problems (insomnia); or
*trouble concentrating.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Buspar drug interactions

Before taking BuSpar, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

*medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), haloperidol (Haldol), mesoridazine (Serentil), pimozide (Orap), or thioridazine (Mellaril);
*dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol);
*erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, Erythrocin);
*itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral);
*ritonavir (Norvir);
*rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater);
*antibiotics such as capreomycin (Capastat), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater), vancomycin (Vancocin, Vancoled);
*a calcium channel blocker such as diltiazem (Tiazac, Cartia, Cardizem) or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan); or
*seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use BuSpar, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect BuSpar. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

More information Buspar

* Your pharmacist has information about BuSpar written for health professionals that you may read.

What does Buspar look like?

Buspirone is available with a prescription under the brand name BuSpar. Other brand or generic forms may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

*BuSpar 5 mg white, rounded rectangular, scored tablet
*BuSpar 10 mg white, rounded rectangular, scored tablet
*BuSpar 15 mg two joined, rounded rectangles, forming a white, scored tablet

Buy Buspar online, Buspar.com, info at RxList.com, Wikipedia

Labels: , , , , ,

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Atarax

Generic name: Hydroxyzine hydrochloride
Brand names: Vistaril, Atarax

Why is Atarax prescribed?

Atarax is an antihistamine used to relieve the symptoms of common anxiety and tension and, in combination with other medications, to treat anxiety that results from physical illness. It also relieves itching from allergic reactions and can be used as a sedative before and after general anesthesia. Antihistamines work by decreasing the effects of histamine, a chemical the body releases that narrows air passages in the lungs and contributes to inflammation. Antihistamines reduce itching and swelling and dry up secretions from the nose, eyes, and throat.

Most important fact about Atarax

Atarax is not intended for long-term use (more than 4 months). Your doctor should re-evaluate the prescription periodically.

How should you take Atarax?

Take Atarax exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

--If you miss a dose...

Take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

--Storage instructions...

Store tablets and syrup away from heat, light, and moisture. Keep the syrup from freezing.

Atarax side effects

Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Atarax.

Drowsiness, the most common side effect of Atarax, is usually temporary and may disappear in a few days or when dosage is reduced. Other side effects include dry mouth, twitches, tremors, and convulsions. The last two usually occur with higher than recommended doses of Atarax.

Why should Atarax not be prescribed?

Atarax should not be taken in early pregnancy or if you are sensitive to or have ever had an allergic reaction to it. Make sure your doctor is aware of any drug reactions you have experienced.

Special warnings about Atarax

Atarax increases the effects of drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system. If you are taking narcotics, non-narcotic analgesics, or barbiturates in combination with Atarax, their dosage should be reduced.

This medication can cause drowsiness. Driving or operating dangerous machinery or participating in any hazardous activity that requires full mental alertness is not recommended until you know how you react to Atarax.

Drug interactions

Atarax may increase the effects of alcohol. Avoid alcohol while taking Atarax.

If Atarax is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Atarax with the following:

Barbiturates such as Seconal and Phenobarbital
Narcotics such as Demerol and Percocet
Non-narcotic analgesics such as Motrin and Tylenol

Atarax: pregnant or breastfeeding

Although the effects of Atarax during pregnancy have not been adequately studied in humans, birth defects have appeared in animal studies with Atarax. You should not take Atarax in early pregnancy. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. Atarax may appear in breast milk and could affect a nursing infant. If Atarax is essential to your health, your doctor may advise you to discontinue breastfeeding until your treatment is finished.

Recommended dosage

When treatment begins with injections, it can be continued in tablet form.

Your doctor will adjust your dosage based on your response to the drug. Due to an increased risk of drowsiness, older adults usually start at the low end of the dosage range.

FOR ANXIETY AND TENSION

Adults

The usual dose is 50 to 100 milligrams 4 times per day.

Children under Age 6

The total dose is 50 milligrams daily, divided into several smaller doses.

Children over Age 6

The total dose is 50 to 100 milligrams daily, divided into several smaller doses.

FOR ITCHING DUE TO ALLERGIC CONDITIONS

Adults

The usual dose is 25 milligrams 3 or 4 times a day.

Children under Age 6

The total dose is 50 milligrams daily, divided into several smaller doses.

Children over Age 6

The total dose is 50 to 100 milligrams daily, divided into several smaller doses.

BEFORE AND AFTER GENERAL ANESTHESIA

Adults

The usual dose is 50 to 100 milligrams.

Children

The usual dose is 0.6 milligram per 2.2 pounds of body weight.

Atarax Overdose

Any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. If you suspect an overdose of Atarax, seek medical attention immediately.

The most common symptom of Atarax overdose is excessive calm; your blood pressure may drop, although it is not likely.

Buy Atarax online, info at Wikipedia, info at RxList.com

Labels: , , , ,

AddThis Social Bookmark Button