TA009 PDR consumer guide to prescription drugs

PDR® Consumer Guide to Prescription Drugs 2011 Edition Director, Clinical Services: Sylvia Nashed, PharmD Manager, Clinical Services: Nermin Shenouda-Kerolous, PharmD Senior Drug Information Specialists: Anila Patel, PharmD; Christine Sunwoo, PharmD Drug Information Specialists: Peter Leighton, PharmD; Kristine Mecca, PharmD; See-Won Seo, PharmD Manager, Editorial Services: Lori Murray Managing Editor: J Harris Fleming, Jr Project Manager: Gary Lew Manager, Art Department: Livio Udina Senior Director, Operations & Client Services: Stephanie Struble Associate Director, Manufacturing & Distribution: Thomas Westburgh PDR NETWORK, LLC CEO: Edward Fotsch, MD President: David Tanzer Chief Medical Officer: Christine Côté, MD Chief Technology Officer: David Cheng Chief Financial Officer: Dawn Carfora Senior Vice President, Publishing & Operations: Valerie Berger Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, Product Sales & General Counsel: Andrew Gelman Senior Vice President, Sales: John Loucks Senior Vice President, Product Management: Lucian Taylor Copyright © 2011 PDR Network, LLC Published by PDR Network, LLC at Montvale, NJ 07645-1725 All rights reserved None of the content of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, resold, redistributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher Physicians’ Desk Reference® and PDR® are registered trademarks of PDR Network, LLC Cover pill photograph: © Image Source/Gettyimages Printed in U.S.A Publisher’s Note The drug information contained in this book is based on product labeling published in the 2011 edition of Physicians’ Desk Reference®, supplied by the manufacturer, or obtained from the FDA This information is drawn from the PDR database, which is compiled and updated on a regular basis by a staff of experienced pharmacists While diligent efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of each drug profile, it is essential to bear in mind that the information presented here is merely a synopsis of key points in the official product labeling, and that the complete labeling contains additional precautionary information that may be of significance in specific cases If a profile leaves any question unanswered, be sure to consult your doctor or pharmacist for additional information This book does not list every possible adverse reaction, interaction, and precaution; all information is presented without guarantees by the authors, consultants, and publisher, who disclaim all liability in connection with its use This book is intended only as a reference for use in an ongoing partnership between doctor and patient in the management of the patient’s health It is not a substitute for a doctor’s professional judgment, and serves only as a reminder of concerns that may need discussion All readers are urged to consult with a doctor or other healthcare provider before beginning or discontinuing use of any prescription drug or undertaking any form of self-treatment Brand names listed in this book are intended to represent only the more commonly used products Inclusion of a brand name does not signify endorsement of the product; absence of a name does not imply a criticism or rejection of the product The publisher is not advocating the use of any product described in this book, does not warrant or guarantee any of these products, and has not performed any independent analysis in connection with the product information contained herein Note for eBook readers: The color of pill images may not be accurately displayed Please refer to the respective manufacturer’s web site for full color images Table of Contents Foreword How to Use This Book Safe Medication Use Brand and Generic Name Index Indications Index Drug Profiles Appendix: Reference Tables Poison Control Centers Sugar-Free Drugs Lactose- and Galactose-Free Drugs Drugs That Should Not Be Crushed Is it a Cold, the Flu, or an Allergy? Dietary Calcium Intake Administration Guidelines for Eye Drops and Eye Ointment Administration Guidelines for Metered-Dose Inhalers Visual Identification Guide Foreword Our bodies often have a remarkable capacity to begin healing, and more quickly than had once been thought possible, if we stop doing what’s causing the problem In many cases, the lifestyle choices we make are powerful determinants of our health and well-being In our research, my colleagues and I used high-tech, state-of-the-art scientific technology to document the power of low-tech and low-cost lifestyle interventions A whole-foods plant-based diet, regular stress management, moderate exercise, and loving relationships may go a long way towards helping you prevent and even reverse many chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease, type diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, obesity, depression, and even some forms of cancer The need for drugs and surgery is often greatly reduced when people make comprehensive lifestyle changes We also found that you may even be able to change how your genes are expressed just by changing what you eat and how you live–“turning on” disease-preventing genes and “turning off” genes that promote many chronic diseases, including a series of oncogenes that promote breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer Our genes are a predisposition, but our genes are not our fate At the same time, we know that, despite our best efforts and healthy lifestyle changes, disease sometimes happens When illness occurs, and medication is necessary, your successful recovery depends on taking an active role in your medical treatment You’re more likely to take your medications, and they’re more likely to work better and safer, when you are empowered by learning more about how they work as well as potential interactions and side-effects In this context, quality information from a trusted source like the PDR® Consumer Guide to Prescription Drugs can be very important And this new standard for consumer information comes from the same source doctors rely upon: the publishers of Physicians’ Desk Reference® For more than 60 years, healthcare providers in clinical settings have depended on the PDR to help them quickly access comprehensive, detailed, highly technical information in a format approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) With the PDR® Consumer Guide to Prescription Drugs, readers have access to the same authoritative, FDA-approved information–now streamlined and organized into an intuitive, jargon-free, user-friendly volume, making that information more accessible and available The PDR® Consumer Guide to Prescription Drugs features the most frequently prescribed medications, conveniently listed alphabetically by brand name In each listing, readers get a snapshot of the most useful, often-requested information: contraindications, interactions, directions on how to take the medication, any possible side effects, and much more It addresses the most common questions patients may have, answered in straightforward language which doesn’t require a medical degree to understand Of course, no book can serve as a substitute for your physician When under medical care, stay in close contact with your doctor, and follow his or her treatment plans closely If you have any questions or concerns, call your physician’s office Ask your doctor if there is anything you can at home either to enhance the medication’s health-promoting actions, or to minimize any side effects, or both But in this age of managed care and rising costs, you may find your office visits are simply too rushed to get all of the information you want on a medication you’ve been prescribed You may easily find that information here, from a reliable, trustworthy source Or perhaps, as you read the book’s entry for your medication, you notice a pre-existing condition you forgot to mention to your doctor on the drug’s list of precautions–and you’ll know it’s time for a follow-up visit This book captures these and other very common and critical questions about each drug, minus the complex terminology, in a format that allows you to absorb the critical facts efficiently So you can stay safe, get the best treatment possible, and then get back to enjoying your life This information can be empowering Integrative medicine incorporates the best of traditional medical treatments (including medications when indicated) and non-traditional approaches (including comprehensive lifestyle changes) It’s based on a collaboration between you and your doctor When we become active participants in our healing, it may bring meaning to our suffering, which makes it more bearable Often, our physical illnesses improve as well 10 Estimating Daily Dietary Calcium Intake Step 2: Total from above + 250 mg for nondairy sources = total dietary calcium * About 75-80% of the calcium consumed in American diets is from dairy products ** Calcium content of fortified foods varies Factors related to vitamin D that may affect calcium absorption: • National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends an intake of 800 to 1,000 International Units (IU) of vitamin D3 per day for adults over age 50 and 400 to 800 IU of vitamin D3 for adults