Acyclovir

A synthetic purine nucleoside analog, C₈H₁₀N₅O₃, derived from guanine and used in the treatment of herpes simplex, herpes zoster, and varicella zoster virus infections.

Zovirax®

Acrivastine and pseudoephedrine

Semprex-D®

Acrivastine is an antihistamine that reduces the natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.

Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).

The combination of acrivastine and pseudoephedrine is used to treat sneezing, cough, runny or stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, hives, skin rash, itching, and other symptoms of allergies and the common cold.

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
• diabetes
• glaucoma
• high blood pressure or heart disease
• if you have taken an MAOI like Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, or Parnate in last 14 days
• kidney disease
• pain or difficulty passing urine
• ulcers or other stomach problems
• an unusual or allergic reaction to acrivastine, triprolidine, pseudoephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

Acitretin

acitretin

Brand names: Soriatane®, Soriatane® CK Convenience Kit

Acitretin is a retinoid, which is a form of vitamin A. Acitretin is used to treat severe psoriasis in adults. It is usually given after other psoriasis medicines have been tried without successful treatment of symptoms. Acitretin is not a cure for psoriasis, and you may relapse after you stop taking this medication.

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• if you have ever taken Tegison® or Tigason® (etretinate) in the past
• alcoholism
• depression
• diabetes mellitus or high blood sugar
• elevated cholesterol or triglycerides
• heart disease
• kidney or liver disease
• taking St. John’s Wort
• visual problems
• an unusual or allergic reaction to acitretin, etretinate, vitamin A, isotretinoin, tretinoin, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

Acidophilus

Acidophilus has been used to treat or prevent vaginal yeast infections, yeast infections of the mouth, diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics, and urinary tract infections. Acidophilus may work by helping the body maintain normal consistency of bacteria in the stomach, intestines, and vagina.Acidophilus has not been approved by the FDA to treat any disease, and it should not be substituted for prescription medications.

Acetylcysteine (inhalation, IV, oral) * Mucomyst * Mucomyst-10 * Mucosil

Mucomyst®

Acetylcysteine (rINN; pronounced /ˌæsɛtəlˈsɪstiːn, əˌsɛtəl-/), also known as N-acetylcysteine or N-acetyl-L-cysteine (abbreviated NAC), is a pharmacological agent used mainly as a mucolytic agent and in the management of paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose

Dosage forms

Acetylcysteine is available in different dosage forms for different indications:

• Solution for inhalation (Mucomyst, Mucosil) – inhaled for mucolytic therapy or ingested for nephroprotective effect (to protect the kidneys).Inhaled acetylcysteine is indicated for mucolytic (“mucus-dissolving”) therapy as an adjuvant in respiratory conditions with excessive and/or thick mucus production. Such conditions include emphysema, bronchitis, tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, amyloidosis, pneumonia. It is also used post-operatively, as a diagnostic aid, and in tracheostomy care,during anesthesia,ineffective in cystic fibrosis

• IV injection (Parvolex, Acetadote) – treatment of paracetamol/acetaminophen overdose

Intravenous acetylcysteine is indicated for the treatment of paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose. When paracetamol is taken in large quantities, a minor metabolite called N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI) builds up. It is normally conjugated by glutathione, but when taken in excess (especially in alcoholics), the body’s glutathione reserves are not sufficient to inactivate the toxic NAPQI. This metabolite is then free to react with key hepatic enzymes, therefore damaging hepatocytes. This may lead to severe liver damage and even death by fulminant liver failure.

For this indication, acetylcysteine acts to augment the glutathione reserves in the body and, together with glutathione, directly bind to toxic metabolites. These actions serve to protect hepatocytes in the liver from NAPQI toxicity.

• Oral solution – various indications

♥DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION♥

WARNINGS

ACETYLCYSTEINE AS A MUCOLYTIC AGENT

After proper administration of acetylcysteine, an increased volume of liquefied bronchial secretions may occur. When cough is inadequate, the airway must be maintained open by mechanical suction if necessary. When there is a mechanical block due to foreign body or local accumulation, the airway should be cleared by endotracheal aspiration, with or without bronchoscopy. Asthmatics under treatment with acetylcysteine should be watched carefully. Most patients with bronchospasm are quickly relieved by the use of a bronchodilator given by nebulization. If bronchospasm progresses, the medication should be discontinued immediately.

ACETYLCYSTEINE AS AN ANTIDOTE FOR ACETAMINOPHEN OVERDOSAGE

Generalized urticaria has been observed rarely in patients receiving oral acetylcysteine for acetaminophen overdose. If this occurs or other allergic symptoms appear, treatment with acetylcysteine should be discontinued unless it is deemed essential and the allergic symptoms can be otherwise controlled. If encephalopathy due to hepatic failure becomes evident, acetylcysteine treatment should be discontinued to avoid further administration of nitrogenous substances. There are no data indicating that acetylcysteine influences hepatic failure, but this remains a theoretical possibility.

PRECAUTIONS

ACETYLCYSTEINE AS A MUCOLYTIC AGENT

General

With the administration of acetylcysteine, the patient may observe initially a slight disagreeable odor that is soon not noticeable. With a face mask there may be stickiness on the face after nebulization. This is easily removed by washing with water.

Under certain conditions, a color change may occur in acetylcysteine in the opened bottle. The light purple color is the result of a chemical reaction which does not significantly affect safety or mucolytic efficacy of acetylcysteine.

Continued nebulization of acetylcysteine solution with a dry gas will result in an increased concentration of the drug in the nebulizer because of evaporation of the solvent. Extreme concentration may impede nebulization and efficient delivery of the drug. Dilution of the nebulizing solution with appropriate amounts of Sterile Water for Injection, USP, as concentration occurs, will obviate this problem.

Acetohydroxamic acid;Lithostat

Acetohydroxamic acid (also known as AHA or Lithostat) is a drug that is a potent and irreversible inhibitor of bacterial and plant urease usually used for urinary tract infections. The molecule is similar to urea but is not hydrolyzable by the urease enzyme (Fishbein and Carbone, 1965).

Acetohydroxamic acid works by preventing bacteria from increasing ammonia levels in urine. Increased ammonia in urine can lead to a certain type of kidney stone.

Acetohydroxamic acid is used together with antibiotics to treat bladder infections caused by bacteria that can increase ammonia levels in the urine.

Acetohexamide

Dymelor®

Acetohexamide (Dymelor) is a first-generation sulfonylurea medication used to treat diabetes mellitus type 2, particularly in people whose diabetes cannot be controlled by diet alone.

Mechanism of Action

Acetohexamide lowers blood sugar by stimulating the pancreas to secrete insulin and helping the body use insulin efficiently. The pancreas must produce insulin for this medication to work. For this reason, acetohexamide is not used to treat diabetes mellitus type 1.

NOTE: This drug is discontinued in the United States.