CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) Tablets

 

  General Dosing Information

The dose range for CRESTOR is 5 to 40 mg orally once daily. at anytime of a day w/wo food.

All statins act by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase to:

[1] reduce hepatic formation of cholesterol and

[2] increase high-affinity LDL receptors in liver cells to lower plasma LDL

Also decrease plasma triglycerides and increase HDL cholesterol

-Lovastatin and simvastatin are prodrugs while atorvastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, and rosuvastatin are active congeners

 Atorvastatin, lovastatin, and simvastatin are catabolized mainly by cytochrome P450 3A4

[1] Concentrations increased by drugs that inhibit P450 3A4 (macrolide antibiotics, cyclosporine, ketoconazole, fibrates, etc; or  grapefruit juice 1 liter daily)

[2] Concentrations reduced by drugs that increase expression of  P450 3A4 (barbiturates, phenytoin, rifampin, “glitazones”, etc)

♦Fluvastatin and rosuvastatin are catabolized mainly by CYP2C9; plasma concentrations may be increased by drugs that inhibit CYP2C9 like ketoconazole, metronidazole, sulfinpyrazone, amiodarone, and cimetidine

Related Drugs

• Baycol
• Lescol
• Lipitor
• Mevacor
• Pravachol
• Vytorin
• Zocor

COZAAR® (losartan potassium) Tablets

Cozaar®

DOSING: The usual starting dose of losartan for adults is 50 mg daily. The maximum dose is 100 mg daily. The total daily dose may be divided and administered twice daily. Losartan may be given with or without food.

Uses

Angiotensin II receptor antagonists are primarily used for the treatment of hypertension where the patient is intolerant of ACE inhibitor

Although angiotensin II receptor antagonists are not usually considered first-line, because of the proven effectivity and lower costs of thiazide diuretics and beta blockers, losartan may be used first-line in patients with increased cardiovascular risk. The LIFE study demonstrated that losartan was significantly superior to atenolol in the primary prevention of adverse cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction or stroke), with a significant reduction in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality for a comparable reduction in blood pressure.^[2]

COZAAR is indicated for the treatment of hypertension. It may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents, including diuretics.(osartan/hydrochlorothiazide ( Hydrochlorothiazide is effective in doses of 12.5 to 50 mg once daily) combination; Hyzaar

♦Hypertensive Patients with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, does not apply to Black patients.

♦Nephropathy in Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

Related Drugs

• Atacand
• Atacand HCT
• Hyzaar
• Micardis
• Micardis HCT

Targeting the angiotensin II receptor

Angiotensin antogonist maycause hyperkalemia especially in patients with renal insufficiency

Covera-HS® (verapamil hydrochloride) Extended-Release Tablets Controlled-Onset

Covera-HS®

DOSING: The usual oral dose is 180-480 mg/day. Verapamil may be given once, twice or three times daily depending on the formulation used. Verapamil can be taken with food.

Verapamil (brand names: Isoptin, Verelan, Calan, Bosoptin, Covera-HS) is an L-type calcium channel blocker. It has been used in the treatment of hypertension, angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, and most recently, cluster headaches.^[1] Verapamil has also been used as a vasodilator during cryopreservation of blood vessels. It is a class 4 antiarrhythmic, more effective than digoxin in controlling ventricular rate, and was approved by the FDA in 1981.

Routes Oral, Intravenous

COUMADIN® TABLETS (warfarin sodium) Tablets, USP Crystalline COUMADIN® FOR INJECTION (warfarin sodium) for Injection, USP

Coumadin®

COUMADIN (crystalline warfarin sodium) is an anticoagulant which acts by inhibiting vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors.

DOSING: Coumadin may be taken with or without food. Since Coumadin is metabolized by the liver and excreted by the kidneys, dosages need to be lowered in patients with liver and kidney dysfunction. Frequent blood tests are performed to measure blood clotting time (protime) during Coumadin treatment. Protime results help doctors adjust medication dose to avoid excessive blood thinning and risk of bleeding.

WARNING: BLEEDING RISK

Warfarin sodium can cause major or fatal bleeding. Bleeding is more likely to occur during the starting period and with a higher dose (resulting in a higher INR). Risk factors for bleeding include high intensity of anticoagulation (INR > 4.0), age ≥65, highly variable In Rs, history of gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, serious heart disease, anemia, malignancy, trauma, renal insufficiency, concomitant drugs (see PRECAUTIONS) and long duration of warfarin therapy. Regular monitoring of INR should be performed on all treated patients. Those at high risk of bleeding may benefit from more frequent INR monitoring, careful dose adjustment to desired INR, and a shorter duration of therapy. Patients should be instructed about prevention measures to minimize risk of bleeding and to report immediately to physicians signs and symptoms of bleeding (see PRECAUTIONS: Information for Patients)

Routes Oral or intravenous

Interesting website for Anticoagulation;  ClotCare

COREG® (carvedilol) Tablets

Coreg®

Dosing,

♦ For high blood pressure, from 6.25mg – 25mg twice daily.

♦ For congestive heart failure,  from 3.25mg  – 25mg twice daily in persons weighing < 85kg (187 pounds) or 50mg twice daily in persons weighing > 85kg (187 pounds).

Carvedilol should be taken with food since this increases the amount of absorbed drug that reaches the heart and arteries.

PREPARATION: Tablets, 3.125mg, 6.25mg, 12.5mg, and 25mg.,generic available.

Carvedilol is a non-selective beta blocker indicated in the treatment of mild to moderate congestive heart failure (CHF). It is marketed under various trade names including Coreg (GSK), Dilatrend (Roche), Eucardic (Roche), and Carloc (Cipla) as a generic drug (as of September 5, 2007 in the U.S.).^[1], and as a controlled-release formulation, marketed in the US as Coreg CR

Carvedilol is a nonselective β-adrenergic blocking agent with α 1-blocking activity.

Related Drugs

• Atenolol
• Tenormin IV Injection
• Trandate

CONCERTA® (methylphenidate HCl)

Concerta™

Brand names: Concerta™, Daytrana®, Metadate® CD, Metadate® ER, Methylin® , Ritalin®, Ritalin® LA, Ritalin® SR

CONCERTA® is a federally controlled substance (CII) because it can be abused or lead to dependence. Keep CONCERTA® in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away CONCERTA® may harm others, and is against the law.

Methylphenidate^[3] (MPH) is a prescription stimulant commonly used to treat Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. It is also one of the primary drugs used to treat the daytime drowsiness symptoms of narcolepsy and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Indicated for:

• ADD
• ADHD
• narcolepsy

Other uses:

• treatment-resistant depression
• appetite suppressant
• antidepressant augmentatio

Routes Oral, Transdermal, IV, Nasal