Cefaclor

Generic Name:
Cefaclor

Brand Name:
Ephron

Available Forms:  
Capsule: 500mg
Drops: 50mg/ml (oral drops)
           125mg/5ml
           250mg/5ml

Dosage, Frequency and Route:
Adult- 500mg- 1 capsule every 8 hours
   250mg- 1-2 capsules every 8 hours
   125mg/5ml granules for suspension and 250mg/5ml granules suspension

Over 5 years old- 1 teaspoonful(5ml)every 8 hours
1-5 years old- 1 teaspoonful(5ml) evry 8 hours
Under 1 year- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5ml) every 8 hours
     50mg/ml(oral drops)

Action:
Antibacterial

For the treatment of respiratory tract infection, acute bronchitis and acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, otitis media,pharyngitis, tonsilitis, sinusitis, urinary tract infections and skin and soft tissue infections.

Side Effects:
The most common are hypersensitivity reactions,including skin rashes, urticaria,eosinophilia, fever reactions resembling serum sickness and anaphylaxis.

Contraindications:
Is contraindicated in cardiovascular disease: cardiac arrhythmias and coronary insufficiency, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, Ketoacidosis, pheochromocytoma, seizures and patients sensitive to sympathomimetic agents.

Users Considerations:
Give importance to the amount of water you add in every 10ml and 60ml suspension:
10ml-6ml water
60ml-42ml water

Carbocisteine

Generic Name:
Carbocisteine

Brand Name:
Nivicof

Available Forms:
Drops: 50mg/ml
Syrup: 100mg/5ml
Capsule: 500mg

Dosage, Frequency and Route:
Drops- 50mg/ml- 3to 4times a day
         Infants- 9-12months -1.0ml
6-8months -0.75ml
3-5months-0.5ml
below 2months- 0.25ml

Syrup- 100mg/5ml- every 6hours
        2-5 years old- 1 teaspoonful (5ml)
        6-12 years old- 2 teaspoonful(10ml)
       Adults- 1-11/12 tablespoonfuls( 15-22.5ml)

Capsules- Adult; 1 capsule3 times a day

Action:
Mucolytic

For respiratory tract disorders characterized by excessive viscous mucus such as bronchitis,otitis, bronchiectasis, emphysema,rhinitis and rhinopharyngitis

Adverse Effects:
Nausea, headache,gastric dicomfort,diarrhea,gastrointestinal bleeding and skin rach have occassionaly occured with carbocisteine.

Contraindications:
It should be used with caution in elderly patients with severe respiratory insufficiency or in asthmatic patients.

Users Considerations:
Should be taken with foods

Phenylpropanolamine

Generic Name:
Phenylpropanolamine

Brand Name:
Zeditapp / Nasatapp

Available Forms:
Drops:15 mL
Syrup: 60 mL
Tablet: 100's

Dosage, Frequency and Route:
Drops- Children 7 months to 2 years- 10ml
            6 months- 0.5mL.

Syrup- Adult - 5-10mL 6-8 hourly
          Children 4-12 years- 5mL
                        2-4 years- 3.75mL
                        7 months-2 years - 2.5ml
                        1-6 months- 1.25mL

Tablets- Tab 1 tab tid-qid

Action:
Decongestant/ Antihistamine

Allergic & vasomotor or other hyperactive nasal disorders & acute coryza; relief of cough & upper resp symptoms including nasal congestion associated w/ allergy or common cold; hypersecretion.

Contraindications:
Brain damage or epilepsy.

Users Considerations:
May be taken with or without food (May be taken w/ food or milk to reduce GI discomfort.)

Ibuprofen

Generic Name:
Ibuprofen

Brand Name:
Advil, Children's Advil/Motrin, Medipren, Motrin, Nuprin, PediaCare Fever etc.

Available Forms:
Tablets: 200, 400, 600, and 800 mg
Chewable tablets: 50 and 100 mg
Capsules: 200 mg
Suspension: 100 mg/2.5 ml and 100 mg/5 ml
Oral drops: 40 mg/ml

Dosage, Frequency and Route:
Adult- 200 or 400 mg every 4 to 6 hours
Children-  6 months to 12 years of age usually are given 5-10 mg/kg of ibuprofen every 6-8 hours

Action:
Analgesics, Pain Medicines

Used for the management of mild to moderate pain, fever, and inflammation. Pain, fever, and inflammation are promoted by the release in the body of chemicals called prostaglandins.
Blocks the enzyme that makes prostaglandins (cyclooxygenase), resulting in lower levels of prostaglandins

Side Effects:
In combination with aminoglycosides [for example, gentamicin (Garamycin)] the blood levels of the aminoglycoside may increase, presumably because the elimination of aminoglycosides from the body is reduced.
This may lead to aminoglycoside-related side effects. Individuals taking oral blood thinners or anticoagulants [for example, warfarin (Coumadin)] should avoid ibuprofen because ibuprofen also thins the blood, and excessive blood thinning may lead to bleeding.

Users Considerations:
Should be taken with meals to prevent stomach upset.

Tramadol

Generic Name:
Tramadol

Brand Name:
Dolcet

Available Forms:
Tablet: Tramadol HCl 37.5 mg, paracetamol 325 mg

Dosage, Frequency and Route:
Tablets- Adult & children - 16 years-  1-2 tablet 4-6 hourly- Max: 8 tab/day

Action:
Analgesics

Moderate to severe pain

Contraindications:
Acute intoxication w/ alcohol, hypnotics, narcotics, centrally-acting analgesics, opioids or psychotropic drugs. Hypersensitivity

 Adverse Effects:
Nausea, dizziness, somnolence. Asthenia, fatigue, hot flushes, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, dry mouth, pruritus, increased sweating, tinnitus.

Users Considerations:
May be taken with or without food

Ceftriaxone Na / Ceftriaxone Sodium

Generic Name:
Ceftriaxone Na
Ceftriaxone Sodium

Brand Name:
Rocephin

Available Forms:
Infusion: 1g, 2g piggyback; 1g, 1g/ 50ml premixed

Injection: 250mg, 500mg, 1g, 2g

Dosage, Frequency and Route:
Adult:  750mg-1.5g IM/IV every 6-8 hrs. for 5-10 days.

Action:
3rd Generation Cephalosporin; Antibiotic

Inhibit cell wall synthesis, promoting osmotic instability: usually bactericidal.
Antibiotic, periop prophylaxis of infections

Side Effects:
GI upset, headache, dizziness, nausea & vomiting

Contraindications:
Contraindicated to patient hypersensitivity to cephalosporin.

Use cautiously in patients hypersensitive to penicillin because of possibility of cross-sensitivity with other beta-lactam antibiotics.

Users Considerations:
Before administration, ask patient if he/she is allergic to penicillins or cephalosporins.
Obtain specimen for culture and sensitivity tests before giving first dose.
For IM administration, inject deep into a large muscle, such as the gluteus maximus or the lateral aspect of the thigh.
 If large doses are given, therapy is prolonged or patient is at high risk, monitor patient for signs and symptoms of superinfection.

Amoxicillin

Generic Name:
Amoxicillin

Brand Name:
Amoxil, Dispermox, Trimox

Available Forms:
Capsules: 250 and 500 mg.
Tablets: 500 and 875 mg.
Chewable tablets: 125, 200, 250, and 400 mg.
Powder for suspension: 50 mg/ml ; 125, 200, 250, and 400 mg/5 ml.
Tablets for suspension: 200 and 400 mg

Dosage, Frequency and Route:
For most infections in adults the dosing regimens for amoxicillin are 250 mg every 8 hours, 500 mg every 8 hours, 500 mg every 12 hours or 875 mg every 12 hours, depending on the type and severity of infection.

For the treatment of adults with gonorrhea, the dose is 3 g given as one dose.

For most infections, children older than 3 months but less than 40 kg are treated with 25 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours, 20 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours, 40 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours or 45 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours depending on type and severity of the infection.

Action:
Anti-Biotics

Used to treat infections due to organisms that are susceptible to the effects of amoxicillin. Common infections that amoxicillin is used for include infections of the middle ear, tonsils, throat, larynx (laryngitis), bronchi (bronchitis), lungs (pneumonia), urinary tract, and skin. It also is used to treat gonorrhea.

Side Effects:
Due to amoxicillin include diarrhea, dizziness, heartburn, insomnia, nausea, itching, vomiting, confusion, abdominal pain, easy bruising, bleeding, rash, and allergic reactions. Individuals who are allergic to antibiotics in the class of cephalosporins may also be sensitive to amoxicillin.

Users Considerations:

• Small amounts of amoxicillin may be excreted in breast milk and may cause diarrhea or allergic responses in nursing infants.
• It is generally considered safe to use while breastfeeding. 
• It is used to treat infections in the newborn.

Terbutaline

Generic Name:
Terbutaline

Brand Name:
Pulmoxcel

Available Forms:
Drops: 2.5mg/ml (nebulizing Solution)

Dosage, Frequency and Route:
Inhale 1ml  of solution containing 2.5mg Terbutaline Sulfate- every 6 hours

Action:
Antiasthma

For the relief of bronchial asthma, Bronchitis, bronchospasm, emphysema, Bronchiectasis and other obstructive pulmonary diseases where bronchoconstriction is a complicating factor.

Adverse Effects:
Side effects is low at the recommended doses.
Recorded side effects: tremor muscle cramps and palpitations are all characteristics of sympathomimetic amines  these effects usually disappear within the first week of continous treatment.

Contraindications:
Is contraindicated in cardiovascular disease: cardiac arrhythmias and coronary insufficiency, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, Ketoacidosis, pheochromocytoma, seizures and patients sensitive to sympathomimetic agents.

User Considerations:
Used only in a nebulizer or respirator and not to be used for injection.

Phenylpropanolamine

Generic Name:
Phenylpropanolamine

Brand Name:
Disudrin

Available Forms:
Syrup: 6.25mg/ml-Oral Drops
           12.5mg/5ml Syrup

Dosage, Frequency and Route:
Take every 6 hours

6.25mg/ml-Oral Drops:

• 1-3months- 0.25ml
• 4-6months- 0.5ml
• 7-12months-0.75ml
• 1-2 years-1ml

12.5mg per 5ml- Syrup:

• 2-6 years-2.5ml(1/2 teaspoonful)
• 7-12 years- 5ml(1 teaspoonful0

Action:
Nasal decongestant

It clears obstructed and congested air passages making breathing easier.
It decongests stuffy nose and clogged nasal sinuses.

Undesirable Effects:
Persistent, Severe headache,Nervousness,Restlessness, Insomnia/Sleep disturbances,Dizziness
Feeling of uneasiness(anxiety), Confusion, high blood pressure, rapid heart beat(palpitation)
Chest tightness, muscle shaking(tremor), agitation, irritability, aggressiveness(particularly in young children)nausea and blurred vision.


User Considerations:
Use this caution in patients with high blood pressure, toxic goiter,benign prostatic hypertrophy, heart rate irregularity, glaucoma, and in those taking antidepressants
Patients with heart disease and uncontrolled/untreated high blood pressure should consult a doctor prior to taking Phenylpropanolamine.