In Section 2 of the PDR®, Brand and Generic Name Index, find another product name for each...

Category, Namea, and Route

Uses and Diseases

Actions

Usual Doseb and Special Instructions

Side Effects and Adverse Reactions

Stimulants

Methylphenidate (Ritalin) Oral

Attention deficit disorder in children, narcolepsy

Is a cerebral stimulant

20–30 mg/day in divided doses for adults; 10 mg/day for children; adjusted individually

Nervousness, insomnia, seizures, hypersensitivity, palpitations

Analgesics

Hydrocodone with acetaminophen(Vicodin) Oral

Moderate to moderately severe pain

Hydrocodone produces analgesic action on the CNS by the opiate receptors; acetaminophen analgesic action produced by both peripheral and central mechanisms (Narcotic analgesic)

5 mg/500 mg 1–2 tablets every 4–6 hours; 7.5 mg/750 mg 1 tablet every 4–6 hours (VicodinES)

Lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, respiratory depression related to dose

Acetaminophen with codeine(Tylenol with Codeine) Oral

Mild to

moderately severe pain

Inhibits CNS prostaglandin synthesis, producing analgesic effect (acetaminophen); attach to specific receptors located in the central nervous system, resulting in various CNS effects, which decrease pain impulses (codeine) (Narcotic analgesic)

1 or 2 tablets every 4–6 hours

Dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, constipation, rash

Propoxyphene with acetaminophen(Darvocet-N 50, Darvocet-N 100) Oral

Mild to moderate pain, fever

Resembles narcotic in its mechanism and analgesic effect (propoxyphene); inhibits CNS prosta-glandin synthesis, producing analgesic effect (acetaminophen) (Nonnarcotic analgesic)

2 tablets Darvocet-N 50 or 1 tablet Darvocet-N 100 every 4 hours

Nausea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, sedation, dizziness, lightheadedness

Oxycodone and aspirin (Percodan) Oral

Moderate to severe pain

Relieves pain, sedates, reduces fever

One tablet every 6 hours prn; give with food or with a full glass of water or milk

Dependence, respiratory depression (esp. in elderly), dizziness, drowsiness, gastrointestinal upset, constipation

Pentazocine (Talwin) Oral, IM, subcutaneous, IV

Moderate to severe pain; preparation for surgery

Relieves pain, sedates

50–100 mg every 3–4 hours po; 30 mg IM; caution patient to avoid alcohol and OTC drugs

Dependence, dizziness, drowsiness, euphoria, nausea, dyspnea, hypotension, dry mouth, urinary retention

Meperidine (Demerol) IM, subcutaneous, IV, oral

Moderate to severe pain; preparation for surgery

Relieves pain, sedates

50–100 mg every 3–4 hours prn orally or parenterally; may cause drowsiness; caution patient to avoid alcohol

Dependence, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, flushing, sweating, dry mouth, orthostatic hypotension, seizures

Anticonvulsants

Clonazepam(Klonopin) Oral

Absence, akinetic, myoclonic seizures

Controls seizures without impairing the normal functioning of the central nervous system; selectively depresses the hyperactive areas of the brain that cause seizures

0.5 mg tid, increase by 0.5–1 mg every 3 days until seizures under control

Rash, fever, headache, pain or swelling in the mouth, nose, urinary tract, sore throat, bruising, dark urine, loss of appetite, abdominal pain

Gabapentin(Neurontin) Oral

Partial seizures

Controls seizures, anticonvulsant action unknown

900–1800 mg/day in three divided doses

Somnolence, ataxia, dizziness, fatigue, nystagmus, tremor, nervousness, dysarthria, amnesia, depression, abnormal thinking, twitching, headache

Phenytoin sodium (Dilantin) Oral, IV

Grand mal epilepsy; psychomotor seizures

Controls seizures

300 mg/day divided every 8 hours for liquid oral and IV administration

Back-and-forth eye movements (nystagmus); diplopia (double vision); swollen, tender gums; staggering walk (ataxia); slurred speech; constipation; dizziness; nausea and vomiting; rashes, anemia, sedation

Carbamazepine (Tegretol) Oral

Tonic-clonic seizures; other seizure types

Is a prophylactic treatment of seizures

200 mg bid increased to 800–1200 mg/day; should not be used by pregnant women or nursing mothers

Dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, ataxia, mouth sores

Antiparkinsonian Drugs

Carbidopa and levodopa (Sinemet) Oral

Parkinson’s disease or Parkinsonlike symptoms

Reduces rigidity of head and limbs; is a dopaminergic(involving activity of a neurotransmitter)

Initial dose: 1 tablet (10 mg carbidopa/100 mg levodopa or 25/100) tid Maintenance dose: 1 or 2 tablets (25/250) tid, individually adjusted; watch for symptoms of depression; give with food; may cause drowsiness

Mood changes; unusual, uncontrolled body movements; palpitations; difficult urination; dry mouth; nausea; vomiting; orthostatic hypotension

Benztropine mesylate (Cogentin) Oral, IM

Parkinson’s disease adjunct

Is an anticholinergic

0.5–6 mg/day

Dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, palpitations

Alzheimer’s Drugs

Donepezil (Aricept) Oral

Mild to moderate dementia of Alzheimer’s disease

Enhances cholinergic function by increasing levels of acetylcholine

5 mg daily, may increase to 10 mg after 4–6 weeks

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, dizziness, hypertension, headaches, muscle cramps, urinary incontinence, dyspnea

Rivastigmine (Exelon) Oral

Mild to moderate dementia of Alzheimer’s disease

Enhances cholinergic function by increasing levels of acetylcholine

1.5 mg bid

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, weight loss, dizziness, headache, hypotension, rashes, arthritis, rhinitis, anemia

Alzheimer’s Drugs

Memantine (Namenda) Oral

Moderate to severe dementia of Alzheimer’s disease

Affinity as an antagonist for N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, preventing activation of glutamate (an excitatory amino acid)

5 mg daily; may increase in increment doses to 10 mg bid

Constipation, vomiting, melena, dizziness, headache, vertigo, hypertension, coughing, frequent micturition, cataracts, fatigue, pain

Antimigraine Drugs

Ergotamine tartrate (Ergostat) Sublingual, inhalation

Migraine headaches

Alpha-adrenergic blocking agent

One 2 mg tablet or 1 inhalation at the first sign of an attack; may repeat every 30 minutes up to 6 mg daily or 6 inhalations

Nausea, vomiting, numbness, pain, weakness of extremities

Sumatriptan succinate (Imitrex) Subcutaneous, oral, inhalation

Migraine headaches

Agonist for vascular 5–HT1 receptor subtype

6 mg subcutaneously but no more than 12 mg in 24 hours; 25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg orally at onset of migraine; may repeat in 2 hours but not more than 200 mg daily; 5 mg, 10 mg, or 20 mg as a nasal spray; may repeat in 2 hours up to 40 mg daily

Angina pectoris, flushing, hyper- or hypotension, bradycardia, tachycardia, palpitations