American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [819]
K
keratolytics Soften and peel away the skin’s tough outer layer (keratin). Used to treat skin conditions such as acne, calluses, dandruff, warts, and psoriasis.
L
laxatives Stimulate intestinal contractions (stimulant laxatives), increase the bulk of the contents of the colon (bulk laxatives), or lubricate the contents of the colon (stool softeners). Used to increase the frequency and ease of bowel movements. May be taken orally or as suppositories or enemas; bulk laxatives must be taken with lots of water. May be addictive. Overuse can lead to chronic constipation.
leukotriene inhibitors Block a group of chemicals (leukotrienes) that produce inflammation. Used to reduce inflammation of the airways in asthma.
lipid-lowering drugs Reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. Used to treat atherosclerosis (a condition in which fatty deposits called plaque clog the arteries and interfere with blood flow).
M
macrolides Antibiotics. Include azithromycin, clarithromycin, clindamycin, and erythromycin. Used to prevent or treat bacterial infections.
MAOIs See monoamine oxidase inhibitors.
mast cell stabilizers Prevent the release of histamine and other inflammatory substances in the body by mast cells, which are part of the immune system and play a role in allergic reactions. Used to prevent acute asthma.
mineral supplements Preparations containing chemical elements that must be present in the diet to maintain health. Doctors recommend a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement for most people. Supplements of a specific mineral may be used to treat a mineral deficiency caused by factors such as a poor diet, some disorders, and some medications. Include potassium.
miotics Constrict (narrow) the pupil of the eye. Used to treat glaucoma.
monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) Antidepressants. Block the actions of a protein that breaks down specific neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain) needed for feelings of well-being. Can interact adversely with many prescription and over-the-counter drugs and with red wine and some foods (such as aged cheese), causing life-threatening symptoms including dangerously high blood pressure.
mucolytics Make mucus in the lungs thinner, less sticky, and easier to cough up. Used to treat lung conditions in which abnormal amounts of mucus make breathing difficult.
muscle relaxants Relax skeletal muscles and relieve muscle spasms. Used to relieve low back pain and for anesthesia and artificial ventilation during surgery. Some antianxiety drugs and sedatives also are muscle relaxants.
mydriatics Dilate (widen) the pupil of the eye. Used before eye examinations and before and after eye surgery to enable the doctor to see into the back of the eye and to treat certain eye conditions.
N
narcotics See analgesics.
nitrates Vasodilators. Relax the blood vessels and improve blood flow and pressure, reducing the heart’s workload. Used to prevent or treat angina, heart attack, and congestive heart failure.
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) Anti-inflammatories; analgesics; antipyretics. Block the production of prostaglandins (chemicals in the body that cause inflammation and help transmit pain signals to the brain). Used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation and stiffness in the joints and soft tissues, and to reduce fever in disorders such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. Include aspirin, celecoxib, ibuprofen, naproxen, and rofecoxib.
NSAIDs See nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
O
opiates Any drug derived from or chemically similar to opium, which is an analgesic. Include codeine and morphine. Used to relieve moderate to severe pain.
oral contraceptives Hormone drugs. Block ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary). Used to prevent pregnancy. Contain estrogens and progestins , either alone or in combination.
P
penicillins Broad-spectrum antibiotics. Used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections, including tonsillitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, endocarditis, and many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
phosphodiesterase