American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [822]
aspirin Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; analgesic; antipyretic; anticoagulant; antiplatelet; salicylate. Used to relieve inflammation, reduce fever, relieve mild to moderate pain, and help prevent heart attack and stroke. Should not be used by children or adolescents because it is associated with a life-threatening disorder called Reye’s syndrome.
atenolol Beta blocker. Used to treat angina, high blood pressure, and some types of arrhythmias and often is used after a heart attack.
atorvastatin Lipid-lowering drug; statin. Blocks the production of cholesterol in the liver, lowering the level of harmful low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and other fatty substances in the blood. Used to prevent angina, heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
azithromycin Macrolide; antibiotic. Used to treat bacterial infections throughout the body but primarily in the respiratory tract and on the skin.
B
benazepril Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. Relaxes the blood vessels, decreases blood volume, lowers blood pressure, and reduces the heart’s workload. Used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure.
benzonatate Antitussive. Used to treat a dry cough.
bisoprolol Beta blocker. Relaxes the blood vessels, reducing the heart’s workload. Used to treat high blood pressure.
bupropion Antidepressant. Used to treat depression and to help people stop smoking.
butalbital, acetaminophen, and caffeine Combination drug. Sleep medication (butalbital), nonnarcotic analgesic and antipyretic (acetaminophen), and stimulant and xanthine (caffeine). Used to relieve tension headaches. Can be addictive.
C
calcitonin Hormone drug; bone-resorption inhibitor. Reduces the rate of calcium loss from bones. Used to treat Paget’s disease of the bone and hypercalcemia (too much calcium in the blood) and to help prevent bone loss in people with osteoporosis.
captopril Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. Used to treat high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and kidney disease that results from diabetes.
carisoprodol Muscle relaxant. Relaxes muscles and relieves pain and discomfort caused by strains, sprains, and other muscle injuries.
cefprozil Antibiotic. Used to treat bacterial infections of the ear, skin, and respiratory tract.
cefuroxime Antibiotic. Used to treat bacterial infections of the ear, skin, respiratory tract, and urinary tract.
celecoxib Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; COX-2 inhibitor. Used to relieve pain, tenderness, and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis.
cephalexin Antibiotic. Used to treat bacterial infections of the skin, bones, respiratory tract, urinary tract, digestive system, and middle ear.
cerivastatin Lipid-lowering drug; statin. Blocks the production of cholesterol in the liver, lowering the level of bad low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and other fatty substances in the blood. Used to prevent angina, heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
cetirizine Antihistamine. Used to relieve symptoms of hay fever and other seasonal allergies and to treat the itching and hives that result from skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis.
cimetidine Antihistamine; H2 (histamine) blocker. Decreases the amount of acid produced by the stomach. Used to treat heartburn, indigestion, and peptic ulcers.
ciprofloxacin Antibiotic. Used to treat bacterial infections of the skin, bones, joints, respiratory tract, abdomen, and urinary tract.
citalopram Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Increases the level and activity of serotonin (a chemical messenger in the brain that is involved in regulating mood). Used to treat depression.
clarithromycin Macrolide; antibiotic. Used to treat bacterial infections throughout the body; often used to treat peptic ulcers caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.
clindamycin Antibiotic. Used to treat serious bacterial infections that have not responded to treatment with