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When you’re shopping for a prescription medicine, you want to know that it’s effective and safe. This is especially true if you’re using it for an extended period of time.
Thankfully, there are some very successful medicines in the USA that will be around for decades to come. So which ones should you consider?
1. Lipitor
That’s because last year marked the first time all of the top 10 medicines in the country were cheap generics, according to IMS Health data.
One of the biggest winners was Zetia, a statin drug developed by Schering-Plough and Merck. The drug has become a big moneymaker for both companies, and it is now expected to reach annual sales of $2 billion.
Zetia was created by combining ezetimibe with the anti-cholesterol drug statins. It works in the liver and blocks cholesterol absorption in the intestines.
It was approved to treat high cholesterol levels in adults and children ages 10 to 17 years who have heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic condition that causes very high blood levels of the fat. The drug can also lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and related death, and reduce the need for certain types of heart surgery.
Lipitor is taken by mouth once daily, usually after a meal. It comes as a tablet in four strengths: 10, 20 mg, 40 mg, and 80 mg.
Like many drugs, Lipitor can cause side effects. These may include mild or serious ones, but most are temporary.
Your doctor can tell you more about possible side effects of Lipitor. They can also recommend ways to help minimize them.
You should not take Lipitor if you have liver disease. You should also tell your doctor if you have kidney disease. Kidney problems can increase your risk of muscle problems and other side effects from Lipitor.
It is also important to talk with your doctor about the side effects of taking Lipitor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. You should not breastfeed while you are taking Lipitor because the medication may pass into your baby’s milk and cause harm to your child.
2. Remicade
If you have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, Remicade is a biologic Vidalista 10 that helps relieve symptoms. It blocks a protein called tumor necrosis factor-alpha, which causes inflammation in people with autoimmune diseases.
A doctor may give you Remicade in a way called an intravenous infusion. It’s a powder that you mix with saline and inject directly into your vein over several hours.
Your body may get rid of half of the drug, so it’s important to take the medicine on time. If you miss doses, your doctor may prescribe a new dose to replace what’s missing.
You’ll need to have a blood test before and after you receive Remicade, so your doctor can make sure the medication is working well. They’ll also check your liver and kidney function, and make sure you don’t have hepatitis B or tuberculosis (TB).
Some of these side effects can happen right away, while others can take weeks or months to occur. They can include swelling of the hands, feet, or face; a low level of white blood cells; and difficulty breathing.
If you have low blood cell counts, your doctor will closely monitor you. They may need to adjust your dose of Remicade or stop it altogether if it doesn’t work.
During the first few days of treatment, you may experience an allergic reaction to Remicade. It’s very rare, but it can occur. In clinical trials, about 0.2% of people who took this medication for rheumatoid arthritis had an allergic reaction.
Other common side effects of Remicade include low red blood cells, swelling of the hands, feet, or face, and a low level of white blood cells. These effects can be life-threatening if they don’t go away.
3. Avandia
Avandia, made by GlaxoSmithKline, was the world’s best-selling diabetes drug in 2006. But rosiglitazone (Avandia) was linked to heart attacks and other serious side effects in 2007. In 2010, the FDA restricted Avandia use after studies linked it to increased heart risks.
In 2007, the New England Journal of Medicine published a meta-analysis showing that Avandia was associated with an increased risk of heart attacks in people taking it for at least 24 weeks. It triggered a public health alert and led to thousands of lawsuits against the manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline.
The Duke University Medical Center’s clinical trial specialists reviewed data from GlaxoSmithKline on how Avandia influenced the number of people with heart attacks and deaths. The review concluded that the company’s researchers did not systematically overestimate the risk of heart problems with Avandia, which they did with rival drugs like glyburide and metformin.
But it’s still unclear whether the rosiglitazone in Avandia is more effective than other diabetes drugs in controlling blood sugar levels. And doctors may be reluctant to prescribe it, especially when older drugs can provide similar or even greater benefits at a lower cost.
Another possible concern is that Avandia can cause weight gain, especially in people who are overweight or obese. This is probably because Avandia can increase the amount of fluid in your body (edema) and fat storage.
Your doctor can help you find ways to lose weight while on Avandia or recommend alternative treatments if you are concerned about gaining weight. They can also monitor your liver health and make sure you are taking a low dose of Avandia. If you have a history of liver problems, your doctor will monitor your liver enzymes before starting Avandia and at regular intervals during treatment.
4. Xeloda
Xeloda is a type of fluoropyrimidine, which means it kills cancer cells by interfering with their genetic material (DNA and RNA). It also stops cancer cells from making the proteins they need to survive.
Taking Xeloda in 3-week cycles helps control your cancer. Each cycle is made up of twice-daily doses taken for 2 weeks and then a week off treatment as a rest period.
The dosage you take depends on the type of cancer and your body weight and height. Your doctor will prescribe the dose that is best for you.
If you have liver or kidney problems, your doctor may start you on a lower dosage and monitor you closely. They may also pause your treatment or have you stop taking Xeloda.
Side effects of Xeloda can include nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, and numbness or tingling in your hands or feet. They can be serious and may get worse over time, even if you continue taking Xeloda.
Your doctor may prescribe a blood thinner to help prevent blood clots during and after treatment with Xeloda.
Some Vidalista 60 mg reviews can interact with Xeloda, which can cause dangerous side effects or increase your risk of an allergic reaction. Talk to your doctor about all of the medicines and supplements you take.
The most common side effects of Xeloda include abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and numbness or itching in your hands or feet. They improve over time, but some can stay in your body for longer than others. If you have any of these symptoms, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatment with an anti-nausea medicine or other medication to help relieve them.
