Patricia Weiser, PharmD

Medical News Today • June 23, 2022

Elyxyb: Uses, cost, dosage, and more

Elyxyb is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s FDA-approved to treat migraine with or without aura in adults. Migraine is a condition that typically causes recurring episodes of moderate to severe headaches, along with other symptoms. Migraine is the name of the condition, and doctors call the recurrent head pain associated with it headache episodes or migraine episodes. Symptoms of migraine may include aura. An aura refers to unusual symptoms or sensations that can occur before or during

Medical News Today • June 12, 2022

Besponsa: Side effects, dosage, use with other drugs, and more

Besponsa is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s FDA-approved to treat B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in certain adults. B-cell ALL is a type of cancer. It affects immature white blood cells called B lymphoblasts. These are also known as B-cell precursors or blasts. B-cell ALL is often referred to as “ALL.” With ALL, blasts grow and multiply (make more cells) too quickly. They form in your bone marrow (tissue inside your bones that makes blood cells). Your bone marrow releases t

Medical News Today • June 6, 2022

Udenyca: Side effects, cost, dosage, how to use, and more

Udenyca is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s FDA-approved to reduce the risk of infection in people receiving chemotherapy for non-myeloid* cancer. Chemotherapy may cause neutropenia, which is a low level of white blood cells called neutrophils. These cells help fight infection. With too few of the cells, your risk of infection may increase. Udenyca is used to help prevent febrile neutropenia. This condition occurs when you have a fever in combination with neutropenia. Udenyca has a lim

Medical News Today • May 21, 2022

Xultophy 100/3.6: Side effects and what to do about them

Xultophy 100/3.6 (insulin degludec/liraglutide) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to help manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. Xultophy is prescribed along with exercise and diet, and it’s typically used as a long-term treatment. Here are some fast facts about Xultophy 100/3.6: As with other drugs, Xultophy 100/3.6 can cause side effects. Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects. For

Medical News Today • May 21, 2022

Tarceva: Side effects, uses, use with other drugs, and more

The Tarceva dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include: • the type of cancer you’re using Tarceva to treat • whether or not you smoke cigarettes • other medications you may take The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended dosages. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs. Tarceva comes as an oral tablet. Tarceva is available in three stren

Medical News Today • May 21, 2022

Tosymra: Side effects, cost, uses, dosage, how to use, and more

Tosymra (sumatriptan) is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s FDA-approved to treat migraine that occurs with or without aura in adults. Tosymra is an acute (fast-acting) treatment meant to stop a migraine episode that’s already started. Migraine is a condition that typically involves recurring episodes of severe headaches and other symptoms. Migraine episodes may occur with auras. These are sensory disturbances, such as seeing flashes of light. Tosymra has certain limits of use. For detai

Medical News Today • May 16, 2022

Reyvow: Side effects and how to manage them

Reyvow (lasmiditan) is a prescription brand-name medication. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat migraine that occurs with or without an aura in adults. Reyvow is an acute (immediate) migraine treatment. You only take it when you have a migraine episode. It isn’t taken on a regular basis to prevent migraine symptoms. Here are some fast facts about Reyvow: Like other drugs, Reyvow can cause side effects. Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side

Medical News Today • May 15, 2022

Tyrvaya: Cost, side effects, dosage, how to use, and more

Tyrvaya is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s FDA-approved to treat the symptoms of dry eye disease. With dry eye disease, your eyes don’t make enough tears, or your tears don’t keep your eyes moist enough. This can cause uncomfortable symptoms, such as burning and pain. Tyrvaya is the first dry eye medication that comes as a nasal spray. Tyrvaya is available in one strength of 0.6 milligrams (mg) per milliliter (mL) of solution. Each actuation (spray) delivers 0.03 mg of varenicline. Th

Medical News Today • April 24, 2022

Iclusig side effects: Mild to serious and what to do about them

Iclusig (ponatinib) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat the following specific types of leukemia that have progressed in adults: Here are some fast facts about Iclusig: Iclusig is typically taken as a long-term treatment. Similar to other drugs, Iclusig can cause side effects. Learning about a medication’s side effects can help you and your doctor decide whether to add it to your treatment plan. Read on to learn about potential

Medical News Today • April 21, 2022

Kadcyla side effects: Mild to serious and how to manage them

Kadcyla (ado-trastuzumab emtansine) is a prescription brand-name medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat metastatic or early breast cancer that’s HER2-positive (HER+) in certain situations. Kadcyla is approved for use in adults. Here are some fast facts about Kadcyla: • How it’s given: as an IV infusion by a healthcare professional For metastatic breast cancer, Kadcyla is typically given long term over several treatment cycles. (Each treatment cycle is 3 weeks

Medical News Today • April 8, 2022

Zynlonta: Side effects, cost, dosage, how it works, and more

Zynlonta is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s FDA-approved to treat certain types of large B-cell lymphoma in adults. Large B-cell lymphoma is a kind of cancer that affects white blood cells called B cells. These cells are part of your immune and lymphatic systems. Zynlonta is used to treat the following types of large B-cell lymphoma: • diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) that’s not otherwise specified, meaning it doesn’t have a specific known cause Zynlonta is used to treat lymphoma

Medical News Today • March 24, 2022

Zeposia: Side effects and how to manage them

Zeposia (ozanimod) is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the following conditions in adults: Here are some fast facts about Zeposia: Similar to other drugs, Zeposia can cause side effects. Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects. For a general overview of Zeposia, including details about its uses, see this article. FAQs about the side effects of Zeposia Zeposia may cause several side effects. Her

Medical News Today • March 11, 2022

Tafinlar: Side effects, cost, dosage, uses, how it works, and more

As with all medications, the cost of Tafinlar can vary. To find current prices for the 50-milligram (mg) and 75-mg strengths of Tafinlar capsules in your area, check out GoodRx.com. The cost you find on GoodRx.com is what you may pay without insurance. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use. Keep in mind that you may be able to get a 90-day supply of Tafinlar. If approved by your insurance company, getting a 90-day supply of the drug c

Medical News Today • March 10, 2022

Kineret: Side effects, dosage, how to use, uses, price, and more

• Reduce the symptoms and slow the progression (worsening) of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA)* in adults. Kineret is prescribed if you’ve tried one or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) that haven’t worked well enough. Your doctor will prescribe Kineret alone or with DMARDs. However, they typically will not prescribe it with tumor necrosis factor blockers, a type of DMARD.† • Treat neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID) in adults and children, incl

Medical News Today • March 4, 2022

Tabrecta side effects: What to do about them

Tabrecta (capmatinib) is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) treat a certain type of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in adults. The cancer must be metastatic and missing a part of a gene called MET. With metastatic NSCLC, the cancer has spread from the lungs to other parts of the body. MET stands for mesenchymal-epithelial transition. Here are some fast facts about Tabrecta: Tabrecta is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. Like o

Medical News Today • February 25, 2022

Kevzara: Side effects and what to do about them

Kevzara (sarilumab) is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in certain situations. Kevzara is used long term to treat moderate to severe RA in adults. The drug may be prescribed if you have tried one or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) that have not eased your symptoms enough. Kevzara may also be prescribed if you have had a reaction to a DMARD. Here are some fast facts about Kevzara: •

Medical News Today • February 23, 2022

Ingrezza: Side effects, dosages, uses, and more

Ingrezza is a brand-name prescription drug that’s used to treat tardive dyskinesia (TD) in adults. With TD, you have involuntary movements in certain areas of your body, usually in your face and mouth. TD can be caused as a side effect of certain psychiatric medications. Ingrezza belongs to a class of medications called vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitors. It works to treat TD symptoms by decreasing abnormal functioning of dopamine, a certain chemical in your brain. This abnorma

Medical News Today • February 18, 2022

Relpax: Side effects and how to manage them

Relpax (eletriptan) is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat migraine that occurs with or without aura in adults. Relpax is typically a long-term treatment. However, it isn’t taken on a regular basis. Instead, you’ll only take it as needed for migraine. Here are some fast facts about Relpax: Relpax is only prescribed for adults who’ve been diagnosed with migraine. It doesn’t prevent migraine attacks or treat cluster headaches. As w

Medical News Today • January 28, 2022

Amaryl: Dosage, side effects, uses, how it works, cost, and more

Amaryl is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s FDA-approved to lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. The drug is used in combination with regular exercise and a balanced diet. There are certain limitations to Amaryl’s use. For more information, see the “Amaryl uses” section below. Amaryl contains the active drug glimepiride and belongs to a drug class called sulfonylureas. Amaryl comes as an oral tablet. The drug is available in three strengths: 1 milligram (mg), 2 mg, a

Medical News Today • January 28, 2022

Levemir side effects: What they are and how to manage them

Levemir (insulin detemir) is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve blood sugar levels in: • adults and children ages 2 years and older with type 1 diabetes Levemir is typically used as a long-term treatment to help manage blood sugar levels. Here are some fast facts about Levemir: • Drug form: solution given by subcutaneous injection using a vial or a prefilled Levemir FlexTouch pen Like other drugs, Levemir can cause side effect