Patricia Weiser, PharmD

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

Medical News Today • January 28, 2022

Tecfidera: Side effects and how to manage them

Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s typically used as a long-term treatment for multiple sclerosis. Specifically, Tecfidera is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the following conditions in adults: Here are some fast facts about Tecfidera: Like other drugs, Tecfidera can cause side effects. Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects. For a general overview of Tecfidera, including details about its uses,

Medical News Today • December 20, 2021

Eucrisa side effects: How to manage them

Eucrisa (crisaborole) is a prescription brand-name medication. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat mild to moderate atopic dermatitis. This skin condition is often referred to as eczema. Eucrisa can be used in adults and children ages 3 months and older. Here are some fast facts about Eucrisa: You apply Eucrisa to the affected areas of your skin twice per day. It’s meant to be a long-term treatment. Like other drugs, Eucrisa ointment can cause side effects. Read on t

Medical News Today • December 20, 2021

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

Afinitor (everolimus) is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat certain types of cancers, tumors, and seizures.* Here are some fast facts about Afinitor: • Drug forms: • Afinitor Disperz: tablet for liquid suspension (a tablet that you’ll dissolve in water and then swallow) Like other drugs, Afinitor can cause side effects. Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects. For a general overview of Afinitor an

Medical News Today • December 20, 2021

Kadcyla: Side effects, vs. Herceptin, cost, uses, and more

Kadcyla is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s FDA-approved to treat certain types of HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer in adults. HER2 is a protein involved in cell growth. Cancer cells that have high levels of HER2 are called HER2+. These cancer cells may grow and spread more quickly than typical cancer cells. Specifically, Kadcyla is used to treat metastatic HER2+ breast cancer. (Metastatic breast cancer is cancer that’s spread from the breast to other parts of the body.) For this us

Medical News Today • December 20, 2021

Mavenclad dosage: Form, strength, how to use, and more

Mavenclad (cladribine) is a prescription brand-name medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat certain types of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults. This includes relapsing-remitting MS and active secondary progressive MS. The active ingredient in Mavenclad is cladribine. It belongs to a group of medications called antimetabolites. Mavenclad doesn’t come as a generic version. For information about the dosing of Mavenclad for MS, including the drug’s strengths and h

Medical News Today • December 13, 2021

Piqray dosage: Form, strengths, how to take, and more

Piqray (alpelisib) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it in combination with fulvestrant, another medication, to treat specific types of advanced or metastatic breast cancer. It can be prescribed for females* who have been through menopause and for males.* Piqray belongs to a class of drugs called kinase inhibitors. There isn’t a generic version of this drug. Piqray comes as an oral tablet. For information about the dosage of Piqray, incl

Medical News Today • November 23, 2021

Tradjenta: Side effects, dosage, cost, uses, and more

Tradjenta is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s FDA-approved for use in adults with type 2 diabetes. Tradjenta is used in combination with a balanced diet and regular exercise to help lower blood sugar levels. With type 2 diabetes, your blood sugar levels become high. Over time, high blood sugar levels can lead to complications. With a balanced diet, physical activity, and medications such as Tradjenta, you can manage your blood sugar levels. Doing so can help prevent diabetes complicati

Medical News Today • November 19, 2021

Byetta dosage: Form, strengths, how to use, and more

Byetta (exenatide) is a prescription brand-name medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to improve blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. The active drug in Byetta is exenatide, which belongs to a drug class called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists. Byetta isn’t available in a generic form. Byetta comes as a prefilled injection pen. It’s given as a subcutaneous injection. Read on for information about the dosage of Byetta, including its strengths and