Medication, antiviral
An drug that kills viruses or suppresses their replication and, hence, inhibits their capability to multiply and reproduce.
For example, amantadine (Symmetrel) is a synthetic (man-made) drug that inhibits the multiplication of the influenza A virus and was once used to prevent the flu. Safer medicines such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) can be used to prevent the flu shortly after exposure or to reduce the severity. Flu antiviral drugs work best for treatment when they are started within 2 days of getting sick. However, starting them later can still be helpful, especially if the sick person has a high risk health condition or is very sick from the flu. (Neither drug is a substitute for flu shots).
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Drugs that antagonize the action of adrenaline (a beta adrenergic substance) and relieve stress to the heart muscle. Beta-blockers are often used to slow the heart rate or lower the blood pressure. They are also used to prevent migraine headaches.
- Medication, generic
The chemical name of a drug. A term referring to the chemical makeup of a drug rather than to the advertised brand name under which the drug is sold. A term referring to any drug marketed under its chemical name without advertising. “Diazepam” is an example of the chemical (generic) name of a sedative. It […]
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Drugs that act as blood vessel dilator (vasodilators) and open vessels by relaxing their muscular walls). For example, nitroglycerin is a vasodilator. So are the ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors.
- Medicine, adoption
Medicine for the adopted child, including pre-adoption counseling and evaluation based on a child’s medical records as well as post-adoption consultations and, often, primary care of the adopted child. The field of adoption medicine began to emerge toward the end of the 20th century as the medical problems of children born abroad and adopted into […]
- Medicine, Chinese
Traditional Chinese medicine.