Archive-name: medicine/allergy/medications
Posting-Frequency: monthly Last-modified: 17 November 2000 Original-Author: Patricia Wrean <prwrean@sfu.ca> Version: 1.3 See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge alt.support.asthma FAQ: Allergy Medications ============================================= This FAQ attempts to list the most common allergy medications available both in the U.S. and overseas. It was compiled by Patricia Wrean <prwrean@sfu.ca> and is currently maintained by Marie Goldenberg <mwg@radix.net>. Because of the plethora of over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines available, no efort has been made to make this an exhaustive list of all brand names. Also, other ingredients in antihistamine formulations, such as the decongestant pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, have not been included. Sections on decongestants and topical remedies for rashes and hives will be added in later versions. The information about inhaled corticosteroids and ketotifen fumarate (Zaditen) has been taken from the alt.support.asthma FAQ: Asthma Medications. The remaining entries come from either the 1995 Physicians' Desk Reference and the 1995 PDR for Non-prescription Drugs (full citations in References section at end of post), or from the contributors listed at the end of the post. Chemical class information came mostly from the pamphlet "Advice from your Allergist", published by the American College of Allergy & Immunology. ** Although the maintainer does her best to keep this FAQ updated, it is by no means an authoritative work. Asthma is a serious illness requiring supervision by a physician. Please do not attempt to change your medication regime without consulting your doctor. Corrections, additions, and comments are requested; please include the name of the country in which the medication is available, as it isn't always obvious from the user-id. If the drug is available as an inhaler, please specify it as a MDI or one of the other types mentioned in the glossary, or add a description of the inhaler if it is not present already. If you do not wish your name to be included in the contributors list, please state that explicitly when contributing. Abbreviations are explained in the glossary at the end of the table. If the medication is followed by a country name in brackets, then to the best of my knowledge it is only available in that country, and not in the U.S. + = added since last version & = updated/corrected since last version ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Antihistamines -------------- class chemical name brand name comments ----- ------------- ---------- -------- alkylamines brompheniramine Bromfed, Rx & OTC maleate Dimetane, Dimetapp, etc. chlorpheniramine Atrohist, Rx & OTC maleate Chlor-Trimeton, Kronofed, etc. pheniramine Triaminic Rx maleate triprolidine Actifed Rx hydrochloride ethanolamines carbinoxamine Rondec Rx maleate clemastine Tavist Rx & OTC fumarate dimenhydrinate Dramamine OTC, usually for nausea diphenhydramine Benadryl Rx & OTC hydrochloride ethylenediamines pyrilamine Triaminic Rx maleate tripelennamine PBZ Rx hydrochloride phenothiazines promethazine Phenergan Rx hydrochloride trimeprazine Temeril Rx tartrate piperazines cetirizine Zyrtec Rx Reactine (Can) chlorcyclizine Mantadil Cream Rx, for eczema & dermatitis hydroxyzine Atarax Rx hydrochloride hydroxyzine Vistaril Rx pamoate meclizine Antivert, Rx & OTC, hydrochloride Bonine Bonine usually for nausea miscellaneous astemizole Hismanal Rx, non-sedating azatadine Trinalin Rx maleate cyproheptadine Periactin Rx hydrochloride ketotifen Zaditen Rx (Can), for fumarate treatment of pediatric allergic asthma, non-sedating loratidine Claritin Rx, non-sedating phenindamine Nolahist OTC tartrate terfenadine Seldane Rx, non-sedating & (discontinued in 1997) Anti-inflammatory, steroidal (inhaled) chemical name brand name comments ------------- ---------- -------- beclomethasone Beconase Rx, nasal MDI dipropionate Beconase AQ Rx, nasal spray Vancenase Rx, Pockethaler (nasal MDI) Vancenase AQ Rx, nasal spray budesonide Rhinocort Rx, nasal MDI (US, elsewhere), nasal turbuhaler, (Can, Sw), nasal spray (Can) flunisolide Nasalide Rx, nasal spray Nasarel Rx, nasal spray Rhinalar Rx, nasal spray (Can) fluticasone Flonase Rx, nasal spray propionate + mometasone Nasonex Rx, nasal spray triamcinolone Nasacort Rx, nasal MDI acetonide Mast cell stabilizers* --------------------- cromolyn sodium Nasalcrom Rx, nasal spray (sodium cromoglycate is WHO recommended Rynacrom Rx, nasal spray, name generally in cartridges for nasal use outside the US) insufflator (Can) (Nasalcrom now OTC in US) * a mast cell stabilizer blocks the production of histamine. For a more complete description of what a mast cell stabilizer does, please see the alt.support.asthma FAQ: Asthma -- General Information, section 2.0. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Glossary -------- aerosol inhalers: MDI - metered-dose inhaler, consisting of an aerosol unit and plastic mouthpiece. This is currently the most common type of inhaler, and is widely available. syncroner - MDI with elongated mouthpiece, used as training device to see if medication is being inhaled properly. Available in Canada for Intal. dry powder inhalers: insufflator - dry powder nasal inhaler used with Rynacrom cartridges. Each cartridge contains one dose; the inhaler opens the cartridge, allowing the powder to be blown into the nose by squeezing the bulb. Available in Canada. spinhaler - dry powder inhaler used with Intal capsules for spinhaler. Each capsule contains one dose; the inhaler opens the capsule such that the powder may be inhaled through the mouthpiece. Available in Canada, UK, and the U.S. turbuhaler - dry powder inhaler. The drug is in form of a pellet; when body of inhaler is rotated, prescribed amount of drug is ground off this pellet. The powder is then inhaled through a fluted aperture on top. Available in Australia, Canada, Denmark, and Switzerland. country abbreviations: Can - Canada Sw - Switzerland US - United States misc: OTC - over-the-counter, no prescription required for purchase Rx - prescription by physician required for purchase ---------------------------------------------------------------------- References: ---------- The Physicians' Desk Reference is published annually by: Medical Economics Data Production Company Montvale, NJ 07645-1742 ISBN 1-56363-087-7 for the 1995 edition It is a compendium of official, FDA-approved prescription drug labeling. The FDA is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Physician's Desk Reference for Nonprescription Drugs is also published annually by the Medical Economics Data Production Company. ISBN 1-56363-089-3 for the 1995 edition It is a compendium of manufacturers' information on over-the- counter medications available in the U.S. The American College of Allergy & Immunology, (ACAI), publishes a pamphlet titled "Advice from your Allergist." It may be ordered from: ACAI 85 West Algonquin Road, Suite 550 Arlington Heights, IL 60005 (708) 427-1200 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Contributors: Steve Dyer dyer@spdcc.com Patrick White patrickw@iglou.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Disclaimer: I am not a physician; I am only a reasonably well-informed asthmatic. This information is for educational purposes only, and should be used only as a supplement to, not a substitute for, professional medical advice. Copyright 1996 by Patricia Wrean, 1997 by Marie Goldenberg. Permission is given to freely copy or distribute this FAQ provided that it is distributed in full without modification, and that such distribution is not intended for profit. User Contributions:
[ Usenet FAQs | Web FAQs | Documents | RFC Index ]
Send corrections/additions to the FAQ Maintainer: mwg@saltmine.radix.net
Last Update March 27 2014 @ 02:11 PM
|
Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: