Disclaimer: This is only a generalized classification based on the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) indications for pharmaceutical usage. Physicians reserve the right to prescribe medications as they see fit within their field of practice. The FDA approves a drug for safety and efficacy of a particular indication of use. Therefore a physician may properly prescribe a medication for some other use than it is classified in this chapter.

The products listed in this chapter are just some of the commonly prescribed drugs available to the consumer. The listings do not imply equivalency of brand names or that they are substitutable or interchangeable. The products listed may come in different dosage forms, tablets, capsules, extended release, sustained release, etc.. Your doctor will select the appropriate dosage and form of a product that best suits your therapeutic needs. Drugs shown below, list first the generic name followed by trade name in parenthesis.

The Action, Use, Possible Side Effects and Precautions of the eleven classifications are very general and not specific to each drug. These classifications should increase your knowledge and involvement in your own or your loved one's therapy. Use other resources including your family doctor and pharmacist to learn more information regarding usage, precautions, and possible side effects for the medication that is prescribed to you.

I. ANTI-INFECTIVES

ACTION: Inhibit nutrition, growth, or reproductive growth of infective agents.

USE: Follow your doctor's directions for use of these medications. Do not miss any doses. Take your medication for the full course of treatment even if you feel better after a few days of use. Some of these medications must be taken with regard to food or other medications.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS AND PRECAUTIONS: Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, mild diarrhea, or irritation of mouth or throat. Contact your doctor if they continue or become bothersome. Contact your doctor immediately if you have a severe reaction to any of this medication. A severe reaction can include a severe rash or hives, difficulty in breathing, fever, dizziness, tightness in the chest, or swelling of the eyelids, face, or lips. If you experience any other effects not listed above, contact your doctor.

A. Antibiotics

Penicillins

Amoxicillin (Amoxil, Polymox, Trimox)

Amoxicillin/clavulanate (Augmentin)

Ampicillin (Omnipen, Polycillin, Principen)

Cloxacillin (Cloxapen, Tegopen)

Dicloxacillin (Dynapen, Dycill)

Penicfflin V (Veetids, Pen -Vee K)

Cephalosporins

Cefaclor (Ceclor)

Cefadroxil (Duricef)

Cefixime (Suprax)

Cefpodoxime (Vantin)

Cefprozil (Cefzil)

Ceftibuten (Cedax)

Ceforoxime (Ceftin)

Cephalexin (Keflex)

Loracarbef (Lorabid)

Fluroquinolones

Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)

Lomefloxacin (Maxaquin)

Norfloxacin (Noroxin)

Ofloxacin (Floxin)

Macrolides

Azithromycin (Zithromax)

Clarithromycin (Biaxin)

Dirithromycin (Dynabac)

Erytrhromycin (E.E.S, E-Mycin, Ery-Tabs, EryPed, Erythrocin Stearate, Ilosone, PCE)

Tetracyclines

Doxycycline (Vibramycin, Vibra-Tabs)

Minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin)

Tetracycline (Achromycin V, Sumycin)

Other Miscellaneous Antibiotics

Metronidazole (Flagyl)

Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethropin (Bactrim, Cotrim, Septra)

B. Antifungals

Butoconazole (Femstat)

Fluconazole (Diflucan)

Itraconazole (Sporanox)

Ketoconazole (Nizoral)

Miconazole (Monistat)

Nystatin (Mycostatin)

C. Antivirals

Acyclovir (Zovirax)

Amantadine (Symmetrel)

Didanosine (Videx)

Fanciclovir (Famvir)

Lamivudine (Epivir)

Rimantadine (Flumadine)

Valacyclovir (Valtrex)

Zidovudine (Retrovir)

D. Antituberculoous

Ethambutol (Myambutol)

Isoniazid (INH, Laniazid)

Pyrazinamide (various manufacturers)

Pyrimethamine (Daraprim)

Rifabutin (Mycobutin)

Rifampin (Refadin, Rimactane)