medications library

 

There are medications for just about anything, whether it's a headache or something more serious. Get informed about prescription and over-the-counter drugs and medicine.

Featured Article:  Why are antidepressants the most prescribed drug in the U.S.?

Doctors are prescribing more antidepressant drugs than ever. What does this trend suggest? Are these drugs being overprescribed, or are patients simply more comfortable with confiding in doctors about depression? See more »

Can Tamiflu cause psychiatric side effects?

Can Tamiflu cause psychiatric side effects?

Following more than 200 reports of strange behavior in minors taking Tamiflu, including 15 deaths, the FDA has made an addition to the drug's warning label.

See more »
How Antidepressants Work

How Antidepressants Work

Antidepressants are the first line of treatment for depression. Sales of antidepressants total $50 billion annually, making this class of drugs one of the leading prescription medications. But are they effective?

See more »
How Aspirin Works

How Aspirin Works

Feel a bit of a headache coming on? Muscle aches from yesterday's workout too distracting? Arthritis making that knitting project a pain? Discover how aspirin and other analgesics dull the pain and find out what else they're good for.

See more »
How can a diet pill make you feel full?

How can a diet pill make you feel full?

A new diet pill is in the works that suppresses your appetite differently from most diet pills. Find out how an expanding diet pill can make you feel full.

See more »
How Cipro Works

How Cipro Works

The threat of anthrax as a biological weapon has become a real concern for everyone. Ciprofloxacin is a drug used to treat people exposed to anthrax. Learn how this medicine works against the anthrax bacteria.

See more »
How Cymbalta Works

How Cymbalta Works

Depression is tough. It affects your mood, your relationships -- and your body. For some people, depression is also a source of physical pain. That's where Cymbalta comes in.

See more »
How Diet Pills Work

How Diet Pills Work

Lose 30 pounds in 30 days with no diet or exercise! Sound too good to be true? It is: Most diet-pill promises have no real scientific backing. Learn the truth about diet drugs and what they can really deliver.

See more »
How Diuretics Work

How Diuretics Work

Diuretics are used to treat a wide variety of conditions. Learn about diuretics in this article and find out what conditions diuretics can treat.

See more »
How do antibiotics work?

How do antibiotics work?

Antibiotics kill all kinds of bacteria. Learn how they do it.

See more »
How Generic Drugs Work

How Generic Drugs Work

About half of all prescriptions are filled with a generic equivalent of a brand-name drug. Generic drugs have the same active ingredients, safety and effectiveness as brand-name medications, but are they really just as good? And why are they so much cheaper than brand-name drugs?

See more »
How Heart Failure Medications Work

How Heart Failure Medications Work

Among people over 65 years of age who are admitted to the hospital, heart failure is the most common diagnosis. And because the American population is aging, the number of heart failure diagnoses is increasing every year. Heart failure medication may be able to help.

See more »
How Inotropic Drugs Work

How Inotropic Drugs Work

Inotropic drugs, which are used to manage various heart conditions, alter the force of your heartbeat. How do they work, and what are some of their side effects?

See more »
How Lipitor Works

How Lipitor Works

The bigger the better? Not when we're talking bad-cholesterol numbers. The drug Lipitor takes that number way down. How does a little pill pack such a punch?

See more »
How Lipozene Works

How Lipozene Works

Imagine just being able to indulge in a pill that will make you small enough to fit into a bikini -- without having to trudge to the gym. Does a drug called Lipozene do the trick, or is too good to be true?

See more »
How Malaria Drugs Work

How Malaria Drugs Work

Malaria is curable with accurate diagnosis and timely treatment. Learn about the latest approaches and preventive actions you can take before you leave home.

See more »
How OxyContin Works

How OxyContin Works

According to a National Survey on Drug Use and Health, roughly 2.8 million people aged 12 or older had illegally used the prescription drug OxyContin at least once. Find out about this controversial drug.

See more »
How Prescription Drug Benefits Work

How Prescription Drug Benefits Work

Many insurance plans have excluded high-cost drugs from coverage, cut down on refills and increased co-pays. How can you get the medications you need without breaking the bank?

See more »
How Tamiflu Works

How Tamiflu Works

Some antiviral prescription drugs can lessen the severity and cut the duration of the flu as well as prevent infection if you've been exposed. Tamiflu is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs. Learn how Tamiflu works, how you take it and whether

See more »
How the Placebo Effect Works

How the Placebo Effect Works

When a kid scrapes his or her knee, a cute bandage is less about stanching the bleeding and more about psychological comfort. When a doctor gives an adult a placebo, is that any different?

See more »
How Vasodilator Drugs Work

How Vasodilator Drugs Work

Vasodilator drugs help lower blood pressure by widening blood vessels. How do they work, exactly -- and are there any serious side effects?

See more »
Symptom Checker
Learn more about what ails you. Here are some common symptoms.
Common Symptoms:
Diseases A-Z
A comprehensive guide with three thousand articles, including images and multimedia.
Common Conditions: