New Drug List, and their Side Effects
1. Glimepiride (Amaryl)
Glimepiride is an anti-diabetic drug, from the class of Sulfonylureas. It stimulates the release of insulin from the pancreas and makes the insulin receptors more sensible. This helps the lowering of blood glucose levels. It’s main side effects are: Gastro-intestinal disturbance, rarely thrombocytopenia (low platelets), leukopenia (low white cells), hemolytic anemia, occasionally allergic reactions. Also the first weeks of use can be dangerous because of the risk of hypoglicemia.
2. Meloxicam (Meloxicam)
Meloxicam is a Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), from the family of Oxicams. This drug acts by blocking selectively the COX-2 enzyme, responsible for the transformation of Arachidonic acid in Prostaglandins. If the prostaglandins are not created, the inflammation is reduced. Meloxicam’s side effects include: gastrointestinal toxicity and bleeding, tinnitus, blinding headaches, rash, and very dark or black stool (a sign of intestinal bleeding). However it has less side effects than the other NSAIDs.
3. Topiramate (Topamax)
Topiramate is an anti-epileptic drug. It is more used in children with seizures, in some phases of bipolar disorder, in the prevention of migraines, etc. Topiramate side effects include: paresthesia (loss of sensation in parts of the body), upper respiratory tract infections, diarrhea, nausea, anorexia, memory problems. Some other side effects occur when the patient discontinues the use of topiramate: psychomotor slowing, memory problems, fatigue, confusion, somnolence.
4. Sulpiride (Meresa, Bosnyl, Dogmatil, Dolmatil, Eglonyl, Modal)
Sulpride is a typical antipsychotic drug of the benzamide class used in the treatment of psychosis with schizophrenia and major depressive disorder. Sulpride has lower side effects than other antipsychotic drugs. Some of them are: hypotension, rarely long-QT syndrome, dry mouth, sweating, nausea, activation or sedation, insomnia, allergic rash or pruritus.
5. Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)
Oxcarbazepine is an anti convulsive and mood stabilizing drug. It is a sub type of Carbamazepine, which is also a well known drug used in Epilepsy. Oxcarbazepine is well tolerated but however has some side effects. Oxcarbazepine causes blurred or double vision, fatigue and may cause headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting.
6. Claritin-D
Claritin-D is a combination of Loratadine and Pseudoephedrine.
Loratadin is an Anti Histaminic, used for curing allergies, and Pseudoephedrin is a decongestionant, that is usually used in common cold and flu-like symptoms. Used together these two drug can widen the range of conditions cured, but also the range of side effects. The most common effects of Claritin-D are: Dry mouth, mild stomach upset, trouble sleeping, dizziness, headache, nervousness, loss of appetite, and thirst.
7. Other new drugs
Onfi (clobazam) is a benzodiazepine antiepileptic drug for the treatment of patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). Ferriprox (deferiprone) is an iron chelator indicated for the treatment of patients with transfusional iron overload due to thalassemia syndromes when current chelation therapy is inadequate. Juvisync (simvastatin and sitagliptin) is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor fixed dose combination for the treatment of high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. Xalkori (crizotinib) is an oral first-in-class anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor for the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors are ALK-positive.
