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Medicines
In these pages we take a look at commonly used medicines - their uses, how they work, Side effects, brand names, alternatives and any interactions with other medications. Also, 'Explaining medicines' looks at how medicines are regulated, how they are approved for sale, what makes some medicines prescription only and others available over the counter.
Do you understand your medicines?
It's easy to become complacent about our medicines, especially if we've been taking them for a long time. Yet all treatments can be harmful, or ineffective, if they are used in the wrong way. This article will test your knowledge about your medicines and guide you to places where you can find the information you need to get the very best from your treatments.
ACE inhibitors
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are a group of drugs originally developed to lower high blood pressure.
Antacids and alginates
Antacids are taken to treat dyspepsia - better known as indigestion or heartburn. A number of antacids and related remedies are available without prescription from pharmacies and supermarkets, although these should still be considered to be medicines.
Antibiotics
This factsheet is for people who want to find out more about medicines available to treat bacterial infections.
Antidepressants
This factsheet is for people who want to find out more about medicines available to treat depression.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines are most commonly found in medicines for allergic conditions like hay fever and also in some cough and cold remedies, some preparations for sickness and some migraine treatments.
Benzodiazepines
This group of drugs are also known as minor tranquillisers and sedatives. The best known are probably diazepam (brand name Valium) and nitrazepam (Mogadon).
Beta2 agonists
This article looks at the medicines used to relieve an asthma attack - the blue-coloured inhalers containing medicines known as beta2 agonists.
Beta-blockers
Beta-adrenoreceptor blocking drugs, more commonly called beta-blockers, work on the heart and circulatory system, reducing blood pressure and having other beneficial effects on the heart and circulation.
Calcium-channel blockers
These drugs are used to treat problems with the heart and circulatory system including high blood pressure and angina.
Combined oral contraceptives (COCs)
Often just referred to as 'the pill', combined oral contraceptives (COCs) are one of many methods of preventing pregnancy. The COCs are so called because they combine two types of female hormone, oestrogen and progestogen.
Eye preparations
There are several different groups of drugs that are included in eye preparations. Here we discuss the four main categories.
Drugs for glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition in which the pressure in the eye is too high. There are five main types of drug used in the treatment of glaucoma - miotics, sympathomimetics, beta-blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, and latanoprost (Xalatan).
H2 antagonists
There are a number of medicines for treating stomach ulcers and indigestion. One of the most important of these is a group of medicines known as H2-receptor antagonists or H2 antagonists.
Hormone replacement therapy
Hormone replacement therapy is usually just called HRT. It is recommended to women during and after the menopause, the end of menstruation.
Inhaled steroids
Inhaled corticosteroid drugs, or inhaled steroids as they are usually known, are used to prevent the symptoms of asthma.
Laxatives
There are several types of laxative that all work in different ways to help relieve or prevent constipation. Here we discuss three of the main types.
Loop diuretics (e.g. furosemide/frusemide)
A diuretic is a type of drug that removes water from the body. Loop diuretics are a particularly powerful type of diuretic used for treating heart failure.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, more commonly called NSAIDs (pronounced En-sayds), reduce inflammation and relieve pain. The most widely used NSAID is ibuprofen (e.g. Brufen, Nurofen).
Paracetamol
This factsheet is for people who want to find out more about paracetamol and how to use it safely.
Medicines for an enlarged prostate
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition in which the prostate gland gradually enlarges. It occurs to some degree in most men from middle age onwards.
Proton pump inhibitors
Proton pump inhibitors are a family of drugs used to treat stomach ulcers by completely blocking the production of stomach acid.
Statins
Statins are a relatively new group of drugs used to lower blood cholesterol levels.
Topical steroids
Topical corticosteroids, more commonly called steroid creams, are applied to the skin to relieve eczema and some other skin conditions.
For more information on other health issues, try a search of our health factsheets.
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