DayQuil is an over-the-counter (OTC) medication sold by Procter & Gamble under the brand “Vicks.” It is manufactured in approximately 5 formulations, each of which contain a unique set of ingredients aimed to target a specific symptom (e.g. coughing) or multiple symptoms as one would experience with the common cold and/or influenza. DayQuil is considered …
AndroGel is a transdermally administered gel prescribed to men with abnormally low testosterone levels (“hypogonadism”) associated with various medical conditions. Low testosterone among men can lead to an array of unwanted effects including: cognitive impairment, decreased body hair, fatigue, fewer erections, increased body fat, low libido, and reduced muscle mass. Daily application of AndroGel has …
Soma (Carisoprodol) is a drug developed in the late 1950s that was initially suspected to be an antiseptic, but turned out to be a CNS depressant with minor muscle-relaxant properties. Although its mechanism of action isn’t fully elucidated, carisoprodol and its primary metabolite “meprobamate” are believed to indirectly modulate the neurotransmission of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric-acid) via …
“Plan B” is a brand name birth control formulation manufactured in tablets, each of which contains 0.75 mg of the active steroid levonorgestrel. Levonorgestrel is an entirely synthetic progestogen that was synthesized in the 1960s and was included in birth control products by the 1980s. The levonorgestrel within Plan B functions by inhibiting ovulation or …
Unisom (doxylamine succinate) is a first-generation antihistamine available as an over-the-counter medication in the United States. It is commonly used as a sleep aid (to combat insomnia), an antiallergenic (to reduce severe allergies), and sometimes to treat symptoms of the common cold. The pharmacological ingredient within Unisom, known as “doxylamine,” functions predominantly via antagonism of H1 …
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical evergreen tree in the coffee family (Rubiaceae) native to Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia. Due to the fact that its leaves contain an array of therapeutic alkaloids, kratom leaves are commonly ingested orally via chewing or in a tea-like preparation for medicinal purposes. Various alkaloids derived from …
Lortab is a brand name medication engineered to contain active ingredients hydrocodone bitartrate (a synthetic opioid) and acetaminophen (a non-opioid analgesic). The drug is typically prescribed for the treatment of moderate to severe acute, chronic, or postoperative pain. The hydrocodone component of Lortab functions via binding to opioid receptors in the central nervous system, principally …