NyQuil is a popular over-the-counter medication sold under the brand “Vicks” utilized to treat symptoms of the common cold, influenza, and allergies – all while simultaneously enhancing sleep and/or without sleep disruption. The name “NyQuil” is a portmanteau of the words “night” and “tranquil,” effectively reminding consumers that it is intended for nighttime usage and …
Nortriptyline (brand name “Pamelor”) is considered the chief pharmacologically active metabolite of the chemical amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant derived from dibenzocycloheptene. Formation of nortriptyline occurs upon hepatic oxidative N-demethylation of amitriptyline via CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 isoenzymes. In the early 1960s, researchers realized a significant portion of amitriptyline’s antidepressant effects resulted from the formation of its …
Amitriptyline (brand name “Elavil”) is a drug derived from the chemical dibenzocycloheptadiene that was discovered and approved in the early 1960s for the treatment of major depression. It is formally classified as a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) and functions principally via inhibiting the presynaptic reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin. This effect of dual presynaptic reuptake inhibition …
Opana (Oxymorphone) is a brand name semi-synthetic opioid medication manufactured by Endo Pharmaceuticals primarily for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. In addition to its usage for pain management, Opana is sometimes administered as an adjunct for the maintenance of preoperative anesthesia. The active ingredient within Opana known as “oxymorphone,” is produced from thebaine, …
Promethazine is a first-generation antihistamine of the “phenothiazine” classification often prescribed for the treatment of postoperative nausea, vomiting, and motion sickness. It is commonly utilized as an adjunct to narcotic analgesics to increase their efficacy among those experiencing acute or chronic pain. Additionally, promethazine is sometimes administered for the treatment of the common cold and …
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 …