Author: Andrew Parker, MD
Andrew Parker, MD
Dr. Andrew Parker is a board-certified internal medicine physician with over 10 years of clinical experience. He earned his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and has worked at leading hospitals including St. Mary’s Medical Center. Dr. Parker specializes in patient education and digital health communication. He now focuses on creating clear, accessible, and evidence-based medical content for the public.
Comprehensive Guide to Paliperidone: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, and More What is Paliperidone? Paliperidone is an atypical antipsychotic that acts as a serotonin-dopamine antagonist, primarily targeting D2 and 5-HT2A receptors to manage schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. This medication helps stabilize mood and reduce psychotic symptoms, offering a long-acting option for chronic mental health conditions. Overview of Paliperidone Generic Name: Paliperidone Brand Name: Invega, Invega Sustenna, Invega Trinza, generics Drug Group: Atypical antipsychotic Commonly Used For Treat schizophrenia. Manage schizoaffective disorder. Control psychotic symptoms. Key Characteristics Form: Oral tablets (3 mg, 6 mg, 9 mg), extended-release injectable suspension (Invega Sustenna: 39…
Comprehensive Guide to Palbociclib: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, and More What is Palbociclib? Palbociclib is a cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitor that halts cell cycle progression in the G1 phase, used primarily to treat hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) advanced or metastatic breast cancer. This medication is a cornerstone of targeted therapy, often combined with endocrine therapy. Overview of Palbociclib Generic Name: Palbociclib Brand Name: Ibrance, generics Drug Group: CDK4/6 inhibitor (antineoplastic) Commonly Used For Treat HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer. Manage metastatic breast cancer. Enhance endocrine therapy efficacy. Key Characteristics Form: Oral capsules (75 mg,…
Comprehensive Guide to Paclitaxel: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, and More What is Paclitaxel? Paclitaxel is a taxane antineoplastic agent that stabilizes microtubules, inhibiting cell division and inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. This medication is a cornerstone in chemotherapy for various solid tumors, administered under specialized oncology care. Overview of Paclitaxel Generic Name: Paclitaxel Brand Name: Taxol, Abraxane, generics Drug Group: Taxane (antineoplastic) Commonly Used For Treat breast cancer. Manage ovarian cancer. Control non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Key Characteristics Form: Injection (6 mg/mL, 30 mg, 100 mg, 300 mg vials) or nanoparticle albumin-bound (Abraxane, 100 mg) (detailed in Dosage section).…
Comprehensive Guide to Oxytocin: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, and More What is Oxytocin? Oxytocin is a synthetic peptide hormone that mimics the natural oxytocin produced by the pituitary gland, stimulating uterine contractions and milk ejection. This medication is widely used in obstetrics to induce or augment labor and manage postpartum hemorrhage, administered under medical supervision. Overview of Oxytocin Generic Name: Oxytocin Brand Name: Pitocin, Syntocinon, generics Drug Group: Oxytocic hormone (peptide) Commonly Used For Induce or augment labor. Control postpartum hemorrhage. Facilitate milk let-down in breastfeeding. Key Characteristics Form: Injectable solution (10 IU/mL) or nasal spray (40 IU/mL) (detailed in…
Comprehensive Guide to Oxytetracycline: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, and More What is Oxytetracycline? Oxytetracycline is a broad-spectrum tetracycline antibiotic that inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit. This medication is widely used to treat a variety of bacterial infections, including acne and respiratory tract infections, and remains a cornerstone in antimicrobial therapy. Overview of Oxytetracycline Generic Name: Oxytetracycline Brand Name: Terramycin, Oxymycin, generics Drug Group: Tetracycline antibiotic Commonly Used For Treat bacterial infections. Manage acne vulgaris. Control respiratory tract infections. Key Characteristics Form: Oral capsules/tablets (250 mg, 500 mg), topical ointment (1%, 3%), and injectable forms…
Comprehensive Guide to Oxymetazoline: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, and More What is Oxymetazoline? Oxymetazoline is a topical sympathomimetic amine that acts as a vasoconstrictor by stimulating alpha-adrenergic receptors, primarily used to relieve nasal congestion. This medication is widely available as a nasal spray or ophthalmic solution, offering rapid relief for respiratory and ocular conditions under appropriate guidance. Overview of Oxymetazoline Generic Name: Oxymetazoline Brand Name: Afrin, Visine L.R., generics Drug Group: Sympathomimetic (decongestant/vasoconstrictor) Commonly Used For Relieve nasal congestion due to colds or allergies. Reduce eye redness caused by minor irritation. Manage symptoms of sinusitis. Key Characteristics Form: Nasal spray…
Comprehensive Guide to Oxycodone: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, and More What is Oxycodone? Oxycodone is a potent opioid analgesic that acts on the central nervous system to relieve moderate to severe pain by binding to mu-opioid receptors. This medication is widely used for acute and chronic pain management, requiring careful monitoring due to its potential for dependence. Overview of Oxycodone Generic Name: Oxycodone Brand Name: OxyContin, Roxicodone, Percocet (with acetaminophen), generics Drug Group: Opioid analgesic Commonly Used For Manage moderate to severe pain. Treat chronic pain conditions. Provide postoperative pain relief. Key Characteristics Form: Immediate-release tablets (5 mg, 10 mg,…
Comprehensive Guide to Oxybutynin: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, and More What is Oxybutynin? Oxybutynin is an antimuscarinic agent that reduces bladder muscle contractions by blocking muscarinic receptors, primarily the M3 subtype. This medication is widely used to treat overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms, such as urge incontinence and urinary frequency, enhancing patient comfort and quality of life. Overview of Oxybutynin Generic Name: Oxybutynin Brand Name: Ditropan, Oxytrol, Gelnique, generics Drug Group: Antimuscarinic (anticholinergic) Commonly Used For Treat overactive bladder (OAB). Reduce urinary incontinence. Manage urinary urgency and frequency. Key Characteristics Form: Oral tablets (5 mg, 10 mg), extended-release tablets (5 mg,…
Comprehensive Guide to Oxcarbazepine: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, and More What is Oxcarbazepine? Oxcarbazepine is an anticonvulsant medication that stabilizes neuronal membranes by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels, used primarily to treat epilepsy and other seizure disorders. This medication helps control partial seizures, offering an effective alternative to older antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) under medical supervision. Overview of Oxcarbazepine Generic Name: Oxcarbazepine Brand Name: Trileptal, Oxtellar XR, generics Drug Group: Anticonvulsant (antiepileptic) Commonly Used For Treat partial seizures in epilepsy. Manage bipolar disorder (off-label). Control neuropathic pain (off-label). Key Characteristics Form: Oral tablets (150 mg, 300 mg, 600 mg), extended-release tablets (150…
Comprehensive Guide to Oxaprozin: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, and More What is Oxaprozin? Oxaprozin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) enzymes, reducing prostaglandin synthesis to alleviate pain and inflammation. This medication is widely used to manage chronic inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis, under medical supervision. Overview of Oxaprozin Generic Name: Oxaprozin Brand Name: Daypro, generics Drug Group: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) Commonly Used For Relieve pain and inflammation in arthritis. Manage osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Reduce swelling and stiffness. Key Characteristics Form: Oral tablets (600 mg) (detailed in Dosage section). Mechanism: Inhibits COX-1 and…