Antihistamines (Histamine Antagonists)

Uses

• Treatment of allergies, rashes, and hay fever
• Motion sickness, nausea, and dizziness
• H2 antagonist is used to treat ulcers and reflux disease

Mechanism of Action

• Inhibits the action of histamine

Side Effects

• Drowsiness
• CNC depression
• Anticholinergic effects

• Competitively antagonize histamine at the H1 receptor (block histamine).  They cross the blood brain barrier making them a CNS drug.
  
• Diphenhydramine (Benedryl)
• Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
• Hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril)
• Brompheniramine (Dimetane)
• Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
• Meclizine (Antivert, Bonine, Dramamine II) is used to treat vertigo.
• Clemastine (Tavist)
• Cyclizine (Marezine)
• Cyproheptadine (Periactin)
• Dexchlorpheniramine (Polaramine)
• Cyproheptadine (also used for appetite stimulation)
• Promethazine (Phenergan) is used to treat nausea (antiemetic).
• IProchlorperazine (Compazine) is used to treat nausea (antiemetic).

• Loratadine (Claritin)
• Astemizole (Hismanal)
• Fexofenadine (Allegra)
• Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
• Desloratadine (Clarinex)
• Medpointe (Astelin) nasal spray used for seasonal allergic
• Claritin-D
• Allegra-D
• The "D" is for decongestant (Pseudoephedrine) - may cause heart palpitations, tends to increase blood pressure. Pseudophedrine is generic for Sudafed.

• Competitive blockers of histamine at the H2 receptors, those in the stomach
  
• Cimetidine (Tagamet)
• Ranitidine (Zantac)
• Famotidine (Pepcid)
• Nizatidine (Axid)

Uses

• Arthritis
• Minor pain
• Fever
• Inflammation

Mechanism of Action

• Inhibit or reverse the actions of prostaglandins by blocking Cox-1 and Cox-2 enzymes

Side Effects

• Ulcers
• Kidney damage

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's):

Aspirin (Anacin, Ascriptin, Bayer, Bufferin, Ecotrin)

Ibuprofen (Motrin)  OTC 200mg tabs and RX over 200mg tabs

Naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn) OTC 200mg tabs and RX over 200mg tabs

Indomethacin (Indocin) RX

Diclofenac (Voltaren) RX

Nabumetone (Relafen)  RX

Oxaprozin (Daypro) RX

Piroxicam (Feldene)  RX

Sulindac (Clinoril)  RX

Fenoprofen (Nalfon) RX

Flurbiprofen (Ansaid) RX

Etodolac (Lodine)  RX

Diflunisal (Dolobid) RX

Ketoprofen (Orudis, Oruvail)  OTC 12.5mg and RX over 12.5mg tabs

Ketorolac Tromethamine (Toradol) RX

Meclofenamate (Meclomen) RX

Salsalate (Disalcid) RX

Tolmetin (Tolectin) RX

Cox-2 selective drugs:

Side Effects:

Kidney damage

Celecoxib (Celebrex)

Rofecoxb (Vioxx) no longer available in the US

Uses

• NSAID ulcer prevention
• Abortifacient (abortion)

Examples

• Misoprostol (Cytotec)
• Dinoprostone (Prostin E2)
• Alprostadil (MUSE)