Worst Pills, Best Pills

An expert, independent second opinion on more than 1,800 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and supplements

amantadine (GOCOVRI, OSMOLEX)


DISEASE AND DRUG FAMILY INFORMATION

Search results below include Disease and Drug Family Information where your selected drug is a secondary subject of discussion.

Antipsychotic Drugs: Dangerously Overused
Antipsychotic drugs, also called neuroleptic drugs or major tranquilizers, are properly and successfully used to treat serious psychotic mental disorders, the most common of which is schizophrenia. In younger adults, an alarming number of those with schizophrenia who could and often have previously benefited from antipsychotic drugs are not receiving them. They are seen, among other places, on the streets and in homeless shelters. In older adults, the problem is not underuse but, rather, gross overuse by people who are not psychotic.

DRUG AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENT PROFILES

A comprehensive review of the safety and effectiveness of this drug. If the drug is not a Do Not Use product, information on adverse effects, drug interactions and how to use the medication are included.
Search results below include Drug and Dietary Supplement Profiles where your selected drug is a secondary subject of discussion.

zanamivir (RELENZA)
  • We list this drug as Do Not Use because it is only minimally effective and can cause asthma.
memantine (NAMENDA)
  • We list this drug as a Do Not Use drug primarily because there is no persuasive evidence that it is effective.

WORST PILLS, BEST PILLS NEWSLETTER ARTICLES

Search results below include Worst Pills, Best Pills Newsletter Articles where your selected drug is a secondary subject of discussion.

Drug for Parkinson’s Disease and Restless Leg Syndrome May Increase Heart Failure Risk
February 2013
MIRAPEX (pramipexole) is a drug frequently used for restless leg syndrome, for which there are other safer, effective nondrug treatments, as discussed in the article. It also is used for Parkinson's disease. A recent review has found that this drug can increase the risk of heart failure. Find out how to recognize early symptoms of heart failure.
Drug Mix-Ups
June 2011
This article lists 355 drugs with names that are often confused with similar-sounding drug names. Find out what you can do to prevent getting the wrong drug.
A Review of Memantine (NAMENDA) for Alzheimer’s Disease
July 2004
Memantine (NAMENDA) is the first drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease dementia.
The Serotonin Syndrome: A Potentially Life-Threatening Adverse Drug Reaction — Fluoxetine (PROZAC), Escitalopram (LEXAPRO), Sibutramine (MERIDIA) And Other Drugs
September 2003
Canadian drug regulatory authorities reviewed reported cases of serotonin syndrome in the July 2003 issue of the Canadian Adverse Reaction Newsletter. The serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening adverse drug reaction involving an excess of serotonin, a naturally occurring nerve transmitter.