Drug reviews - Druggist.Online

FOSTAIR inhaler – TOP questions & ANSWERS

Fostair inhaler is a popular combination inhaler used in the management of asthma and COPD. In asthma, Fostair is usually recommended when a condition is not well controlled with the use of inhaled steroid and short-acting beta2-agonist (like Ventolin) or condition is controlled with two separate inhalers (corticosteroid and long-acting beta2-agonists). Patients with severe COPD are usually prescribed Fostair. In this case, Fostair is used to help manage COPD symptoms.

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Esomeprazole vs Omeprazole – Which one is BETTER?

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs. In fact, when looking at the top 15 most prescribed drugs in the UK, two PPIs made it to the top: omeprazole and lansoprazole. Although not as commonly prescribed as omeprazole, esomeprazole gained its popularity due to wide availability as over the counter medicine. Esomeprazole vs omeprazole is a review of both drugs. I will discuss various aspects concerning both medicines, such as legal classification, over the counter and prescription-only availability of both medicines and most importantly, their effectiveness.

In summary, the following will be discussed:

What are PPIs?
Esomeprazole vs Omeprazole legal classification
What is the difference between esomeprazole and omeprazole?
Esomeprazole vs omeprazole: effectiveness. Is one drug better than the other?
Esomeprazole vs Omeprazole – side effects
Over the counter availability of esomeprazole and omeprazole
Prescription-only options for esomeprazole and omeprazole
What esomeprazole or omeprazole products can you buy?
Conclusion.
Related posts that may interest you.

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What is the best medicine for chesty cough?

Chesty cough, also known as a productive cough, is characterised by overproduction of mucus. Chesty cough can commonly be a symptom of a common cold, but also other acute conditions such as bronchitis, or long term disease, for example, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Mucus accompanying a chesty cough can be clear or coloured (for example, yellow). Coloured mucus may indicate a bacterial infection, especially when other symptoms are present, for example, high temperature. Patients commonly request over the counter medicines for a chesty cough. In today’s post, I will seek to find the best medicine for chesty cough by looking at over the counter and pharmacy-only products available in the UK.

Summary of the post:

Are cough syrups effective in the management of chesty coughs?
Non-drowsy chesty cough syrups
Drowsy chesty cough syrups
Herbal product for chesty coughs
Best chesty cough medicines for toddlers
Can you treat a chesty cough with prescription-only medicines?
Use of antibiotics for a chesty cough

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Lidocaine patch for BACK PAIN – treatment review

Lidocaine patch (brand name: Versatis medicated plaster) is a prescription-only medication, which has limited licensed use in the UK. Lidocaine patch offers a different approach to pain management as compared to standard analgesic drugs. In this post, I will review the use of lidocaine patch for back pain. The main points covered:

What is lidocaine patch?
How is the lidocaine patch used?
What is lidocaine?
The UK licensed use of lidocaine
Can you use lidocaine patch for back pain?
Is lidocaine patch effective in the management of back pain?
How much lidocaine patch costs?
Alternative options to lidocaine patch for the treatment of back pain

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Truvada for PrEP: availability, cost and side effects

It is estimated that around 103,800 of people live with HIV in the UK (PHE, 2019). Estimated 17% of people with HIV are not aware of the infection (NICE, 2016), increasing the risk of passing HIV when having sex without protection. Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil) is an antiviral drug used in the treatment of HIV, alone or as part of antiviral combination therapy. Truvada is also licensed as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication. Today, I am reviewing Truvada for PrEP. In summary, the following will be discussed:

What is Truvada?
Truvada for PrEP: how does it work?
Truvada for PrEP: effectiveness.
How to get Truvada
Superdrug Pharmacy: Truvada for PeEP service
Cost of Truvada in the UK
Can you get Truvada on NHS?
Common side effects associated with Truvada
What to do when Truvada dose is missed
Truvada: alternative options

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Lansoprazole vs Omeprazole: differences and similarities

In today’s post, I will contrast the two most popular proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) prescribed in the UK. Not only lansoprazole and omeprazole are the two most common PPI, but they are also one of the most popular prescribed drugs in the UK. I will review the essential facts to highlight the similarity and difference between each medication. Lansoprazole vs omeprazole – post summary:

Lansoprazole vs omeprazole: drug classification
Lansoprazole vs omeprazole: mechanism of action
Lansoprazole vs omeprazole: common side effects
Availability of different forms of both drugs
Over the counter Availability of Lansoprazole and Omeprazole
Lansoprazole vs omeprazole: which one is more popular in the NHS
Lansoprazole vs omeprazole: cost difference
Lansoprazole vs Omeprazole vs Ranitidine

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Buscopan vs Mebeverine | OTC IBS treatment

Buscopan and mebeverine are two common drugs used for symptomatic treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Both drugs can be prescribed by a doctor or purchased over the counter from pharmacies and in case of Bucopa IBS relief from supermarkets. Buscopan vs Mebeverine lists similarities and differences between both drugs. I will review their role in the management of IBS in accordance with the treatment guidelines on irritable bowel syndrome. You may find a related post also helpful – 14 best IBS medication available over the counter. In this post I will discuss the following:

Mechanism of action and symptoms control
Buscopan vs Mebeverine: where to buy it from? over the counter availability (OTC)
Age restrictions on the use of both drugs
Which drug is more popular? The number of prescriptions issued in the NHS.
Buscopan vs Mebeverine: common side effects
Alternative options for IBS

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What is the strongest over the counter ibuprofen?

Ibuprofen is one of the most popular drugs purchased over the counter and one of the essential medicines for the management of pain and inflammation. Over the counter ibuprofen comes in different strengths, forms, and several brands, some of which do not differ from one another with the amount of ibuprofen present. In today’s post, I will review the different forms and brands of ibuprofen. I will also answer: what the strongest over the counter ibuprofen is. Can you get a single product which contains more ibuprofen than any other product? Is it worth to pay ‘extra’ for branded ibuprofen products?

Summary of the post:

What is ibuprofen?
Availability of’ standard’ ibuprofen over the counter
Limit on the purchase of ibuprofen products for self-selection by customers
Is prescribed ibuprofen different to over the counter ibuprofen?
The strongest ibuprofen over the counter: a review of various ibuprofen brands.
Combination products containing ibuprofen.
The strongest over the counter ibuprofen: alternative options

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Zovirax Cream for cold sores | Aciclovir (acyclovir) cream

Cold sores are a common viral infection caused by herpes simplex virus. Cold sores usually affect the area around the mouth (usually caused by the herpes simplex virus 1) or the genital area (usually caused by the herpes simplex virus 2). Cold sore can affect children and adults. Zovirax cream for cold sores can be purchased over the counter from pharmacies and supermarkets. Today I will review the use of Zovirax cream for cold sores. The following will be discussed:

Symptoms of cold sores
Availability of Zovirax cream (where to buy Zovirax cream from, where get the best deals for Zovirax cream)
What is Zovirax cream?
Restrictions on the use of Zovirax cream
How to use Zovirax cream for cold sores
Is Zovirax cream effective in the treatment of cold sores?
Alternative creams to Zovirax
Can you buy aciclovir (acyclovir) tablets for treatment or prevention cold sores?

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Best Over the Counter Sleeping Pills UK

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder, which is characterised by a difficulty in getting to sleep or maintaining the sleep (waking up at night or early in the morning). Sedative antihistamines can be used as a temporary aid to help with sleeping problems. In this post, I will review all over the counter sleeping pills (OTC) available in the UK. All of the non-prescription sleeping pills available in the UK contain sedative antihistamines. The following will be discussed:

Review of sedative antihistamines used in over the counter sleeping products
Common side effects of sedative antihistamines
Tolerance and addiction to OTC sleeping products
Who should not take over the counter sleeping aids
Review of all brands of over the counter sleeping pills
Review of generic sleeping products and ‘cold and flu’ products containing sedative antihistamines
Use of chlorphenamine as a sleeping aid
Availability of melatonin in the UK

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