AZO Cranberry Gummies and Fingolimod Hydrochloride

• Generic Name: cranberry
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: AZO Cranberry Gummies, Azo-Cranberry, Ellura, TheraCran HP, Cranberry Fruit, TheraCran HP for Kids, Cranberry with Hibiscus, TheraCran One

Cranberry is produced from the berry fruit of a North American evergreen shrub. Cranberry is acidic and can interfere with unwanted bacteria in the urinary tract. Cranberry is also believed to act as a diuretic ("water pill").

Cranberry (as juice or in capsules) has been used in alternative medicine as a possibly effective aid in preventing symptoms such as pain or burning with urination. Cranberry will not treat the bacteria that causes a bladder infection.

Other uses not proven with research have included: urination problems caused by an enlarged prostate; reducing urine odor to improve quality of life in people with urinary incontinence; or healing the skin around the opening of a urostomy (a surgical opening formed to direct urine away from the bladder).

It is not certain whether cranberry is effective in treating any medical condition. Medicinal use of this product has not been approved by the FDA. Cranberry should not be used in place of medication prescribed for you by your doctor.

Cranberry is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Cranberry may also be used for purposes not listed in this product guide.

• Generic Name: fingolimod
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Gilenya

Treatment of relapsing forms of MS (e.g., relapsing-remitting MS [RRMS]).

Fingolimod is one of several disease-modifying therapies used in the management of RRMS. Although not curative, these therapies have all been shown to modify several measures of disease activity, including relapse rates, new or enhancing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions, and disability progression.

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) recommends that disease-modifying therapy be offered to patients with RRMS who have had recent relapses and/or MRI activity. Clinicians should consider adverse effects, tolerability, method of administration, safety, efficacy, and cost of the drugs in addition to patient preferences when selecting an appropriate therapy.

Additional studies needed to determine optimal role and safety profile of fingolimod, particularly during long-term use and in comparison with other disease-modifying therapies (e.g., glatiramer acetate, interferon beta, natalizumab).

May be useful in patients who prefer to avoid parenteral administration and/or those who have had an inadequate response to other disease-modifying therapies (e.g., dimethyl fumarate, glatiramer acetate, interferon beta, teriflunomide).

Has been evaluated, but currently not FDA-labeled for treatment of primary-progressive MS.

Designated an orphan drug by FDA for treatment of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.