Epoprostenol Sodium and Jack & Jill Cough Syrup

• Generic Name: epoprostenol
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Flolan, Veletri

Management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH; WHO group 1) to improve exercise capacity; efficacy established principally in patients with NYHA/WHO functional class III or IV PAH (idiopathic, heritable, or associated with connective tissue diseases). Has been designated an orphan drug by FDA for treatment of PAH.

Recommended as one of several treatment options for initial management of PAH in patients with NYHA/WHO functional class III or IV symptoms who are not candidates for calcium-channel blocker therapy or in whom such therapy failed. Generally considered treatment of choice for patients with NYHA/WHO class IV PAH because of demonstrated benefit on survival.

Individualize choice of PAH therapy; consider factors such as disease severity, route of administration, potential adverse effects and costs of treatment, clinician experience, and patient preference.

In patients with inadequate response to initial monotherapy, may consider combination therapy with an endothelin-receptor antagonist, phosphodiesterase (PDE) type 5 inhibitor, or soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator (added sequentially). Such combination therapy may provide additive and/or synergistic benefits by targeting different pathophysiologic pathways of disease.

Safety and efficacy not systematically evaluated in patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with diseases other than scleroderma.

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

Ipecac is used in the emergency treatment of certain kinds of poisoning. It is used to cause vomiting of the poison.

Only the syrup form of ipecac should be used. A bottle of ipecac labeled as being Ipecac Fluidextract or Ipecac Tincture should not be used. These dosage forms are too strong and may cause serious side effects or death. Only ipecac syrup contains the proper strength of ipecac for treating poisonings.

Ordinarily, this medicine should not be used if strychnine, corrosives such as alkalies (lye) and strong acids, or petroleum distillates such as kerosene, gasoline, coal oil, fuel oil, paint thinner, or cleaning fluid have been swallowed. It may cause seizures, additional injury to the throat, or pneumonia.

Ipecac should not be used to cause vomiting as a means of losing weight. If used regularly for this purpose, serious heart problems or even death may occur.

This medicine in amounts of more than 1 ounce is available only with your doctor's prescription. It is available in ½- and 1-ounce bottles without a prescription. However, before using ipecac syrup, call a poison control center, your doctor, or an emergency room for advice.