eMedTV Health Topics A-Z

Appendicitis

Appendicitis is a serious medical condition, often requiring emergency treatment. This page on the eMedTV Web site provides an in-depth look at this condition, including symptoms, causes, treatment, and more.

Apple Cider Vinegar

People may use apple cider vinegar in the hopes of losing weight, lowering cholesterol, or clearing up acne. This eMedTV Web page offers an overview of the product, including information on its safety, effectiveness, and more.

Aprepitant

Aprepitant is a drug that is licensed to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy or surgery. This eMedTV article describes the effects of this medication, offers dosing information, and lists possible side effects that may occur.

Apri

As an oral contraceptive, Apri works to prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation. This page of the eMedTV site discusses Apri in more detail, including information on how the contraceptive works, when and how to take it, and some general precautions.

Apriso

Apriso is a prescription medication often used for treating ulcerative colitis. This page from the eMedTV site explains how Apriso works, describes its effects, lists some of its potential side effects, and offers dosing information for the medicine.

Aptivus

Aptivus is a medicine that is often prescribed with ritonavir for the treatment of HIV and AIDS. This eMedTV resource describes how the drug works, explains what you should know before taking it, and lists common side effects that may occur.

Aquaphor

Aquaphor is a nonprescription ointment approved for treating diaper rash and various other skin conditions. This eMedTV segment discusses these uses in more detail, explains how to use this product, and describes how it works to soothe the skin.

Aralen

If you have malaria, your healthcare provider may recommend Aralen. This eMedTV article gives an in-depth overview of this medication, explaining how it works, whether it can be used for other reasons, possible side effects, and more.

Aranelle

As a birth control pill, Aranelle works to prevent pregnancy mainly by stopping ovulation. This page of the eMedTV archives discusses Aranelle in detail, including information on how this pill works, tips on taking it, and some general precautions.

Aranesp

Aranesp is a medicine that can be prescribed to treat anemia due to chronic kidney failure or chemotherapy. This eMedTV resource describes the effects of Aranesp, explains how and when to take the drug, and lists possible side effects that may occur.

Arava

Available by prescription only, Arava is a medicine used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. This page of the eMedTV Web library further discusses how this drug works, outlines some possible side effects, and provides some general safety precautions.

Arbovirus

Arthropod-borne viruses are also known as arboviruses. As this page on the eMedTV site explains, they are a large group of viruses that are spread primarily by blood-sucking insects. This article also describes signs of infection, complications, and more.

Arcalyst

Arcalyst is prescribed to treat a group of rare genetic conditions that cause inflammation in the body. This eMedTV Web selection presents information on this drug, including specific uses, how it works, and what to expect during treatment.

Arcapta

Available by prescription, Arcapta is a medicine prescribed to prevent airway spasms. This eMedTV article takes an in-depth look at how this drug works to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with details on dosing, side effects, and more.

Aredia

Aredia is an injectable drug that is used to treat Paget's disease and high blood calcium due to cancer. This eMedTV Web page lists other specific Aredia uses, describes the effects of the medication, and explains how and when to take it.

Arformoterol Tartrate

Arformoterol tartrate is a medicine often prescribed to treat airway spasms caused by COPD. This eMedTV segment describes how this medication works, explains when and how to use it, lists possible side effects that may occur, and more.

Argatroban

Argatroban is used to prevent and treat blood clots in people with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. This eMedTV page takes a closer look at this prescription drug, including specific uses, how it works, and what to know before beginning treatment.

Aricept

Aricept is often prescribed for the treatment of symptoms caused by Alzheimer's disease. This eMedTV segment further discusses Aricept and its effects, potential side effects, and general dosing information.

Arimidex

Arimidex can be used to treat postmenopausal women with certain types of breast cancer. This segment of the eMedTV library offers a detailed look at the prescription drug, including how it works, when it is used, dosing information, and side effects.

Aripiprazole

Aripiprazole is a drug licensed to treat bipolar disorder, autism, schizophrenia, and depression. This eMedTV article discusses aripiprazole uses in more detail, explains how the medication works, and describes side effects that may occur.

Arixtra

Arixtra is a type of "blood thinner" medication used for preventing and treating blood clots. This eMedTV page provides a complete overview of this prescription drug, including details on how it works, safety precautions, side effects, and more.

Armodafinil

Armodafinil is a medicine licensed to treat excessive sleepiness in people with certain sleep disorders. This eMedTV segment covers the drug's uses in more detail, describes the effects of the medicine, and offers general dosing information.

Armour Thyroid

Armour Thyroid is a prescription thyroid replacement medication. This article from the eMedTV Web site describes Armour Thyroid in more detail, explains how the medication works, and offers tips on when and how to take the thyroid medicine.

Aromasin

Aromasin is a prescription medicine used to treat certain types of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. This eMedTV article offers a detailed look at Aromasin, including how it works, when it is used, dosing information, and side effects.

Artane

Artane is a medication used for treating Parkinson's disease and other similar conditions. This eMedTV resource discusses other uses, explains how the drug works, and lists some of the side effects that may occur with treatment.

Artemether/Lumefantrine

Artemether/lumefantrine is a drug prescribed to treat mild cases of malaria. This eMedTV Web page takes an in-depth look at this medicine, including details on how it works to kill a specific parasite, dosing guidelines, potential side effects, and more.

Arteriosclerosis

The term "arteriosclerosis" is used to refer generally to all forms of narrowing or thickening of arteries. This eMedTV Web page describes the different types of arteriosclerosis, including atherosclerosis and focal calcific arteriosclerosis.

Arthritis

Characterized by joint inflammation, arthritis refers to over 100 diseases that affect the joints. The eMedTV Arthritis Health Channel provides in-depth articles on arthritis topics such as risk factors, prevention, treatment options, and more.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a term used to describe many conditions that affect the joints. This eMedTV article describes the different types (such as osteoarthritis and gout), possible symptoms (like redness and swelling in the joints), diagnosis, and treatment.

Artichoke Leaf Extract

People may use artichoke leaf extract because it supposedly lowers cholesterol and treats other conditions. This eMedTV Web page offers an overview of this extract, including information on its safety, benefits, effectiveness, and more.

Arzerra

Administered by a healthcare provider, Arzerra injections are given to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia. This eMedTV page describes the effects of this prescription drug, explains what to know before starting treatment, and lists possible side effects.

Asacol

Asacol is a medication that has been licensed for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. This eMedTV Web page describes the effects of Asacol, offers general dosing information for the drug, and lists side effects that may occur during treatment.

Asacol HD

Asacol HD is a prescription medicine used for the short-term treatment of active ulcerative colitis. This eMedTV Web page describes the effects of the drug, explains how it works, and offers information on when and how to take it.

Asbestos

Asbestos is a group of minerals used in insulation and other materials (such as brake shoes). As this eMedTV article explains, frequent exposure to it can cause health problems, such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.

Asclera

Asclera is a medication used in the treatment of reticular veins and spider veins. This segment of the eMedTV archives explains in detail how this drug works, important safety considerations to keep in mind during treatment, and side effects.

Asenapine

Asenapine is approved for the treatment of two mental illnesses: bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. This eMedTV resource takes an in-depth look at this prescription medication, with information on dosing, side effects, how it works, and more.

Asendin

Asendin is a type of antidepressant that is used for the treatment of depression in adults. This eMedTV Web page offers a general overview of this drug, including information on how it works and possible side effects that may occur while taking it.

Asmanex

Asmanex is a drug that is approved to prevent asthma attacks before they start. This eMedTV article offers an overview of the prescription drug, including a discussion on how it works, when and how to use it, and some side effects it may cause.

Asperger Syndrome

Children with Asperger's usually develop an obsessive interest in a single subject. This eMedTV Web page offers a detailed look at this autism spectrum disorder, with information on symptoms, characteristics, and treatment options.

Assisted Delivery

When a normal vaginal delivery is deemed too risky or impossible, a forceps delivery may be used instead. As this eMedTV article explains, with this procedure, the doctor uses forceps to gently pull the baby down the birth canal.