490 acetaminophen, acyclovir, adrenaline, amoxicillin
acetaminophen or paracetamol (APAP, Panadol,Tempra,Tylenol, others)
Acetaminophen and paracetamol are 2 names for the same drug that is used to ease pain and lower
fever. It is one of the safest pain killers. It does not cause stomach irritation and can be used instead of
aspirin by people with stomach ulcers. It can also be used by pregnant women. See paracetamol, page 511.
acyclovir (Zovirax)
CAUTION
Acyclovir is a medicine that kills viruses and is used to fight herpes, which can cause painful blisters on the
genitals, anus, and in the mouth; and shingles, an infection common in people with HIV. Acyclovir will not
stop herpes from coming back, but it makes it less painful and keeps it from spreading.
In what forms
does this
medicine come?
Tablets:
200, 400, or 800 mg
Ointment: 5%
How much
and when to
take
For genital herpes infection or cold
sores: Take 200 mg by mouth
5 times a day for 7 days.
For cold sores: Apply ointment
on sores 6 times a day for 7 days.
Wash hands immediately.
For shingles: Take 600 to 800 mg by mouth 5 times
a day for 7 to 10 days.
Who should
not take this
medicine?
Information
you should
know
Side
effects
Signs of
taking too
much
Someone with kidney damage.
The tablets are much more
effective than the ointment
and usually cost less. Take
with lots of water.
May sometimes cause headache,
dizziness, nausea, vomiting.
Headache, loss of memory,
nausea, cannot pass urine.
adrenaline or epinephrine (Adrenalin)
Adrenaline and epinephrine are two names for the same drug. It is used for severe allergic reactions or allergic
shock, for example, allergic reaction to penicillin. It is also used for severe asthma attacks. See epinephrine, page 500.
amoxicillin (Amoxifar, Amoxil, Himox, Megamox, Sumoxil)
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic of the penicillin family used to treat some sexually transmitted infections,
pneumonia, and other infections. Because of high levels of drug resistance, it is less useful than previously.
In what forms
does this
medicine
come?
How much and
when to take
Tablets: 250 and 500 mg
Liquid: 125 or 250 mg per 5 ml
For chlamydia: 500 mg, by
mouth, 3 times a day for
7 days (for drug combinations
to treat vaginal discharge, see
page 268).
For pelvic inflammatory disease:
500 mg, by mouth, 3 times
a day for 14 days (for drug
combinations to treat PID, see
page 275).
Who should
not take this
medicine?
Do not use if allergic to
medicines of the penicillin family.
Side
effects
May cause diarrhea, rash, nausea or
vomiting. May cause yeast infection in
women or diaper rash in children.
Information
you
should
know
If you do not start to get better in
3 days, look for medical help; you
may need a different medicine.
Take with food.
Other
medicines
that may
work
for bladder or kidney infection:
cefixime, ceftrianxone, ciprofloxacin,
cotrimoxazole, gentamicin, nitrofurantoin
for breast infection:
cephalexin, dicloxacillin, erythromycin
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012