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Brand Name: the name given to the medicine by the company that makes the medicine. There may be more than one brand name if more than one company makes the medicine.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Reading the CMI does not take the place of counselling by a health professional.
Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about all aspects of your medicines, including
why you are taking them and what benefits / risks you can expect.
The CMI for your medicine that is on this web site is the most up-to-date version
available. It may differ from a CMI that you previously received from your doctor
or pharmacist, or in your pack of medicine.
This web site does not contain all CMIs for medicines sold in Australia and not
all medicines have a CMI available for them. If you do not find a CMI for your medicine
on this page, contact the pharmaceutical company who makes the medicine or talk
to your doctor or pharmacist. The information on this web site is intended for use
in Australia only.
Product name
Date released
Aimovig
15 May 2020
AIMOVIG contains the active substance erenumab. It belongs to a group of medicines
called anti CGRP antibodies (CGRP stands for calcitonin gene related peptide).
AIMOVIG works by blocking the activity of the CGRP molecule, which has been linked
to migraine.
AIMOVIG is used to treat migraine. It is intended to reduce the number of days each
month you have a migraine.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed
for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
This medicine is not addictive.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
This medicine is not expected to affect your ability to drive a car or operate machinery.
The name of your medication is Airomir Autohaler. It contains a medicine called salbutamol
sulfate. Salbutamol sulfate belongs to the beta-agonist family of medicines. The amount
of medicine in each puff of Airomir Autohaler is the same as 100 micrograms of salbutamol.
Airomir Autohaler contains at least 200 puffs.
Do not give this medicine to a child or adolescent under the age of 18 years.
AJOVY is not recommended for children and adolescents below the age of 18 years because
it has not been studied in this age group.
How it works
AJOVY is a medicine containing the active substance fremanezumab, a monoclonal antibody,
a type of protein that recognises and binds to a specific target in the body.
Fremanezumab binds to the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) thereby blocking
it from binding to the CGRP receptor. CGRP plays an important role in migraine.
AJOVY has been shown to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks and days with headache.
This medicine also decreases important migraine-associated symptoms like nausea, vomiting,
sensitivity to light and sound.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed
for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
This medicine is not expected to affect your ability to drive a car or operate machinery.
Akamin is an antibiotic that belongs to a group of medicines called tetracyclines.
These medicines work by stopping the growth of bacteria which cause infections or
make acne worse.
Akamin will not work against infections caused by viruses, such as colds or flu.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Akamin has been prescribed for
you.
Your doctor may have prescribed Akamin for another reason.
Akamin is available only with a doctor's prescription.
To treat essential hypertension (high blood pressure with an unknown cause)
To treat oedematous disorders (swelling with fluid), including congestive cardiac
failure
For the diagnosis and treatment of primary aldosteronism (a hormone disorder causing
fluid retention)
As add-on therapy in malignant hypertension (a very serious form of high blood pressure)
Where there is a low amount of potassium (a mineral) in the blood caused by another
diuretic (fluid-removing medicine)
Aldactone improves the blood pressure lowering action of thiazide diuretics while
at the same time reducing or preventing potassium loss due to these medicines.
For the prevention of low amounts of potassium in the blood in patients taking digitalis
(a type of heart drug)
For the treatment of hirsutism (excess body hair in women)
How Aldactone works
Aldactone acts by working against a hormone called aldosterone. Too much aldosterone
causes increased amounts of sodium (a mineral) and water to be retained by the kidneys,
while too much potassium is removed from the body. Aldactone works against the effects
of aldosterone.
Aldactone acts by removing excess fluid and by lowering blood pressure. It may be
given alone or with other diuretics (fluid-removing medicines). It improves the effectiveness
of other medicines used to lower blood pressure.
Aldactone also has a moderate ability to act against male sex hormones (anti-androgenic
effect). Because of this, Aldactone is effective in the treatment of female hirsutism
(excess body hair). It reduces hair growth, thickness and hair colour. Increased urine
flow is unlikely to be a problem when Aldactone is used to treat hirsutism. This is
because aldosterone levels are not normally high in patients with hirsutism.
The safety of Aldactone for the treatment of hirsutism in women of child-bearing age
has not been established by specific studies.
Your doctor may recommend combined use with oral contraceptives to provide both regular
menstrual cycles and adequate contraception.
Your doctor, however, may prescribe Aldactone for another purpose.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Aldactone has been prescribed
for you.
The name of your medicine is Aldara. Aldara cream contains the active ingredient imiquimod.
Imiquimod is an immune response modifier. It activates immune cells in the body. The
immune cells then proceed to kill and remove the virus-infected or cancer cells. Although
the exact way that Aldara works is unknown, it is believed to be due to its effects
on the immune system.
Solar keratosis (SK) on the face and Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma (sBCC)
Solar keratoses are thickened, scaly patches of skin caused by too much sun exposure.
Solar keratosis is also known as actinic keratosis.
Basal cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer.
Genital/perianal warts
External genital/perianal warts (condyloma acuminata) are warts that appear on the
surface of the penis or vulva (external female sexual organ) and around the anus.
ALDIQ is not recommended for use in patients under the age of 18 years as there have
been no studies of its effects in this age group.
ALDIQ cream contains the active ingredient imiquimod. Imiquimod is an immune response
modifier. It activates immune cells in the body. The immune cells then proceed to
kill and remove the virus-infected or cancer cells. Although the exact way that ALDIQ
works is unknown, it is believed to be due to its effects on the immune system.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed
for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
ALDURAZYME is used as enzyme replacement therapy in Mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I)
storage disorder, a disease in which the level of α-L-iduronidase is absent or lower
than normal.
How it works
Patients with MPS I disease do not produce enough of their own enzyme, α-L-iduronidase.
The reduced or absent α-L-iduronidase activity in patients results in the accumulation
of substances called glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in most cell types and tissues. ALDURAZYME
is an enzyme replacement therapy that is intended to restore a level of enzyme activity
sufficient to remove the accumulated GAGs and to prevent further accumulation.
Alecensa is used to treat adults with a type of lung cancer called non-small cell
lung cancer. It is used if your cancer:
is ALK-positive – this means your cancer cells have a fault in a gene called anaplastic
lymphoma kinase (ALK)
is advanced or has spread to another part of your body (metastatic)
Alecensa contains the active ingredient alectinib.
Alecensa belongs to a group of medicines called anti-neoplastic (or anti-cancer) agents,
which are used to treat cancer.
Alecensa prevents the activity of the ALK protein. This protein is known to be involved
in the growth and spread of cancer cells.
Alecensa may slow down or stop the growth of your cancer. It may also help to shrink
your cancer.
Some people may experience side effects not yet known or mentioned in this leaflet.
If you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please inform your doctor
or pharmacist.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Alecensa has been prescribed for
you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
Alecensa is not addictive.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
anxiety, such as the anxiety associated with depression
tremor, anxiety and confusion associated with alcohol withdrawal.
Alepam contains the active ingredient oxazepam, which belongs to a group of medicines
called benzodiazepines. These medicines are thought to work by their action on brain
chemicals.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Alepam has been prescribed for
you.
Your doctor may have prescribed Alepam for another reason.
In general, benzodiazepines such as Alepam should be taken for short periods only
(for example 2 to 4 weeks). Continuous long term use is not recommended unless advised
by your doctor. The use of benzodiazepines may lead to dependence on the medicine.
Alepam is not recommended for use in children under 16 years of age, as its safety
and effectiveness have not been established in this age group.
Alepam is available only with a doctor's prescription.
