Ranitidine, which works by either neutralising acid or reducing the production of stomach acid, is available in a range of generic and brand name formulations.
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Quetiapine is an antipsychotic drug to treat severe mental illness, but it makes people feel sleepy, so has also been used as a sleeping pill – by prescription and illicitly.
Synthetic cathinones are sometimes sold as “bath salts” or “plant food”, but are intended to be snorted or swallowed for their psychoactive effects.
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Ephylone belongs to the growing class of designer stimulants called synthetic cathinones. The effects have been described as a mix between MDMA and cocaine, while others are more similar to ice.
In Australia, cocaine is most commonly snorted.
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“Nangs” are cheap, legal and easy to get - but like most drugs, they are also highly dangerous.
A new version of Gardasil, the HPV vaccine that protects against cervical cancer, has just been approved for listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule.
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A trial of methylprednisolone in kidney patients was halted recently because of safety concerns. But this doesn’t affect people taking the drug for asthma, arthritis or other inflammatory conditions.
People with cystic fibrosis, Australia’s most common inherited condition, have thick mucus, including on the lungs.
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Wider availability of the cystic fibrosis drug Kalydeco since May 1, 2017 means younger patients can now access it.
Ayahuasca, a plant-based brew that gives people a psychedelic experience, can be fatal, especially when mixed with other drugs.
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Shaman have used the psychoactive effects of ayahuasca for spiritual and healing purposes for hundreds of years. But a new breed of tourist has discovered this plant-based drug.
Most people who take carfentanil think they’re taking something else, usually heroin.
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Carfentanil is an ultra-potent synthetic opioid. Its only legitimate use is in veterinary practice for large animals such as elephants, but it sneaks into heroin shipments to increase its potency.
People who take GHB at dance parties say it makes them feel euphoric and less inhibited. But the drug is easy to overdose on.
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Fingolimod is a drug used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease. It is an immunomodulator, which means it works by suppressing the immune system.
Aspirin has an extraordinary history that involves many different discoveries around its many different effects.
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What makes aspirin different to other NSAIDs, used to relieve pain, is its ability to thin the blood. It is used to prevent blood clotting in those at risk of heart disease and stroke.
Metformin was originally developed from natural compounds found in the plant known as French lilac.
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Metformin has been used to treat diabetes since the late 1950s. It is now on the World Health Organisation’s List of Essential Medicines needed for a basic health care system.
Amyl nitrite is a liquid that evaporates at room temperature and is light-sensitive. It’s used as an inhalant and kept in dark bottles so it doesn’t evaporate.
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During the 1950s and 1960s, LSD was used more for psychotherapy than recreation. Between 1950 and 1965, many were treated with LSD for alcoholism, depression, schizophrenia, autism and homosexuality.