This appendix covers the drugs commonly used in allergy, and in some of the other conditions discussed in this book. Where food plays a part in such an illness, it may often be a question of deciding whether to alter the diet or control the symptoms with drugs. Almost all drugs have some side-effects and the decision to use them involves weighing their good effects against their bad ones. This is a decision which only a qualified doctor can make. The information given here is intended to help patients understand the basis for such decisions, and participate in them where this is appropriate.
Drugs are referred to in two ways – by their proper name (or generic name), and by the trade names given them by the manufacturers. The same drug may be marketed under a number of different trade names if it is produced by different manufacturers. Some medicines contain a mixture of two or more drugs. Drugs are described here under their generic names, which are given in italics, eg salbutamol. The trade names are shown with a capital letter eg Ventolin.
This list of drugs is reasonably comprehensive, but bear in mind that new drugs are introduced all the time. So a medicine you are prescribed may not be mentioned here if it is fairly new on the market.
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