Aricept

Aricept (Donepzil) is a treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Aricept is taken orally and generally daily to treat Alzheimers in early to severe stages (approved in 2006 for severe Alzheimers).

From the Aricept company website we learn this:

Aricept was approved for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's by the FDA in 1996, and for the treatment of severe Alzheimer's in 2006

Aricept was shown in studies to help cognition and function, which includes effects on memory and performing everyday tasks.

Aricept is the most prescribed Alzheimer’s drug worldwide.

More than 3.8 million people have been treated with Aricept

Aricept is part a cholinesterase inhibitor.

Aricept is prescribed in either 5 or 10 milligram dosages.

Aricept is available in tablets and in ODTs (orally-disintegrating tablets)

Aricept is well tolerated

Aricept.com Company Website

Aricept profile at About.com

Rozerem

Rozerem is a sleep medication for patients who have trouble falling asleep. Here is a generic sleep disorder article at Wikipedia.

Rozerem company website

About Rozerem

Rozerem vs Lunesta discussion at Sleep Disorders forum

Rozerem vs other sleep medications comparison chart (note - this includes over the counter meds and prescription drugs like Rozerem and Lunesta. This chart is from Rozerem so you'd want to get a "second opinions", but this is a nice chart.

Levitra

Levitra is a drug that treats Erectile Dysfunction. Levitra is the brand name for Vardenafil, a PDE5 inhibitor used to treat "ED". Levitra and other ED medications like Viagra allow male patients to engage in successful sexual activity. ED drugs appear to have relatively high rates of "non-intended" use to prolong and enhance sexual activity in normal males. Although this is common knowlege in the medical community it's not clear that doctors have much concern about this.

Here's more in easy to understand language about Levitra's from the company website.

Levitra Corporate Website

Levitra at Wikipedia

Statin Study - statins have long term benefits even after stopping

Another statin study is showing powerful long term heart benefits for statin drugs, which lower cholesterol in patients who take them. Men in Scotland had fewer heart attacks even after being off statins for many years. Although this was a study funded in part by a major statin maker it still represents another brick in the very solid support wall for cholesterol drugs.

Orencia

Orencia is an arthritis medication that uses proteins to treat joint pain. It's a new way to treat moderate to severe arthritis, so it is very important to discuss this option with your doctor if you are on other meds and want to try something different.

Orencia info at from Drugs.com

Orencia Company website

Orencia Company patient info (pdf)

Hydrocodone commonly called "Vicodin"

Hydrocodone is one of the most prescribed painkillers and is often commonly prescribed after dental surgury such as a tooth extraction.

Hydrocodone was invented in Germany in 1920 and is a powerful opioid derived from codeine and thebaine. It is taken orally and can act as a pain reliever and as a cough medicine. As a narcotic Hydrocodone binds to pain receptors in the brain and spinal cord. This powerful narcotic effect makes this a potentially addictive medication.

The drug is often combined with other, less powerful drugs like ibuprofin to help limit the dosage while providing powerful analgesic relief to the patient.

Hydrocodone is marketed using many brand names including: Anexsia, Dicodid, Hycodan, Hydromet, Hycomine, Lorcet, Lortab, Norco, Novahistex, Hydroco, Tussionex, Vicoprofen, Xodol. Bekadid, Calmodid, Codinovo, Duodin, Kolikodol,Orthoxycol, Mercodinone, Synkonin, Norgan,Hydrokon, Vicodin.

Drugs.com info

Wikipedia on Hydrocodone

Byetta

Byetta Corporate Site

Byetta is an injectable medicine used to improve glucose control in adults with Type 2 diabetes. It's a new type of medicine called an "incretin mimetic". Byetta comes in prefilled "pen" injectors with a measured dosage.

Safety information from Lilly, the maker of Byetta.

DiabetesMonitor.com on Byetta Basics