Active Ingredients A to Z

Dabigatran Dabigatran is a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) that prevents and treats blood clots by blocking thrombin, and stopping it suddenly sharply raises your risk of a clot. 1 medicine View → Dabigatran Daclatasvir Daclatasvir is an antiviral tablet used with other medicines to cure chronic hepatitis C. It can reactivate hepatitis B in people who carry both viruses, so hepatitis B testing is required before starting treatment. 2 medicines View → Daclatasvir Danazol Danazol is a synthetic androgen used for endometriosis, fibrocystic breast disease and hereditary angioedema; it can cause irreversible virilization, liver toxicity and blood clots, and it must never be used in pregnancy. 1 medicine View → Danazol Dapagliflozin Dapagliflozin is an SGLT2 inhibitor for type 2 diabetes, heart failure and chronic kidney disease that commonly causes genital yeast infections and can rarely cause euglycemic ketoacidosis, so nausea or vomiting need urgent review even with normal blood sugar. 1 medicine View → Dapagliflozin Dapoxetine Dapoxetine is a fast-acting SSRI taken on demand to delay premature ejaculation. It can cause fainting from a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially after the first dose, so it must be taken with water and never with alcohol. 19 medicines View → Dapoxetine Dapsone Dapsone is a sulfone antibiotic used for leprosy, dermatitis herpetiformis and, as a gel, inflammatory acne; it can trigger severe anemia in people with G6PD deficiency, so a blood test is required before treatment starts. 1 medicine View → Dapsone Darifenacin Darifenacin is an antimuscarinic medicine for overactive bladder that must not be used by people with urinary retention, significant gut retention, or uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma. 1 medicine View → Darifenacin Darunavir Darunavir is an HIV protease inhibitor always given with a booster drug (ritonavir or cobicistat) plus other antiretrovirals; it can injure the liver, especially in people with hepatitis B or C, so liver tests are checked regularly. 1 medicine View → Darunavir Dasatinib Dasatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor for chronic myeloid leukemia and Philadelphia-chromosome-positive ALL; it commonly causes fluid to build up around the lungs and can lower blood cell counts, so regular blood tests and chest checks are required. 1 medicine View → Dasatinib Desmopressin Desmopressin is a synthetic form of the hormone vasopressin, used to reduce urine output in diabetes insipidus, bedwetting and nighttime urination; drinking normal amounts of fluid while it is active can cause dangerous water intoxication and low blood sodium. 2 medicines View → Desmopressin Desogestrel Desogestrel is a progestin used alone as a progestin-only pill or combined with ethinyl estradiol; combined pills containing desogestrel carry a higher blood clot risk than combined pills containing levonorgestrel. 5 medicines View → Desogestrel Desonide Desonide is a low-potency topical corticosteroid for mild to moderate eczema and dermatitis; using it on large areas, under a dressing, or for long periods raises the risk of skin thinning and, in young children, hormone-suppressing systemic absorption. 1 medicine View → Desonide Dexamethasone Dexamethasone is a potent, long-acting corticosteroid used for severe inflammation, allergic reactions and severe COVID-19; stopping it suddenly after more than a few weeks of use can trigger a dangerous adrenal crisis, so the dose must be tapered. 5 medicines View → Dexamethasone Dexlansoprazole Dexlansoprazole is a dual delayed-release proton pump inhibitor for acid reflux and erosive esophagitis; long-term use is linked to bone fracture, low magnesium and vitamin B12 deficiency, so it is used at the lowest effective dose. 1 medicine View → Dexlansoprazole Diclofenac Diclofenac is an NSAID used for arthritis pain, migraine and acute injuries, but it carries a boxed warning for increased heart attack and stroke risk, and can cause serious stomach bleeding. 5 medicines View → Diclofenac Dicyclomine Dicyclomine is an anticholinergic antispasmodic used to relieve the cramping pain of irritable bowel syndrome. It must never be given to infants, since it has been linked to serious breathing problems and death in babies under six months. 1 medicine View → Dicyclomine Didanosine Didanosine is an antiretroviral used with other medicines to treat HIV infection. It carries a risk of pancreatitis and lactic acidosis, so alcohol should be avoided while taking it. 1 medicine View → Didanosine Digoxin Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside that strengthens and slows the heartbeat in heart failure and atrial fibrillation. It has a narrow therapeutic index, and amiodarone, verapamil or low potassium can push a normal dose into the toxic range. 1 medicine View → Digoxin Diltiazem Diltiazem is a calcium-channel blocker for high blood pressure, angina and atrial fibrillation, but it can cause dangerously slow heart rate or heart block, especially with a beta-blocker or existing conduction disease. 2 medicines View → Diltiazem Disulfiram Disulfiram treats alcohol use disorder by causing a severe reaction, flushing, nausea, low blood pressure, if you drink any alcohol, so all alcohol, including hidden sources like mouthwash and sauces, must be avoided throughout treatment. 1 medicine View → Disulfiram Divalproex Divalproex (valproate) treats seizures, bipolar disorder and migraine, but it causes neural tube defects and other birth defects in pregnancy and is not used for migraine prevention in anyone who could become pregnant. 1 medicine View → Divalproex Dolutegravir Dolutegravir is an integrase inhibitor used with other antiretrovirals to treat HIV. It has a high barrier to drug resistance, but only if taken every day exactly as prescribed. 3 medicines View → Dolutegravir Domperidone Domperidone eases nausea and vomiting by speeding stomach emptying, but it can prolong the heart's QT interval and raise the risk of serious, potentially fatal heart rhythm problems, especially at high doses or in older adults. 1 medicine View → Domperidone Donepezil Donepezil eases Alzheimer's symptoms by boosting a brain chemical, but it slows heart rate through the same mechanism and can cause dangerous bradycardia or fainting, especially with other heart-rhythm medicines. 2 medicines View → Donepezil Dorzolamide Dorzolamide eye drops lower eye pressure in glaucoma, but although applied topically, they are absorbed enough to trigger sulfonamide-type allergic reactions, so anyone allergic to sulfa medicines should avoid them. 2 medicines View → Dorzolamide Doxepin Doxepin is a tricyclic antidepressant used at low doses for insomnia and itching and at higher doses for depression, but overdose is dangerous because it can cause life-threatening heart rhythm problems, and it must never be combined with an MAOI. 1 medicine View → Doxepin Doxycycline Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic used for acne, respiratory infections, Lyme disease and more. It causes strong sun sensitivity, must be avoided in pregnancy and in young children (it discolours developing teeth), and should be taken upright with a full glass of water. 1 medicine View → Doxycycline Doxylamine Doxylamine is a sedating antihistamine used for short-term insomnia and allergy symptoms, and combined with vitamin B6 for nausea in pregnancy; avoid alcohol and other sedatives, since overdose is a well-documented cause of serious poisoning in young children. 1 medicine View → Doxylamine Drospirenone Drospirenone is a progestin used in combined oral contraceptives, sold as Yasmin among other brands; combined pills containing it carry a higher blood-clot risk than pills using older progestins, and it can raise blood potassium when combined with certain other medicines. 2 medicines View → Drospirenone Duloxetine Duloxetine is an SNRI used for depression, anxiety and chronic nerve or musculoskeletal pain. It can cause liver damage, so it should be avoided in people with liver disease or heavy alcohol use. 3 medicines View → Duloxetine Dutasteride Dutasteride is a capsule that lowers DHT to shrink an enlarged prostate and treat hair loss; women who are or may be pregnant must never handle broken or leaking capsules, since contact can harm a male fetus. 3 medicines View → Dutasteride Dydrogesterone Dydrogesterone is a synthetic progesterone-like hormone used for luteal support in fertility treatment, irregular periods, and endometriosis; it must not be started with undiagnosed vaginal bleeding or an active hormone-sensitive cancer until these are investigated. 1 medicine View → Dydrogesterone