Medicines Beginning With C

51 medicines in the Drug Guide begin with the letter C. Every name links to a plain-language page covering what the medicine is for, its common side effects, its major cautions and — for most — a kidney note.

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Z

Medicine	Brand names	Used for
Calcitriol	Rocaltrol	Low calcium and bone disease in chronic kidney disease; Overactive parathyroid glands in kidney disease
Calcium acetate	PhosLo	Lowering phosphate in chronic kidney disease; Lowering phosphate in dialysis patients
Calcium carbonate	Tums	Heartburn and acid indigestion; Calcium supplementation
Canagliflozin	Invokana	Type 2 diabetes; Reducing kidney and heart complications in diabetic kidney disease
Candesartan	Atacand	High blood pressure; Heart failure
Captopril	Capoten	High blood pressure; Heart failure
Carbamazepine	Tegretol	Seizure disorders; Trigeminal neuralgia (face nerve pain)
Carbidopa-levodopa	Sinemet	Parkinson disease; Parkinson-like symptoms from other causes, on specialist advice
Carvedilol	Coreg	Heart failure; High blood pressure
Caspofungin	Cancidas	Serious candida and aspergillus infections in hospital; Fever with low white blood cells when a fungal infection is suspected
Cefazolin	Ancef	Preventing infection during surgery; Skin and soft tissue infections (hospital)
Cefdinir	Omnicef	Ear infections in children; Sinus infections
Cefepime	Maxipime	Serious hospital infections, including pneumonia and blood infections; Infections in people with low white blood cell counts and fever
Cefixime	Suprax	Urinary tract infections; Bronchitis
Cefotaxime	Claforan	Meningitis (hospital); Pneumonia (hospital)
Cefpodoxime	Vantin	Pneumonia; Sinus infections
Ceftaroline	Teflaro	Serious skin infections, including MRSA; Pneumonia (hospital)
Ceftazidime	Fortaz	Serious hospital infections, especially from Pseudomonas bacteria; Infections in cystic fibrosis
Ceftriaxone	Rocephin	Pneumonia; Meningitis (hospital)
Cefuroxime	Ceftin, Zinacef	Sinus and ear infections; Bronchitis and pneumonia
Celecoxib	Celebrex	Arthritis and joint pain; Acute pain
Cephalexin	Keflex	Skin and soft tissue infections; Strep throat
Cetirizine	Zyrtec	Seasonal and year-round allergies; Hives
Chlordiazepoxide	Librium	Alcohol withdrawal; Anxiety, short-term
Chlorpheniramine	Chlor-Trimeton	Allergy symptoms; Cold symptoms, in combination products
Chlorpromazine	Thorazine	Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders; Severe nausea and vomiting
Chlorthalidone	Thalitone	High blood pressure; Fluid buildup (edema)
Cholecalciferol	Vitamin D3	Vitamin D deficiency; Bone health, combined with calcium
Cholestyramine	Questran	High cholesterol; Itching from bile duct blockage
Cilostazol	Pletal	Leg pain when walking from poor circulation (intermittent claudication); Preventing clots after certain artery stents, on specialist advice
Cimetidine	Tagamet	Heartburn; Stomach and intestinal ulcers
Cinacalcet	Sensipar	Overactive parathyroid glands in chronic kidney disease on dialysis; High blood calcium from parathyroid overactivity or parathyroid cancer
Ciprofloxacin	Cipro	Urinary tract infections; Prostate infections
Citalopram	Celexa	Depression; Anxiety and panic symptoms, on clinician judgment
Clarithromycin	Biaxin	Pneumonia and bronchitis; Sinus infections
Clindamycin	Cleocin	Skin and soft tissue infections; Dental infections in penicillin-allergic patients
Clobetasol	Temovate, Clobex	Severe eczema and psoriasis; Stubborn inflamed skin conditions needing a very potent steroid
Clomiphene	Clomid	Treating infertility from lack of ovulation; Male infertility in selected cases (clinician-directed)
Clomipramine	Anafranil	Obsessive-compulsive disorder; Cataplexy in narcolepsy, on specialist advice
Clonazepam	Klonopin	Panic disorder; Certain seizure disorders
Clonidine	Catapres	High blood pressure; ADHD (extended-release form)
Clopidogrel	Plavix	Preventing heart attack and stroke; After stent placement
Clotrimazole	Lotrimin	Athlete's foot, jock itch, and ringworm; Vaginal yeast infections
Clozapine	Clozaril	Schizophrenia that has not responded to other antipsychotics; Reducing suicide risk in schizophrenia
Codeine	Tylenol with Codeine (combination)	Mild to moderate pain, usually combined with acetaminophen; Cough (in certain combinations)
Colchicine	Colcrys, Mitigare	Treating and preventing gout attacks; Pericarditis (inflammation around the heart)
Colistin	Coly-Mycin	Serious hospital infections from bacteria resistant to nearly all other antibiotics; Lung infections in cystic fibrosis (inhaled)
Conjugated estrogens	Premarin	Menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats; Vaginal dryness and thinning (cream)
Cyanocobalamin	Vitamin B12	Vitamin B12 deficiency; Pernicious anemia
Cyclobenzaprine	Flexeril	Muscle spasm from strains, short-term; Muscle spasm from back and neck pain, short-term
Cyclosporine	Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf	Preventing organ rejection after transplantation; Severe rheumatoid arthritis

Please note: This page is a patient-education summary, not medical advice, and it deliberately contains no doses. Medicines affect everyone differently — always follow your own prescription and talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.

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