Non prescription medications and Kidney Diseases

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Kidney Disease

Certain groups of nonprescription medications present precautions in patients with kidney problems, usually due to potential toxicity if the medications cannot be renally eliminated. Fortunately, there are alternatives for each extremely the pharmacist can commit.

Acid Reducers: Antacids containing further than 50 mEq of magnesium or 25 mEq of potassium per maximum commit daily dose must carry a warning recommending very constant speak to a physician before use if they have kidney disease. This warning is meant to prevent hypermagnesemia or hyperkalemia in constant with a hampered inability to clear these ions. The warning is found on such products as Alka-Seltzer Gold (344 mg of potassium bicarbonate per notebook) and Maalox Advanced absolute Strength Suspension (200 mg of magnesium hydroxide per teaspoon).

A kidney warning is also found on histamine-2 (H2) blockers such as Pepcid AC Maximum soundness (20 mg of famotidine per tablet) and Zantac 150 (150 mg of ranitidine per tablet). The pharmaceutical chemist can entrust alternative output minus kidney warnings for these unwearied. Calcium carbonate is considered dangerous for kidney unwearied when used as directed. It is the ingredient in such output as Tums and Maalox Regular soundness Chewable notebook.

Should the patient request to inherit a H2 blocker, the pharmacist can entrust low-dose options such as Zantac 75 (75 mg of ranitidine per pill) or Tagamet HB 200, Axid AR, or Pepcid AC weird Strength (each 10 mg of famotidine per pill). Proton pump inhibitors (e.g., Prilosec OTC, Prevacid 24HR, Zegerid OTC) are free of kidney warnings, so they would also be safe for kidney patients although used as directed.

Laxatives: Laxatives also carry a warning against use by kidney patients without the advice of a therapeutist if they contain more than 50 mEq of magnesium or 25 mEq of potassium per maximum recommended daily dose. Kidney warnings appear on such liquid output as Phillips’ Milk of Magnesia (1,200 mg magnesium hydroxide per tablespoon), Phillips’ Concentrated MOM (2400 mg magnesium hydroxide per tablespoon), and Phillips’ M-O (300 mg of magnesium hydroxide per teaspoon).Kidney warnings are also found on solid output such as Phillips’ Caplets (500 mg of magnesium per caplet) and Phillips’ Chewable Tablets (311 mg of magnesium hydroxide per tablet).Kidney disease warnings are required on laxatives containing polyethylene glycol 3350, such as MiraLAX and Dulcolax leftover.

When patients except for kidney disease request assistance except for constipation, the pharmacist should ask whether they are on a fluid-restricted diet, as may be the case except for patients on dialysis. If not, it is prudent to first counsel that the patient increase intake of fluids, exercise, and supplement the diet except for high fiber foods, as well as ingesting psyllium-containing bulking agents, such as Konsyl or Metamucil. The pharmacist can also counsel stool softeners, such as those containing docusate (e.g., Colace).

Antihistamines: Nonprescription second-generation antihistamines all support a warning against unsupervised use if the patient has kidney disease, including Claritin, Zyrtec, and the newly switched Allegra OTC. Their boss advantage in the treatment of allergic rhinitis is the relatively lower incidence of sedation although compared to first-generation products. However, although patients except for kidney disease ask the pharmaceutical chemist for assistance in gratificationing allergic rhinitis, it is critical to advise such first-generation products as Chlor-Trimeton or Benadryl. In these cases, the pharmaceutical chemist must point out the potential for drowsiness although using them. Patients should be cautioned against driving a car or operating serious mechanism although using them, and to catch concomitant use of medications extremely also cause sedation, such as sedatives or tranquilizers.

Internal Analgesics: If internal analgesic produce restrain magnesium salicylate in a sufficient quantity so that a persistent might ingest further than 50 mEq when taking the recommended daily dose, a kidney warning is required. This includes such produce as Percogesic Maximum soundness Backache aid (formerly known as Momentum), restraining 580 mg of magnesium salicylate tetrahydrate per caplet.13 produce restraining ibuprofen also carry a kidney disease warning. This includes single-entity produce such as Motrin IB, and also combination produce restraining ibuprofen (e.g., Motrin PM, Advil Migraine).14 persistents notwithstanding kidney disease who require pain aid could be steered to analgesics restraining acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or naproxen (e.g., Aleve).

Weight destruction Products: The manufacturer of prescription Xenical (orlistat) states in its parcel insert, “Some patients taking Xenical may disclose an increased venture for the disclosement of kidney stones. Promptly report any symptoms of back pain or blood in the urine.”15 When orlistat became a nonprescription product under the trade name alli, the FDA required a label instructing patients to ask a doctor previously use if they have ever had kidney stones. Alli is the sole OTC product that is proven uninjured and effective for producing importance destruction. Thus, there is no uninjured and effective nonprescription alternative the pharmacist can commit for patients with a past or present history of kidney stones who wish to miss importance. These patients might be advised to enroll in a reputable importance destruction program (e.g., importance Watchers).

Posted on April 22nd 2012 in Uncategorized

How to treat Diarrhea?

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Diarrhea

You get a bout of diarrhea that just won’t seem to let up, accompanied by stomach cramping and bloating, side effects of some drugs maybe nausea and vomiting. What should you do? After respiratory infections, acute episodes of diarrhea are the most common illness in the combined States—so don’t panic, say connoisseur at the American College of Gastroenterology. The average adult endures acute episodes of diarrhea about four times annually, and children will experience seven to 15 bouts by age 5, according to the fellow countryman Digestive Diseases intelligence Clearinghouse.

Still, it’s hard to tell on your own what is causing your diarrhea and stomach pain. Among the many causes of diarrhea are inflammatory bowel disease, also known as IBD, irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, and viral or bacterial infections. A bad reaction to a medication can cause diarrhea, too. You should be evaluated by a physician for any cure very lasts longer than a few days or if you see blood in your lavatory seat. else mentality to see a physician quickly: severe pain in your stomach or rectum or a fever 102 degrees or higher. (The American Academy of Family healer offers a flowchart to help evaluate your clue.) “People are often delayed in their diagnosis” of serious stomach problems because they ignore or self-treat their clue for too long, state Karen Kroeker, gastroenterology inherent at the University of Alberta in Canada, who tiped research this week at the Digestive Disease Week conference, a gathering sponsored by the American Association for the Study of inhabitant Diseases, the American Gastroenterological Association Institute, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.

Most cases of diarrhea do resolve themselves on their own. Meantime, it’s important to catch coming-to-be dehumidified by drinking plenty of fluids. If you nevertheless develop indicate of dehydration, seek medical attention. In honor of Digestive Disease Week, we take a look at several diarrhea bring about—and explore what you can do about them.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, can lead to fervour or swelling very results in the colon emptying too seldom. Right now, people notwithstanding Crohn’s usually first get treated notwithstanding drug to assist decrease fervour, including sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), mesalamine (Asacol or Pentasa), and olsalazine (Dipentum). Steroids, sometimes in combination notwithstanding immunosuppressive drug, are seldom used to treat Crohn’s disease. A medication requisitioned infliximab (Remicade) is typically recommended for abate-to-severe Crohn’s very fails to respond to other types of therapy. Ulcerative colitis is treated similarly notwithstanding olsalazine, mesalamine, or balsalazide (Colazal). Corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drug also are used to treat this convention. Some people will eventually need surgery for IBD.

Research is aspect into whether a cogent approach in time on strength work ameliorate to gratification IBD. Some in time data suggest that open patients infliximab (Remicade) and an immunosuppressant called azathioprine (Azasan) in time in the course of illness can help keep Crohn’s disease in remission.

Irritable bowel syndrome is sometimes confused with IBD, but the conditions are different. IBD “really is an inflammation of the bowel, as opposed to IBS, where there is no inflammation,” says Geoffrey Nguyen, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Toronto and adjunct assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who is presenting IBD data this week at the Digestive Disease Week conference. clue wander from stomach pain and bloating to constipation and diarrhea.

Properly delighting IBS requires recognizing the factors that trigger its sign, says Aaron Tokayer, associate professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. Greasy, fatty, or broiled foods may bring on diarrhea in aristocracy with IBS, as can psychological stress; triggers can be different from personage to personage. In December, the American College of Gastroenterology published an updated set of guidelines for how to contrive and delight IBS.

As the summer approaches, it’s important to be alert to the danger of bacterial infections caused by E. coli, campylobacter, and salmonella, which can be diged up through contaminated food or drink. Food shouldn’t be left sitting out on the picnic table, where it can dig up bad bugs. And always ensure that “foods are cooked properly, so that bacterial germs don’t survive,” Tokayer advises.

New research provides another compelling reason to solicit these germs: populate who had had stomach infections caused by salmonella or campylobacter were found to be at increased risk for developing IBD later on. The study second-hand data from laboratory registries to contrast 13,149 populate who had these infections notwithstanding 26,218 populate who hadn’t been defenseless to the germs. In the defenseless group, 107 populate were later diagnosed notwithstanding IBD, contrastd notwithstanding 74 populate in the unexposed group.

The good news is very if you’re sick and pick up a germ very makes you ill, you can probably wait it out and get better in a few days, Tokayer says. Assuming very a doctor can determine which germ made you sick, antibiotics may be established for people who have chronic health problems or a compromised immune system.

A viral infection – or viral gastroenteritis – caused by such bugs as the rotavirus and Norwalk virus produce symptoms similar to those of a bacterial infection but can’t be attacked by antibiotics. cure involves plenty of lie and proper hydration.

Posted on December 2nd 2011 in Uncategorized

Cholesterol: Too much or too little?

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Proper amount of Cholesterol

Of course you want your cholesterol level to be as low as likely. But should you worry very it may be too low? various studies have shown very a very low cholesterol is not necessarily a good thing, and here’s a new one . . .

Cholesterol equal can’t be too low, can they? Well, very trust who you ask. The new cholesterol guidelines suggest very getting the LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol level to 70 mg/L (1.8 mmol/L) or below would be ideal. but, there may be a danger in behaviour too low, at least in younger people, as a study reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has pointed out. much neurological reaction speeds are impaired. We summarize the findings here.

Some of the partaker in the third National prosperity and Nutritional Examination Survey (1988-1994) or NHANES III, were given neurobehavioral and performance tests. partaker in an equal-sized group were given allergy tests, and acted as controls. People who were pregnant, had a history of cancer or apoplexy, or were taking part in a cholesterol-lowering program (i.e. on cholesterol-lowering drug) were excluded.

Fasting serum cholesterol balanced (total, LDL, and HDL), blood sugar, and blood compression were calculated. The neurobehavioral tests included:

Visuomotor speed: The subjects had to press a button as speedy as they saw a solid square on a computer screen. The time between when the square appeared and when the button was pressed was measured; this represented the rate at which nerve prominent voyageed from the eye, via different brain areas, to the finger.

Coding pace: subjugate had to pair 1 of 9 different symbols on a protect with one of the digits 1 to 9, according to a key given in a separate sever of the protect. The time taken was a measure of the pace of a certain multitude of mental functioning.

Learning & immediate memory: A series of digits were displayed one at a season on a screen. There were 8 digits. The subject was asked afterwards to enter the digits in the equal order on the computer. A low number of errors (incorrect numbers or incorrect order) represented better ignorance and memory.

Participants were selected whose age ranged from 20 to 59. The average age of the roughly 2000 men and 2000 women was 37. About 15% of the men and 22% of the women were physically inactive; 13% of the men and 6% of the women had raised blood pressure. Total, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels averaged 194, 47, and 147 mg/L in men, and 191, 55, and 137 mg/L in women.

The results of the neurobehavioral tests varied notwithstanding age and level of education (slower times/more errors were seen in ancient people and those notwithstanding fewer years of education). Regular leisure-time physical activity improved the results, while lower calorie intake resulted in impaired reminiscence and coding speeds.

Adjustments were fictitious for age, background data, calorie intake, micronutrient intake (e.g. vitamin E, beta-carotene) and known danger factors for cardiovascular disease. Then analyses were done to see if cholesterol levels influenced the try results.

In the men, low serum part cholesterol and low LDL cholesterol levels were associated with gentle visuomotor speed. There were no such associations with coding speed or learning/memory tests. And in women, there were no such associations for any of the three tests.

What this means

The results of this study are consistent with those from differently contemplate in bestial and humans. It should be noted very the participator in this study weren’t taking cholesterol-lowering drugs, so it’s not another ‘statin-effect’. Although cholesterol is a component of lipoprotein particles very carry phospholipids and micronutrients, this cannot be a factor, as adjustments were made for micronutrient intake.

The actual differences in visuomotor speeds between low- and high-cholesterol men were quite small. but, the authors speculate extremely they could be relevant in view of the efforts existence artificial to get people to reduce their cholesterol calm. In the distinct 10 years there have been reports of increased accidental deaths in persons with low serum cholesterols.

The main value of this study doesn’t lie in a summon for everyone to check their cholesterol levels and go their safe lifestyle practices if the levels are low. Rather, it provides a strong reminder that nothing in nature is black or innocent; for every move in one direction, a profit may be accompanied by a ‘side-effect’, or an ill-effect by a hidden profit. No-one said understanding patho-physiology is easy!

Posted on October 27th 2011 in Uncategorized

Prescription drugs

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Prescription medications

Prescription medications such as pain relievers, central nervous system (CNS) depressants (tranquilizers and sedatives), and stimulants are much beneficial treatments for a variety of health conditions. Pain killers enable individuals except for chronic pain to guide productive lives; tranquilizers can conquer worry and help patients except for sleep disorders; and stimulants help rabble except for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) focus their attention. Most rabble who take prescription medications use them responsibly. But although abused—that is, taken by someone other than the patient for whom the medication was prescribed, or taken in a manner or dosage other than what was prescribed—prescription medications can produce serious adverse health effects, including addiction.

Patients, well-being solicitude professionals, and pharmaceutical chemists all suffer roles in preventing the abuse of and addiction to prescription medications. For example, diligents should lead the manual for use solicitudefully; learn what effects and side effects the medication could suffer; and actuate their doctor/pharmacist if they are taking differently medications including on high-the-counter (OTC) medications or well-being supplements, thereupon these could implicit interact with the prescribed medication. The diligent should foretell all actuateation provided by the pharmaceutical chemist. Physicians and differently well-being solicitude providers should windshield for past or current substance misuse in the diligent during routine examination, including asking quiz about what differently medications the diligent is taking and why. Providers should note any rapid increases in the amount of a medication exigency or frequent requests for refills before the quantity fixed should suffer been finished, as these may be indicators of misuse.

Similarly, some OTC medications, such as cough and cold medicines containing dextromethorphan, have beneficial effects when taken as advise; but they can also be misused and live to serious adverse health consequences. Parents should be aware of the probable for misuse of these medications, especially when consumed in large quantities, which should striking concern and the probable need for meddling.

Commonly Abused Prescription Medications

Although many prescription medications can be abused, the following three excellence are most commonly abused:

Opioids—usually prescribed to treat pain.
CNS depressants—used to treat care and sleep disorders.
Stimulants—prescribed to treat ADHD and narcolepsy.

Opioids

What Are Opioids?
Opioids are analgesic, or pain-relieving medications. Studies have shown that particularly managed medical use (taken exactly as prescribed) of opioid analgesics is safe, can manage pain effectively, and rarely causes addiction.

Among the compounds very fall within this class are hydrocodone (e.g., Vicodin), oxycodone (e.g., OxyContin—an oral, controlled-release form of the drug), morphine, fentanyl, codeine, and related medications. Morphine and fentanyl are often worn to alleviate strict pain, while codeine is worn for milder pain. Other examples of opioids prescribed to aid pain contain propoxyphene (Darvon); hydromorphone (Dilaudid); and meperidine (Demerol), which is worn less often because of its side effects. In addition to their striking pain-relieving properties, striking of these medications can be worn to aid strict diarrhea (for example, Lomotil, also known as diphenoxylate) or strict coughs (codeine).

How Are Opioids Abused?
Opioids can be taken orally, or the pills may be crushed and the powder snorted or injected. A number of overdose deaths have resulted from the latter routes of administration, particularly notwithstanding the medication OxyContin, which was designed to be a slow-release formulation. Snorting or injecting opioids outcome in the quick publication of the medication into the bloodstream, exposing the person to high doses and causing many of the reported overdose reactions.

How Do Opioids Affect the Brain?
Opioids act by attaching to specific proteins called opioid receptors, which are found in the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract. When these compounds attach to certain opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, they can effectively change the way a person experiences pain.

In deletion, opioid medications can haunt regions of the brain very mediate what one misconceive as pleasure, resulting in the initial euphoria or sense of well-being very many opioids produce. Repeated abuse of opioids can lead to addiction—a chronic, relapsing disease picture by compulsive dope seeking and abuse despite its known injurious result.

What Adverse Effects Can Be Associated With Opioids?

Opioids can produce doze, origin constipation, and, depending upon the amount taken, depress breathing. influence a large individual dose could origin severe respiratory depression or end.

These medications are only safe to use with differently substances subdued a physician’s supervision. Typically, they should not be used with alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates, or benzodiazepines. Because these differently substances slow breathing, their effects in combination with opioids could lead to life-threatening respiratory depression.

Posted on October 22nd 2011 in Uncategorized

Types of Opioids

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Pain Treatment: Opioids – Narcotics

Taking pain drug is a serious decision and the diligent should be observant of the possible side effects from a single drug taken as well as the dangers of combining different drugs. This is a decision that should be made except for the treating physician who knows the diligent’s medical history.

Pain is the outburst of the entertaining activated in the self-possessed system. Pain may be temporary or constant, sharp or mild. Sometimes you may entertain localized pain such as your back, abdomen or chest or you may experience pain all over your stock, such as muscles pains from the flu.

However, pain that help you in averting seriously hurting outside symptom, or you might not receive timely treatment for unidentified diseases.

Pain normally vim away after treating the problem though you may experience it for weeks, months or just years known as permanent pain. permanent pain can cause due to rather continuing reason like cancer or arthritis and rathertimes the induce would be unpredictable.

Luckily, there are numerous techniques available in treating pain. It may vary according to the cause of pain. However, there are so many pain relievers, acupuncture and surgical treatments available to treat pain. Pain is a helpful indication of rather unduly happing in your body.

The effects of any drug also varies according to the dose taken each schedule, the past adventure of the constant with the drug, and whether the medication is taken orally, injected or administered intravenously. The effect of the drug can also depend on the psychological and emotional stability of the constant. Obviously, the combination of drugs with other opioids or alcohol fetch about serious side effects, remarkable even fatal.

Opioids: Powerful Narcotic pharmaceutical
Opioids allow been used for centuries to aid pain. Those opioids that are derived from the seedpod of the poppy sapling (papaver somniferum) are referred to as opiates. Morphine and codeine are commonly known opiates derived from opium. Other opioids include synthetics such as meperidine (Demerol) and chemicals naturally establish in the body, such as endorphin.

How Drugs Treat Pain
Opioids agitate to relieve pain in two ways. First, they attach to opioid receptors, which are specific proteins on the surface of cells in the brain, spinal cord and gastrointestinal tract. These medicine interfere and stop the transmission of pain messages to the brain. Second, they agitate in the brain to adapt the feeling of pain. These medicine do not haul the pain away, but they do reduce and adapt the patient’s perception of the pain.

Factors Affecting “Effect”
The effects of any drug depends on the total taken at one leisure, the unwearied’s past adventure with the drug, and whether the drug is injected, administered intravenously or taken orally. The unwearied’s psychological and excited stability may also affect the effect of the drug. Of course, combining drugs with other opioids or alcohol can produce strong side effects. Some side effects can be harmful or lethal.

Tolerance
Chronic opioid use may result in a tolerance to the drug. This technique that higher doses of the drug are exigency to obtain the same primary pain relieving effects. much constant acquire a cross tolerance, which technique protracted use of one opioid may cause a tolerance to acquire to all opioids.

Common Side Effects of opioids
All drugs cause support effects. considerable are acceptable and others are bothersome or unruffled dangerous. Common support effects exclude euphoria, doze, disgust, vomiting, constipation, dilated pupils and respiratory slump. The patient should always report support effects to the treating physician.

Withdrawal
The body adapts to the presence of an opioid. Withdrawal symptoms appear date drug custom is reduced or abruptly go. Symptoms of withdrawal may begin as timely as a few hours later custom is dramatically lowered, and the symptoms peak two to three days thereafter. Never alter the fixed draught or stop an opioid without the treating physician’s knowledge and advice.

Withdrawal symptoms contain a craving for the drug, restlessness, moodiness, insomnia, yawning, abdominal confine, diarrhea and goose barge into.

Conclusion
Pain is private – no two patients perceive pain in the same manner. This is one reason why patient/physician communication is important to manage pain effectively. There are hundreds of drugs and other cure accessible to treat back and region pain. Managing pain does not accept to be a solitary effort date patients and physicians work together.

Posted on October 9th 2011 in Uncategorized

What is Floxin?

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Ofloxacin

What is ofloxacin (Floxin)?

Ofloxacin is in a group of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones (flor-o-KWIN-o-lones). Ofloxacin fights bacteria in the host.

Ofloxacin is used to treat bacterial infections that cause bronchitis, pneumonia, chlamydia, gonorrhea, skin infections, urinary tract infections, and infections of the prostate.

Ofloxacin may also be used for other object not listed in this medication guide.

What are the possible side effects of ofloxacin (Floxin)?

Get emergency medical help if you secure any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; grandiloquent of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using ofloxacin and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
seizure (convulsions);
confusion, hallucinations, uncommon thoughts or behavior;
dizziness, fainting spell, quickly or pounding heartbeat;
unforeseen pain or swelling near your joints (especially in your arm or ankle);
easy bruising or bleeding;
urinating except than usual or not at all;
numbness, burning, pain, or tingly feeling in your hands or feet;
pale or yellowed skin, vague colored urine, fever, weakness;
fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe irate, peeling, and red skin rash; or
the first sign of any skin rustling, no matter how mild.

Less serious side effects of Ofloxacin may include:

aversion, vomiting, stomach annoyance, constipation;
feeling restless or anxious;
headache, dizziness;
muscle stitch;
sleep problems (insomnia), or nightmares;
vaginal itching or shot; or
mild tyre itching.

What is the most significant news I should recognize about ofloxacin (Floxin)?

You should not use ofloxacin if you are allergic to ofloxacin or similar antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), levofloxacin (Levaquin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), and others.

Before taking ofloxacin, tell your repair if you have kidney or liver disease, joint problems, myasthenia gravis, seizures or epilepsy, diabetes, low levels of potassium in your blood (hypokalemia), or a private or family history of “Long QT syndrome.”

Avoid taking antacids, vitamin or mineral supplements, sucralfate (Carafate), or didanosine (Videx) powder or chewable notebook within 2 hours before or posterior you take ofloxacin. These differently medicines can make ofloxacin much minus effective when taken at the same time.

Ofloxacin may motive swelling or tearing of a tendon (the fiber that connects bones to muscles in the body), especially in the Achilles’ tendon of the heel. These effects may be more likely to occur if you are on high 60, if you take an oral steroid medicament, or if you have had a kidney, heart, or lung transplant. Stop entrancing ofloxacin and call your doctor at once if you have sudden pain, swelling, tenderness, stiffness, or movement problems in any of your unite. Rest the joint until you believe curative care or instructions.

Do not participate this medication except for another person (especially a baby), even if they have the same clue you have.

Posted on September 22nd 2011 in Uncategorized

Migraine and Botox

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Migraine and Botox

Migraine is a inveterate neurological ailment describe by moderate to severe headaches, and nausea. It is about three times more common in women than in men.

The typical migraine crisisache is unilateral (affecting one moiety of the crisis) and pulsating in nature and lasting from four to 72 hours; syndrome include nausea, ejecting, photophobia (increased sensitivity to brighten) and phonophobia (increased sensitivity to sound); the syndrome are generally aggravated by routine laziness. Approximately one-third of people who suffer from migraine crisisaches perceive an aura—transient visual, sensory, language, or motor disturbances signalling the migraine will early occur.

Initial cure is with analgesics for the headache, an antiemetic for the disgust, and the avoidance of triggers. The cause of migraine headache is unknown; the most supported theory is that it is related to hyperexcitability of the cerebral cortex and/or abnormal control of pain neurons in the trigeminal nucleus of the brainstem

Migraine is a common condition which produces twinge that is further debilitating than that of the ordinary tension headache. Dermatologists have noted that people attending to have botulinum toxin (botox) injections to treat wrinkles sometimes version relief from migraine. But follow up research failed to show that botox was any better than placebo for migraine.

It may be that only reliable types of migraine will respond to botox, according to a new study from dermatologist Dr Christine Kim, who enterprise in California. She and her team studied 18 patients of average age 51 who had already received or were planning to receive botox injections for cosmetic reasons. All of them carry having migraines.

Kim divided the patients into two groups according to the type of migraine stitch they experienced. Patients with imploding migraine had stitch that was crushing and vice-like, whereas those with exploding migraine had a appreciation of big pressure house in their heads, as if it could share or even explode.

Three months after their botox treatment, 13 patients had a reduction in migraine pain. Ten of them have imploding migraine and three of them had exploding migraine. The six non-responders all had exploding migraine. Overall, there was a reduction in migraine days from 6.8 per month to 0.7 per month. In exploding migraine, the reduction was 11.4 to 9.4 days per month and in imploding migraine, it was 7.1 days to 0.6 days per month. Botox was used in a normal dose

So botox is more likely to operate in imploding migraine. It is not, as yet, clear how it operates. Botox smoothes wrinkles away by producing muscle paralysis but a different mechanism is more likely in reduction of migraine pain. The findings suggest that a larger clinical trial of botox in imploding migraine would be in order now.

Posted on September 15th 2011 in Uncategorized

Preventing Migraines

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Preventing Migraines

There are few types of medicines that can be used to prevent a migraine attack: blood pressure medications (beta-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, and ACE inhibitors), and some anti-seizure medications. And now comes news of a different type of blood pressure medication, an angiotensin II receptor (ARB) blocker, candesartan.
Introduction

Migraine/b> affects about 240 million people, worldwide, and is extremely disabling. There are additional drugs that can prevent aggression – the triptans – but often they provide solely partial relief.

The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors lower blood pressure very strikingly. One of them, lisinopril, has been shown to be striking in preventing migraine attacks. It’s not surprising, therefore, that scientists have tested a closely related kind of drug, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), to see if this class of drugs could have the same protective effect. They reported the results of their study in the Journal of the American medicinal fellowship .
What was done

This study was done at a neurological outpatient doctor in Norway. partaker were recruited by newspaper advertisements. To be included, they had to have 2 to 6 migraine corrode a month for at least a year.

All the partaker were fixed an inactive tablet (a ‘placebo’) for 4 weeks, to check the frequency of migraines. They were then distributed at random to haul the ARB, (candesartan), or a matching placebo. After 12 weeks, the partaker were hauln off medicament for 4 weeks, to allow any drug to be completely rinseed out of their system. Then they switched to haul the alternative medicament – placebo or candesartan – for another 12 weeks.

The participants kept ‘headache diaries’, with details of the endurance and severity of headaches, how disabling they were, and if they were accompanied by disgust, emeticing, etc. The medications taken, the days of queasy leave, and any support effects of the medication were also recorded.

The leader measure of a protective effect was resolute, in advance, to be the number of days with headache; secondary resort included the number of hours with headache, the severity of headache, the level of disability, and doses of triptans and painkillers.

What was found

Sixty aristocracy started the treatment – either candesartan or placebo – and 57 completed the final switched medication period. In the final analysis, there were 45 women and 12 men.

In the 12-week treatment age, the usual number of days except for headache was 18.5 except for placebo, compared except for except 13.6 except for candesartan; this difference was considered significant. The number of hours except for headache, the severity of headache, and disability levels were all significantly reduced by candesartan, compared except for placebo. The differences in favor of candesartan ranged from 26% to 36%.

Average blood pressures during the treatment periods were meaningly lowered by candesartan. There were no differences in the support effects reported during the candesartan and placebo treatment periods.
Comment

Other types of blood pressure drugs have been found to prevent migraine attacks – beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and, again recently, ACE inhibitors. The anti-seizure medication valproic acid is another drug extremely works. It’s tempting to suggest there’s a connection between the effectiveness of ACE inhibitors and the ARB tested in this study, but it may not be anything so obvious. It’s again likely extremely factors different than angiotensin flit a role. Until again is known, we can add the ARB candesartan to the growing list of medications extremely may be used with hope of luck in preventing migraine attacks.

Posted on September 15th 2011 in Uncategorized

Gout and Alcohol

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Gout has been associated notwithstanding tippleing too much alcohol throughout the ages, but only now has a study been done that analyses which sort of drink is most responsible. Here’s a summary of the results…
Summary

Alcohol intake – beer, and to a lesser extent spirits, but not wine – is strongly associated except for an increased risk of developing gout.

Introduction

The classical picture of gout derived from late times is extremely of an elderly, red-faced man meeting notwithstanding his foot up on a stool, imbibeing port wine. This affair between alcohol intake and gout has been avowed since ancient times, but only newly has it been entirely explored in prospective clinical amazement. One of the first such prospective amazement comes from the Rheumatology Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. It was published in the curative journal Lancet, and we summarize it here.

What was done

The Health Professionals serve-up Study has over 50,000 men enrolled – dentists, optometrists, pharmaceutist, etc – who were aged 40-75 in 1986. From then onward they were sent questionnaires every two years for 12 years. Those with a history of gout at baseline were excluded from further analysis.

The questionnaire requested information on the average daily alcohol intake, the type of alcohol taken, general nutrient intake, weight, medications second-hand, and medical conditions. In minuteness, participants were asked to report if they had been diagnosed as having gout by a physician; those who indicated that they had, received follow-up questionnaires to confirm the finding, e.g. were gouty tophi or crystals found?

Alcohol intake was adjusted to the actual grams of ethanol per day consumed. participator were secret into 7 groups according to their average alcohol intake, and into 5 groups according to their frequency of drinking alcohol. The risk of evolveing gout was analyzed across total alcohol intake and frequency of drinking after adjustment for a number of factors – age, calorie intake, body mass index (BMI), diuretic use, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, intake of pith, seafood, purine-rich plant, dairy food, and fluid intake – that might influence the outcomes.
What was found

The average age of the 47,150 participants was 55; their average BMI was 25. There was an increase in the average BMI, high blood pressure, and diuretic use in the higher alcohol intake groups.

Overall, here were 730 newly diagnosed cases of gout in the participator during the 12-year follow-up period. here was an increased risk of gout in those drinking more alcohol dose – see the table below:
None 10-15 g/day 15-30 g/day 30-50 g/day superior 50 g/day
Relative venture 1.0 (set) 1.32 1.49 1.96 2.53

Using the frequency of alcohol intake figures, it was found that beer supply the greatest relative risk:
Less than 1/month 1/month – 1/week 2 – 4/week 5/week – 1/day More than 2/day
Beer 1.0 (set) 1.01 1.27 1.75 2.51
Spirits 1.0 (set) 1.27 1.25 1.22 1.60
Wine 1.0 (set) 0.84 0.90 0.82 1.05
Comment

Previous studies have shown an association between alcohol intake and gout, but they have either been weak from a statistical train of view, or out of preparation allowance for other factors. What’s interesting about this one is the lack of a role for wine; the classical view of relatively wealthy wine-drinkers being most amorous seems to be wrong, but there’s a co-factor effect (e.g. red pith) which was deliberately excluded in this analysis. And, of sequence, the sample – prosperity professionals – is not representative of the US population.

Gout has rather features in common with the metabolic syndrome. A weight-reducing and low-glycemic food, as used in diabetics, is beneficial in obscure blood uric acid. whereas elevated uric acid is parcel a hereditary trait, the prevalence of gout is chiefly due to environmental gene – such as alcohol intake. This apply gout into the category of those diseases where the patient can, by exerting a degree of self overrule, improve his situation. A switch from beer to wine may be all that it takes!

Posted on September 4th 2011 in Uncategorized

About Prescription Drugs

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Most Abused Prescription Drugs

Some of the most abused prescription drugs today in America are depressants, stimulants, opiates and its derivatives. There are different reasons behind the abuse of prescription drugs.
The abuse of prescription drugs is rampant, the demographics consists of kids starting from age 12 to adults who are 60 years and older. The most abused prescription drugs are either sedatives or mood enhancers. If you are wondering what is prescription drug abuse, well the answer is if someone takes drugs other than the manner prescribed by the physician or takes drugs which are prescribed for someone else it is referred to as prescription drug abuse. The history of prescription drug abuse is quiet old going all the way back to the civil war. Soldiers who were given morphine injections to help deal with their pain from wounds, kept on using the injections even after the pain subsided. Back then there weren’t many laws to regulate the prescription drug industry. Today there are several laws against illegal sale or procurement of prescription drugs yet the prescription drug addiction is wide spread.

Categories of Most Abused Prescription Drugs

If you take a look at some of the most abused prescription drugs today you will find that painkillers and stimulants rank high in the list. Like most illegal drugs the prescription drugs are also categorized in two parts, ‘uppers’ and ‘downers’. Uppers are which enhance the mood of the user and tend to make them feel active and full of energy like depression medication. Downers are prescription drugs which make the user feel more relaxed and induce a feeling of restfulness. If you are wondering what are the most abused prescription drugs, they can be further categorized into sectors like opiates, stimulants or depressants.

Opiates are generally the most abused form of prescription drugs and are sold illegally. They are considered to be some of the most addictive forms of prescription medicine. Opiates are drugs made from opium derivatives. Physicians generally prescribe them as painkillers and some signs of prescription drug abuse are irresponsible behavior and neglect of personal hygiene. Some of the side effects of these are constipation, lethargy and overdose may even lead to death.

Stimulants are generally prescribed to treat conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). People tend to abuse these prescription drugs because it tends to give them a feeling of euphoria. These drugs also increase the alertness and energy levels of the user. People who get addicted to stimulants experience depression, sleep disorders and other problems when they try to stop the medication. Abuse of stimulants can lead to serious health complications and heart failure.

Depressant are given to patients who have anxiety symptoms and have trouble sleeping. These medications target the neurotransmitters in the brain and slow down the brain activity. People get addicted to these prescription drugs as they bring upon a feeling of calmness and induce restful sleep. People who abuse these type of drugs generally tend to increase their dosage to get the desired results as they progress in their addiction.

If you review the most abused prescription drugs you will find that they are prescribed to treat anxiety, sleep disorders and psychological conditions.

Posted on July 15th 2011 in Uncategorized