Monday, June 30, 2008

Avandia Side Effects - Diabetes, PPH and Hypoglycemia


First approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1999 to treat type II, or adult onset diabetes, Avandia became one of the most popular drugs for the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. It works by allowing the body to use insulin it produces to control the levels of blood sugar in the liver and prevent the serious and potentially fatal aspects of this condition that affects almost 16 million adults in the United States.

Unfortunately, Avandia has been linked to a number of serious side effects of its own. From as early as 2003, medical experts at the Mayo Clinic discovered that Avandia was linked to six cases of congestive heart failure in elderly men undergoing treatment for type II diabetes. These men experienced symptoms of weight gain, swelling of the extremities, shortness of breath, and fluid in the lungs, which all occur when the heart can no longer pump blood through the circulatory system which can cause fluid build up in the body.

Liver problems are also associated with Avandis. It can possibly result in jaundice (or the yellowing of eyes and skin due to the build up of bilirubin in the body), fatigue, vomiting, stomach pain, and nausea.

Avandis is also suspected of causing a condition called Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, or PPH. PPH is caused when blood vessels narrow which then increase blood pressure. High blood pressure can result in a number of serious complications such as shortness of breath, fainting, dizziness, and even heart failure.

Additionally, Avandis is linked to hypoglycemia, or the lack of sugar in the blood. Without blood sugar the body cannot function, and can cause a number of extremely dangerous side effects to occur such as accelerated heart rate, headache, sweating, fatigue, weakness, and dizziness.

GlaxoSmithKline, along with the FDA, sent a letter to healthcare professionals in December 2005 to alert them about the possibility of peripheral edema (swelling of the extremities) and macular edema (the buildup of fluid and protein in the eye that can severely impair vision.)

You can buy Avandia here

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Ulairi's weblog

Flonase Bad Breath Side Effect


Feeling a bit congested in the nose? Or can’t breathe at all? The reason may be an inflammation of or infection in your sinuses, causing a condition called sinusitis. Other symptoms include coughing, sneezing, feelings of tiredness, aches, and constant low fever.

Because the signs are so much the same as a cold, people with sinusitis often mistake their condition for colds. But later, when the medicines they’ve been taking for treating the symptoms of colds don’t seem to work, they go to the doctor who then examines them and tells them that they have sinusitis.

How does Sinusitis work?

To answer that question, we must first look into what the sinuses are. They are actually hollow cavities within the skull, surrounding the nose. Each of us has four sinuses: the frontal sinuses over the eyes in the brow area, maxillary sinuses inside each cheekbone, ethmoid sinuses just behind the bridge of the nose and between the eyes, and sphenoid sinuses behind the ethmoids in the upper region of the nose and behind the eyes.

These sinuses have a mucus lining that continue on to the nasal passages. The mucus helps keep the air that passes from the nose to the nasal passages clean and clear and dehumidified. When you have a cold, the cause of that is a viral infection in the nasal passages. As a result, more mucus is secreted by the mucus lining as more white blood cells are sent to fight the viruses in the infected area. This leads to swelling of the mucus lining, causing inflammation which then becomes the precursor of sinusitis.

Full-blown sinusitis causes blockage of the nasal passages, obstructing drainage and causing post nasal drips. Because of the blockage, the excess mucus produced is trapped inside the nasal passages where they accumulate and turn foul, leading to bad breath side effect. In addition, the trapped mucus due to sinusitis can become breeding grounds for bacteria that cause bad breath side effect.

The worst thing about this bad breath side effect is that you don’t usually notice it since the infection has caused your sense of smell to become off. This bad breath side effect of sinusitis could very well be an embarrassing situation waiting to happen. Why allow it to happen?

How to treat Sinusitis?

The good news is that bad breath side effect of sinusitis may be treated by simply treating the sinusitis itself. And there are dozens of different over the counter nasal decongestants and antihistamines that will more than do their job of stopping sinusitis. These drugs act by relieving congestion and drying up excess mucus. However, in doing this, some of these drugs may also inadvertently cause bad breath side effect since dryness in the mouth is one of the most frequent causes of bad breath.

Drugs like Flonase are different, however. Flonase, generic name flonase floticasone, is a steroid based prescription nasal spray that treats sinusitis but does not have a bad breath side effect. Flonase has been used by many patients with sinusitis with good results. Using Flonase on a regular basis produces best results since it may take several weeks for the medication to give maximum effect.

You can buy Flonase here

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Old Grumpy Dwarf's weblog

Are There Medications That Can Make You Gain Weight?


The last thing that a patient wants to hear is that one of the drugs they have been prescribed will make them gain weight. That is a fear that many have to face because when a medication is needed, that particular side effect cannot be removed from the drug. Some people do not even know that weight gain is a symptom when they are prescribed a drug, but they do realize when they notice they are gaining weight without any other explanation.

Some of the drugs that are responsible for weight gain are drugs for depression, anti-seizure medication, medications for diabetes, hypertension, and migraines. Birth control, hormones, and steroids are also well-known for causing weight gain in patients.

What drugs cause weight gain?

There is no exact list that names the drugs that cause weight gain. A drug may cause weight gain in one person but not cause it in the next. That means there may be certain physiological elements in play. However, there are approximately 50 medications that are suggested to cause weight gain in those who take them. Some of these drugs include:

• Steroids such as prednisone


• Antidepressants that include Lexapro, Zoloft, Tofranil, Paxil, and Elavil


• Antipsychotics that include such drugs as Zyprexa


• Diabetes drugs such as Diabeta and Diabinese


• Hypertension medications such as Cardura and Inderol


• Beta Blockers such as Zebeta


• Even heartburn treatments such as Prevacid have been suggested to promote weight gain.

Other factors

Sometimes the medicine doesn't act alone when it comes to weight gain. When a person is depressed and they begin to feel better, they may find that they eat more. To make things more confusing, heartburn treatments have been known to help people lose weight, but people have also been known to gain weight. This weight gain could be associated with eating more because of an improvement in the condition.

There could also be underlying health issues that, in addition to the drug, cause weight gain to occur. There have been plenty of people who have seen a pattern in beginning a drug and weight gain. They may not have changed their eating habits and all, but noticed some water retention. Steroids are certainly a culprit in this because the person appears to have swelled up.

There are also patients who were not taking a drug for a long period of time. The treatment was a short-term treatment that caused weight gain, but when the treatment was over they found themselves returning to their regular weight. These are instances in which it is quite obvious that a drug has caused weight gain.

What to do

Although nothing can be done about the effect that the drug has on the body to lose weight sometimes a patient has to take matters into their own hands. They can watch how they eat, exercise regularly if possible, and drink plenty of liquids. This can actually offset some of the effects of the drug on weight. It may seem like a battle that never ends, but when a drug is needed to control a particular health issue, there really isn't much that can be done about it. Sometimes there are alternatives to a drug that the doctor can prescribe, but that option is not always available. However, it doesn't hurt to ask.

But what one must remember is that gaining a little extra weight might be minimal compared to the benefits that the drug provides. So if a person can deal with a 10 to 15 pound weight gain, it may be worth staying on the drug.

You can buy Zebeta here

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Kaydis's weblog

The Secret You Don't Know About Free Medicine from Pharmaceutical ...


Medical insurance costs are skyrocketing and many places of employment no longer supply medical insurance without a major dip into your pocketbook. The impact of under-insured or uninsured Americans and senior citizens are taking a toll on households across U.S.

I have been without insurance. At one time I had to purchase medicine with a price tag of over $1,900 a month. Because of that time, I was inspired to find out what I could do to help defray the cost of the medicine.

What I discovered is one of the best kept secrets in the medical industry. The secret is that pharmaceutical companies and major pharmaceutical company sponsors provide free prescription medicines to individuals and families that qualify.

For those individuals and families who can’t afford the cost of or the co-payment their prescription medications require, help has been around for years. The first step is to find out who manufactures the prescriptions you are taking.

Once you know the manufacturer, go to their website and download their application or apply online for their program. Some of the pharmaceutical websites and pharmaceutical company sponsors have websites that have the program information easily available.

Other websites you will have to search to find the program. Once you either fill out their application online or downloaded the application, you will in most cases need to get a signed consent form from your doctor to fax or send to the company. Every program has different rules and procedures.

Please take advantage of this opportunity to help you, your family and friend defray a bit of the medical costs from your budget.

A

Abbott Diabetes Patient Assistance Program


Abbott Laboratories Patient Assistance Program


Abbott Norvir, Kaletra Patient Assistance Program


Access for Humatrope


Aciphex Patient Assistance Program


Acorda Reimbursement Assistance Program


ACT Program for Emend


ACT Program for Zolinza


Acthar Gel Patient Assistance Program


Actimune Patient Assistance Program


Adderall XR Patient Assistance Program


Advanced BioHealing


Alcon Cares Patient Assistance Program


Allergan Patient Assistance Program


Amylin Reimbursement Hotline


Anadrol Assistance Program


Angiomax Patient Financial Assistance Program


Apligraf Patient Assistance Program


Ara-Assist Program


ARC of Support


Arch Foundation Patient Assistance Program for Mirena


Aricept Assistance Program


Ascend Therapeutics Patient Assistance Program


Astellas Indigent Patient Program


Astellas Patient Assistance Program for Prograf


Astellas Patient Assistance Program for Protopic


Astellas Patient Assistance Program for Vaprisol


AstraZeneca Cancer Support Network


AstraZeneca Patient Assistance Organization


Atripla Patient Assistance Program


Auxilium Patient Assistance Program


Avonex Access Program


Axcan Assist Program


Axcan Rx Complete Patient Support Program


AZ Medicine and Me

B

Bausch and Lomb Indigent Patient Program


Baxter Factor Plus Program


Bayer Patient Assistance Program


Bayer Patient Assistance Program for Nimotop & Precose


Benefix Patient Assistance Program


Betaseron Patient Assistance Program


Biovail Patient Assistance Program


Boehringer Ingelheim Care Foundation Patient Assistance Program


Boniva Patient Assistance Program


Botox Patient Assistance Program


Bradley Pharmaceuticals Indigent Patient Program


Bridge Program for Genotropin & Somavert


Bristol-Myers Squibb Access Program for Oncology/Virology


Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Foundation


Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Program for Abilify


Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Program for Erbitux


Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Program for Orenica


Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Program for Sprycel


Buphenyl Patient Assistance Program

C

Cancer Support Network for Iressa


Care First for CF Program


Carnitor Drug Assistance Program


Cenestin Patient Assistance Program


Cetylite Industries, Inc


Charitable Access Program


Columbia Laboratories, Inc.


Commitment to Care for Hepatitis C Medications


Commitment to Care for Oncology Medications


Comprehensive Care Program For CF


Connections for Growth Patient Assistance Program


Copaxone Patient Assistance Program


Critical Therapeutics Care Assist Program


Cubicin Reimbursement Hotline


Cystadane Patient Assistance Program


Cytogen Corp. Community Access Patient Program

D

Dacogen Reimbursement and Support Services


Dermik Laboratories Patient Assistance Program


Digestive Care, Inc Assistance Program


Doak Dermatologics Rebate Program


Doxil Reimbursement Solutions

E

ECR Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program


Edwards Lifesciences


Eisai Oncology Reimbursement Assistance Program


Eldepryl Patient Rewards Program


Encourage Foundation


Endo Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program


Enjuvia Patient Assistance Program


Enzon Patient Assistance Program


Epass Prescription and Reimbursement Program


Ethyol Protect Program

F

Fentora Reinbursement Program


Ferndale Laboratories Patient Assistance Program


Ferrlecit & Infed Reimbursement Assistance Program


Financial Assistance Program for Abelcet


First Resource Program for IV medications


First Resource Program for Oral Medications


Forest Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program


Forest Pharmaceuticals:Namenda


Forteo Patient Assistance Program


Fosrenol at Hand Patient Assistance Program


Fragmin Reimbursement Assistance


Fuzeon Reimbursment Assistance Program

G

Gabitril Patient Assistance Program


Galderma Laboratories Patient Assistance Program


Gammassist Program


Gilead Advancing Access


GlaxoSmithKline Bridges to Access


GlaxoSmithKline Commitment to Access


Glenwood Compassionate Drug Program


Gliadel Wafer Patient Assistance


Gordon Labs


Graceway Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program


GSK Access


GTX Patient Assistance Program

H

Helping Hands Program for Mead Johnson Nutritionals


Hill Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program


Humira Patient Assistance Program


Hyalgan Hotline and Patient Assistance Program

I

Imogam and Imovax Patient Assistance Program


Infergen Patient Assistance Program


Innohep Patient Assistance Program


ITB Therapy Patient Assistance Program


IVAX Patient Assistance Program


IVAX Patient Assistance Program for Clozapine

J

JDS Pharmaceuticals Patient Care Program


Johnson & Johnson Hospital Access Patient Assistance Program


Johnson & Johnson Patient Assistance Program

K

Kadian Patient Assistance Program


Keppra Patient Assistance Program


KingKare Patient Assistance Program


Kos Cares Patient Assistance Program

L

Lilly Cares Foundation Patient Assistance Program


Lilly Oncology: Gemzar & Alimta


LillyMedicareAnswers Program


Lovenox Reimbursement Services and Patient Assistance Program


Lupron Depot Patient Assistance Program

M

Macugen Access Program


Mallinckrodt Patient Assistance Program


Matulane Patient Assistance Program


Mayne Patient Assistance Program


Medimmune Patinet Assistance Program


Medpointe Pharamaceuticals Patient Assistance Program


Megace ES Patient Assistance Program


Menomune Patient Assistance Program


Merck Anti-Infective Hotline


Merck Patient Assistance Program


Merck Prescription Discount Program


Merck Vaccine Patient Assistance Program


Merck/Schering Plough Patient Assistance Program


MGI Pharma Patient Assistance Program


Millenium Patient Assistance for Velcade


Mission Pharmaceutical Patient Assistance Program


MS Lifelines


Mylan Clozapine Patient Assistance Program

O

Ocusoft Assistance Program


Orfadin Patient Assistance Program


Ovation Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program


Oxandrin Reimbursement and Patient Assistance Program

P

PACT+ Program


ParaGard Patient Assistance Program


Patient Assistance for Amevive


Patient Support Services


Pfizer Connection to Care


Pfizer Pfriends


PhosLo Patient Assistance Program


Prevacid Program


Prezista Patient Assistance Program


Primus Pharmaceuticals


PROCRITline


Procter & Gamble Patient Assistance Program


Proleukin Reimbursement Program


Provigil Assistance Program


Purdue Frederick Patient Assistance Program

R

Rabavert Patient Assistance Program


RapAssist Patient Assistance Program for Rapamune


REACH


Reliant Pharmaceuticals Rx Support Program


Remicade Patient Assistance


Renassist Patient Assistance Program


Retassist Retavase Patient Assistance Program


Revatio Patient Assistance Program


RibaCare Patient Assistance Program


Rilutek Patient Assistance Program


Roche Oncoline Patient Assistance Program


Roche Reimbursement and Patient Assistance Program for HCV, HIV, and Transplants


Romark Laboratories Patient Assistance Program for Alinia


Ross Medical Nutritionals Patient Assistance Program


Ross Metabolic Formula and Elecare Patient Assistance Program


RSVP for Zyvox


RSVP Program & Patient Assistance Program for VFEND


Rx Outreach Medications

S

Safety Net Foundation


Salix Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program


Sankyo Pharma Open Care Program


Sanofi-Aventis Patient Assistance Program


Schering Hospital Assistance Program


Schwarz Pharma Patient Assistance Program


Sciele Patient Assistance Program


Sculptra Patient Access Program


Serono Compassionate Care Program for Infertility


Shire GI Patient Assistance Program


Solvay Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program


SP-Cares


Stiefel Laboratories Patient Assistance Program


StoneBridge Pharma Patient Assistance Program


Suboxone Patient Assistance Program


Sucraid Patient Assistance Program


SUPPORT Program for Crixivan


Synvisc Reimbursement Hotline

T

Takeda Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program


Tev-Tropin Patient Assistance Program


TEVA Assistance Program


TheraCys Patient Assistance Program


TOBI Patient Assistance Program


Tracleer Access Program


Triax Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program


Trisenox Drug Replacement Program


Upsher-Smith Patient Assistance Program

V

Valeant Assistance Program for DHE 45, Diastat, Migranal & Mysoline.


Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Patient Assistance Program


Vantas Patient Assistance Program


Venofer Reimbursement Hotline and Patient Assistance Program


Ventavis Patient Assistance Program


Vidaza Patient Assistance Program


ViroPharma Patient Assistance Program


Vistakon Patient Assistance Program


Visudyne Patient Assistance Program


VivusProgram Name List

W

Wellspring Patient Assistance Program


WinRho Patient Assistance Program


Wyeth Oncology Reimbursement Program


Wyeth Pharmaceutical Patient Assistance Foundation


Wyeth Removal Certificate

Xigris Treatment Support Program


Xubex Pharmaceutical Services


Xyrem Patient Assistance Program

Z

Zemplar Support Program


Zevalin Results


ZLB Behring Patient Assistance Program


Zonegran Patient Assistance Program


Zydus Pharmaceuticals Inc.

You can buy Prograf here

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Ulairi's weblog

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Rising Demand For Herbal and Ayurveda Products


India is the known as the birthplace of Ayurveda as the great Himalayan mountain range, which forms its northern frontier, is also the source of many herbs that are used in Ayurvedic products. In today's globalization era more and more Indians are choosing to work outside India leading to a rise in the diaspora population. The swelling population of Indians across the globe has led to the popularity of Ayurveda, which in turn has led to a rise in the demand for Herbal Products. Herbal Products, which have been made by following the principles of Ayurveda, which is a five thousand year old system of medicine.

Preparations made from Plant extracts are sought after by patients all across the globe as they have minimal side effects. However, it would be an exaggeration that ayurvedic products have no side effects. Since Ayurvedic preparations are made from plant extracts they help in healing a complication in the natural way. Popular herbs, which are used in the preparation of medicinal formulations, include Amalaki, Arjuna, Ashvagandha, Brahmi, Karela, Lasuna, Neem, Shuddha Guggulu, Shallaki, Tagara, Triphala, Tulasi etc.

In view of the rising popularity of Ayurveda, major pharmaceutical companies who until now were involved in the manufacture of allopathic drugs have forayed into this market segment. The entry of organized players has led to increased investments in Drug manufacturing, R&D and Logistics. Ayurvedic drugs are now being produced in accordance with the established principles laid down by the regulatory authorities. So patients can be assured of the safety of a drug purchased from any of these companies. Distribution and marketing has improved as companies have spotted a huge opportunity in the overseas market. Patients located in any corner of the globe can order herbal products from the online storefront set up by these companies.

Popular Herbal formulations which have acquired popularity in foreign markets include Serpina,Liv.52,Bonnisan,Reosto,Menosan,PureHands, Himplasia. Apart from medicinal formulations other preparations made from herbal extracts like Acne-n-Pimple Cream, Anti-dandruff Hair Oil, Anti-dandruff Shampoo, Anti-wrinkle Cream, Baby Cream, Baby Lotion, Baby Powder, Diaper Rash Cream, Hair Loss Cream, Muscle & Joint Rub, Nourishing Baby Oil, Sunscreen Lotion.

These days, herbal products are not only used for the treatment of humans but also for animals. Ayurvedic drugs and therapies are also being prepared to alleviate the sufferings of animals and improve their heath. Improved health of livestock leads to animal and dairy products, which are safe for human consumption.

You can buy Bonnisan here

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Findus's weblog

Side Effects of Some Drugs that Are Lowering Blood Pressure(part One)


Lowering blood pressure is a condition that is below the normal expected for an individual in a given environment. Blood pressure differs deeply with activity, age, medications, and underlying medical conditions

Some of the Drugs have some side effects that can cause lower blood pressure include blood pressure drugs, diuretics (water pills), heart medications (especially calcium antagonists-nifedipine/Procardia, beta blockers-propranolol/Inderal and others), depression medications (such as amitriptylene/Elavil), and alcohol.

Diuretics — diuretics are a big evil of lower blood pressure. It could cause lack of potassium in your body. Usually after taking diuretics, patient may suffer from weakness, leg cramps, or being tiredness however, it is not permanent. A patient can avoid these problems by taking some potassium tablets with diuretics. Diuretics such as amiloride (Midamar), spironolactone (Aldactone) or triamterene (Dyrenium) are called "potassium sparing" agents and provide equal of amount of potassium to your body. A lower blood pressure patient with diabetes can have some problems with diuretics. It may increase the blood sugar level. So, it is recommended to take permission from doctor before taking it.

Beta-blockers — patients of lower blood pressure feel insomnia, cold hands and feet, tiredness or depression, a slow heartbeat or symptoms of asthma after taking Beta-blockers. Patients of diabetes need to care while taking this medicine.

ACE inhibitors — a required amount of ACE inhibitors not effect badly to lower blood pressure patient but the drugs, such as captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Zestril or Prinivil), may cause a skin rash; loss of taste; a chronic dry, hacking cough; and in rare instances, kidney damage.

Angiotensin II receptor blockers — another evil for the patients of lower blood pressure. A patient may feel occasional faintness, so take care, and ask your doctor before taking the drug.

Calcium channel blockers —lower blood pressure patient may suffer from palpitations, swollen ankles, constipation, headache, or dizziness with this medicine. Form of Calcium channel blockers are Diltiazem (Cardizem), nicardipine (Cardene), Nifedipine (Procardia) and verapamil (Calan or Isoptin) which is injurious in lower blood pressure.

These side effects will continue in the next article "Side effects of some drugs that are Lowering Blood Pressure(part two)"

You can buy Calan here

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Old Grumpy Dwarf's weblog

Friday, June 27, 2008

Is Crestor The Magic Treatment For Diabetes?


Previous studies conducted in United States have shown that patients with Type-2 diabetes and high bad cholesterol level are 3 or 4 times more likely to die from heart attack or stroke. Watching what to eat and having plenty of exercise are keys to help people reduce their bad cholesterol level. If one does all these but still fails to reduce the bad cholesterol level, he or she is advised to seek help from doctors for prescribed medication.

In 2004, the results of a 26-week study released at an international meeting of cardiovascular specialists in Spain showed that Crestor (rosuvastatin) is more effective than any other in reducing the bad cholesterol level in patients with Type-2 diabetes. The study compared rosuvastatin with another statin, atorvastatin (available under the brand Lipitor). Earlier studies had also shown that 10 mg of rosuvastatin is more potent than 10 mg of atorvastatin.

Many diabetic patients were aware of their conditions but still had high levels of bad cholesterol. Despite they were treated and monitored for diabetes and glucose control, the cholesterol remained outside the desirable range. Perhaps doctors have to be more aggressive in getting all diabetic patients at the desirable cholesterol target with the help of appropriate medication like Crestor.

Crestor is usually prescribed along with diet to lower cholesterol. It is known that taking 10 mg of Crestor along with diet can actually lower bad cholesterol by up to 52 percent. Meanwhile, it can also raise the good cholesterol level by up to 14 percent. Nevertheless, results may vary among patients.

There is no doubt that lowering of bad cholesterol level and well-controlled diabetic conditions may help reduce the risk of developing heart disease, Crestor has not been determined to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes.

Not everyone is suitable to take Crestor. Women who are nursing, pregnant, or who may become pregnant or anyone with liver problems should not use Crestor. In fact, before and during treatment with Crestor, you should ask your doctor to do blood tests to monitor your liver condition. Patients should inform their doctor if they are taking any medication.

Patients may encounter side effects. Unexplained muscle pain and weakness are considered as a rare but serious side effect. If patients do experience this, they should report to their doctors immediately. Other infrequent side effects such as muscle aches, nausea, abdominal pain, constipation and weakness are usually mild and tend to go away after a short period of time.

You can buy Crestor here

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Lonagan's weblog

Grapefruit Juice: The Hidden Dangers Of Drug Interaction


Grapefruit juice is one of the healthiest foods around, right?

A cup of unsweetened white grapefruit juice has only 100 calories, no fat, more than 100% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C, and it’s got a zingy taste that can really get you moving in the morning.

However, grapefruit juice (including the juice found in your morning grapefruit half) can interact with certain medications, leading to potentially serious consequences.

Which medications does grapefruit juice interact with?

Grapefruit juice can interact with many different drugs that people take to maintain their health. If you eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice, you should ask your prescribing health care provider and pharmacist about any drugs that you’re currently taking and ask again whether new drugs interact with grapefruit juice. The list below contains some of the drugs that interact with grapefruit juice. This is not a complete list, so if you’re a grapefruit fan, check with your doctor before starting any medication.

* Valium (diazepam): This drug is used to treat certain seizure disorders and anxiety.

* Norvasc (amlodipine): This is one of the drugs called a “calcium channel blocker.” It is used to treat angina (chest pain related to malfunctioning arteries around the heart). Grapefruit juice interacts with many of the calcium channel blockers

* Pravachol (pravastatin): Like several of the “statin” drugs used to lower cholesterol, grapefruit juice can change the effectiveness of this product

* Cordarone (Amiodarone): This drug is used to treat “arrhythmias” – to correct irregular heart beat patterns.

What Are The Symptoms of These Interactions?

Use of any of these drugs while taking grapefruit juice can lead to serious complications. For example, the following have been observed in the interaction of each of the drugs above with grapefruit juice:

* Valium (diazepam): Grapefruit juice can cause you to feel sedated and might make it harder for you to control your muscular movements; driving can be dangerous

* Norvasc (amlodipine): Grapefruit interacts with several of the calcium channel blockers to provide a very fast heartrate (“tachycardia”) and/or a drop in blood pressure to below safe levels (“hypotension.”

* Pravachol (pravastatin): The statin drugs can interact with grapefruit juice to cause muscle toxicities, symptoms of which include muscle weakness, aches and shaking

* Cordarone (Amiodarone): Ironically, mixing this drug with grapefruit juice can cause an increase in the very condition it is intended to treat - arrhythmias

What Causes These Potentially Dangerous Interactions?

How can something as seemingly harmless as grapefruit juice affect the medications you take? It has to do with a special enzyme in your intestines and liver that help you absorb many oral drugs and then excrete them when you’re done with the drug.

When a physician prescribes a specific dose of drug (for example, one pill of 50 mg), she works on the assumption that given the size of your body, you will absorb the drug into your body at a certain rate and excrete it at a certain rate. Enzymes in your gastrointestinal (or GI) tract bring food and oral medications into your body. Grapefruit juice seems to affect both the rate of the drug coming into your body and how quickly it is removed. The end result can be an overdose of the drug) even if you’re taking the correct dosage for your size.

What Can I Do To Avoid Dangerous Drug Interactions?

If you are on medications that interact with grapefruit juices, avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice. Spacing out the drugs and the juice (for example, taking your medication at night and having grapefruit for breakfast) will NOT solve the problem; the grapefruit juice effect remains even after you’ve stopped having it. If you like the health benefits of grapefruit, or just miss that morning zing, think about moving to other fruits such as tomatoes (a single can has just 41 calories and more than 70% of the vitamin C for the day) or oranges.

Kharasch, E. “Influence of hepatic and intestinal cytochrome P4503A activity on the acute disposition and effects of oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate,“ Anesthesiology, Volume 101, issue 3, pages 729-737, 2004

Maskalyk, J., “Grapefruit juice: potential drug interactions,” Canadian Medical Association Journal, Volume 167 issue 3, p 279-80, 2002

Shapiro, L, “Drug interactions: Proteins, pumps, and P-450s,” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Volume 47, issue 4, pages 467-84, 2002

You can buy Norvasc here

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mook's weblog

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Retinoblastoma is a Cancer of Retina - You Know About This Eye Cancer?


Retinoblastoma is a cancer of the retina. Retinoblastoma is the most common primary ocular malignancy of childhood. Although this disorder can occur at any age, it usually develops in young children. Most cases of retinoblastoma occur in only one eye, but both eyes can be affected. Untreated, retinoblastoma is almost always fatal, hence the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

Retinoblastoma can occur in two forms:

An inherited form where there are often tumors in both eyes (bilateral) or sometimes only in one eye.

A non-inherited form where there is a tumor in only one eye (unilateral)

Retinoblastoma is related to chromosome 13. Retinoblastoma occurs when a cell of the growing retina develops a mutation in the RB gene (a tumor-suppressor gene). This mutation causes the cell to grow out of control and become cancerous.

Mutations in the RB1 gene are inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means that one copy of the altered gene in each cell is sufficient to increase cancer risk. A person with retinoblastoma may inherit an altered copy of the gene from one parent, or the altered gene may be the result of a new mutation.

The most common way of presentation is a white reflex (leukocoria) behind the pupil. This is sometimes called the cat's eye reflex. A white glow in the eye that is often seen in photographs taken with a flash; instead of the typical "red eye" from the flash, the pupil may appear white or distorted. White spots in the pupil, crossed eyes, A red, painful eye poor vision, the iris may be a different color in each eye.

A few special tests like ultrasonography, CT scan, X-rays, MRI, blood tests, spinal tap, bone marrow biopsy etc. may be done to establish the diagnosis and to find out the extent of the disease.

Treatment options depend upon the size and location of the tumor. Small tumors may be treated by laser surgery. Radiation and chemotherapy may be needed if the tumor has spread beyond the eye. Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for most unilateral cases.

You can buy Retin-A 0.025% here

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chakkorsis's weblog

Prednisone and Massage


One of the most often presented conditions that massage therapists encounter is chronic pain, making pain management and relief a chief goal of a massage session. Sometimes though, regular massage therapy may not be enough to relieve this kind of pain, and clients may rely on traditional Western medicine for help. The most common doctor-prescribed medications for chronic pain relief are steroids, particularly Prednisone, which is primarily used as an anti-inflammatory. Since this medication is so common, it is likely that many of your clients are taking it for pain relief. This makes it absolutely necessary for massage therapists to know and understand any and all possible contraindications with this drug.

Taking Prednisone for chronic pain may offer tremendous relief to your clients, but it is not without its share of side effects. Some of the most common side effects of this steroid include headaches, dizziness, fatigue and muscle weakness. These and other side effects are things that every massage therapist should be aware of so that they can adjust their massage accordingly, and provide the safest and most beneficial therapeutic treatment possible. Another important aspect of Prednisone to be aware of is its ability to inhibit calcium absorption, thus contributing to weak and fragile bones.

Due to the many possible side effects of this drug and, in order to ensure the client’s safety, bodyworkers treating clients taking Prednisone should opt for light, gentle massage strokes in favor of deep muscle work. It is important for you and your client to stay in close contact with the client’s physician so that he or she can monitor any developing conditions that may result from this medication.

Read more about the benefits and drawbacks of taking Prednisone for pain management, as well as the steroid’s impact on massage, by reading this entire article here.

You can buy Prednisone here

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Khaoz's weblog

Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis and Vision Problems


If you use Levitra, Cialis, or Viagra, you may have heard about the possible effects they can have on your vision. Many people are unsure whether the vision problems these drugs cause is rumor or truth.

“Many patients come to me to learn more about vision problems associated with Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra, and tell the truth; yes, these drugs can cause serious vision problems,” says Dr. Stuart Lewis, an ophthalmologist in Denver, Colorado.

There is well-documented information about drugs like Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis and the side effects they can cause. These drugs work by inhibiting an enzyme in the body (PDE-5), and enhancing the effects of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a chemical within the body that stimulates smooth muscle and enhances blood flow, resulting in the desired effects.

Unfortunately, these medications can also affect blood flow in arteries in other parts of the body, producing serious, unwanted side effects. For instance, in addition to inhibiting the enzyme PDE-5, Viagra-like medications can also inhibit the enzyme PDE-6. This other enzyme functions in the photoreceptors in the eyes; the result is light sensitivity or blue-tinged vision.

In addition to this vision-related side effect Levitra, Cialis, and Viagra can also cause other side effects, including:

§ Mausea

§ Facial Flushing

§ Headache

§ Pulmonary Hypertension

§ Nasal Congestion

§ Gastrointestinal Problems

These side effects can have serious medical consequences, and they occur in about 3% of men who take 25 – 50 mg, 50% of men who take 200 mg, and a staggering 100% of men taking 600 – 800 mg of the drugs.

In addition to these side effects, there is also a very rare eye disorder that has been reported in several men using Viagra, Levitra, or Cialis, and is now under investigation to determine if there is a link between the medication and this poorly understood vision problem.

This eye disorder is called Non-Arteric Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION). NAION is the most common optic nerve disease that occurs in adults over the age of 50. In response to the possible link between NAION and medication like Viagra, Pfizer has stated: "Most of the cases in which NAION has occurred in men taking Viagra have involved patients with underlying anatomic or vascular risk factors associated with the development of NAION." Essentially, this means that relationship between Viagra and NAION cannot be determined at this time.

“The bottom line is, and what I tell all my patients, is that these medication should never be taken unless they are needed because there are serious health and visual risks associated with them,” says Dr. Lewis.

If you are considering taking Viagra, Levitra, or Cialis, it is important that you check with your ophthalmologist before taking any of the drugs if you suffer from:

§ Diabetes

§ Retinitis Pigmentosa

§ Retinal Pthology (Macular Degeneration or other Optic Nerve Disorders)

You can buy Levitra here

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Old Grumpy Dwarf's weblog

Abstinence Assisting Medications - Are they Effective?


ANTABUSE:

Antabuse, or disulfiram as it is also known, was the first medicine approved for the treatment of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It is an "aversive," serving as a physical and psychological deterrent for someone trying to stop drinking. It does not reduce the person's craving for alcohol, nor does it treat any alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Research in Europe, where Antabuse is much more widely used than in the United States, has shown that long-term use of Antabuse is effective in helping some people stop drinking, producing abstinence rates of up to 50 percent. The longer people take Antabuse, the more effective it is, because they develop a "habit" of not drinking, which reinforces the establishment of alternative coping skills and behaviors.

While not generally recommending the use of Antabuse, some individuals find it effective and its use isn't ruled out completely. If you are contemplating it as an option, however, please read the following very carefully and discuss the possibilities with your physician.

Antabuse works by interfering with the bodyГўпїЅпїЅs usual metabolic processing of alcohol into toxic acetaldehyde then into harmless acetic acid. Because of this, a build up of acetaldehyde five or 10 times greater than normally occurs when someone drinks alcohol. These high concentrations can cause reactions that range from mild to severe, depending on how much Antabuse and how much alcohol is consumed, along with individual tolerance of the drug.

If you drink while taking Antabuse, you may experience flushing, nausea, copious vomiting, sweating, thirst, throbbing headaches, respiratory difficulty, chest pain, hyperventilation, tachycardia, and distress. Severe reactions can include respiratory depression, cardiovascular collapse, myocardial infarction, acute congestive heart failure, unconsciousness, arrhythmias, convulsions, and death.

CAMPRAL:

Campral is prescribed as a "post_abstinence" or "anti-relapse" support medication. It has no effect on cravings, withdrawal, or other early intervention discomforts. The results of European studies seem to indicate a modest positive effect - compared to placebos - after abstinence has been attained, with relapse prevention benefits lasting few months. There are no such benefits for people seeking to moderate their alcohol use.

While recommending neither for nor against Campral, informed decision making suggests, at this time, a very modest long-term benefit from Campral in widening a person's "window of opportunity" for making change.

For some individuals even a very small increase in results is enough reason to seek medical assistance. Again, individual responses to medications vary greatly and you should explore what works best for you.

Even Campral's manufacturers note that it's effectiveness is directly related to participation in ongoing counseling.

There are no magic cures, no pills, for alcohol related problems, only opportunities for change. Success involves coordinated efforts in a variety of areas over a year or more, and poor planning will always be expensive in time, money, health, and other costs.

Pick your method of treating your alcohol related concerns with care, stay focused, and seek qualified help with a personally compatable philosophy.

You can buy Antabuse here

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Archus's weblog

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Nexium Acid Reflux - The Lavender Capsule


Acid reflux is a huge epidemic in our day and age, due to the lack of taking care of ourselves properly. After all, we're busier than ever dealing with family, kids, careers, running businesses, and just simply taking care of daily activities that are a must in our lives. Unfortunately, this usually means less time to take care of ourselves.

So, if you're someone who suffers from acid reflux, you can control it with Nexium. The little purple pill is popular for a reason, because it's proven to work wonders with acid reflux sufferers. But, if it's not possible for you to use a medication like Nexium, how can you keep a handle on your acid reflux.

For Further Information go to Nexium Website

We agree that anyone suffering from acid reflux may not have enough knowledge of Nexium used to cure acid reflux. For additional or full knowledge just log on to Nexium Website. Depending on the harshness of your acid reflux, Nexium should be able to maintain at least partial control of the disease by eliminating a lot of the discomfort and pain due to heartburn. Over the counter medication is an obvious first thing to try, as the products are generally reasonably priced and convenient to purchase and use.

Why Nexium Acid Reflux Regarded as Best?

Some of the products used for Nexium come in a chewable tablet form, and others come in a liquid form. The only difference between the two would be their texture and method of taking the medication. Some of these medications have some weird side effects such as turning your tongue or your stool dark brown, almost black. The products assures us as consumers that these side effects are harmless, but you should always read the label before taking even an over the counter acid reflux medication.

The nexium Website is one where you can get each every information related to it and of course it is a ready guide for you to take it in to consideration to stop the acid reflux. This website also includes some of the steps need to be taken in order to avoid the acid reflux. Its increasing demand by the acid reflux patients makes it the first choice all over. And it is proved that it is true that nexium is a successful device of reducing or even stopping the acid reflux.

You can buy Nexium here

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Kayd's weblog