Nine Popular Lizards Used In Medicine

Belonging to the reptile class, the lizards have been known for many medicinal uses. Their healing and preventive capacities have been recorded throughout the world. Although most of them lack scientific studies, their names have grown popular with their distinctive medicinal uses.  Used as a cure for many ailments and diseases, the following are the most popular lizards of today – ranging from those who have undergone laboratory studies to types that possess no scientific evidence.

Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum)

The Gila monster is a type of venomous lizard that grows up to 24 inches long. It is found in southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. 

 Image source

The Gila monsters venom contains the protein named exendin-4 that can regulate blood glucose. In 2005, the drug Exenatide marketed as Byetta was approved by the FDA for type 2 diabetes. Exenatide is the synthetic version of exendin-4 that was obtained from the Gila monster’s saliva.

Beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum)

The beaded lizard is a close relative of Gila monster which is another venomous lizard. It is a native of Mexico and southern Guatemala. The beaded is larger than the Gila monster as the former ranges from 24 to 36 inches.

 Image source

Like the Gila monster, the saliva of the beaded lizard also contains an enzyme that can control the blood sugar. An endocrinologist, Dr. John Eng named this protein exendin-3. Unfortunately, the study has also revealed that this protein can also dilate the blood vessels.

Read more here

Drug Myth: Loratadine is a No-Drowse Anti-Allergy Relief

Antihistamines or anti-allergy drugs are regarded as the first-line of relief for symptoms of hay fever and skin allergies. There are two types of antihistamine drugs- the first generation and the second generation. While the old, FGA or first generation antihistamines (chlorphenamine, diphenhydramine etc.) include anti-allergies that induce drowsiness or sleepiness, the newer, SGA or the second generation antihistamines (loratadine, fexofenadine and cetirizine) are considered as non-sedating antihistamines.

Between the two types, the SGA drugs are regarded as safer because these have least CNS side effects. The FGA on the contrary, may increase the risk for vehicular accident and injuries at work.

Loratadine as a second generation antihistamine is popular for its non-drowse effect. Claritin, a brand name of loratadine even have a ‘no-drowse’ statement in its label. However, other loratadine brands such as Allerta (Amherst lab/ UAP), Lorahist (JustRight Pharma) and Lergicyl (Eurowest/ Basic Pharma) reveal sedation as an adverse reaction. So does this mean, loratadine is also a sedating allergy drug?

Source

Loratadine facts

Loratadine is known as a long acting non-sedating antihistamine normally taken once a day. It is a non-prescription antihistamine or anti-allergy drug that can be taken with or without food.

Loratadine is indicated as a relief of symptoms of chronic urticaria and other skin allergy. It is also a drug of choice for symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis or hay fever as sneezing, nasal itching, ocular or eye itching.

Loratadine is classified as a tricyclic antihistamine, closely related to tricyclic antidepressants such as Amitriptylin (Elavil) and the antipsychotic quetiapene.

Common brand names and availability

As a single drug form:

Allerta syrup and tablet (UAP)

Claritin syrup and tablet (Schering-Plough)

Clarihist tablet (International Apex)

Flamitin tablet (Flamingo/ Pasteur Pharma)

Immunix tablet and syrup (Unique/ Ambica)

Lergicyl tab (Eurowest/ Basic Pharma)

Loratyne tab (New Smart Formulae)

Loraped syrup (Pediatrica)

Lorahist tab (Unison/ JustRight Pharma)

Lorano tab (PT Prma Hexal)

Zylohist tab (Zydus Cadilla/ GX International)

In combination form:

Claricort tab (loratadine with betamethasone ) (Schering-Plough)

Clarinase tablet and syrup (loratadine with pseudoephedrine) (Schering-Plough)

Common contraindications and special precautions

Loratadine is contraindicated with people who have hypersensitivity to the drug and those with liver problems. As for pregnancy, loratadine safety is still not established. Loratadine is excreted in milk thus; its antihistamine effect can also be obtained by the infant. Most doctors would prescribe loratadine for kids below two years old; however as an OTC drug its label or leaflet may include a precaution for kids under 2 years old.

Common adverse reactions

These include fatigue, somnolence, headache, dry mouth, gastrointestinal disorders as gastritis, nausea etc. and rare cases, allergic symptoms as rash. Other observed side- effects include alopecia, anaphylaxis, tachycardia and palpitations.

Common drug interactions

Loratadine causes toxicity when taken with amiodarone- anti arrhythmic drug and with nefazodone hydrochloride- a phenylpiperazine antidepressant. In addition, its plasma concentration may also increase with ketoconazole, erythromycin or cimetidine.

Loratadine as a less-sedating antihistamine drug

Tracing the origin of the drug, loratadine is a tricyclic antihistamine structurally related to Amitriptyline- a tricyclic antidepressant product which is also under the CNS stimulants. Tricyclic antidepressants are agents that are used to treat major depressions. These agents have two groups, the dimethylamino compounds which tend to be sedative and the monomethyl relatives that tend to be stimulatory. With Amitriptyline, this product is the most sedative of the tricyclic antidepressants. More to this, loratadine is also connected to antipsychotic quetiapene which is considered as the most sedating of all the anti-psychotic drugs.

Interestingly, what makes loratadine less sedating than other antihistamines is because it only penetrates the blood brain barrier a little. In the brand Claritin, 'the no significant sedative property' is cited at the daily recommended dose of 10 mg.

Taking loratadine safely

As a less-sedating anti-allergy drug, loratadine may also cause drowsiness. Individuals must also be advised that this inconvenience may occur and may affect tasks as driving or other activities that needs concentration. An interaction between alcohol and loratadine has not been shown; however, it is still best to avoid excessive liquor drinking while on loratadine medication.

Loratadine is an OTC drug, without the privilege of specific instructions from a physician. Do not hesitate to ask assistance from the pharmacist or pharmacy personnel to avoid over dosing particularly with loratadine liquid forms for kids.

Important:

Loratadine are for mild allergies only. In cases of serious conditions, a physician’s advice is the best. Like any other medications, loratadine may not be for you, observe yourself intently and if an untoward reaction occur, discontinue the medication and seek medical help as soon as possible.

© Phoenix Montoya @ March 8, 2011

Original article source: Is Loratadine Really Non-Drowsy?

References:

1. http://www.mims.com/Page.aspx?menuid=mng&name=Allerta+Tablet+tab&brief=true&h=loratadine&CTRY=PH&searchstring=loratadine
2. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/406736
3. http://www.mims.com/Page.aspx?menuid=mng&name=Lorahist+tab&brief=true&h=loratadine&CTRY=PH&searchstring=loratadine
4. PPDr 5th Edition
5. Wilson and Gisvold’s Textbook of Organic Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry 9th Edition

More articles by this author:

• Breaking a Medicine Tablet: Is It Advisable? 
• Appetite Stimulant Facts 
• Expired Medication Cover-Ups

Is It OK to Break a Medicine Tablet?

The strength of a medicine depends on the patient’s age, body mass and the severity of the disease. Physicians have two major reasons on why they resort into advising a patient into breaking a tablet.

The first one involves economic reason. Hypertensive patients for instance, need their maintenance drugs daily to control high blood pressure. As a financial aid for these people, doctors tend to advise them to buy an antihypertensive drug with a double strength then have them divide the tablet into two or according to the required drug concentration. The first part is to be taken immediately while the other half or halves are saved for future uses. Medications with greater doses are often cheaper when divided or split.

The second reason is the drug unavailability. For a child patient, physicians instruct their secretaries to divide a tablet in cases that only an adult drug is available. A paracetamol 500mg tablet for example is cut so that half of it can be agreeable for a seven year old patient who only needs a 250mg strength.

Splitting a tablet is as simple as doing arithmetic, as logical as taking two 250mg capsules of amoxicillin if someone needed an adult dose or giving a baby a 3.5ml dose of a cough formula when no drops dosage form is available. But we may wonder, in the case of a tablet medication - are there no complications in cutting a tablet? Is this really recommendable for financial reasons?

Tablet types issues

We may notice several forms of tablets. Among these are the sublingual, the coated, the multi-layered etc. With the various types are different functions. Sublingual forms are to be taken beneath the tongue for emergency instances. While the effect is faster this way, sublingual types contains drugs that should only be absorbed through the oral mucosa because they are usually inactivated or not absorbed in the GIT.

With the erythromycin stearate as a film coated tablet, its form has two purposes; the coating prevents the patient from having stomach irritation because of the drug itself and the coating protects the inert substance from being destroyed by the gastric juices.

Tablet breaking is not advisable for tablet types cited above for this may decrease their effect and more to it, could harm the patient.

Not enough active constituents?

Besides the active ingredients responsible for the positive effect of the medication, a tablet may also include diluents, binders, lubricants, disintegrants and other additives to complete its form.

While diluents (E.g. Lactose) make up the major portion of the tablet, disintegrants are responsible for its breaking up in the process. Binders on the other hand, are adhesive substances that glue powder together that forms granules.

The manufacturing of a tablet involves mixing before compression. And one of the problems here is content uniformity. Content uniformity is defined as the equal distribution of the drug content in each tablet. This is determined on ten tablets. USP limit is 85-115% and is met if not more than one tablet is outside the limits.

One passing medicine tablet may have the appropriate active constituent but if we will cut it into two, there is no guarantee that a patient can also get half of the strength of the inert substance. It is also possible that the half side of the tablet contains the active constituent while the other half, the additives.

Image source

Will you consider breaking a tablet?

There are some tablets that are not designed to be divided. We can never be sure if we are going to get the exact strength of the drug when we cut it. Most people may claim that this method works and interestingly it does. We could think of it as a placebo effect but the thing is drugs even not divided equally have active constituents that can cure or harm. And we must be reminded that every individual has different body chemistry. Some may react to untoward reactions while the others may tolerate it. But just to be safe, tablets not designed to be cut should not be divided. There are the scored tablets or tablets that have lines - these are the tablet forms designed to be cut.

© Phoenix Montoya @ February 12, 2011

Article source: Breaking a Medicine Tablet: Is It Advisable?

References:

1. Compiled Notes in Manufacturing Pharmacy by Emma and Imelda G. Pena
2. Wilson and Gisvold’s Textbook of Organic Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry 4th edition

Related articles:

• Enteric-Coated, Sublingual and Other Medicine Tablet Types
• Things to Consider Before Taking Any Medicine
• Is Ilosone Safe for Use?

More drug articles by this author:

• What is The Best GERD Medicine to Take with Plavix?
• The Oral Contraceptive Pill Versus The Injectable Contraceptive: Which Method is Better?
• Generic Zoloft for Depression
• Does Heroin Interact with Prozac or Other Anti- Depressant?

Medicine Tablet Types

• Chewable tablet

Antacids and most vitamin tablets are designed as chewable types. These forms are agreeable tasting that no water is necessary for a follow up. While chewable tablets are applicable for antacids for fast relief, these types are also beneficial for people and younger individuals who are incapable in swallowing a regular tablet type.

• Sublingual tablet

This form is placed under the tongue for immediate effect. An example is Isordil sublingual 5mg. This drug is normally administered for minor heart palpitation attacks.

Image by the author

• Buccal tablet

Same as sublingual, the use of a buccal tablet is to make a drug work faster. However, instead of placing the tablet under the tongue, a buccal tablet is placed at the side of the cheek or between the lip gums. Like the sublingual type, a buccal tablet also contains active ingredients that should be absorbed through the oral mucosa to avoid being destroyed by the GIT.

Fentanyl (Fentora) tablet for cancer pain is a buccal tablet type.

• Implantation tablet

Implantation tablets are also known as pellets. These types are without excipients or additives (disintegrants, colorants, lubricants etc.) Implantations tablets must be sterile because they are inserted into the body tissues by surgical procedures. An example is testosterone hormone and stilbestrol. Implantation is designed to be more compact thus, has slow solubility into the body tissues. However, these tablets have been replaced by other dosage form such as diffusion controlled silicone tubes filled with drug or biodegradable polymers that contain entrapped drug in assortment of forms.

Read more here

Buclizine, Pizotifen, Lysine and Dibencozide Facts

• Dibencozide

Dibencozide also known as cobalamin enzyme or adenosylcobalamin is the most active type of vitamin B12. Not only that it is important for producing new blood cells, dibencozide is also an effective appetite enhancer.

Dibencozide is usually indicated for premature babies and infants with low birth weight; for children and adults with poor appetite; and for those people who are recovering from critical cases such as strokes and depression. It increases protein, carbohydrate and fat metabolism, which indirectly stimulates appetite. More to this, dibencozide can also improve mental concentration, muscle mass and strength.

Image source

Heraclene, Aktibol, Bidicozan, Biotrefon- L, Calomide, Cobaxid and Cobazim are popular brand names of dibencozide.

Dibencozide precautions: Pregnancy and breast-feeding; gastrointestinal conditions such as ileal disease for this can reduce that amount of Vitamin B12, including dibencozide, which is absorbed from the intestine.

Dibencozide side effects: No reported side effects.

Dibencozide drug interactions: Chloramphenicol. Taking chloramphenicol for a long time might decrease the effects of dibencozide on new blood cells.

Read more about 'Appetite Stimulant Facts' here

Herbs Alert : Drug Interaction Possibilities

If you are taking maintenance drugs like antihypertensive or oral hypoglycemic types for your high blood pressure or diabetes respectively, it is important that you check the herb or the supplement you intend to use. Ginkgo biloba for instance, is said to be beneficial for the elderly for it can help treat age-associated memory impairment including Alzheimer’s. However, if an individual is taking a diuretic or other blood pressure control medicine, gingko biloba may hinder the effect of these drugs.

Image source

Ginkgo biloba won’t also work with aspirin and other blood thinners like clopidogrel, ticlopidine, warfarin, heparin etc. This herb contains some constituents that affect blood clotting therefore, can potentiate the effect of the anti-coagulant drugs causing uncontrolled bleeding or haemorrhage.

Read more here

Tramadol - Addicting Drug?

Grünenthal has promoted tramadol as an opioid with a lower risk of dependence than that of traditional opioids. Grünenthal offered a theory that, since the M1 metabolite is the principal agonist at μ-opioid receptors, the delayed agonist activity reduces abuse liability. The norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor effects may also play a role in reducing dependence.

 Image source

More to this, the term ‘opioid’ has been devised to refer to synthetic morphine like compounds. Many of these substances offer the same narcotic and pain relieving properties of morphine but they are not addicting.

Unfortunately, tramadol is not one of those synthetic morphine like compounds. There are cases of tramadol dependence. The use of this medication can be addicting and the best way to avoid this is not to take tramadol frequently. There are other drug alternatives, just ask your doctor or pharmacist about them.

Read more here

Glutathione as a Skin Whitening Supplement

 Image source

Melanin is one of the two pigments responsible for the hair and skin color. While melanin comprises of the brown color, the other pigment – carotene is responsible for the yellow shade. Generally, the darker the color means the more melanin in the skin. With this, glutathione works its wonders in four ways:

1. It binds with the color forming tyrosine (a precursor amino acid to melanin) to form a less colored pigment.
2. It modifies black/brown/yellow melanin pigmentation (Eumelanin) to reddish white pigmentation (Phaeomelanin).
3. It deactivates the free radicals caused by sun exposure.
4. Its antioxidant activity lowers the rate of melanogenesis or the production of melanin.

Read more here

Generic Sertraline VS Branded Zoloft

The branded Zoloft against the generic equivalent  - can they be the same? In terms of effect, the answer is a straight yes. However, if it's all about the drug as a whole, definitely there are some differences between the two.

• Facts about Zoloft

Zoloft with the generic name Sertraline is a prescription drug manufactured by Pfizer. It is indicated for the symptoms of depression with or without history of mania and also for obsessive-compulsive disorders. It is available as a 50mg tablet.

Zoloft is to be used in precaution with the following:

Hepatic renal insufficiency, electro vascular therapy, unstable epilepsy, pregnancy and lactation and children.

Its side effects usually include:

Nausea, Loose stools, Dyspepsia, Tremor, Dizziness, Insomnia, Somnolence, Dry mouth, Increased sweating and Male sexual dysfunction (ejaculatory delay).

Note: Zoloft should not be taken with MAOIs.

Image by the Author

•  Zoloft has the same effect as the generic version

The low cost of a generic drug brings hesitation for some consumers. They tend to ask – Is it safe? Is it effective?

Considering the effectiveness, we are confident to give a positive answer. As a general rule, drugs having the same formulation or active constituent, strength and dosage form are considered as comparable. However, there are instances regarding safety.

• Branded and generic version differences

Not a secret:

Branded products like Zoloft has a higher price compared with the generic types. Generic drug companies cite their products being cheap for three reasons:

1. They do not hire medical representative or salesman to promote their products.

2. Unlike branded medications like Tylenol and other well-known brands, generic drugs are not advertised in television and in other forms of media.

3. A medicine can only be copied by manufacturers once its patent is finished. Once this happens, they do not have to pay the drug discoverer.

Some little secrets:

Not all generic companies offer a quality medicine. Although, we can be sure of the generic products manufactured by reliable companies, such as the United Laboratories or Sandoz, who also produces branded product counterparts, there are some – the local ones in particular who have some very poor standards. They usually use cheap raw materials and lack expertise in drug manufacturing. Suspension products tend to cake faster while tablets and capsules deteriorate so soon even without reaching the expiry period.

So is the branded Zoloft the same as the generic equivalent?

Read more here

The Truth About Dietary Supplements

The statement ‘No approved therapeutic claims’ is usually found in herbal and food supplement containers. Like the line, ‘Smoking is hazardous to your health’ in cigarettes or the declaration, ‘Drink moderately’ in liquor bottles, the statement serves as a warning for those who would rely solely with some particular food supplements.

Dietary supplement categories

Supplements can be grouped into two - those that can be used in treating ailments and those that function only for dietary support. Ferrous sulfate for instance belongs to the first group. It is a vitamin indicated for anemia. Vitamin C promotes faster wound healing and therefore often prescribed by doctors with the antibiotics. The B complex combination is another thing. This group is advised with patients suffering from neuralgia. These supplements mentioned not only provide nutrients but can be used as treatment as well. Thus, this group can be regarded as supplements with therapeutic claims.

Image by the author

The second group on the other hand is exclusively for dietary sustenance. As mentioned earlier, these types are usually grouped in the herbal or food supplements. Encapsulated Ampalaya or Malunggay are best examples. These food supplements have numerous benefits. Ampalaya reveals good herbal supplement for diabetes. Malunggay is a good source to increase milk production for breastfeeding mothers.

Among others, are the new food supplement formulations that include Taurine, Lysine and the Chlorella growth factor or the CGF. Taurine holds a promise to make someone smarter; Lysine is an appetite stimulant; and CGF is said to be a height enhancer.

Misconceptions

The second group’s benefits are something for the consumers to look forward to. For a person who wants to have a taller or a smart child, supplements with CGF and Taurine are appealing news. However, the second group must be understood as mere provider of nutrients needed by the child for growth and development and nothing more. Their benefits may not be seen as positive. The Lysine for example may not work for a thin child. Two probable reasons - it could be an inappropriate appetite stimulant or it could have an inapt low dose. And because Lysine is included in a combination formula, its dose cannot be increased without affecting other active constituents. The bottom line is this, if a mother wants her child to improve his weight she should shift to real medication for appetite and not to rely with food supplements.

So are we really wasting money on food supplements?

Read more here

Facts and Myths About Medications

A young colleague of mine was having a heated discussion with a customer. For some reason they don’t seem to understand each other. The customer- a man was buying a Paracetamol tablet for his wife. But he kept on talking about their four months old infant having a fever.

My colleague was already losing patience, she told our customer, “Sir, what do you really want to buy? You are saying your wife has no fever but why do you want to buy a tablet for her since it is the baby who is really sick?”

The man looking confident replied, “My wife’s mother says it’s dangerous for a baby that young to take the medicine. It’s safer that he gets it from my wife’s milk.”

 Image source

Some people choose to live in the past. Here are some medical misconceptions ranging from simple false beliefs to some really disturbing cases.

• Different brands with the same generic name is not the same

A drug having the same generic name and strength is similar. They have the same active constituent and with this they have the similar action and side effects.

What do Tempra and Biogesic have in common? They both have Paracetamol as their generic name. So if Tempra can’t relieve your headache, does this mean Biogesic can? You’ll probably shift to a stronger pain reliever like Mefenamic acid or other Non- steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Sadly some people upon self medication look upon advertisements. When they find a drug not working for them, they simply refrain taking it then try another one. Ironically, some of them rely on the brand or trade name and not on the generic name. They end up taking the same thing only with the different brand.

• Cold and cough medicine can make you sleepy

The usual active constituent of a cold and cough medicine is Phenylpropanolamine which is indicated for cold; Guiafenesin or Dextromethorpan, intended for cough; and the antihistamines chlorpenamine or Brompheniramine.

The latter mentioned are anti allergies. These are the main culprit for making one drowsy or sleepy. A patient who doesn’t want to drowse off buy cold and cough formulation without the antihistamines.

• Drugs are best taken after meals

Most doctors advise patients to take their medication after meals to make sure that they don’t develop stomach upsets. However, some drugs like antacid are best given on empty stomach for them to work better. In addition without food to hinder the absorption of drug in the body, the effect of medicine is faster.

• Taking two or more drugs with the same strength at the same time can be very harmful

Physician prescribes medicine depending upon the patients needs. Of course if a person has various complaints he would be given different drugs for his different ailments. However even today, some people have false beliefs that taking two or three drugs at the same time can be hazardous. The funny thing about it is they usually give emphasis on the strength of the medicine although these do not fall on the same category.

Citing a bad combination is Salbutamol 4mg and Terbulatine 2.5mg. Both may have a low dose yet they belong to the anti-asthma group. With this combination, palpitation is a great danger.

• Expired medicines are not effective anymore

Expired medicine has an allotment of 3 months before being announced as really expired. Yet, pioneer companies such as Pfizer and Parke Davies with the most high class standard of quality can retain their drugs’ efficacy for years after their expiration date.

A warning though: antibiotics such as Tetracycline are an exemption.

• An under dosed drug can relieve pain

The dose of a medicine is calculated based on age, weight and the severity of disease. By the book, an under dosed drug cannot cure an ailment.

• Infants can be cured by taking medicine through the mother’s milk

One way to eliminate the remains of the drug is through the mother’s milk. However a medicine undergoes changes as it is distributed throughout the body. While some byproduct becomes altered that can be harmful for the baby, some drug can retain their original effect but very little. Focusing with a Paracetamol working on an infant through a mother’s milk, a baby can only receive less than 2% of the maternal dose. Not quite enough for the infant to be relived of its fever.

Read more here

Drospirenone Containing Pills and Venous Thromboembolism

Image source

VTE or Venous thromboembolism is a blood clot that forms in the vein. It is the process when blood clots occur and travel through the veins. VTE is the collective term for DVT and PE. While DVT or deep venous thromboembolism is less serious, PE or pulmonary embolism can be fatal.

Deep venous thromboembolism involves the vein usually in the leg and pelvis causing swelling and discomfort. On the hand, pulmonary embolism is a serious condition when the arteries of the heart leading to the lungs are blocked. This may cause chest pain, shortness of breath and even coughing up of blood.

In May 5, 2011, the FDA posted an alert about the Drospirenone containing OC causing a risk for venous thromboembolism. Compared to levonorgestrel containing pills, (another progestin), Drospirenone has a greater risk of 2 to 3 times. Two recent studies have coincided, but since others studies did not report the same result, the FDA is still evaluating this issue.

Read more here

OTC Medication Reminders

OTC or Over-the-Counter medicine generally consist of vitamins, dietary supplements, antacids, cough and cold formula and other medications for minor symptoms. These types don’t require any order request from a physician. On the contrary, OTC medicine is not as safe as most people believe. Like Rx medicine, they have their share of undesirable reactions too. 

 Image source

Do not decide on how to use the medicine on your own benefit. Follow the instructions.

There are individuals that can be very lazy in taking their medicine. They usually convince themselves that is OK to skip some dose as long as they are still getting some of the drug. Instead of taking a medicine three times a day, they take it twice or once a day. Then, if that dosage regimen doesn’t work, they blame the drug and consider it weak.

Read more here

Can An Antacid Treat GERD?

 Image source

Antacids are usually nonprescription medications like the aluminum-magnesium combination (Maalox) or the calcium based (Tums). They can be indicated for uncomplicated peptic ulcer and gastric hyperacidity. 

But with GERD, they can be only used as aids or supplements for the rapid relief of its symptom as heartburn. More to this, although they can neutralize the acid in the stomach, that there is no acid to reflux, antacids action is brief. They are emptied from stomach so quickly, that the acid can re-accumulate in less than an hour.

Read more here

Lyndavel VS Depotrust: Which is Better?

Image source

While family doctors and gynecologists typically prescribe Depotrust and Lyndavel for economic purposes, these brands of injectable contraceptives are also recommended by most rural health centers. However, between the two, Depotrust has a more established name than Lyndavel. In addition, the low-price of Lyndavel has been associated with its least amount of 1 ml solution compared to Depotrust which has a 3ml drug solution for injection. Misinformed consumers tend to worry that Lyndavel may not be effective for use unlike Depotrust. Interestingly, Lyndavel and Depotrust have the same manufacturer (Umeda) and distributor (DKT).

Read more here

Lutein Facts and Dietary Sources

Lutein works in two ways- it acts as a filter against the harmful blue light and combats the free radical in the eye as an anti-oxidant. Excessive exposure to blue light can lead to formation of free radicals which can harm the eyes. Lutein prevents these radicals from storing and from causing irreversible damage to the eyes.

Image source

Lutein can be found in food- vegetables and fruits in particular, although eggs are also good sources of Lutein. Other food sources include papaya, orange, kale, spinach, garden peas, zucchini, brussels sprouts, pistachio nuts, broccoli, corn, kiwifruit, turnip greens, romaine lettuce, collard greens etc.       

Lutein can be available as a sublingual spray for old people with poor digestion. It can be found in fortified foods and as dietary supplements with positive effects at intake levels of 6–10 mg/day. As of now, the only known side effect of excess Lutein consumption is carotenodermia or the bronzing color of the skin.

Read more here

Gluta-White: Powerful Antioxidant

Image source

With glutathione as its chief constituent, Gluta-white acts as powerful antioxidant. Glutathione being the ‘Nature’s master antioxidant’, surpasses vitamin E by several million times its concentration.  It protects the cells by preventing them from being damaged and also aids in its restoration. Interestingly, glutathione turns off the anti-inflammatory response like in arthritis and even cancer: and of respiratory ailments such as asthma and pneumonia. It helps in the detoxification of drugs and pollutants that are ingested through foods or produced by the body in normal metabolism. Finally, glutathione restores the antioxidant power of vitamin C and aids in the control of hormones that are broken down in the liver.

Read more here

The Perfect Multivitamin

 Image source

What is the best vitamin for a child? This is a common question of most parents. Drugstore personnel tend to reply, ‘The complete combination, of course!’

A multivitamin combination is usually composed of the B complex group, vitamin A, vitamin D3 or ergocalciferol, vitamin E or tocopherol and vitamin C. These active components are normally in smaller amounts and act only as additional supplements for the body. While adults may have enough supply of these from foods, kids – particularly the younger ones require more nutrients for growth.

Vitamins and other supplements are commonly regarded as OTC products. If you are planning to buy a multivitamins product for your child, the following active components can also be great essentials.

Read more here

Antacid Side Effects

Antacids are normally non-prescription drugs. They have been known as relievers for hyperacidity associated with peptic ulcer, gastritis, esophagitis and dyspepsia. They are used in combination with an h2 receptor antagonist (ranitidine, cimetidine) or a proton-pump inhibitor (omeprazole, esomeprazole) as supplements for faster relief of ulcer symptoms.

 Image source

Antacids may cause congestive heart failure

Sodium bicarbonate can elevate bicarbonate or sodium in the body. Avoid prolonged use of this antacid. In presence of heart disease, magnesium based antacids should also be considered. This drug can also make the heart condition worse.

Read more here

High-fiber Diet for Constipation

Some reminders: 

Image source

• Use unrefined food products instead of processed foods. Natural form of food has higher fiber content. Food processing decreases the fiber content.

• Substitute meat and fish with legumes and nuts.

• Increase fluid intake. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water daily between meals

• Include the pulp and inner skin of the fruit or fruit juices upon consumption

• As for the leafy vegetables, some stems, stalks and leaves should also be included in the diet

Read more here

Low-salt Diet For Hypertension

I

 Image source

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a chronic medical condition when the blood volume flowing through the arteries is increased.  Heart failure, stroke, kidney damage are the usual results of an uncontrolled hypertension. Besides kidney diseases, hormonal in balances or hereditary factors, high sodium intake is also a probable cause of this condition. Studies reveal that mild restriction of sodium can produce definite fall in blood pressure. If you have hypertension, a low salt diet can be beneficial for you.

Read more here

Low-purine Diet for Gout Arthritis

A low-purine diet consists of foods which are low in purine content. These include the following:

  Image source

• Rice

• Breads and cereals (low fiber, white flour, or refined grain types)

• Most vegetables

• Eggs (limit to 3 to 4 per week)

• Fat rich foods in moderation

• All fruits preferably fresh with skin and membrane

• Fruit juices, non-fat or skim milk, fruit shakes (low fat)

Read more here

Bland Diet for Hyperacidity

The following are diets that should be avoided if you are suffering from heartburn, peptic ulcers, acid reflux etc.

Image source

• Animal fat

• Unripe fruits, citrus fruits

• Coffee, tea, cola drinks, alcoholic beverages, cocoa

• Lemonade, grapefruit juice, cranberries juice

• Chocolate

• Irritating spices e.g. black pepper, mustard, chilli pepper, Hungarian paprika, cayenne, cloves, ginger and horse radish

Read more here

Robust Food Supplement Components

Robust is a dietary food supplement that supports men on their sexual activity. It is an all-natural and BFAD approved sexual enhancement formula, minus the potential side-effects. It contains the following natural extracts from plants.  

 Gingko biloba

In Chinese culture, Gingko biloba is considered to have aphrodisiac potentials. More to this, it blocks blood clotting that could lead to stroke or heart diseases and good for the improvement in blood flow to most tissues and organs.

Ginseng

Ginseng is known to contain phytoestrogens. It has been confirmed to have a stimulating effect on the pituitary gland to increase the secretion of gonadotropins. In another study involving mice, it speeds up the development of reproductive organs in young mice, while it stimulates the production of sperm in adult mice.

For more of Robust herbal components. Read it here.

Understanding The Signa PRN or 'As Needed'

Antibiotics are required to have a full dosage regimen from three to seven days to stop or kill the infection. Maintenance medications as amlodipine, losartan, nifedipine etc. and the anti- diabetics are strictly to be taken daily to control blood pressure and sugar respectively. In addition, in order to calm down an acid reflux condition, a Prilosec or Nexium should be taken for fourteen days.

The citations mentioned have definite dosage instructions to ensure positive results.

The signa PRN or as needed, simply instructs the patient to take the medicine ONLY when he needs it. A NSAID for example like the mefenamic – an analgesic is usually taken 3 times a day. However, when a physician jots down PRN, he instructs the patient to take the drug once a symptom of pain is experienced. The maximum dosing of mefenamic maybe three times a day but once the relief is achieved with the single take, the consumption of the following dose is not necessary anymore.

‘As needed’ means, don’t take an antipyretic if you do not have a fever or do not take Plasil if you are not experiencing a vomiting tendency.

Read more here.

Herbal Remedies Not For Rheumatism

Most pain killers and anti-rheumatic drugs result to ulceration and liver damage for prolong use. These untoward reactions are the usual reasons more people switch to natural alternatives. There are a lot of herbs and medicinal plants for rheumatism. However, not all can be beneficial. Some can produce serious side-effects and some can even be carcinogenic.

Here are the five natural remedies that should be avoided for rheumatism.

• Alfalfa

Medicago sativa linne (Fam Leguminosae)

Image source

Alfalfa or lucerne has a reputation for arthritic relief. It can stimulate appetite thus recommended for weight gain. More to this, its dried leaves, flowering tops and seeds have stimulating property when brewed into a tea. However, studies reveal that the alfalfa seeds can cause SLE or systemic lupus erythematosus - a chronic inflammatory connective tissue disorder that can affect joints, kidneys, mucous membranes, and blood vessel walls. If a person has already suffered from SLE, the use of alfalfa may result to recurrence of this disease.

Read more?