Drospirenone Containing Pills and Venous Thromboembolism

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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Can An Antacid Treat GERD?

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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.

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