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.

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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?

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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.”

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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.

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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)

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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.

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Antibiotic Hazards

• Amoxicillin

(Amoxil, Amusa, Axmel, Clearamox, Bactoclav, Globamox, Globapen, Natravox, Pediamox)

Amoxicillin is a semisynthetic penicillin introduced in 1974. It is similar with the broad spectrum activity of Ampicillin but with the lesser gastrointestinal disturbance. Indicated for UTI, upper and lower respiratory infection, gastro intestinal tract infection – including typhoid and para typoid, skin and tissue infection and some venereal diseases, Amoxicillin is probably the most abused antibiotic.

Most consumers buy this drug for tonsillitis, skin and for mouth infections. Contrary to the belief of most people that Amoxicillin is the safest antibiotic, its hazardous effect comprises of the Pseudomembranous colitis, Steven Johnson syndrome, anemia and anaphylaxis.

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Ask Your Nurse

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A suppository is a drug dosage form, usually inserted in the rectum or anus and in other cases, into the urethra and vagina. This type of form has faster effect than syrup, capsule or tablet. In addition, a suppository is administered if a patient has the vomiting tendency that an oral medicine can be vomited out and if drugs that could cause stomach upset like the diclofenac sodium (an anti-inflammatory drug) would be best tolerated in suppository form.

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Expired Medication Cover-Ups

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Just like bottled drinks, milk, canned goods etc. all medicine has an expiration date indicated in their labels or containers. It is a requirement by the Food and Drug Authority upon its approval for the general market.

Disappointingly, some drug outlets- hospitals and clinics in particular, ignore the expiration date’s importance and dispense expired drugs, solely for business
reasons. Without even knowing it, you could have been a victim.

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Things to Consider Before Taking any Medicine

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People tend to take medication from time to time. While some can still deny the use of any drug for their health, others life depend on it. Like it or not, our body is frail. Although it could be supplied by vitamins and other food supplements, it could get sick, specifically, when the body begins to age.

We love our health. Naturally, we seek aid from our medical practitioners. But upon taking medications, consider the following facts to ensure the efficacy and safety of any medicine you would take.

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