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Over The Counter Drugs: How To Safely Choose The Right Medication
What Medication Can Cure Me? 1. Am I expecting a cure? Some medications relieve symptoms that is, they stop the itching, pain, redness, etc but do not actually get to the source of the illness. Some illnesses, like the common cold, can't be treated/cured, so looking for an OTC drug may be a waste of time; getting rest and drinking fluids may be a better way to spend your afternoon! Other things, like yeast infections, can be treated by over the counter medications; if the infection is making you uncomfortable as well as needing treatment, make sure that you pick a product that gives you both symptomatic relief and treatment. Is It Safe For Your Child? 2. Is it for your child? If so make sure that you are getting a drug that can be given to children. Some drugs that help adults can be dangerous for children; others need to be given at a special dosage. Read the fine print on the box before buying for your child. What About Interactions With Other Drugs? 3. What else am I taking? If you are on any other medications, whether over-the-counter or prescription, stop by the pharmacist's desk before heading to the check-out counter. She can check to make sure that the drugs you are taking don't change the effect of the drugs you are taking. Wait... Shouldn't My Illness Be Over Already? 4. Should my illness have ended by now? If you think you have something that has a natural lifecycle - that is, something like a cold that should end on its own - but you don't feel better after that time is up, you may have misdiagnosed your illness. If you are having to take pain-reliever nonstop to keep functioning, your body is trying to tell you something and you should listen. What feels like a cold might be bronchitis; that achy foot may require orthotics, not aspirin. Long Term Medication Use 5. Is it a chronic problem? If you are having to take over-the-counter medications over a long period of time to prevent symptoms, it is time for your health care practitioner to find out what the underlying cause is. Even something as simple as scaly skin may be a warning sign that you are developing diabetes. And some relatively harmless medications can have serious long-term consequences; for example, some over the counter pain medications can cause stomach bleeding if you take them for a long time. If you are taking an OTC medication constantly to reduce long-term discomfort, talk to your health care provider to make sure that a) you are not missing something important and b) that if it's a chronic problem, you are taking medication that your body can handle chronically. Compare Ingredients 6. What's the active ingredient? If the same active ingredient is found in both the name brand and the generic, chances are they will have the same effect. Pregnant Or Breast Feeding? 7. If you are pregnant or nursing, check with your physician before taking ANY medication, including OTC drugs and alternative products (such as herbal remedies). Some drugs can cross the placenta or through the milk glands, giving your fetus or baby a whopping dose of medication. While the medication might be fine for you, it may not be fine for your baby. Watch Out For Alcohol 8. Does the medication contain alcohol? If it does, it's probably going to make you sleepy, it will probably make you feel dehydrated, and adding more alcohol on top of it can be dangerous. Double-Doses: Be Careful! 9. Am I doubling up? If you are taking more than one over-the-counter medication, make sure that they don't have the same ingredients; if they do, you might be doubling the recommended dose of that medication and setting yourself up for unpleasant side effects. This is a particular problem when you take something that combats multiple symptoms of an illness (like "flu" medications that relieve pain, fever, stuffy nose, and sore throat) - often they contain multiple active ingredients, one of which may overlap with another medication (like a pain killer) that you are taking Side Effects And Allergies 10. Check the label for side effects and symptoms of allergic reaction. If side effects include drowsiness and you drive a truck or care for several active toddlers, this medication might not be right for you. Similarly, if you start running a fever or develop a rash, having read the label ahead of time will help you know if you need to stop the medication and call a doctor to avert a full-blown allergic attack. Copyright (C) Shoppe.MD and Ian Mason, 2004-2005 Ian Mason, owner of Shoppe.MD, your source for Online Prescription Medications, drug information and support forums. Ian is a fat-to-fit student of health, weight loss, exercise, and several martial arts; maintaining several websites in an effort to help provide up-to-date and helpful information for other who share his interests in health of body and mind.
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Alternative Medicine New Treatment for Peripheral Neuropathy Millions of Americans suffer with Peripheral Neuropathy and until recently there was no specific treatment available. Peripheral Neuropathy is often associated with Diabetes, but can occur on its own. Typical treatments in the past included physical therapy, medication and in severe cases even surgery, all of these therapies offer little or no relief. Neurologist, Family Physicians and Podiatrists are now referring their patients for Anodyne Therapy with excellent results. The True Meaning of Alternative Medicine Alternative medicine is a type of therapeutic practice that is not considered to be a part of traditional or conventional medical treatment. People use alternative medicine instead of using traditional medical treatment. This is often because they feel it is a natural way to get better. Top Ten Reasons Why We Hate IBS! Irritable bowel syndrome can be a nightmare?constant diarrhea and terrible stomach pains, or unbelievable constipation and never-ending gas. While it's good to stay positive and keep looking for help, sometimes it's even better to just have a good old moan! Finding the Medical Supplies you need! It's now possible to locate and purchase a wide variety of Medical Supplies on the internet. Whether you are looking for Medical Supplies for your medical practice or your looking for home health care needs, just about anything can be found through searching online. Seroquel Side Effects: Effects of Seroquel Worth the Risk? Seroquel is an atypical antipsychotic drug that is used to treat hallucinations, delusions and confusion caused by psychotic conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Atypical antipsychotics are not SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or benzodiazepines. Atypical antipsychotics like Seroquel affect only certain parts of the brain, blocking the input of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, histamine, and muscarine. The benefit to atypical antipsychotics is that they are non-habit forming and are not as frequently abused as normal antipsychotics. The Ease of Using a Motorized Wheelchair to Improve Mobility No person likes to feel housebound and dependent on others. While people who have been injured or suffering from a debilitating disease may not have full functionality of their motor skills, it is still possible for them to be semi-independent and mobile with motorized wheelchairs and other home medical equipment. It can't be over emphasized how critical that sense of independence can be. Quality, dependable Motorized Wheelchairs and other home medical equipment are the means of transportation that many people choose as their way to get around. Quitting Smoking: Planning To Succeed With Zyban! Step One: The Big Decision Lipitor Lawyer: Statin Drugs Cause Muscle Damage in 98% Doctors have been encouraged to prescribe the cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins quite liberally. Patients who suffer heart attacks often have elevated levels of cholesterol, so statins like Lipitor are prescribed to lower the cholesterol. There have been no conclusive studies to prove the full effectiveness of these drugs, however, and some doctors worry that reducing cholesterol simply takes away the warning signs of heart disease. The drug companies also claim that statin drugs have a low, nearly nonexistent incidence of side effects. These claims are based on trials of the drug on a carefully screened group of people, hardly a representative selection of the general public. Considering the rigorous selection process for drug trials, it is hardly a surprise that 51% of prescription drugs found to have serious adverse side effects not detected prior to FDA approval. 7 Tips to Keep Your Fluid Down on Dialysis As any dialysis patient will tell you, keeping your fluid gain between dialysis sessions in check is not only important to your long term health, it is a major factor in your immediate well-being. Online Pharmacies and the FDA The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is responsible for overseeing the testing, manufacturing, and distribution of prescription drugs in the United States. Alprazolam/Xanax A Habit Forming Drug Xanax is a Prescription Drug which is habit forming. You can become physically and psychologically dependent on the Xanax medication. Nevert take more than the prescribed amount of xanax or take it longer than is directed by your doctor. Withdrawal effects may occur if Xanax is stopped suddenly after several weeks of continuous use. As per xanax prescription, sudden discontinuation of the medication may result in seizures as its side effect that is why a doctor always recommends a gradual reduction in dose. Xanax prescription is provided for the relief of anxiety disorders and depression, and is usually is taken three times a day. The instructions on the prescription label must be followed exactly. Do not take xanax for more than four months without consulting a doctor. Alprazolam/Xanax should not be stopped without consulting your doctor, because stopping xanax drug abruptly can cause seizures, delirium, and withdrawal symptoms. A doctor only can guide you on how to decrease your dose slowly. Comfortable, Affordable Lab Coats for the Health Care Professional When a health care professional uses lab coats it conveys several different messages. First, lab coats give an appearance of professionalism. It's very important in the health care setting to be professional and new, clean lab coat portrays just that image. Second, lab coats are very functional because they have so many pockets. As silly as that seems, health care providers usually have many different tools and papers in their pockets and lab coats that have the pockets for these different items are beneficial and necessary. Lamisil Side Effects Lawyer: Lamisil Tablet While the recent Lamisil commercial featuring Digger, a disgusting cartoon fungus, is still fresh in our mind (who could forget the imagery of a toenail being pulled back and colorful germs crawling in?) it is a good time to look at the side effects of this seemingly innocuous drug. Despite the disturbing advertising campaign, who would have guessed that an antifungal tablet could have so many negative side effects? Protopic Cancer Risk Lawyer The FDA issued a warning in July of 2005 on two skin creams, Elidel (pimecrolimus) and Protopic (tacrolimus) to all ages. Recent animal studies have found that Protopic causes lymphomas and skin cancers in an unknown percentage of users. The FDA recommends that healthcare providers be very careful prescribing and applying these medications. Defective Heart Defibrillators Recalled by Guidant Corporation On June17, 2005 Guidant Corporation recalled close to 50,000 heart defibrillators worldwide because of potential malfunctions that could cause injury or death. This recall comes in the wake of two recent deaths among patients who were implanted with Guidant defibrillators. It is believed that Guidant Corporation failed to inform doctors and patients that the defibrillators contained a defect that could cause them to short-circuit. What is Bextra? (FDA Recalled Drug) Bextra, also known as valdecoxib, is a prescribed medication used to alleviate the problems associated with arthritis and other inflammation-related conditions. The drug helps reduce the pain of swelling and fever without causing stomach irritation like aspirin. Health Needs of Survivors of Domestic Violence Domestic violence is not over when the victim is safe and out of harm's way. It's not over until justice has been served. Even then, it's not over. It's not over until the victim is safe, justice has been served, and the victim is well. 10 Home Remedies For Arthritis Pain Relief Your Remedy No. 1 ============== After Viagra, Its Now a Premature Orgasm Pill for Women Pfizer's exciting drug history traces back to the most popular Viagra drug, which treats erectile dysfunction in men. Now, they are gearing up to hit the bull's eye with a new premature orgasm pill for women. Erasing the Stigma of Mental Illness As a physician specializing in psychiatry, I know that many emotional conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders are true medical illnesses with a biologic (physical) origin. Psychiatry has become more and more "biological" in its diagnosis and treatment approaches during recent years, but a very significant stigma still exists against those who are seeing a therapist. This has become increasingly difficult to understand, but it is a social stigma that is so very important to eliminate.
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