Telantaa's blog

Saturday, July 12, 2008

What Kind of Eczema Treatment Can You Expect?


Eczema, a term used by most people to refer to Atopic Dermatitis, is an incurable disease which affects the skin. Although sure is not a possibility, there are things you can do to control the symptoms.

These things are a combination of medical attention and at home care. It is important for you to see a dermatologist when symptoms first appear as treating as early as possible helps you to keep your symptoms to a minimum and often makes the flare up period much shorter than it would be otherwise.

No matter how much you read about skin conditions, it is important that you understand a doctor diagnosis is important for you to plan the proper care for your condition. Many skin conditions resemble each other, while some are extremely painful and aggravating, others are caused by something else wrong in your body and can be fatal when not treated.

There are also a number of skin conditions that are curable, unlike eczema. A dermatologist can diagnose your skin condition through various tests, allowing him to give you the proper treatment and allowing you to learn the correct way to care for your condition at home.

Your dermatologist will need to know: when the symptoms first appeared in your lifetime; all of the symptoms (itching, pain, blistering, fever, etc); he will also need to know things that seem to make the symptoms worse (such as, whether washing makes the itching worse); whether you family has any history of skin conditions, hay fever, or asthma; and your own medical history.

When visiting the dermatologist, be prepared for him to order a biopsy. This is a normal procedure when dealing with skin conditions and does not necessarily mean that he thinks you have cancer. Do not let yourself stress over this test, especially since stress tends to worsen symptoms. He may also suggest that you have allergy testing done.

Possible Treatments:

Treatments are based on several factors: what kind of eczema you have, how bad it is, your age and medical history, and results of past treatments. Remember that treatment is a way to manage symptoms, not cure the disease. Moisturizing with creams (not most lotions because they can cause even more drying) are usually used with any treatment plan.

Treatment plans are also modified on an individual basis as you and your doctor know and understand more about triggering factors in your case.

First, if the dermatologist finds another condition, such as bacterial, viral, or fungal infections, he will prescribe a medicine to get rid of the infection. Antibiotics will be prescribed for bacterial infections, antiviral are prescribed for viral infections and antifungals will conquer fungal infection.

These may be applied to the skin, taken by mouth, or given in a shot, depending on the type as severity of the infection.

Treatment usually begins with topical medications which may or may not be coupled with antihistamines. Topical treatments are applied to the skin and are usually a cream which comes in a tube.

Most are members of the corticosteroid family of medicine. It is very important, as with any medication, to follow your doctor instructions. Too few applications will not give you much benefit and too many applications can cause thin skin. Some of the corticosteroids include:

Aclovate


Aristocort


Cormax


Cutivate


Cyclocort


Decadron


Dermatop


DesOwen


Diprolene


Diprosone


Elocon


Halog


Hytone


Kenalog


Lidex


Locoid


Psorcon


Synalar


Temovate


Topicort


Tridesilon


Ultravate


Valisone


Westcort

The newest form of topical medication is the topical Immunomodulators (TIMs). These do not have steroids in them, so they do not have the problems with thin skin that corticosteroids do. Elidel and Protopic are both TIMs.

If topical medications do not produce acceptable results, you may have to move to another phase of treatment. Other phases include phototherapy, in which you will be treated with UV rays, directed by either laser or sunlamps.

The UV light is focused on the symptomatic area which has had a medication applied to help the process. Beyond phototherapy, you may have to begin systemic treatments. These are medications which are taken into the body, whether by mouth or shot.

You will also find that you have several things you will need to do in your life to help minimize flare ups. Moisturizing, stress relief, avoiding allergens and avoiding irritants are a few of these things.

You can buy Aristocort here

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chakkorsis's weblog

Acid Reflux - Tips for Prevention


Acid reflux is the result of stomach acids moving back into the esophagus through the sphincter valve separating the two. Since the esophagus does not have the protective lining that the stomach has, the introduction of this acid into the esophagus is very painful. Continuous exposure to stomach acids can seriously damage your esophagus. Suffering from acid reflux doesn't have to be a permanent state for you. While everyone experiences some heartburn periodically, those that have frequent acid reflux experience this as often as every day. There are steps that you can take to control and prevent acid reflux.

First and foremost, you want to visit your doctor. Acid reflux can be a symptom of a larger problem. Some dietary changes that you can make to help control your acid reflux are: Eating more protein at meals. It is possible that eating protein can help strengthen the muscles of your esophagus, therefore reducing the amount of reflux you experience. Limit carbonated beverages. These drinks can aggravate acid reflux. Avoid food and drinks that contain caffeine and reduce or eliminate alcoholic beverages. These can increase acid production in the stomach, which can lead to acid reflux. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables aids in digestion, although avoid acidic ones such as tomatoes and citrus fruits.

Seventy five percent of all people who suffer from acid reflux find that it occurs most often at night or while lying down. You can help prevent acid reflux by doing the following: Do not go to bed full. Stop eating at least two hours before going to bed. After your last meal of the day, get some exercise rather than lying down on the couch. Sleep with your head raised slightly. You can do this with an extra pillow (making sure it is supporting your upper back as well as your head), or special foam wedges to raise your upper body. Sleep on your left side. The stomach is lower than the esophagus when you lay on your left side, helping reduce the chance for reflux.

If you still experience acid reflux after making lifestyle changes, you can consider medication. There are a number of products on the market, both prescription and non-prescription. The majority of these drugs work by reducing the amount of acid that the stomach produces. Several of these drugs include:

Prilosec. Prilosec is available both ways. If you only suffer from heartburn, you can do short-term management with OTC (over the counter) Prilosec. If you suffer from stomach ulcers, then your doctor can prescribe a stronger version for you.

Protonix. Protonix is available by prescription only and is highly effective. Results show acid reduction of around 90% in patients studied.

Zantac. One of the oldest of the acid reflux drugs, this is available both OTC and by prescription. Zantac is used to prevent acid reflux and to help heal esophagitis caused by acid reflux.

While there isn't necessarily a cure for acid reflux, with a combination of lifestyle changes and/or medications, you can be relatively symptom free.

You can buy Protonix here

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HafhandBludson's weblog

Thursday, July 10, 2008

A Review of Common Gout Medications


There are many different types of gout medications currently available, each with their own benefits and side effects that should be considered before beginning treatment.

Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's) are often prescribed in order to reduce the swelling and alleviate the pain associated with acute gout attacks. However, medications are also being developed and are currently in use that are taken to prevent attacks from recurring - as well as to reduce symptoms should attacks occur.

Ensure you talk to your doctor about the various medications, and make sure you have the proper tests to determine the level of uric acid in your body (this may involve a fluid sample from the gouty joint or a simple urine test). Without the appropriate tests it's hard to make the proper decisions regarding choice of medication and progress is difficult to monitor. Also make sure you understand any possible risks and potential side effects prior to beginning treatment.

Two gout medications that are often prescribed for gout patients are Zyloprim® (allopurinol) and Adenuric® (febuxostat).

Allopurinol is taken orally in tablet form. This medication has been designed for small initial doses, which are then increased gradually in order to control the uric acid levels in the body. It functions by preventing xantine oxidase from being released by the body, which prevents uric acid formation. As gout attacks are caused by uric acid crystallization buildup in the joints, preventing the formation of uric acid makes allopurinol an effective method of treating and preventing the condition.

When taking allopurinol, patients will usually see their uric acid levels returning to normal within two to four week's time, and should witness a reduction in their gout attacks. When taking allopurinol, it's important to maintain regular doctor's visits so that uric acid levels in the body can be carefully monitored.

There are some side effects thought that patients should be made aware of prior to treatment. A common reaction to allopurinol includes skin rashes due to allergies. Rare side effects includes liver inflammation, failure of blood cell production by the bone marrow, blood vessel inflammation and Allopurinol hypersensitivity syndrome.

Febuxostat is also taken orally but only taken once a day and is designed to stop xanthine oxydase formation. With or without food, the typical dose of febuxostat is 80 milligrams. Though this is typically enough to bring uric acid levels to normal within two weeks, a higher dose of 120 milligrams may be considered if uric acid levels need to be lowered further. Reduction in gout attacks should occur as early as two weeks, but more often at four weeks into the treatment. Side effects reported for febuxostat include headache, diarrhea, nausea and abnormal liver function tests.

Of course, not everybody is comfortable taking gout medications for an extended period of time if they can be offered a more natural alternative. If you wish to look into alternative treatments to medications, it is a good idea to speak to your doctor about herbal and naturopathic remedies - just as you would discuss any prescription drug that you would consider taking. You may be surprised to discover that there are as many non-prescription natural ways to fight arthritis gout, as there are prescriptions to perform the same tasks. Have a browse through the rest of the blog, as there are a number of articles covering natural gout remedies.

You can buy Zyloprim here

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ixnay's weblog

Are Antibiotics Really Needed to Treat Ear Infection?


The idea of "delaying antibiotic treatment"

Some kids really need antibiotics, but most do not. Recent study has shown that two-thirds of the antibiotic prescriptions written to parents urged to delay treatment never got filled. The idea of delaying antibiotic treatment for ear infections is not new. The strategy is catching on in Europe, and the American Academy of Pediatrics says 80% of children whose ear infections are not treated immediately with antibiotics get better on their own.

Far too often people get antibiotics for earaches. Many supposed ear infections aren't ear infections at all, just earaches. Ear infections have fluid, by definition.

Antibiotics for ear infection

The 2004 American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for the treatment of ear infections includes specific recommendation of how antibiotics should be used in different situations. Most ear infections do not need antibiotics at all.

If antibiotics are used, high-dose amoxicillin is the best choice for most children - along with treatment for their ear pain.

If the child is allergic to amoxicillin, then Ceftin, Omnicef, or Vantin are the preferred choices. If the child is also allergic to all four of these, then Zithromax or Biaxin are the recommended alternatives.

If the child with the ear infection has a fever over 102.2 F or is severely ill, then the best starting antibiotic is usually Augmentin.

Whatever the initial antibiotic, it should be changed if there is not clear improvement within 48 to 72 hours. High-dose Augmentin is usually the best follow-up choice.

Five things to know before giving antibiotic to children:

1. Antibiotics only work on ear infections that are bacterial in origin, they do nothing for those caused by viruses such as colds, allergies, mechanical obstructions, or nutrition.

2. Antibiotics do not permanently eliminate build-up fluid in the middle ear, the source of chronic ear infections.

3. A study in The Journal of the American Medical Association reported that children who took Amoxicillin for chronic infections were actually 2-6 times more likely to have a recurrence of fluid build-up.

4. Excessive antibiotic use can disrupt the balance of beneficial intestinal bacteria and can lead to digestive disturbances and recurrent infections.

5. Antibiotics do not help pain during the most painful first 24 hours, and help pain only minimally after that.

Careless use of antibiotics can also lead to more resistant bacteria in the environment, making common infections harder to treat in everyone.

You can buy Augmentin here

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Old Grumpy Dwarf's weblog

There is Hope for Myasthenia Gravis


Myasthenia Gravis is a chronic disorder characterized by weakness and rapid fatigue of any of the muscles under your voluntary control. Myasthenia Gravis is caused by a breakdown in the communication between nerves and muscles, usually because of an immunological problem where the cells cannot communicate and the immune system attacks cells it does not recognize. There are 86 autoimmune diseases that have been diagnosed today and Myasthenia Gravis is one of them.

Symptoms are:

Facial muscle weakness, including drooping eyelids

Double vision

Difficulty in breathing, talking, chewing or swallowing

Muscle weakness in your arms or legs

Fatigue brought on by repetitive motions.

Treatments

The treatments of this disease focus on altering one’s immune system so that fewer antibodies are produced and therefore the muscle can rebuild its acetylcholine receptors. Perhaps the most commonly used initial medication is prednisone. In addition many patients will take a medication called mestinon or celcept. This does not treat the underlying problem but can improve the Myasthenia Gravis symptoms. Medications are basically to suppress the immune system to stop the production of antibodies that kill the cells.

An Alternative

Recent research in the field of glycobiology has brought about a discovery in cellular communication that has won several Nobel Prizes in medicine. A recent press release from Emory University School of Medicine announced the appointment of Dr. Richard Cummings, as the new chair of the Department of Biochemistry at Emory University. The article states that "the National Institutes of Health has identified the field of glycomics as a major new research focus. Glycomics is defined as the scientific pursuit of identifying and studying all of the carbohydrate molecules produced by an organism. Dr. Cummings' research focuses on glycoconjugates, the carbohydrate molecules and their associated proteins that permit cells to communicate with and adhere to each other -- transmitting and receiving chemical, electrical and mechanical messages that underlie all cellular and bodily functions."

The primary function of the glyconutrients is the communication between cells, which "underlies all bodily functions." There is a tremendous amount of research ongoing by many prestigious institutions. It is very exciting to see that Emory University School of Medicine has joined this endeavor. It is exciting that two major universities ("The Complex Carbohydrate Center" at UGA and Emory School of Medicine) are now at the forefront of this new frontier in medicine--the science of Glycobiology.

Due to green harvesting of fruits and vegetables, toxins in the air, food, and water, and the processing of our foods, the health of the world today is on a decline and we must supplement vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, amino acids, and now it has been shown that we also need the glyconutrients. If we do not receive the glyconutrients in our diet we will get sick either by the body leaving bad cells or not recognizing the good cells and attacking them.

A form of nutrition called glyconutrients has been shown to give the body what it needs to develop healthy cells that can communicate and therefore the body can respond as it was designed to do.

You can buy Mestinon here

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Hammerfel's weblog

Caffeine Caused Anxiety Attacks


Since the dawning of the "Information Age" in the early 1980's the pace of change has accelerated in our society. To keep pace with the explosion of new information and this rapid rate of change, many people have adopted a new coping strategy of increasing their consumption of caffeine. Caffeine is a drug. It is a stimulant which increases many of same physiological responses as the survival response known as the "Flight-Fight" response. It is this reaction by the body to the stimulation from caffeine that can trigger an anxiety-type physical reaction. Many people are unsuspecting and naпve regarding the full extent of this response to which often includes a common, and even, celebrated "rush" of energy. Knowing about this response can keep you from being a victim to caffeine related anxiety attacks.

As a stimulant, the effect of caffeine can be different from one person to the next. The amount of caffeine consumed, and then the amount actually absorbed by the body, can contribute to the range of reactions. It is not uncommon for caffeine to cause an increase in brain wave activity that can arouse a tired mind. This is the most desired response for many sleep deprived people. This can backfire on many people who may have a daylong response to their morning coffee (or other caffeine source) because many people can not sleep well at bedtime as a response to this early caffeine consumption. This "vicious cycle" will then cause poor quality sleep/rest which requires more caffeine to get "up" for the next day's activities.

The stimulation caused by caffeine can also increase heart rate and for some people increase their blood pressure as it simulates the release of excitatory hormones like adrenaline (epinephrine.) This rapid heart rate, when severe, can scare people, triggering the hormonal release which can cause a greater anxiety reaction. The frightening response to the physical associations of an anxiety attack can cause fear and can even drive people to the emergency rooms with the concern that the patient believes that they going to die from a heart attack. We have enough anxiety in our society without pushing ourselves over the edge with the stimulation of caffeine.

Caffeine can cause an increase in skeletal muscle tension as it triggers the classic flight response. This muscle tension can be distracting (loss of focus), cause fatigue, and in many cases increase the likelihood of increased muscle spasms and so, muscle contraction pain. In this way, caffeine can contribute to muscle tension headaches from the tightness of muscles in the jaw, neck, and shoulders. For people suffering from chronic muscular tension pain, this can contribute to their tension and pain. It will often cause an increased anxiety driven response to their pain which can intensify their chronic pain complaints. This is especially true for lower back pain and neck/shoulder pain, as well as the peripheral pains in the arms and legs that can be associated with back pain.

For those of you who use caffeine regularly, you should also know that there are plenty of cases of physical and psychological addiction to this drug. Many people feel withdrawal symptoms that are not comfortable when they try to discontinue their caffeine habit. If you want to discontinue, the best way to do this would be gradually over time. Substituting Ѕ de-caf into your morning coffee and minimizing other caffeine laden products will be helpful. Be patient and drink extra water!

In its defense, caffeine can be helpful for some types of headaches such as migraine headaches which can be reduced by caffeine or associated cafergot. (Cafergot is a brand name of the combination of ergotamine and caffeine.) With its stimulating effects on the digestive system, caffeine may also work as a laxative to minimize problems with constipation. Historically, European coffee "salons" were places where intellectuals could meet and have lively discussions while drinking brewed coffee which was more healthful than the untreated available water which was often contaminated with deadly diseases of the Middle Ages. The other alternative beverage for most Middle Age Europeans was to drink beer or alcoholic drinks which did not encourage good discussion, thinking, or productivity.

Since the 1980's, our society has seen an explosion of coffee houses and Expresso stands. You can not get through any American city with being confronted by easily accessible purveyors of liquid coffee refreshments. Both young and old are caught in this "glamorous" habit with expanding zeal. A gift of choice is the insidious gift certificate for the expensive coffee houses. This has gotten to be big business.

Besides coffee or expresso drinks, caffeine is found in many products. Black teas, green tea, soft drinks, chocolate candy, and as an additive in many other products are but a few of these additional sources for caffeine. There are even a few products with commercial names like: Jolt, Red Bull, and RockStar that cater to the young caffeine crazed generation that seem to require higher concentrations of caffeine. I do not want to deprive people from indulging in these products, but people must be aware of what the effects of these products can do to their body's and to people who interact with caffeine saturated folks. Many cases of "road rage" may be traced to the negative effects of over-caffeinated, stressed drivers.

Let's have some common sense. Moderation is a great rule to follow, especially if you are one the people who are most sensitive to the effects of caffeine. Coffee businesses are not bad or the enemy, we just need to learn how use them in most appropriate ways.

If you are looking for wellness coaching, please investigate the Professional Stress Management Coaching Program

You can buy Cafergot here

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Old Grumpy Dwarf's weblog

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Neurontin Lawsuit: Neurontin Off-Label Abuse Lawyer


Pfizer is currently marketing Neurontin as an oral medication for managing postherptic neuralgia, the pain that lingers after shingles has healed. This is an FDA-approved use, and studies have shown that Neurontin works to reduce patients’ pain. It is a good drug, with many useful applications and few negative side effects, but it has a surprisingly long and sordid past.

Neurontin was originally approved in 1993 for the treatment of partial seizures in adults and children, especially epileptic seizures. However, this limited market for a drug with so few side effects was not enough for the company, Warner-Lambert. The company set up a massive campaign to improve sales of Neurontin, and it worked. By 2002 Neurontin was a $2 billion dollar drug, outselling even Viagra. How did a little epilepsy drug come to claim such a huge number of patients? It did so illicitly.

There are not enough patients suffering from epilepsy that one drug could earn profits of $2 billion a year. In order to claim these kinds of profits, Warner-Lambert began promoting the drug for off-label uses. The company sent representatives directly to doctors, urging them to prescribe Neurontin for to treat not only epilepsy but also bipolar disorder, alcohol withdrawal, cocaine abuse, HIV/AIDS neuropathy, phantom limb pain, anxiety, and a host of other diverse and unrelated conditions.

Though it has since been shown to work for some of these conditions, it was not clear at the time exactly what Neurontin did. The Warner-Lambert salesmen were lying to doctors about what Neurontin could do, and the doctors were listening. While it is illegal for a drug company to promote off-label uses directly and immoral to bribe doctors into prescribing a certain drug, it was also absolutely dangerous to claim Neurontin could cure disorders that it simply couldn’t.

For example, Neurontin has no effect on bipolar disorder. Warner-Lambert sold thousands of doctors on the idea that Neurontin should be prescribed for bipolar disorder. If it did not work, they suggested increasing the dosage. One of the drug company managers told a salesman: “I don’t want to see a single patient coming off Neurontin before they’ve been up to at least 4,800 milligrams a day. I don’t want to hear that safety crap either.... It’s a great drug.” An untold number of bipolar patients were taken off their FDA-approved medication and prescribed Neurontin alone. Although Neurontin has few side effects, it also did nothing for their disorder, leaving these patients effectively unmedicated. Nobody knows how many lives were shattered as a result, but unmedicated bipolar disorder has a mortality rate of 55-60%.

Luckily for the public and patients taking Neurontin, a Warner-Lambert sales representative came forward and revealed the entire scandal. Pfizer has now purchased the Warner-Lambert Company, making Pfizer responsible for the injuries caused by the drug it now profits from. Lawsuits are being filed to claim damages for the dangerous corporate marketing strategies that have caused so much pain. If you or someone you love was wrongly administered Neurontin, please contact a lawyer and discuss your options.

You can buy Neurontin here

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SirCruizer's weblog