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We end up spending large amounts of time and money running after weight loss programs that do more harm than good. Overanxious to burn the extra pounds, many times we don’t get the expected results and, in the process, suffer a lot, restraining our desires, and making our systems vulnerable to the side effects of weight loss medicines.

Why go herbal?

Compared to torturous, strict diet programs and arduous exercises, herbal methods of weight loss are cheaper and are free of side effects, to a great extent. Of course, high doses can cause complications, but herbal ways of losing weight are far safer than the use of chemically manipulated medication. When going the herbal route, one can expect to lose anywhere between five to ten pounds of weight in the very first month, if it’s part of a disciplined lifestyle that includes exercise.

After studying various herbs from different parts of the globe, experts have found many medicinal properties in them. The herbs which have fat-burning and appetite suppressing effects are useful for weight loss. Some well-known herbs are discussed below.

Some popular weight loss herbs

• Chamomile teas are said to soothe the digestive system.

• Mint teas are pleasing to the mind and soothing to the system because of their aroma.

• Rooibos tea is said to be a good antioxidant.

• Cinnamomum tamala, senna leaves, aniseed, Garcinia cambogia, fennel, Salacia reticulata, triphala, licorice root, and many other similar herbs contribute considerably to weight loss.

• Gynostemma pentaphyllum and apple cider vinegar help in controlling your blood pressure and increase the rate of burning fat.

• 999 Fitness Essence, in spite of being less well-known, has been found to be very effective for weight loss.

• Caffeine burns fat.

• Herbal body wraps, comprised of rose petal powder, alfalfa leaf powder, ground basil, and oils such as lavender, lemon, and sandalwood, are a great way to remove body toxins and stimulate blood circulation throughout the body. These act directly with the skin cells to extract the fat and unwanted fluids trapped within the cells.

Some precautions should be kept in mind while using herbs. Various types of herbs have their origins in different continents around the world and the local people from each were aware of the care that should be taken while using them. For example, some may interact with your present medication.

Tips for the wise use of herbal products

• Before using herbal remedies to lose your extra pounds, have a word with your physician to know if he or she approves their use.

• Check the list of ingredients given on the package and make sure that you are not allergic to any of them.

• Make sure that you research whether the ingredients actually have weight reducing effects. There are differences regarding the efficacy of the weight loss properties of some herbs.

• Senna helps in weight loss, but dehydrates the system, putting you at risk of damaging your colon.

• If used improperly, St. John’s Wort can cause fatigue, itching, skin and eye sensitivity, and gastrointestinal problems.

Do herbal supplements really work?

As far as the weight loss properties of any medications or supplements are concerned, nothing can work unless one follows a strict regimen of eating healthier and burning more calories. Only a healthy lifestyle and keeping the body fit through exercise can enable you to shed unwanted flab.

Medication administration records have been widely used in residential care for many years but not so regularly in domiciliary care until quite recently. It’s great to see that they are being used much more widely now in home care and I look forward to the day where they are used in every agency I visit or train.

Why? Because they are essential to good medicines management and to provide you with evidence of medicines support or administration. They are your back up should anything be challenged. They are your way of ensuring that you meet the responsibility that you have under the law of ensuring that the 5 checks are made:-

Right patient

Right medicine

Right dose

Right route

Right time

CSCI have published a guidance document that addresses medicines administration record sheets – what information should be recorded and how they should be used. However, in practice it would appear that very few organisations are aware of this guidance and/or how to interpret it and as a result I see a wide variety of different interpretations. My concern is that the vast majority of record sheets either do not contain the required information and/or they are not being completed appropriately by the agency staff. This may be that the agency staff have not received proper training on how to use the forms, it might be that forms need to be reviewed or it might be that the agency policy is out of date or in need of review by an expert. When any of these scenarios apply – it leaves the agency wide open to litigation should an error occur that is not documented properly.

So let’s clear up some myths shall we!

It is the responsibility of the agency to provide medication administration records for their care workers to use.

The form should contain:-

The name and address of the service user

Date started

Medication details including name, strength and dose of medication

Time given/prompted/observed

Signature of care worker

Code for Administration or prompting or observing

It’s worth pointing out here that the medication details must be given for each individual medicine. It is not sufficient to simply put “Contents of Nomad” or “Dosette box” . Whilst it is the responsibility of the pharmacy to ensure that the correct medication is dispensed – you are responsible for making your own checks – you cannot abdicate this responsibility and therefore you need to know that what is in the compliance aid is what is being given to the service user. Now you may not know which tablet or capsule is which – however you should know that the names on the box match the names on the chart (which have been checked against the prescription details) and that there are the correct number of tablets or capsules there to be given.

It might also be useful to have space for the name of the GP, any allergies, and comments.

For further advice and information about medicine Administration records or if you have any questions please contact tracey.dowe@momentumpeople.co.uk

So, you go to your doctor’s office and get your cholesterol checked. Standard operating procedure, right? We have been taught since grade school that low cholesterol levels are the best way to lower your heart disease risk.

So, if you DO happen to have “high cholesterol”, and the definition of “high cholesterol” keeps getting lower and lower all of the time, it’s likely that your doctor will put you on the ’standard treatment’ to reduce heart disease risk- a statin drug. If you have a GREAT doctor, hopefully it will be recommended that you do some lifestyle changes: eat better, get some exercise, add Omega 3 fatty acids to your diet, etc. and check your cholesterol level in a few months.

But if you have a “Standard American Doctor”, it’s likely that you will get sent home with a statin the first time you are told that you have “High Cholesterol”.

Statins come by many names: Crestor, Baycol, Atorvastatin, Simvastatin, Lipitor, Zocor, Pravachol, Mevacor, Lescol among others. The intended effect of all of these drugs is to reduce your cholesterol- which they are generally very good at.

But at what PRICE do these drugs lower your cholesterol?

In many cases, statins are just the start of the “drug list” that you end up carrying around in your wallet in case of emergency. Could statins be the “gateway drug” that makes you NEED all those other drugs in the first place?

There are MANY published studies that show that statins cause many different problems- most of which “require” another drug to “fix”. The Crestor- CRP study showed a significantly increased rate of diabetes among Crestor users. This obviously requires one or two new drugs: insulin and/or an antidiabetic drug (or two). Most people who are on two or three different prescription drugs often have heartburn and get a prescription antacid to help with that symptom. Both prescription antacids as well as diabetic drugs have been shown to cause an INCREASE in fractures among older women.

Aha! Another drug added to the mix- an osteoporosis drug known as a bisphosphenate.

Another study shows a significant increase in depression with the use of statins. Now you “need” an antidepressant, another boon to the pharmaceutical industry. However, a great study shows that men with low cholesterol and who have depression are at much greater risk of dying than other men!!

Great trade off.

Lets not forget that one of the notorious effects of statins is muscle weakness, muscle wasting and a serious condition called Rhabdomyolysis- a life threatening muscle wasting condition that will put you into the ICU for a few days. Oh, and studies show that prescription antacids ALSO cause muscle weakness, muscle pain and rhabdomyolysis. All of that muscle weakness will probably keep you at home more- increasing your risk of osteoporosis and depression even more!

I forgot that the myositis- another word for muscle pain- will force you to need some pain medication for “non specific” muscle pain. The pain medication will probably make you constipated- with the inevitable drug, a stool softener or the need for laxatives. If you make it through all of that without cancer or the need for a liver transplant – a couple more of the unfortunate “adverse effects” of statins, then the diabetes has now increased your chance of getting Alzheimers disease- and the need for a few more drugs (that don’t work very well).

Ahh, but the relief of knowing that you have a 1% less risk of heart disease that COULD have been managed simply with diet, exercise and a few targeted supplements- Priceless!

In 2002, 8.5 percent of the US civilian noninstitutionalized population had purchased at least one prescription Antidepressant. The currently available classes of Antidepressants include monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), novel Antidepressants, and tetracyclic Antidepressants.

MAOIs act by inhibiting monoamine oxidase, a complex enzyme system that metabolizes excess serotonin and epinephrine. It holds the potential of inducing potential life-threatening problems, and therefore cannot be used in patients with congestive cardiac failure or in those with a history of liver disease. It is dangerous to those who are hypersensitive to its ingredients. The important drugs of this class include isocarboxazid (Marplan), moclobemide (Aurorix, Manerix, Moclodura), phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), levo-deprenyl (Selegiline, Eldepryl), and harmala.

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) act mainly by inhibiting the reuptake of both norepinephrine and serotonin. Though the type of side effects experienced by the patient due to TCAs or MAOIs are many times similar, the frequency of these side effects is much less in the case of TCAs. Thus, TCAs enjoy a better rate of acceptance by the patients. The TCAs of interest in the treatment of depression include amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep, Tryptanol), amoxapine (Asendin, Asendis, Defanyl, Demolox, Moxadil), clomipramine (Anafranil) desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane), dothiepin hydrochloride (Thaden, Prothiaden), doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan), imipamine (Tofranil), Iofepramine (Lomont, Gamanil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and triimipramine (Surmontil).

The SSRIs act by inhibiting the serotonin reuptake, and are considered the most popular, effective and safe prescription medications. The SSRIs used to treat depression include citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram oxalate (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Prozac Weekly, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR), and sertraline (Zoloft). Prozac, a drug of this class, has shown significant success in the treatment of depression and prevention of suicide. It exhibits less potential side effects as compared to TCAs and MAOIs, and is well tolerated.

The currently available SNRIs (desipramine, duloxetine, nefazodone, and venlafaxine) keep both serotonin and norepinephrine at the right level to alleviate depressive symptoms. Nefazodone alleviates anxiety, causes some sedation and positively affects sleep. Venlafaxine (Effexor) has significant anticholinergic effects (dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary hesitancy, and constipation), induces sedation and has potential withdrawal effects.

The drug bupropion (Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR) is the most commonly used member of the novel Antidepressant class. It is unique in its efficiency to inhibit the reuptake of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. Maprotiline (Ludiomil) and mirtazapine (Remeron) are the two main drugs from the group of tetracyclic Antidepressant. Mirtazapine acts by increasing the amount of noradrenaline and serotonin, and is of benefit in particular for the treatment of depression accompanied with anxiety, agitation and /or sleep disturbances.

The natural Antidepressants that impress their effectiveness on experts include St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), SAM-e (S-adenosyl-L-methionine), and 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan). Other natural Antidepressants that are in need of research-based studies to prove their efficacy, safety and usability in the treatment of depression include herbs (Ginseng and Ginko), amino acids (l-tyrosine and phenylalanine), and certain nutrients, including B vitamins.

In the movies, a girl decides she wants to get pregnant and ceremoniously throws out her birth control pills. A few scenes later, we see her with a big, swollen belly and a smile as big as the sun.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work this way in the real world. Getting pregnant after using birth control can take time. In a lot of cases, more time than a woman and her mate might anticipate.

Birth control pills, shots and patches are designed to disrupt the normal release of an egg into the fallopian tube. To achieve this, contraceptives use hormones that also disrupt the natural flow of the body. The removal of these medications from the body entirely will take a bit of time. It might, in fact, take several cycles for the body’s normal cycling to get started again.

The length of time necessary for the body to return to its normal functioning will vary depending on the type of birth control being used and the woman in question. Some women can throw out their pills and conceive on the very next cycle. Others require a bit more time.

More Tips and Secrets

For those who use injections, such as Depo Provera, the length of time for the cycles to return to normal can be long, even after injections have ceased. Some women see a return to normal within about three months. Other women have gone as long as 18 months following their last shot without a return to normal cycles.

When other forms of birth control are used, such as IUDs, the return to a normal cycle will also be required before pregnancy can be successful. For those who use condoms only for birth control, there is no waiting period suggested since the woman’s natural cycle has not been disrupted.

It is normally recommended that a woman wait at least one full normal cycle before she tries to conceive. This simply helps the body regain its functioning before the strain of pregnancy is put on it.

Still, the wait isn’t always necessary. Some women, just like in the movies, manage to get pregnant within weeks of ceasing to take birth control pills. It is very important for women to remember, however, that there is no set calendar on when fertility will return. In some cases, it simply takes a little more time than others. There is no switch that can be turned on to speed up the process.

When people become ill, suffer injury, or are seeking treatment or relief for disorders, medical professionals often turn to prescription drugs to help treat the patient in question. Prescription drugs vary from over-the-counter medication in many ways, often including higher dosage amounts, controlled ingredients, and ingredients that have not been cleared for the average consumer.

Prescription drugs can often help relieve symptoms of illness and can help reduce pain for many patients. Unfortunately, side effects are common with prescription drugs and can cause additional discomfort or pain in some cases. Most of the time, common effects of prescription drugs are disclosed to the patient ahead of time and efforts are made to educate the patient on what to expect. Occasionally, unplanned complications may arise and may cause severe pain and unexpected problems for the person taking the medication.

Common side effects of prescription drugs are often outlined on the bottle and in the doctor’s instructions.  Some drugs may include:

•    Nausea
•    Dry mouth
•    Allergy symptoms like watery eyes, sneezing, itchiness
•    Drowsiness
•    Vomiting
•    Insomnia

Side effects are often mild and do not last for a long period of time. Many patients are able to live with the  effects of prescription medication because the issue being treated is often far more painful than the effects of the drug. Doctors often take pains to communicate with patients to warn them of potential complications that may come along with the mediation prescribed.

Although slight side effects are common with prescription medication, it is important that the drugs do not cause serious harm to patients. If a prescribed drug caused serious harm to people that take it, the drug company may be held liable for injuries, pain, and suffering. It is important that people who feel seriously adverse effects of a drug immediately seek medical attention. Doctors and other medical professionals should be notified of the effects of drugs and if a pattern of injury is noticed, the company should be alerted immediately.

If you or someone you know has been injured by prescription drugs, you may be eligible for compensation for any additional medical bills, pain, and suffering. It is wise to consult an experienced prescription drug liability attorney to discuss your legal options and formulate your case.

When the human body reacts to pollen or other substances (triggers) we can talk about the allergies. An allergy is a problem with the immune system.

Some common allergies are : itchy skin, sneezing attacks and watery eyes. There are three types of allergies :

- diet related;

- seasonal allergies;

- life long allergies.

We estimate that in the USA they are living more than 35 million people who suffer of different types of allergies.

Thanks to Allegra the allergy symptoms of the people are relived. This drug doesn’t have dangerous side effects like accutane or adderall. Some of the side effects includes : back pain, stomach upset, dizziness, fever, earache, cough, stuffy nose and menstrual cramps.

Other side effects that are less frequently encountered are : dry mouth, muscle pain, low energy, headaches, throat irritation, indigestion, drowsiness, nausea, general pain, vomiting, hives, nose infection, nightmares, itching, nervousness.

Two of the main components of Allegra are : antihistamine and decongestant.

You can take Allegra anytime of the day. This drug it is called also Fexofenadine and it is a non-sedating medicine.

Allegra the histamines. With the other words it blocks the sneezing, the itchy watery eyes and the runny nose.

To know the right dosage you must consult your doctor. Allegra comes in tablets or an an injection. The results of Allegra usually appears after and hour. You should not crush or chew the tablets. Best is to swallow. When you take Allegra avoid fat meals and antacids that contains magnesium or aluminum. Because it aggravates the side effects avoid the alcohol.

Allegra offer a great flexibility and there for the children that have at least 6 years can take the special type of Allegra (liquid or small tablets).

Consult your doctor before starting use Allegra. Tell him about your medical history : hyperthyroid, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, glaucoma or kidney problems.

During pregnancy avoid use of Allegra.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) is a class of antidepressants. The possible suicide SSRI link has been a concern for many patients seeking treatment for depression and other related issues. A person’s impulsive behavior along with suppressed mental function is a real cause for danger. Suicide and SSRI use are most likely to come from medication causing relentless agitation in the mind. Studies into this link have revealed concerned in different age groups.

Overview of Suicide and SSRI

A strong sensation, akathisa, is a side effect drug companies were able to keep hidden for a long time. Akathisa is basically the inability to stay still. This deadly sensational side effect can range from jitteriness to the feeling of being outside of ones skin.

The United States has the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to provide guidance and regulations for SSRI, while the United Kingdom has the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Both entities study and analyze the cause and effects of SSRI links to suicide. Alike, these countries require warnings of suicidal and violent behavior on the label.

There are other writings in circulation claiming that suicide and suicidal behavior decrease with rising age. A large number of these documents are over 2 years old. On the other hand, sources agree that a majority of research over the years has shown an increase in suicide for people 40 and older. Universal belief is that older users of antidepressants have a higher rate of suicide thinking and behavior.

Children and adolescents had an increase in suicide rates one year after the black box labels were required. Since 2005 suicide rates in children and adolescents have been dropping. A large part of the decrease is because physicians, parents, and guardians are being educated on side effects of SSRI related suicides and keeping an extra eye on their youth.

History of Suicide and SSRI

Over the years Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft and other related prescription antidepressant medications have been suspected of a link between increased age and suicide. Until 2004, the FDA failed to provide accurate information on SSRIs. Drug companies settled thousands of lawsuits through the years in silence. Legally, SSRI producers were able to seal legal documents from litigations.

This antidepressant family of prescription drugs arrived on the market in the late 1980s. Legal cases since then have attempted to prove that drug makers had knowledge about SSRI’s side effects from the first stages of research and failed to warn and protect consumers. Today, the FDA requires all antidepressant labels to contain a black box. This black box is a warning stating the increase in suicidal thinking and behavior aimed toward those who are 24 years of age and younger and during the first few months of medication.

Summary of Suicide and SSRI

Bactrim is a widely used and effective antibiotic medication used to treat and prevent bacterial infections.

Treating Infections with Bactrim

Some infections most commonly treated with Bactrim include:

” Bronchitis (when long-lasting or increased in severity)
” Urinary tract infections
” Middle ear infections
” Traveler’s diarrhea
” Intestinal inflammation

In most cases, adults being treated with Bactrim for bacterial infections will be prescribed one Bactrim DS (double strength) or two regular strength bactrim tablets. Children are normally prescribed one teaspoonful for every 22 pounds of body weight; dosing is usually twice daily for a period of five to fourteen days. The type and location of infection dictates the dosage amount and length.

Preventing Infections with Bactrim

The Bactrim antibiotic may also be used to prevent bacterial infections in persons with weakened or compromised immune systems. Bactrim is a common defense used in transplant patients and patients with AIDS against Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia (PCP). Likewise, Bactrim may be used to treat PCP.

Normal dosing for the prevention of PCP in adults is one tablet daily for a period of 6-12 months. In children the dosage is determined by total body surface area, and the prescribed dose is taken twice daily for three consecutive days (not to exceed 320 milligrams trimethoprim and 1600 milligrams sulfamethoxazole daily).

While Taking a Bactrim Antibiotic

It is recommended that the Bactrim antibiotic be taken with eight ounces of water, and that water is drunk periodically throughout the rest of the day to prevent uncomfortable side-effects. As with all antibiotics, the full course of the Bactrim prescription should be taken to completely clear the infection (or continue preventative protection). Bactrim works best when adequate levels of the drug are maintained, therefore, it is important to take a Bactrim antibiotic at prescribed intervals, and make every effort not to miss a dose; if a dose is missed, it should be taken when remembered, but double doses should never be taken as overdoses of bactrim antibiotics can be very serious.

Bactrim can interact unfavorably with some drugs, and can decrease the effectiveness of others, so it is important that doctors are made aware of all other medications being taken by the patient. Additionally, people with additional medical conditions, pregnant and/or breast-feeding women need to discuss the safety of Bactrim antibiotics with their doctor.

Bactrim antibiotics can cause skin and sun sensitivity. Precautions should be taken to avoid the sun when possible and protect the skin while in the sun when taking a Bactrim antibiotic.

Migraine pain relief is intended to relieve the pain of a migraine after it has started to prevent conditions from getting worse. The general goals for migraine headaches relief are to:

• Relieve the pain as quickly as possible
• Prevent additional symptoms like vomiting and nausea
• To provide ongoing relief that also minimizes costs

Migraine Pain Relief

Over-The-Counter Medications

Before many people receive a proper diagnosis, they commonly rely on over-the-counter medications for relief. But some of the sufferers will require prescription drugs. For those people that over-the-counter medications do help, the active main ingredients responsible for this relief are:

• Aspirin
• Ibuprofen
• Caffeine
• Acetaminophen

If you have not used these medications before, you need to exercise caution because they can sometimes actually make the symptoms worse. Overuse of over-the-counter medications for migraine pain relief can actually lead to a condition known as “rebound headaches”.

You should seek the advice of a doctor if you are taking over-the-counter drugs more than 3 times each week. Your doctor may be able to prescribe more effective drugs for you.

Prescription Medications

Triptans are the most common prescription drugs used to relieve the pain of acute migraines. They work by relieving the constriction of blood vessels that surround the brain. This serves to less the throbbing pain.

Triptans are also effective in relieving the symptoms of light sensitivity and nausea. Triptans work best when used at the very onset of pain.

Alternative Remedies

In addition to triptans, alternative remedies are gaining in popularity. Lying in a dark room and applying a cold compress are often used for effective migraine pain relief.