Americans rely on medications to keep them healthy. We take drugs to get rid of infections, to ease aches and pains, and to lower blood pressure. Some people use drugs to keep themselves out of wheel chairs for as long as possible (multiple sclerosis), or to keep themselves out of nursing homes (alzheimer’s). And still others need drugs to keep them alive. For example, many of those who suffer from cancer, diabetes, or HIV/AIDS rely on drugs for their very existence.
Although medications or “wonder drugs†(as you may have heard them called) can be essential to a healthy life,
Accepting the Remedy
by Lori Sciame June 6th, 2011 | Drugs, Medication
The idea of treating an illness or disease with medicines dates back thousands of years. Materials taken from nature have helped humans to feel better for generations. I remember being told by my grandmother to drink cranberry juice to help my urinary tract infection. I trusted her advice, because her practice of breaking off part of an aloe plant to rub its healing substance on my minor burns worked every time.
Thankfully, during the last two hundred years, scientists have developed drugs to treat a host of maladies. If you think about it, antibiotics alone have not only relieved pain
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Thankfully, during the last two hundred years, scientists have developed drugs to treat a host of maladies. If you think about it, antibiotics alone have not only relieved pain
Understanding Drug Interactions
by Lori Sciame May 9th, 2011 | Drugs, Medication
When your doctor prescribes a new medication, you need to remember to be your own “best advocate.†By this I mean, take the time to learn about the drug, including its side effects as well as how it interacts with other medicines you are taking. Many consumers do not realize that besides having its own side effects, the new drug may combine in a negative way with other medicines.
Think about it. It is very common today to be on several medications at one time. You may suffer from high blood pressure and depression, but did you
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Think about it. It is very common today to be on several medications at one time. You may suffer from high blood pressure and depression, but did you
Medications via the Internet – Helpful or Harmful?
by Lori Sciame April 12th, 2011 | Medication
In early April of 2011, The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers that not all medications purchased via the Internet are safe. Although there are reputable companies that provide quality products, the FDA states that “…there are also many 'rogue websites' that offer to sell potentially dangerous drugs that have not been checked for safety or effectiveness.â€
The scary part is that while many of these “rogue†websites look professional, they are actually providing medications that can negatively affect the health of people who ingest them. For example, these sites have been known to sell
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The scary part is that while many of these “rogue†websites look professional, they are actually providing medications that can negatively affect the health of people who ingest them. For example, these sites have been known to sell
Copaxone – Hope for RRMS
by Lori Sciame March 18th, 2011 | Medication
Copaxone, a medication produced by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., offers hope for sufferers of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
MS is an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks its own tissues – in this case the central nervous system. The symptoms of MS can vary widely, but some of the most common include fatigue, bladder control problems, numbness in the extremities, balance problems, and even blurred vision.
Although there are four types of MS, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society states that relapsing-remitting is the most common type. Approximately 85 percent of people with MS are initially diagnosed with RRMS, while
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MS is an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks its own tissues – in this case the central nervous system. The symptoms of MS can vary widely, but some of the most common include fatigue, bladder control problems, numbness in the extremities, balance problems, and even blurred vision.
Although there are four types of MS, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society states that relapsing-remitting is the most common type. Approximately 85 percent of people with MS are initially diagnosed with RRMS, while