Archive for the ‘Medicine’ Category:
Written on April 14th, 2010 by adminno shouts
Pravastatin sodium refers to a medication that blocks enzymes and is prescribed to lower triglycerides and high cholesterol. Available in generic form, it is under the drug category of statins, which inhibit the liver’s cholesterol production. A lot of side effects come with this drug and must be watched out for.
Licensed for the treatment of various conditions, pravastatin sodium can also be used to prevent heart-related problems like heart disease. This drug is perfect for people who are not able to lower their cholesterol though personal lifestyle changes as it can lower both kinds of cholesterol along with triglyceride levels, which are the primary fat storage of the human body.
Pravastatin sodium can also lower any chances of getting heart disease, if you have high cholesterol without coronary heart disease. If this is the case, your chances will lower of getting a heart attack, dying from heart-related problems and needing heart procedures. It can even lower the chances of getting certain conditions in those who suffer from heart disease, such as a stroke or a heart attack. It also lowers the rate in which atherosclerosis comes about in people who already have heart disease.
Within clinical research that focused on pravastatin, side effects came about in more than 5% of the participants and these effects included diarrhea, common cold, headache, vomiting and nausea. Side effects that were less common included fatigue, dizziness, gas, constipation, indigestion and heartburn.
Pravastatin also has several side effects sometimes that need immediate notifications to a doctor. These would include liver damage signs; muscle weakness, pain, or tenderness; muscle aches; memory loss; significant and unexplained changes in produced urine; as well as allergic reaction signs like rashes, hives, itching; difficulty breathing or wheezing; and throat, mouth, or tongue swelling.
As with every kind of statin, pravastatin sodium could bring about muscle aches, though they are usually only temporary and do not come with any more serious symptoms. However, such drugs could also bring about myopathy; this refers to when muscle fibers lose their function and get weak. Statins are also related to life-threatening conditions like rhabdomyolysis that could lead to kidney damage. Since pravastatin affects the liver to lower the production of cholesterol, it could produce side effects within the liver, too, and will show through jaundice, extreme fatigue, dark urine, persistent nausea and abdominal pain. Very rarely, people will suffer from memory loss, but this is extremely rare that researchers have not given the two a definite connection.
It would be possible for you to experience several of these side effects of pravastatin sodium or none at all. Sadly, doctors will not be able to tell beforehand if you will get these side effects unless you have taken the medicine in the past. So, make sure that your doctor knows if you experience any of them or if something seems wrong as you take the drug. Although it might not turn out to be side effects, your doctor can find out what the problem really is and treat it anyway.
Written on April 3rd, 2010 by adminno shouts
Zyrtec refers to an antihistamine sold in a generic form that is mainly prescribed for seasonal symptoms of allergies like sneezing, itchy eyes and runny nose. It can even be put to use for the treatment of hives, though there are several possible zyrtec side effects.
Even though zyrtec is part of the newer generation of antihistamines and therefore has less chances of causing drowsiness compared to its older counterparts, it still has the power to cause drowsiness in around 13% of people that take it. Based on clinical studies, other zyrtec side effects in adults include fatigue, sore throat, dizziness and dry mouth. These have only come about in around 5% of consumers, though.
Zyrtec side effects in children tend to be different than those experienced by adults. The most common effect it has on children happens to be headaches and this occurs within 14% of them. Clinical studies have also shown that children have experienced abdominal pain, sore throat, diarrhea, coughing, nosebleeds and drowsiness from taking zyrtec.
Naturally, every medicine out there might cause side effects; however, a lot of people only get minor effects from them, if any of all. Check with a healthcare provider if any of the following common zyrtec side effects persist with your or get quite bothersome: drowsiness, stomach pain, dry mouth, tiredness and trouble sleeping. Zyrtec could also cause several serious side effects, as follows, though this only happens very rarely: confusion, wheezing, anxiety, difficulty breathing, hypertension, difficulty urinating, heart palpitations and rapid heartbeat.
Zyrtec seems to be much more sedating compared to loratadine, but the body system may still suffer from various side effects. The side effects of the nervous system include headache, somnolence, and fatigue. These tend to be related to the dosage, though, and usually occur more frequently if the doses are higher than 10mg every day. Other side effects of the nervous system include insomnia, nervousness, and dizziness, as well as convulsions and aggression reaction.
The gastrointestinal effects that zyrtec could have include vomiting, nausea and dry mouth. Occasionally, an increase in appetite, dyspepsia, and pharyngitis have been reported, too. Hepatic effects include rare abnormalities in liver function tests which can bee instantly resolved after stopping zyrtec therapy and there has also been a single case involving recurrent acute hepatitis associated with the use of zyrtec. Respiratory effects include wheezing, bronchitis, asthma, coughing, and sinusitis – all of which are very rare; while dermatologic effects include urticarial and maculopapular eruptions along with fixed drug eruptions. More general effects include accidental injury and epistaxis, while there was a single case of hypersensitivity effects through anaphylactic reaction.
Make sure you get medical attention immediately if any of the more extreme side effects of zyrtec happen, such as rashes, hives, difficulty breathing, itching, swelling, unusual hoarseness, fainting, dark urine, irregular heartbeat, mood or mental changes, seizures, persistent fatigue, severe dizziness, unusual bleeding or bruising, and the yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Written on April 3rd, 2010 by adminno shouts
Tegretol is usually put to use to treat seizure disorders, such as certain kinds of epilepsy, as well as extreme jaw, throat and tongue pains. Additionally, several doctors may prescribe tegretol for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal, emotional disorders (like depression), and cocaine addiction. It also works against restless legs and migraine headache. Unfortunately, there are some possible dangerous tegretol side effects that you need to know about.
Tegretol side effects can never be anticipated, so if you get them or notice changes in their intensity, get in touch with your doctor right away since he is the only one who can determine whether it would be safe to keep taking tegretol or not. Side effects that you could experience at the beginning of your treatment might include dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, vomiting, unsteadiness, allergic reactions, changes in blood pressure, hives, light sensitivity, rashes and swelling.
Never use tegretol if you suffer from bone marrow depression, tegretol sensitivity, or sensitivity to any antidepressant drug, really. You also have to avoid taking tegretol if you take MAO inhibitor antidepressants like parnate or nardil or if you took such drugs within the last two weeks.
Tegretol is not just a mere pain reliever, so it should never be used to relieve minor pains and aches. If you suffer from kidney, heart, or liver damage; an adverse reaction of the blood to various drugs; serious drug reactions; or glaucoma, you need to thoroughly talk to your doctor about if before taking any tegretol. Also, you should never stop taking tegretol abruptly if you need it for major seizure prevention; otherwise, there is a high possibility of you getting continuous attacks of epilepsy without getting conscious again and this could lead to potential extreme brain damage, if not death. Doctors should be the only ones to determine whether tegretol consumption should be stopped or not.
Because drowsiness and dizziness are some tegretol side effects, you need to avoid driving cars, operating machinery or partaking in high-risk activities that need complete mental alertness – at least until you are aware of how you react to tegretol. Tegretol happens to have the ability to increase all of your cholesterol levels, as well, so make sure your doctor screens you regularly for cholesterol.
Tegetrol can also cause skin, blood, and liver reactions, whether early on in the treatment or later. Because of this, you have to let your doctor know right away if you get any warning signs such as a sore throat, fever, rashes, mouth ulcers, skin spots, easy bruising, swollen lymph glands, vomiting or nausea, loss of appetite, or eye and skin yellowing.
If you end up experiencing tegretol side effects like fever, rashes, sore throat, mouth ulcers, purplish or reddish skin spots, or easy bruising, you need to tell your doctor right away since they might be signs of blood disorders brought about by tegretol.
Written on April 3rd, 2010 by adminno shouts
Spironolactone side effects could be minor like dizziness, thirst or loss of appetite. However, several more serious ones exist, too, and include a decrease in heart rate, an increase in levels of potassium and muscle weakness.
Spironolactone is a diuretic that stops the body from taking in too much salt, thus reducing overall water retention without losing any potassium. It also happens to prevent hypokalemia; this condition makes the blood’s potassium levels drop significantly. Those aside, spironolactone can treat hypertension, liver cirrhosis, hyperaldosteronism and edema. Although spironolactone has the potential to treat different medical conditions, however, there are some spironolactone side effects, as well as several precautions that need to be taken before using it.
Even though side effects from spironolactone are not frequent occurrences, several of them are mild and can be easily tolerated and treated by doctors, while others are more serious. Several common ones include dry mouth, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, weakness and nasal congestion.
Aside from the more common of these side effects, several people might get more extreme ones. If any of these symptoms occur, get medical attention right away: muscle weakness, hyperkalemia, breast enlargement, breast lumps, severe weakness, sore throat, yellow skin, persistent cough, irregular pulse and decreased sexual ability. In several cases, people might also get allergic reactions in the forms of skin rashes, itching, dizziness, swelling, hives, wheezing and difficulty swallowing or breathing. These spironolactone side effects could occur in both women and men, but there are also some side effects that only women will experience such as breast tenderness and menstrual cycle irregularity.
Merely knowing about these spironolactone side effects will not guarantee a total knowledge of complications or discomforts that could come about because of this drug, though. If a person wants to get this medicine prescribe, he must always let his doctor know if he suffers from kidney disease, heart disease, liver problems, urinary problems, diabetes, potassium and sodium imbalances or allergies first. Steroids would be another thing the doctor has to know before spironolactone can be prescribed.
In case a person needs surgery – even just dental surgery – he needs to let his doctor know if spironolactone is being taken since this medicine could increase the blood’s potassium level. If abdominal pain or breathing difficulties are experienced, a person needs to stop taking spironolactone and immediately get in touch with his doctor. If body lumps appear, the doctor needs to know right away, as well, since spironolactone could bring about body tumors.
Pregnant women should know that this drug could harm unborn children. In fact, it could also harm babies through the mother’s breast milk. Therefore, nursing and pregnant women have to avoid this drug or talk to their doctors before taking it. Spironolactone can be used for treatment of various ailments, but knowing the various side effects of spironolactone could be useful since doctors need to be notified immediately even if just a small side effect is experienced.
Written on April 3rd, 2010 by adminno shouts
Seroquel refers to a once-daily tablet that has been approved for adults (and sometimes adolescents and children) who need antidepressant therapy or suffer from bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. When taking seroquel, it would be best to get ready for any potential seroquel side effects that you might experience.
The most common side effects out there include dry mouth, drowsiness, constipation, dizziness, upset stomach, increased appetite, weight gain, language and speech disturbance, stuffy nose and fatigue. However, there are also more serious and extreme side effects of seroquel. In fact, antidepressants can increase the overall risk of suicidal actions and thoughts in several young adults and children, so these patients need to be watched very closely when they start seroquel treatment in case unusual changes occur in their irritability, behavior, and agitation. Such seroquel side effects should be reported to physicians right away.
Other serious side effects of seroquel exist that would need to be reported, as well. Since hypoglycemia, for example, could lead to comas or even death, your doctor needs to check your risk for diabetes before starting you on it. On the other hand, weight gain is one of the many milder side effects of the drug; but if you are particularly conscious about your weight, you should make sure you keep a regular eye on it. As for adolescents and children, always make sure their blood pressure is checked prior to starting seroquel since it could lead to a slight increase of blood pressure, too.
Other seroquel issues with side effects that would require medical attention include low counts of white blood cells, cataracts, abnormal thyroid tests, seizures, prolactin level increases, liver enzyme increasing, painful and prolonged erections and difficulties in swallowing. A cataract eye exam would also be advisable prior to starting treatment, as well as every half a year after that.
Drowsiness is another of the many side effects that have been reported. Because of this, it would be advisable not to take part in any activities that have to do with driving or machine operation for a while until you feel normal and know you can do it safely. Try to avoid getting dehydrated or overheated while taking seroquel, as well. Alcohol should also be avoided at all costs.
If you happen to be pregnant or have plans of getting pregnant, let your doctor know as this could affect his decision of putting you on seroquel to begin with. For mothers who are breast feeding, do not take seroquel at all or avoid breast feeding altogether if you do.
Naturally, this is not a full summary of the seroquel side effects you could encounter. If you want to stay completely safe, get more safety information on this product from your healthcare provider and make sure you listen closely to all of his instructions while you’re at it.
Written on April 3rd, 2010 by adminno shouts
Ranitidine refers to a medication that is put to use to reduce acid within the stomach so that GERD and stomach ulcers can be treated. This medication exists over-the-counter or by prescription (for higher doses) in generic form; the most famous brand name for it is zantac. A lot of ranitidine side effects exist, but the majority of them are never experienced by the people who take it.
Histamines are all-natural chemicals that stimulate stomach cells in order to bring about acid. Ranitidine is part of a medication class known as H2-blockers, which block histamine actions on stomach cells to reduce the production of stomach acid. Since ranitidine can reduce the overall amount of stomach acid, it is used to prevent and treat ulcers, GERD, and other conditions related to excessive secretion of acid.
Ranitidine is also helpful in promoting duodenal ulcer and stomach healing, as well as alleviating ulcer pain. It is even effective in preventing ulcer from recurring again when prescribed in a low dose for a long span of time. When it comes to doses that are higher than the ones used in treating ulcer, ranitidine has proven to be useful in the treatment of heartburn and the healing of ulcer and esophagus inflammation that might have come about due to acid reflux.
The most common ranitidine side effects usually happen in only two percent of its users. These are diarrhea or constipation, dizziness, nausea, tiredness and headache. People who take ranitidine might also go through abdominal pain, drowsiness, insomnia and decreased sexual drive.
Cardiovascular ranitidine side effects happen to be very rare and include irregular heartbeat and slow or rapid heartbeat. Several people end up having allergic reactions when taking ranitidine and might develop hives or rashes, difficulty breathing and wheezing, and throat or mouth swelling. Various other side effects that are more rare include depression, hallucinations and confusion. Liver problems could also come about along with dark urine and jaundice symptoms.
Before taking ranitidine, let your pharmacist or doctor know your entire medical history, most of all if you suffer from heartburn with dizziness, sweating or lightheadedness; jaw, chest or shoulder pain, most of all with difficulty breathing; pain that spreads to the shoulders, arms or neck; unexplainable weight loss; kidney or liver problems; porphyria; various stomach problems, like tumors; any allergies, even those related to drugs.
You should know that smoking can bring about ulcers and prevent proper healing, so try to avoid smoking when taking ranitidine. Alcohol should also be avoided since it can irritate the actual stomach and bring about bleeding. Always ask your doctor if you have questions like this. And, if you happen to be pregnant, let your doctor know that, too. Also, since ranitidine can make it into breast milk, you should avoid it since the ranitidine side effects on nursing children are still unknown to this day.
Finally, although the majority of ranitidine side effects that exist are never experienced by the people who take it, it would be smart to know what they are.