Blood Pressure Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives: What Is Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure can be defined as the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls as it circulates through the body. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher the pressure.When pressure is too high, it negatively affects the arterial wall and the heart must work harder. Though it
Posts Tagged ‘pressure’
Blood Pressure Drugs and Their Natural Alternatives: What Is Blood Pressure?
Monday, October 24th, 2011Nonstimulants Drugs for Treatment Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Sunday, August 29th, 2010Nonstimulants Drugs for Treatment Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
The only currently existing, approved nonstimulant ADHD medication is atomoxetine (Strattera).
HOW DOES THIS DRUG WORK?
Strattera is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, which essentially means it increases the activity of the brain chemical (or neurotransmitter) norepinephrine. More norepinehrine is thought to increase attention and control hyperactivity and impulsivity in ADHD.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
The effectiveness of Strattera in the treatment of ADHD was established in four studies of pediatric patients ages 6 to 18. Compared with placebo, Strattera proved to be superior with respect to reducing impulsiveness, hyperactivity, and inattention. The effectiveness of Strattera for long-term use (for more than nine weeks) in child and adolescent patients has not been thoroughly evaluated.
POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS
Common side effects are loss of appetite, drowsiness, headache, stomachache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, dry mouth, diarrhea, constipation, difficulty sleeping, sexual dysfunction, agitation, irritability, and difficulty urinating.
MAJOR CAUTIONS (more…)
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Stimulants Drugs for treatment Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Sunday, August 29th, 2010Stimulants Drugs for treatment Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate)
- Pemoline (Cylert)
- Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)
- Mixed amphetamines (Adderall)
HOW DO THESE DRUGS WORK?
Central nervous system stimulants help to balance the activity of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in the brain. Through this mechanism, they tend to increase attention span, improve focus, and decrease distractibility in people with ADHD.Although these medicines have a stimulating effect in most people, they tend to have a calming effect in children and adults with ADHD.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
Symptoms are improved in about 70 percent of people with ADHD. In children specifically, 75 to 80 percent improve after starting a stimulant medication.
POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS
Loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, dry mouth, weight loss, stomachache, headache, overstimulation/anxiety, dizziness, tics, listlessness/lethargy, angina, and mood changes are the more common side effects associated with stimulants. In higher doses, paranoid psychotic reactions may be seen. In typical doses, clinically insignificant elevation of blood pressure and increased heart rate may occur.
MAJOR CAUTIONS
In February 2007, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered that all companies making stimulant drugs for ADHD add warning labels to their products. These new labeling regulations addressed two major concerns.
First, heart-related problems, including risk of sudden death in children with heart problems; risk of stroke, heart attacks; and sudden death in adults with a history of heart disease.
Second, psychiatric problems: these drugs may trigger or exacerbate negative behaviors and emotions, especially in those with any family history of mental illness. Suppression of growth is also a major concern with long-term use of stimulants in children. Psychological and/or physical dependence on stimulants can occur.
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Atherosclerosis and CAD Drugs Nitrates
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010Atherosclerosis and CAD Drugs Nitrates
- Isosorbide dinitrate, sublingual and chewable (Isordil, Sorbitrate)
- Isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, Ismo, Isotrate ER,Monoket)
- Nitroglycerin ER (Nitroglyn)
- Nitroglycerin ointment (Nitro-Bid ointment, Nitrol)
- Nitroglycerin skin patches (Deponit, Minitran, Nitro-Dur, Nitrodisc,
- Transderm-Nitro)
- Nitroglycerin spray (Nitrolingual)
How do these drugs work?
This class of medications dilates the veins returning blood to the heart as well as the heart arteries, increasing oxygenation of the heart cells.
What are the benefits?
Quick relief of heart pain (angina)
Potential side effects
- Constant throbbing headache
- Flushing of the head and neck
- Increased heart rate or heart palpitations
- Nausea, vomiting
Major cautions
Drop in blood pressure, causing dizziness and weakness
Known drug interactions (more…)
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Anxiety Drugs Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
Friday, June 11th, 2010Anxiety Drugs Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
- Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
- Phenelzine (Nardil)
- Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
HOW DO THESE DRUGS WORK?
This group of antidepressants has been used since the 1950s. They increase the brain
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Natural Alternatives to Antacid and Reflux Drugs: Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice Root (DGL)
Friday, May 7th, 2010Natural Alternatives to Antacid and Reflux Drugs: Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice Root (DGL)
This herbal extract is very soothing to the lining of the esophagus and stomach. It also has natural anti-inflammatory effects. Studies have shown DGL to be effective for healing ulcers, and many practitioners find it helpful for GERD. There have been no direct studies of DGL for GERD.
Licorice Root
DOSAGE
Chew one to two 400-mg tablets three times daily, 20 minutes before meals. DGL is also available in powder form.
SAFETY
While higher doses of regular licorice root may elevate blood pressure and cause water retention, this is not a concern with DGL. Glycyrrhizin, the constituent that may elevate blood pressure and cause water retention, has been removed.
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Antacid and Reflux Drugs: Pro-motility Drugs
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010Antacid and Reflux Drugs: Pro-motility Drugs
Metoclopramide (Reglan)
HOW DOES THIS DRUG WORK?
Metoclopramide (Reglan) is one in the class of pro-motility drugs approved for GERD. It works by mildly increasing the pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter, which strengthens contractions of the esophagus and speeds up emptying of the stomach. All these actions are thought to reduce reflux. It is most effective when taken 30 minutes before meals.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
This drug reduces symptoms of GERD. It is not very effective for treating the symptoms of GERD, however, and is usually prescribed as an addition to other GERD medications or for those who do not respond to common GERD medications.
POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Restlessness
- Involuntary movements of the eyes/face/limbs
- Muscle spasms
- Trembling of the hands
- Personality changes such as depression or thoughts of suicide
- High fever
- Sweating
- Muscle stiffness
- Confusion
- Unusually fast heartbeat
MAJOR CAUTIONS (more…)
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Pulmonary hypertension
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009Related posts
Pulmonary hypertension – a fairly common condition, which is to diagnose, especially in the early stages of development, and very difficult to treat. Since pulmonary hypertension encountered in their practice every physician, and often the pediatrician.
Thursday, July 30th, 2009Pulmonary hypertension – a fairly common condition, which is to diagnose, especially in the early stages of development, and very difficult to treat. Since pulmonary hypertension encountered in their practice every physician, and often the pediatrician. Pulmonary hypertension (LH) is defined as an increase in the average pressure in the pulmonary artery (LA) more than 25 mm Hg. Art. at rest or more than 30 mm Hg. Art. under load. There are currently over one hundred known diseases, which develops LH, secondary in these cases, ie, the main complication of the disease. Known essential and LH, which remained unknown reason. According to the recommendations of WHO (1961), this disease is known as