Baby Aspirin for Prevention of Heart Attack and Stroke
Baby aspirin (81mg) has been used for quite a while to help prevent heart attack and stroke. There has been an unofficial guideline that women over 55 years old and men over 45 years old should start taking aspirin 81mg.
Now, there is some debate over who should use aspirin as prevention -which I review in this video. As you can see from the video, the pups are super interested in this topic too! 
We would love to hear about your experiences! Would you like to learn how to Save Money on Your Prescription Drugs? Please click here
Is Nitrofurantoin Safe to Use During Pregnancy?
Holy geez, I’m not digging this freaking freezing, messy weather here in Charlotte. The upside of the whole scene is it makes for a very relaxing weekend…movies galore!
I’ve got another video here for ya, once again about medication use during pregnancy. How bout that? This time I touch on whether it’s safe to use nitrofurantoin (brandname: Macrobid, Macrodantin) in pregnant women. In case you’re wondering, nitrofurantoin is an antibiotic used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Check it out!
That’s a wrap.
Did you take nitrofurantoin while pregnant? Are you currently pregnant and concerned about taking this medication? Share your thoughts and concerns below! And of course, you can always e-mail me at Cate@getpharmacyadvice.com.
While your on a video-watching kick, be sure to view our FREE video course on how you can save money on your prescription drugs. Feedback is certainly welcome!
Happy Super Bowl!
OTC Medications for Cold Symptoms in the Eye
What OTC treatments are available for a “cold in the eye?” We received this very good question from one of our readers. Pink eye had been ruled out, and symptoms were not provided, so I sort of imagined what they might be.
“A cold in the eye” is most likely viral conjunctivitis, which may be part of a systemic viral infection or an infection where the signs of the problem are only in the eye.
The symptoms of viral conjunctivitis can include: watery or a mucus-like (more watery than pure mucus) discharge; burning, sandy, or gritty feeling in one eye; crustiness in the morning followed by watery discharge; possibly a very small amount of mucus in the eye throughout the day.
The 2nd eye usually becomes involved within 24 – 48 hours after the initial eye started producing symptoms.
When it comes to viral conjunctivitis, OTC medications only work to treat the symptoms, not the infection.
OTC anithistamines/decongestant eye drops available on the market are Ocuhist and Naphcon-A, which both have generics.
If using these eye drops, put 1 to 2 drops in the affected eye(s) 4 times a day, as needed. Do not use these eye drops for more than 3 weeks!
There are also lubricant eye drops, like Hypotears, Refresh, Tears II, and their generics on the shelves that may help relieve the irritation caused by the viral infection.
Instill 1 to 2 drops of the eye lubricant drop every 1 hour to 4 times a day, as needed.
In addition, there are eye lubricant ointments available over-the-counter that work the same way as the lubricant eye drops do. The options are Lacrilube and Refresh PM, both of which have generics.
The directions of use for the ointments are to apply ½ inch strip at bedtime or 4 times a day, as needed.
Systemic agents, such as Benadryl, Claritin, or Zyrtec are not useful for viral conjunctivitis.
You may begin to feel better within days of the start of your infection, but the more likely scenario is that your symptoms would get worse for the first 3 to 5 days, with a very gradual recovery over the next 1 to 2 weeks. This means the total course of viral infection would be 2 to 3 weeks long! Yikes!
That just about wraps this discussion up.
Suffering from “a cold in the eye?” Anything to add? Have any other treatment recommendations? If so, post a blurb below so the rest of our blog family members can be more informed!
Hope to hear from you soon. Oh yes, don’t forget about our FREE video course that will help you find ways to save money on your prescription drugs.
Serotonin Syndrome Overview
I wrote an article about a drug interaction between SSRIs and Trazodone. Well, I received a lot of awesome feedback and lots of questions about, “How do I know if I have serotonin syndrome?” So, I gave some info on serotonin syndrome and symptoms…
As always, we would love to hear from you! and we would love for you to take advantage of our FREE video course on 90 Ways to Save Money on Your Prescription Drugs -start 2010 off right and save some bucks!
Avoid Using Depakote During Pregnancy
Good morning y’all!
Did anyone else noticed that we have very little information on the use of medications during pregnancy? Hmmm, guess I should get the ball rolling in that department.
Put together a little video on discouraging the use of valproate in women of childbearing age or during pregnancy.
NOTE: Related drug names are Depakote, Valproic Acid, Sodium Valproate, Depakene, and Divalproex sodium. The information provided in the video below applies to these drug names as well!
Let me know if you have anything to share regarding this matter by leaving a comment below. You can also e-mail me at Cate@getpharmacyadvice.com.
Lastly, be sure to take a look at our FREE video course, which goes over the many ways you can save money on your prescription medications. Enjoy!
Have a great weekend!
Treatment for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain
Long enough title for ya?!
There are a couple of articles for background info about Diabetes Type 2 Overview and What is Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy?
Which brings us to -How to treat diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain…
Number 1 treatment: Blood glucose control! If the blood glucose levels are kept within range, neuropathy can be slowed and possibly reversed.
In addition, to help with pain…
1. Antidepressants
- Cymbalta (duloxetine) -typical dosing for DPNP is 60mg once daily. It is only available in brand only-pricey!
- Elavil (amitriptyline) or Pamelor (nortriptyline) -both come in generic and are well tolerated but can cause drowsiness and general dryness (dry mouth, eyes…)
- Effexor XR (venlafaxine ER) -dosing is usually 15-225mg daily. Brand only so pretty pricey.
- Celexa (citalopram) and Paxil (paroxetine) -these aren’t used alone but can be added on to other therapy
2. Anticonvulsants
- Neurontin (gabapentin) -this is the most popular drug to treat DPNP. It is available in generic. Gabapentin should be titrated slowly because of side effects like dizziness and sedation.
- Lyrica (pregabalin) -like gabapentin but more potent (and expensive)
- Tegretol (carbamazepine), Lamictal (lamotrigine) and Dilantin (phenytoin) -all can help but aren’t usually used because of the major side effects.
3. Pain Drugs
- Ultram (tramadol) -works well for pain in general and DPNP -it has pain and antidepressent activity. Inexpensive and well tolerated.
- OxyContin (oxycodone CR) -major pain medicine -lots of side effects and can lead to addiction but when the pain is bad -it works!
4. Topical -Lidocaine patches -work well as an add on therapy.
5. Natural Remedies
- Capsin (capsaicin) -topical cream that is made from chili peppers! The big picture is, capsaicin causes enough irritation in the area that the pain receptors are overwhelmed and “shutdown”.
- alpha-Lipoic Acid -an anti-oxidant that helps decrease pain and numbness. Typical dose is 600mg daily.
- Evening Primrose -500mg up to 8,000mg daily. Helps nerves function better (more sensation; less pain)
- Borage Oil -1,000 -4,000mg daily. Works similarly to Evening Primrose
- Acupuncture and Magnet Therapy
We would love to hear your personal experiences! Please leave us a comment!
Would you like some help saving money on your prescription meds? Please see our FREE video series on 90 Ways to Save Money on Your Prescription Drugs.
OTC Weight Loss Products
As promised, I have put together a bit of an article on some of the different OTC weight loss products you can find at your local drugstore. The topic stemmed from a quick post I put up about Hoodia.
When it comes to OTC weight loss products, we must take into consideration that more studies are needed to prove their efficacy.
Most companies are strongly advertising their product as causing “significant weight loss without adverse effects.” However, most of the available weight loss products have not been thoroughly tested, and with the limited studies that actually have been completed, the content is most likely questionable.
Alli appears to be the only effective OTC weight loss product. This is based on hard evidence from a 16-week study comparing subjects taking Alli versus those taking nothing (aka placebo).
Patients will see most of their weight loss from Alli within the 1st year. During the 2nd year, patients tend to gain some of the weight back.
Patients taking Alli should see about a 5% weight loss in 16 weeks, as long as they take it as directed. At most, you’d probably see a 10 to 15 1b loss in weight with this medication!
The most popular nonprescription weight loss product on the market today is Hoodia (check out my previous post, “Hoodia for Weight Loss” for a little more info on this product). It’s popularity persists even with very little evidence in the medical world supporting its efficacy. Therefore, as a healthcare professional, I would have a hard time recommending it to anyone!
Some other products that contain the following ingredients may be somewhat effective: CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), green tea extract, chromium, and pyruvate.
What OTC products contain these ingredients?
1. CLA – Nature Made Conjugated Linoleic Acid and CLA Fuel
2. Green Tea Extract – Nature’s Bounty Green Tea Extract, Life Extension Mega, and Puritan’s Pride Green Tea Extract
3. Chromium – Ultra Chromium, GTF Chromium, Trimspa (in combination with other herbal supplements), and EZ-Trim (in combination with other herbal supplements)
4. Pyruvate – not sure if this is sold in your local drugstore, but there are products out there called Now Food’s Pyruvate and NSI Stabilized Pyruvate Complex.
But don’t forget these products need to undergo a lot more testing to prove they are truly effective options!
With any of the OTC products, you will see only modest weight loss. In fact, obesity treatment guidelines do not recommend using herbals or supplements as a way to lose weight. That’s how ineffective they are!
It may be a wee bit disappointing to you all, but unfortunately, there is no “magic pill” available to help you shed the pounds. Sorry, dudes!
Also, even though these medications may be herbals and supplements, they still carry side effects along with them. To be honest, there are serious issues with the quality and content of some of the OTC weight loss products on the market. Just be careful!
Have questions about a specific product? Have you tried an OTC weight loss medication before? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
I’ve said it before, and I’m going to mention it again…be sure to check out our absolutely free video course on how to save money on your prescription medications. After watching it, be sure to provide us with feedback!
Come again!
Vicks VapoRub on the Soles of the Feet to Treat Cough
Hey my peeps,
Real quick before I go to bed…
View this video to see how Vicks VapoRub can help treat your (or your child’s) persistent nighttime cough!
And that’s that!
Have you tried this before? Any experience with Vicks VapoRub to treat cough? Leave a comment below to fill us in!
Also, be sure to check out our FREE video course that reveals the many ways you can save money on your prescription medications.
Sweet dreams!
Need a Replacement for Your Blood Glucose Monitor?
For all of you using a blood glucose monitor to track your blood sugar levels, listen closely to this nifty way of getting a replacement monitor should your’s breakdown. Now, this info may not be relevant for your current machine, but it will come in handy for monitors to come in the future!
When you get your new blood glucose monitor, be sure to turn it over and call the 1-800 number on the back. Why bother? Well, by calling this number, you will be able to register your monitor, and the benefit of doing so is one that you don’t want to pass up!
By registering your monitor, you will give yourself the opportunity to get a replacement monitor for free (yes, I said FREE). Once your glucometer crashes, you can call the manufacturer for a replacement, and 9 out of 10 times, they’ll hook you up with a new one free of charge! Cool, huh?
Also, if you happen to buy faulty supplies for diabetes (i.e. test strips) definitely call the manufacturer to see how to resolve the issue.
I was at work the other night and a representative from the maker of Accu-Chek Aviva test strips dialed me up to see if I could help some people that were in need of new test strips. The couple was staying at a local hotel while on holiday when they discovered their Accu-Chek Aviva test strips were not working. They called the manufacturer to see what their options were. The representative called me to see if I’d give them a box of 50 test strips at no charge, and in return, the manufacturer would send my pharmacy the same item in order to replace what we gave away. It was a done deal!
In addition, the company was going to send another box of test strips to the couple’s home at no cost. Who knew such patient assistance existed?
This is just one example of how the manufacturing companies will help patients out. It just takes a little effort on your part to get the help that’s needed!
Just a quick post for today! If you have similar stories or advice on how to get the pharmaceutical companies to work with you, please comment below. You can also e-mail me at Cate@getpharmacyadvice.com.
Speaking of free stuff, don’t forget about our video course on how to save money on your prescription drugs. It truly is available at no charge…just trying to give a helping hand to those who are interested!
Catch ya later!
What is Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy?
We recently received an email about the article Diabetes Type 2 Overview. She asked, what is diabetic neuropathy?
First off, what is neuropathy? It is a general term used to describe disorders of the nerves.
Then, what is diabetic peripheral neuropathy?
Diabetic neuropathy is due to high glucose in the blood that leads to nerve damage. The damage can interrupt the signal traveling from a part of the body (ie foot) to the spinal cord and brain. The damage can lead to the “pins and needles” feeling, pain and numbness.
People with diabetes also have a higher risk of infection -add this to a numb area on the foot and you have the makings for a serious infection. Which is why foot care is a big deal for patients with diabetes. I always tell this story when someone says, “I can deal with some tingling and numbness, what’s the big deal?”
When I was working in the Diabetes Clinic, I met Mr. B. He had diabetes for many years. He never really changed his eating/exercise habits and didn’t really keep an eye on his blood sugar. We discussed some medicine and he started it- begrudgingly. At this point Mr. B had a little non-painful peripheral neuropathy (just some numbness around the toes). We did a full foot exam and talked about him (or someone else) checking the bottom of his feet everyday.
Mr. B. missed a few appointments over the summer (he was visiting his grandkids). While away, Mr. B. stepped on a sharp stone -it made a small puncture on the pad of his big toe. He didn’t feel it because of the numbness. Fastforward 8 weeks, Mr. B. comes in for his appointment with great stories about the grandkids. We do a foot exam, Mr. B. has a serious infection and his right toe is amputated within a few days.
I asked Mr. B. about the foot exams and he said, he thought it was silly and was embarrassed to ask someone else to look at his feet because sometimes he has trouble seeing the bottom of his feet.
What is it with infections being so serious in people with diabetes? People with diabetes get infections more easily, heal slower and often don’t feel the warning signs due to neuropathy.
Number 1 way of avoiding diabetic peripheral neuropathy? Controlled blood sugar levels!
Once a patient has diabetic peripheral neuropathy…
1. Controlled blood sugars can slow the progression and may actually reverse some of the damage done.
2. Foot Care -this includes regular foot examines with a medical professional and checking the bottom of the feet and between the toes daily -for dry, cracked skin, calluses and early signs of infection. I am, as most healthcare people are, very intense about foot care. Even wearing socks so that the seam rubs the foot can lead to an infection!
3. Medications -there are no medications to specifically treat peripheral neuropathy. There are drugs that can help control blood sugar and then there are drugs that can help with the pain caused by neuropathy.
I will go into the medicines used to treat pain associated with peripheral neuropathy in the next article.
For now, there you have it -a diabetic peripheral neuropathy overview.
Please leave some feedback!
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