Some time ago (not sure of exact date) I made a video explaining what to do if you vomit after taking your medication (click here to see video).

A couple of days ago I received this question from a reader (a real life scenario on the topic at hand!):

Roughly 30 minutes after taking my bp meds:lisinopril 40mg, methyldopa 250mg, Hctz 25mg, I vomited. Should I redose?

This answer may be confusing, but hopefully you’ll get the jist of my message!

Very interesting situation you’re in…blood pressure medications are certainly important.  In your case, I would consider how well your BP is being controlled.  Are you at your goal blood pressure with your medications on a consistent basis?  Have you had any cardiovascular events (i.e. heart attack, stroke, etc.)?  The less severe your case, the better I’d feel about not re-dosing your meds!

Most likely some of each of the medications got into your bloodstream, but probably not to the full extent they usually do.  If I were you, I’d redose one of them (whatever one you’d like -none of them will be over max dose if you take them again), and then you can see how you feel. 

If you end up with a headache, it’s likely you’re BP is up.  You could take another one of your BP meds at this point.  If you feel dizzy or light-headed, it may be that your BP is low (most you can do here is sit/lay down and wait it out…should be fine in a bit!).

If you don’t feel anything, that’s okay too.  Just resume your regular dosing schedule the next day!  Hope this helps and wasn’t too confusing. Let me know if I need to be more clear!

Thanks for getting in touch,
Cate

If any of you are confused about my answer or have further questions, please get in touch with me at Cate@getpharmacyadvice.com or leave a comment below.

And I highly suggest you check out our video course on how to save money on your prescription meds…it’s free for you and will help you keep that moolah in your wallet or bank account or pocket! 

Peace out.

Now what do you do?  Check out my video below to find out!

Recap:

1.  If you vomit within 15 minutes of taking your medication, take the medication again…no matter what!

2.  If it has been 60 minutes or more since your dose, do not take another dose…it has probably gone past your stomach already.

3.  If it has been between 15 to 60 minutes, this is where it gets a little tricky.  Use your best judgement based on the medication you’re dealing with.  If the risk of not taking your medication again outweighs the risk of having too much of it, then definitely go ahead and redose yourself. 

In most cases (or with most drugs), you want to be conservative and not retake the “lost” tablet, capsule, etc.  Take into consideration the toxicity of the drug, and watch my video again if need be!

Shoot me an e-mail if you have a specific medication in mind when it comes to whether or not you should redose yourself after vomiting.  Cate@getpharmacyadvice.com is where you can find me!

And you can find this ultra helpful video course on how to save money on your prescription drugs by clicking here.

P.S. The video course is free and instantly accessible!

Heartburn is that painfully burning feeling you can get in your stomach, throat and chest.  There are many issues that can cause heartburn -but if you get heartburn just occasionally, these are some natural remedies you can use to avoid and treat the heartburn…

PREVENT:

1.  Avoid foods that you know cause you heartburn -popular heartburn causing foods include: chocolate, onion, coffee, spicy food, alcohol and tomatoes.

2.  Drink water -drink a full glass of room temp water 30 minutes before a meal.  This helps prepare the belly for the food to come.  Just an FYI, too much water can cause you some problems -water can dilute the enzymes that help digest food.

3.  Wait to go to sleep -wait 2-3 hours after eating before you lie down. 

4.  Eat slowly -take time to chew your food!

5.  Eat some weeds -dandelions are known to help your body digest food better.  You can eat dandelions straight or perhaps more appetizing, have some dandelion tea 30 minutes before eating.

6.  Eat licorice - I know lots of people don’t like licorice but I totally heart it!  Regular licorice can help but the best kind is deglycyrrhizinated licorice.  Chew 30 minutes before eating. 

7.  Probiotics- probiotics are the “good bacteria” that can be found in yogurt.  You can get them in capsule form too -it is best to take both lactobacillus (works in small intestines) and acidophilius (works in large intestines).  They will help your body digest food better.

TREAT:

8.  Chew licorice and drink dandelion tea-these help treat too.  

9.  Drink aloe vera -mix the gel with some low-acidic juice or take capsules.  Aloe vera soothes the intestinal tract and aids in digestion.

10. Eat some papaya-or you can use papain tablets.  Papaya promotes digestion and soothes the belly.

I’ll stop at 10 -there are many more natural remedies and home remedies -please share yours!

Just a few notes on natural/home remedies…

1.  Natural or home remedies often have quite a bit of anecdotal evidence but no hard scientific fact…   

• Mostly because there is not much money in these remedies, so none of the companies want to  put funding into researching a product that won’t make them too much money.

2.  The FDA (the government agency that approves drugs) does not regulate natural remedies…

• So, the natural/home remedy does not need to prove that they actually work
• The herbs do not need to actually contain the amount of herb that the label states

3.  Natural/home remedies do have side effects!

• Vitamins and herbs are drugs too
• Oftentimes, they will have less side effects because they are not as potent as synthesized drugs

Here are some of the articles (in no particular order)… 

Neti Pot -Helpful or Harmful?

Benefits of Caffeine

Hoodia for Weight Loss

Natural Remedy for Heartburn

Vinegar for Diabetes Type 2

Hangover Remedies

Honey for Cough in Kids

Healthy Vegetarian

Home Remedies for Bug Bites and Stings

Magnets for Arthritis Pain

Leamonheads for Upset Stomach

Elderberry for the Flu

Treatment for Sebaceous Cyst

If you want to see them all, please see our Natural/Home Remedies Category.

We would love to hear about your natural/home remedies!

Once again, if you want to SAVE MONEY on YOUR MEDICATIONS! Watch our video series *free*

I used to take Zyrtec or Benadryl, but lately am feeling very bad when I do.  In fact, when I ate corn chips, I felt just as bad.  My twin sister (we are identical) is allergic to corn, and I’m suspecting I may be, too.  Is there any way I can obtain allergy medicine that does not contain corn starch or any corn product?  I’ve been reading about “compounding” or something like this.  

The good news about most (not all) food sensitivities is that it is possible to “grow” out of them.  The bad news is that most food allergies can not be “handled” by an antihistamine (Claritin, Benadryl, Zyrtec, Allegra).  This means if you have a corn allergy and take a Claritin, you still can’t eat corn.  So, my advice to Ambar would be, don’t eat corn chips!  I know it sucks

What is a food allergy? It is an overactive response of the immune system.  The immune system mistakenly identifies the food as a toxin that it needs to fight against.  The reaction can include itchiness, rash, shortness of breath, congestion and stomach pains.  Anaphylaxis is the worst kind of reaction.  If you experience anaphylaxis to a food, that food should NOT be reintroduced.

The best thing to do with a food allergy is avoid the food!  So, if you have a corn allergy, you should avoid all obvious foods like corn,popcorn, corn chips corn bread, etc.  It also means avoiding foods that have corn “snuck” into them -so start reading the labels and avoid anything with corn syrup (not easy!) 

After avoidance of the allergan and under your physician’s supervision, it may be possible to start slowly adding the food back in to your diet.  

Helpful Hint: If you do eat corn and an allergic reaction starts, take Benadryl .  Although it will not “cure” the reaction, it will help and it works the fastest.

It is true that most drugs (including Claritin and Benadryl) have some form of corn in them.  Although disturbing, the amount of corn found in tablets is usually minimial and will not cause an allergic reaction. 

If  by chance, you do react to the corn found in the drugs, you can have most drugs compounded at a compounding pharmacy.  Compounding pharmacies are pretty awesome -they can prepare drugs in different strengths and without specific ingredients (i.e. corn).

Just a li’l note about food allergies.  Most food allergies reactions will be an itchy, red rash.  However, a milk allergy will often cause excess mucus and nasal congestion. 

We would love for you to join our family!

Prevacid now joins Prilosec (omeprazole) as the only proton pump inhibitors (PPI) available OTC. 

In the video, I go over some general info on Prevacid OTC, PPIs and PPIs versus H2 blockers -like Zantac (ranitidine).

Please leave a comment below!

Also, using OTC drugs is one of many ways to save money on your drugs. If you would like to learn 89 more ways to save money, please watch our totally *FREE* video series -90 Ways to Save Money on Your Prescription Drugs

Your free video course 90 Ways to Save Money on Your Prescription Drugs is ready!!! Start saving your money now (so you can spend it on something fun! )

I wanted to check in even though it’s well past my bedtime.  I wanted to give you a slice of life here from GetPharmacyAdvice.com by passing on this great e-mail/question I received from a member of our community. 

The following message pertains to Meniere’s Disease, and I wanted to pass it on in hopes that others would find it helpful in some way, shape, or form! 

“CATE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS. I HAVE HAD THE RADICAL REMOVAL OF THE INNER EAR. AS I AGE AND BECOME MORE WOBBLY THE LESS I FEEL LIKE GOING OUT ALONE.
MY EAR STILL RINGS AND ROARS AND AT TIMES MY EAR HAS SO MUCH PRESSURE I FIND IT HARD TO THINK CORRECTLY. IT HAS BEEN OVER FIVE YEARS AND I STILL EXPERIENCE THIS. WILL THIS EVER GET ANY BETTER?
I DO NOT KNOW OF ANYONE THAT HAS THIS DISEASE AND NEVER HEARD OF IT PRIOR TO BEING DIAGNOSED WITH IT.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN A ATTENDING A MEETING WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE THIS DISEASE AND HAVE HAD THE RADICAL SURGERY”.

My response:

I wrote the Meniere’s article with folks like you in mind.  I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve had patients call me at the pharmacy because they were scared, confused, and frustrated.  Unfortunately, as you probably know, there is no cure for Meniere’s and the cause of the condition is unknown.  

Will you get better?  That’s tough to say and maybe something your physician would be better able to answer, but I do know that patients do experience temporary spontaneous remissions that last for varying amounts of time.  If you click on this link,  http://www.menieres-disease.ca/index.htm, it should bring you to a very helpful resource full of information on Meniere’s.  The site was started by individuals suffering from Meniere’s Disease, and it has a ton of information including success stories, chat rooms, and a free newsletter. 

I am not aware of a site that announces onsite meetings for specific locations around the country, but I think the chat rooms on the site I mentioned above will be very helpful to you – people involved in the chat room may be able to lead you in the right direction!  Also, the founders of the site appear to be very available for those in need – not only do they provide you with their e-mail address, but they allow you to call them as well! 

I hope I was at least a little helpful here.  Let me know if there’s more I can do for you and keep me informed of what additional information you may come upon (support groups, group meetings, alternative treatments, etc.) so I can pass the info on to the rest of the GetPharmacyAdvice.com community.

If any of you have comments to add with any info that may be helpful in further addressing this reader’s concerns, please feel free to send it our way.  We’re part of a lovely community here and we hope that everyone can come together to create a supportive atmosphere. 

Before I close this article out, I wanted to let you know that you can click on the following link in order to read my previous article on Meniere’s Disease: http://www.getpharmacyadvice.com/menieres-and-the-ears/.  Once again, I encourage you to voice your opinions and thoughts!

Oh yes, and don’t forget to grab our free video course about money saving ideas relating to your prescription meds by visiting http://www.getpharmacyadvice.com/freegift.html.  You get instant access to the course so check it out ASAP! 

Catch y’all later!

*First up, Emetrol Syrup…..

If you are going to take Emetrol Syrup, it will work best if you do not drink any kind of fluids right before or after taking it.  Also, do not water it down because it may not work as well.

THE ADULT DOSE: Take 1 to 2 tablespoons every 15 minutes or until you feel better, but do not go over 5 doses in 1 hour (children ages 2 to 11 would take 1 to 2 teaspoonfuls)

You can find Emetrol at any drug store – it’s the box with the rainbow on it that’s usually located in the antacids section!

*Next is Pepto-Bismol…..

Pepto-Bismol is for people ages 12 and older.  It comes in a chewable tablet or a suspension, and neither contains sugar so it’s safe for patients with diabetes (unlike Emetrol because of all the sugar in it!).  Pepto should not be taken for more than 2 days. 

THE DOSE: Take 2 tablespoons every 30 minutes to 1 hour as needed.  The most you can take is 16 tablespoons in 24 hours.

*Now for Zantac……

It is not a good idea to use Zantac in children younger than 12 years old, but it is okay to give to an elderly person.  You can take it with or without food, and it would be best if you can get down a whole glass of water with it.  It is available over-the-counter (OTC) as a 75mg and 150mg tablet.

THE DOSE: Take 75mg to 150mg by mouth once or twice daily.

 *Time for Ginger…..

Since ginger is available in a lot of different forms, I’m going to stick with talking about the most popular form – the capsule.  There is usually 500mg of ginger per capsule.  Ginger is actually more appropriate for morning or motion sickness, but it may be worth trying it for your nausea/vomiting brought on by a “stomach bug”. 

THE DOSE: Take 1 to 2 capsules by mouth every 6 hours as needed.  Do not take more than 4000mg (8 capsules) per day.

*Lastly, Pedialyte…..

If you are vomiting, you should definitely drink liquids to keep from losing too much water.  Pedialyte is the best option because it is made of water and nutrients (which you lose a lot of when vomiting).  If a child is vomiting, you should not give them Pedialyte until they have seen a doctor.  Pedialyte may taste better if you chill it in the fridge first, and you should throw it if you do not finish it within 2 days of opening it.

THE DOSE: Drink 1 to 2 liters (1 to 2 bottles) throughout the day (it may sound like a lot, but even children are allowed this much after they’ve seen their doctor!).

As I’ve said before, these OTC medications are probably not going to help much.  There are prescription medications that work well if you really need something to stop the nausea and vomiting.  In fact, if you think you’ve lost too much water from vomiting, you should see a doctor.  Otherwise, just take it easy and take care of yourself! 

***If you like our site, please add it to your favorites so you have a quick and easy way to get to getpharmacyadvice.com – we’ll give you the information you need!***        

Note: If you didn’t get a chance to read my first nausea and vomiting article, definitely check it out! 

Viruses are the most common cause of the “stomach bug” and are easy to get from being around other people that are infected.  Infections caused by bacteria may not be as common as viral infections, but they are not as rare as the infections due to a parasite.  The bacteria usually come from eating spoiled foods and drinking bad water.

Note: The flu is not the same thing as a “stomach bug” – it is a different kind of viral infection and does not usually cause nausea and vomiting.

The reason the nausea and vomiting topic has come up is because I find it hard to help patients with these symptoms – they make you feel yucky, but there is just not much that can stop the madness.

Medications made to kill viruses will not be prescribed by your doctor, and very rarely will antibiotics be given for “stomach bugs” caused by bacteria.  You just have to ride it out with lots of rest!

Nausea and vomiting caused by the “stomach bug” is not a serious problem in healthy adults.  However, it can be life-threatening for people that are very ill or weak, very young, and very old – these folks are more likely to lose too much water which can lead to death. 

People of all ages that have been vomiting should drink plenty of liquids.  Water is fine, but what is even better is a product called Pedialyte because it gives you back the water plus the nutrients you have lost.  You should drink as much as you can, even if you have to take a lot of small sips.

As your nausea and vomiting start to go away (this should happen between 24 to 48 hours), eat what you think your stomach can handle – foods like cereal, gelatin, rice, applesauce, bananas, toast, and crackers may be some good choices.

So, get lots of sleep, drink those liquids, and eat what you can!  If you think you need to take an OTC medication to help you feel better (and haven’t reached the point of needing to pay your doctor a visit), please read my “Nausea and Vomiting, it’s the Pits” and “What to Do about Nausea and Vomiting Caused by a Stomach Bug” articles to see what you can do. 

Also, please send me an e-mail at Cate@getpharmacyadvice.com or leave a comment on my articles – I’d love to hear from you!