Plavix: The Drug
Plavix drug is meant for reducing blood clots and improving blood flow to your heart, brain, and body. This drug mitigates the risk of heart attack, stroke, and serious circulation problems in people with hardening of the arteries or unstable angina. Plavix helps to keep platelets from sticking together and forming clots, which can help protect against a future heart attack or stroke. It is recommended for people who have suffered from a recent heart attack or recent stroke and poor blood circulation in the legs.
Plavix: The ingredients
Plavix for oral administration is provided as pink, round, biconvex, debossed film-coated tablets containing 97.875 mg of clopidogrel bisulfate which is the molar equivalent of 75 mg of clopidogrel base. Each tablet contains hydrogenated castor oil, hydroxypropylcellulose, mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose and polyethylene glycol 6000 as inactive ingredients. The pink film coating contains ferric oxide, hypromellose 2910, lactose monohydrate, titanium dioxide and triacetin. The tablets are polished with Carnauba wax.
Plavix: The Doses
The usual dose is 75 milligrams once a day. To give people with unstable angina an extra boost, their first dose is usually increased to 300 milligrams. It should be taken with a single 300 mg loading dose and then continued at 75 mg once daily for Patients with acute coronary syndrome.
Aspirin 75 mg-325 mg once daily should be initiated and continued in combination with PLAVIX. Plavix must not take in larger amounts than recommended by your doctor. Take this medication with a full glass of water and sometimes it can also be taken without food.
Plavix: The Side Effects
Plavix may cause major side effects if taken without prior medical consultation. These side effects include diarrhea or indigestion and severe, persistent headache; change in vision; rash; itching; nosebleeds; excessive bleeding from cuts and bleeding from gums. Apart from above upsets Plavix may cause bleeding while brushing teeth; increased menstrual bleeding; unexplained vaginal bleeding; unusual bruising; discoloration of urine or stool; black and tarry stools.
Some other severe Side Effects of Plavix may be listed as below:
• Severe Headaches, dizziness and or confusion
• unusual bleeding or bruises and nose Bleed
• swelling of face, mouth, tongue and throat
• Blood tinged stools and excretions
Plavix: Not foe every one
Don’t use Plavix in conditions given below or in extreme cases an individual may consult an expert doctor or health care expert before starting Plavix medication.
• During pregnancy or if you planning to become pregnant
• When you are already on prescription or nonprescription medicine
• You are allergic to medicines, foods, or other substances
• If you have any kind of liver or kidney problems, or a history of ulcers
• if you have any risk of trauma or surgery
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Friday, February 6, 2009
Tramadol: A Mothers Story
By: megan m
It does not matter what my real name is and what is my age exactly. What I am about to tell is one of the most extreme experiences I had ever gone thorough and it represents indeed an important lesson others should pay attention to. After being happily married for three years, my husband and I decided we should try and have a baby. Almost at the same time when we took that decision, I started to feel a strong pain in the cervical region and found out I suffered from spondylitis, a condition given by vertebral joint inflammation and usually manifested through pain and local stiffness. The doctor recommended I followed a treatment plan with Tramadol, a synthetic opioid pain reliever, and do plenty of exercise.
At exactly one year after I started taking Tramadol, I remained pregnant and was extremely happy, both me and my husband. The only problem was that I could not stop taking Tramadol and I was worried about the effects it would have on my baby. I went online and searched for Tramadol effects on unborn babies. Medical articles spoke of malformations, severe withdrawal symptoms at birth and other terrible things. While reading all this information, I kept on asking myself: what am I to do? How will I live through the pain? I am going to put my baby in danger knowingly?
Tramadol had worked its magic and pain was unknown to me. The dosage varied between 50 and 100 mg/day but I never felt the need to take more. Sometimes I would feel a little bit tired, anxious and dizzy but these were the only side-effects I experienced while taking the drug. I went to an OB specialist and discussed about the potential harm Tramadol could have on my baby. We agreed that the best thing to do was to slowly decrease the dose of Tramadol but do it as soon as possible, before the embryo develops and enters the fetal state. No matter how glad I was about my baby growing inside of me, I was terrified about quitting Tramadol. I refused to think about the intense pains I was having before.
The first days when the dose of Tramadol was lower than my body was used to were terrible. I could not concentrate and I had a hard time doing anything. The only thought that kept me going was that I am doing this for my baby and that there is nothing more important than giving birth to a healthy newborn. I could not sleep and on top of that I was dealing with usual pregnancy symptoms, including morning sickness and vomiting. When I thought that things could not go worse, the doctor told me I stood a chance of losing the pregnancy if I did not reduce the level of stress perceived by the body. He talked about spontaneous abortion, scaring the hell out of me and recommended that I spend a period of time in bed, relaxed and without too much agitation. And yes, he lowered the dose of Tramadol even lower, making it very difficult for me to support the pain.
The last day I took Tramadol was also the day when I heard my baby’s heart beating for the first time. In the meantime, my body developed a natural resistance to the pain and I was able to go through the day without too much effort. I constantly thought about giving my baby all the chances in the world and it was this strong will that got me so far. Tramadol was useful when I needed it but it was no longer necessary, especially with the baby on the way. You can never expect less from a mother. They all want their best for their child and they do everything in their powers to make sure nothing goes wrong. A closing argument for Tramadol? Take it but not if you are planning on having a baby, not if you are pregnant or nursing. The teratogenic effects of Tramadol are almost bewildering, not to mention of the effects that Tramadol can have when passed in the mother’s milk. Give your child a fair chance to life!
Article Directory: http://www.article-tree.com
It does not matter what my real name is and what is my age exactly. What I am about to tell is one of the most extreme experiences I had ever gone thorough and it represents indeed an important lesson others should pay attention to. After being happily married for three years, my husband and I decided we should try and have a baby. Almost at the same time when we took that decision, I started to feel a strong pain in the cervical region and found out I suffered from spondylitis, a condition given by vertebral joint inflammation and usually manifested through pain and local stiffness. The doctor recommended I followed a treatment plan with Tramadol, a synthetic opioid pain reliever, and do plenty of exercise.
At exactly one year after I started taking Tramadol, I remained pregnant and was extremely happy, both me and my husband. The only problem was that I could not stop taking Tramadol and I was worried about the effects it would have on my baby. I went online and searched for Tramadol effects on unborn babies. Medical articles spoke of malformations, severe withdrawal symptoms at birth and other terrible things. While reading all this information, I kept on asking myself: what am I to do? How will I live through the pain? I am going to put my baby in danger knowingly?
Tramadol had worked its magic and pain was unknown to me. The dosage varied between 50 and 100 mg/day but I never felt the need to take more. Sometimes I would feel a little bit tired, anxious and dizzy but these were the only side-effects I experienced while taking the drug. I went to an OB specialist and discussed about the potential harm Tramadol could have on my baby. We agreed that the best thing to do was to slowly decrease the dose of Tramadol but do it as soon as possible, before the embryo develops and enters the fetal state. No matter how glad I was about my baby growing inside of me, I was terrified about quitting Tramadol. I refused to think about the intense pains I was having before.
The first days when the dose of Tramadol was lower than my body was used to were terrible. I could not concentrate and I had a hard time doing anything. The only thought that kept me going was that I am doing this for my baby and that there is nothing more important than giving birth to a healthy newborn. I could not sleep and on top of that I was dealing with usual pregnancy symptoms, including morning sickness and vomiting. When I thought that things could not go worse, the doctor told me I stood a chance of losing the pregnancy if I did not reduce the level of stress perceived by the body. He talked about spontaneous abortion, scaring the hell out of me and recommended that I spend a period of time in bed, relaxed and without too much agitation. And yes, he lowered the dose of Tramadol even lower, making it very difficult for me to support the pain.
The last day I took Tramadol was also the day when I heard my baby’s heart beating for the first time. In the meantime, my body developed a natural resistance to the pain and I was able to go through the day without too much effort. I constantly thought about giving my baby all the chances in the world and it was this strong will that got me so far. Tramadol was useful when I needed it but it was no longer necessary, especially with the baby on the way. You can never expect less from a mother. They all want their best for their child and they do everything in their powers to make sure nothing goes wrong. A closing argument for Tramadol? Take it but not if you are planning on having a baby, not if you are pregnant or nursing. The teratogenic effects of Tramadol are almost bewildering, not to mention of the effects that Tramadol can have when passed in the mother’s milk. Give your child a fair chance to life!
Article Directory: http://www.article-tree.com
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Free Drug Samples Benefit Uninsured and Medicare Patients
Free Drug Samples Benefit Uninsured and Medicare Patients
A free article on Medicine
By: Carl Clarke
The issue of prescription drug samples is one that is hotly debated. Some questions whether giving out samples to lower income patients is helping them by providing them with the medication they need or if it’s hurting them by giving them a sample of a prescription they can not afford in the long term. Here are some resources on the subject to help you decide what you think.
Dr. Wayne S. Strouse wrote a letter to the editor in response to a study that appeared in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine claiming that free drug samplesare actually hurting uninsured patients. Strouse disagrees and points out that many of his Medicare and uninsured patients can barely afford to pay co-pays, let alone pay for a prescription. He also criticizes the study for comparing “patients [who are insured or on Medicare] to patients who have insurance (or with money)” saying that it “is comparing apples with oranges.” To read Dr. Strouse’s letter, go to http://www.jabfm.org/cgi/content/full/16/1/86-a
The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle published an article by guest essayist Benjamin Cohen on the topic of free drug samples. Cohen, who is obviously in favor of the samples, lists the benefits of drug samples as relief for needy patients and education for doctors. He claims that pharmaceutical drug representatives are invaluable to physicians because they provide information about new drugs and advancements that many doctors do not have time to research. He also points out the benefit to lower income and elderly patients who cannot afford prescription drugs on a regular basis. By providing them with drug samples, doctors can ensure their patients are getting the help they need. To read Cohen’s article visit the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle online at http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080620/OPINION02/806200344.
David E. Williams wrote an entry in his Health Business Blog on a new study that was published in the American Journal of Public Health, The study claims prescription drug samples are more often given to wealthy and insured Americans than low-income, uninsured patients. Williams responds with little surprise, stating that drug samples are more of a marketing tool by pharmaceutical companies and are not intended to solely help low-income patients. In fact, he writes, many free clinics don’t even accept drug samples because they know that their patients cannot afford the high-cost drugs long term. Since drug samples are used as a marketing tool, it would make sense that they are made available to insured patients who could then purchase them after trying them out, says Williams. The read this blog post visit http://www.healthbusinessblog.com/?p=1589.
The Delaware County Office of Service for the Aging (COSA) posted a fact sheet on a Medicare Prescription Drug Program, Part D, which took affect January 1, 2006. This federally subsidized drug program for seniors, available through private insurance companies, helps seniors with the cost of their prescription drugs by giving them coverage for a monthly premium of between $11 and $35 a month. This fact sheet describes the benefits and gives instructions on how to enroll in the program. The informational Web page also gives other suggestions on how to save money on drug costs including asking for drug samples from their doctor, buying medications in bulk and using generics when possible. To learn more about the program visit COSA’s Web site at http://www.delcosa.org/site/389/medicare_prescription_drug.aspx.
Ken Johnson, a Senior Vice President in the pharmaceutical division at Research and Manufacturers of America wrote a letter to the editor of the New York Times in response to an article that questions the value of the distribution of free drug samples to doctors for their patients. Johnson argues that many uninsured and low-income patients depend on free drug samples and by discontinuing them it would take away a valuable safety net for these patients. Read Johnson’s letter to the editor here: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/09/opinion/l09drug.html.
A North Carolina resident wrote an opinion article for the News and Record on a current tax law in the state that taxes physicians for free drug samples. The article asserts that current tax laws consider free drugs samples part of the physicians “office supplies,” therefore making it taxable. The author points out that many doctors and patients depend on the free samples for affordable treatment and if doctors cannot pay the taxes on the medication they would not be able to accept them. To read this full article visit the News and Record’s Web site at http://www.news-record.com/content/2008/07/15/article/free_drug_samples_beneficial.
Information about the Author:
Info-About.com offers the latest news, reports and blog posts on an expanding range of hot topics. Visit them on the Web at www.info-about.com.
Medicine Articles: http://www.article-buzz.com
A free article on Medicine
By: Carl Clarke
The issue of prescription drug samples is one that is hotly debated. Some questions whether giving out samples to lower income patients is helping them by providing them with the medication they need or if it’s hurting them by giving them a sample of a prescription they can not afford in the long term. Here are some resources on the subject to help you decide what you think.
Dr. Wayne S. Strouse wrote a letter to the editor in response to a study that appeared in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine claiming that free drug samplesare actually hurting uninsured patients. Strouse disagrees and points out that many of his Medicare and uninsured patients can barely afford to pay co-pays, let alone pay for a prescription. He also criticizes the study for comparing “patients [who are insured or on Medicare] to patients who have insurance (or with money)” saying that it “is comparing apples with oranges.” To read Dr. Strouse’s letter, go to http://www.jabfm.org/cgi/content/full/16/1/86-a
The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle published an article by guest essayist Benjamin Cohen on the topic of free drug samples. Cohen, who is obviously in favor of the samples, lists the benefits of drug samples as relief for needy patients and education for doctors. He claims that pharmaceutical drug representatives are invaluable to physicians because they provide information about new drugs and advancements that many doctors do not have time to research. He also points out the benefit to lower income and elderly patients who cannot afford prescription drugs on a regular basis. By providing them with drug samples, doctors can ensure their patients are getting the help they need. To read Cohen’s article visit the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle online at http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080620/OPINION02/806200344.
David E. Williams wrote an entry in his Health Business Blog on a new study that was published in the American Journal of Public Health, The study claims prescription drug samples are more often given to wealthy and insured Americans than low-income, uninsured patients. Williams responds with little surprise, stating that drug samples are more of a marketing tool by pharmaceutical companies and are not intended to solely help low-income patients. In fact, he writes, many free clinics don’t even accept drug samples because they know that their patients cannot afford the high-cost drugs long term. Since drug samples are used as a marketing tool, it would make sense that they are made available to insured patients who could then purchase them after trying them out, says Williams. The read this blog post visit http://www.healthbusinessblog.com/?p=1589.
The Delaware County Office of Service for the Aging (COSA) posted a fact sheet on a Medicare Prescription Drug Program, Part D, which took affect January 1, 2006. This federally subsidized drug program for seniors, available through private insurance companies, helps seniors with the cost of their prescription drugs by giving them coverage for a monthly premium of between $11 and $35 a month. This fact sheet describes the benefits and gives instructions on how to enroll in the program. The informational Web page also gives other suggestions on how to save money on drug costs including asking for drug samples from their doctor, buying medications in bulk and using generics when possible. To learn more about the program visit COSA’s Web site at http://www.delcosa.org/site/389/medicare_prescription_drug.aspx.
Ken Johnson, a Senior Vice President in the pharmaceutical division at Research and Manufacturers of America wrote a letter to the editor of the New York Times in response to an article that questions the value of the distribution of free drug samples to doctors for their patients. Johnson argues that many uninsured and low-income patients depend on free drug samples and by discontinuing them it would take away a valuable safety net for these patients. Read Johnson’s letter to the editor here: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/09/opinion/l09drug.html.
A North Carolina resident wrote an opinion article for the News and Record on a current tax law in the state that taxes physicians for free drug samples. The article asserts that current tax laws consider free drugs samples part of the physicians “office supplies,” therefore making it taxable. The author points out that many doctors and patients depend on the free samples for affordable treatment and if doctors cannot pay the taxes on the medication they would not be able to accept them. To read this full article visit the News and Record’s Web site at http://www.news-record.com/content/2008/07/15/article/free_drug_samples_beneficial.
Information about the Author:
Info-About.com offers the latest news, reports and blog posts on an expanding range of hot topics. Visit them on the Web at www.info-about.com.
Medicine Articles: http://www.article-buzz.com
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