How worn-out Britain finally woke up to its chronic sleep problem
As a new survey reveals two-thirds of us can’t get a good night’s sleep, we examine research on new drugs which could tackle insomnia by changing our body clocks My first serious sleep problem was triggered by looming redundancy. Faced with the prospect of losing my job, worries over money just before Christmas and anxiety about the future, I lay awake for hours, my thoughts racing, or wandered … Read more on Guardian Unlimited
Drug Push for Mosquito-Borne Diseases
January 31, 2011 | WMFE – Florida university researchers are starting a special push to create new drugs for mosquito-borne diseases, like dengue fever, West Nile virus and equine encephalitis. They’ll be meeting with pharmaceutical industry representatives in Orlando today to kick off the year-long initiative. The Aedes aegypti mosquito can spread dengue fever. Courtesy of Bujan on Flickr. The … Read more on WMFE Orlando
Spanish researchers develop new Aids treatment
A vaccine that could revolutionise Aids treatment is within grasp after Spanish scientists discovered a way of “re-educating” the body’s immune system to attack the HIV virus. Read more on Daily Telegraph
I’ve noticed over my 20 year drinking career that most major problems related to alcohol occur when hard liquor is involved. If I drink only beer, life stays under control. Also, people I’ve known who died or got into car wrecks because of alcohol… all were drinking liquor.
Seems like professional counselors could legitimately recommend that a treatment program involve beer, but absolutely no liquor.
My boyfriend was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis b last year. He had a liver biopsy which showed some cirrhosis. He saw a specialist who out him on treatment and told him not to drink. He has stopped taking the medication and is drinking again. He doesnt drink much but from what i understand he shouldn’t drink at all? I am worried about him. I think he should go back to his doctor for a yearly checkup but he says the doctor didnt tell him to come back.
A report from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices lists several reasons for the serious and sometime fatal overdoses that have occurred when methadone is used to treat moderate to severe chronic pain. ISMP points out that methadone differs from other opioids in a number of ways. For example, methadone remains in the body long after its analgesic effect has worn off. Also, a patient may not experience the full analgesic effect of methadone until 3-5 days of use, so it must be titrated more slowly than other opioids. And a high degree of tolerance to other opioids does not eliminate the possibility of methadone overdose. ISMP cites two fatalities and a near fatality from prescribing too large a methadone dose for patients who had previously taken high daily doses of Oxycontin or Vicodin. Also, if a patient on methadone stops taking the drug for three consecutive days, the patient may lose tolerance for methadone and be at risk for an overdose if the usual dose is resumed. Errors have also been reported because of confusion between methadone and other drugs with “look alike” names. In one report, a 17-year old patient with a traumatic brain injury received 25 mg of methadone BID instead of methylphenidate and suffered respiratory arrest. ISMP also points out that errors can occur because of confusion between mL and mg doses. In one case, a patient had been taking 13 mg/day of methadone, which was prepared in the community pharmacy using a 1 mg/mL methadone …
A report from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices lists several reasons for the serious and sometime fatal overdoses that have occurred when methadone is used to treat moderate to severe chronic pain. ISMP points out that methadone differs from other opioids in a number of ways. For example, methadone remains in the body long after its analgesic effect has worn off. Also, a patient may not experience the full analgesic effect of methadone until 3-5 days of use, so it must be titrated more slowly than other opioids. And a high degree of tolerance to other opioids does not eliminate the possibility of methadone overdose. ISMP cites two fatalities and a near fatality from prescribing too large a methadone dose for patients who had previously taken high daily doses of Oxycontin or Vicodin. Also, if a patient on methadone stops taking the drug for three consecutive days, the patient may lose tolerance for methadone and be at risk for an overdose if the usual dose is resumed. Errors have also been reported because of confusion between methadone and other drugs with “look alike” names. In one report, a 17-year old patient with a traumatic brain injury received 25 mg of methadone BID instead of methylphenidate and suffered respiratory arrest. ISMP also points out that errors can occur because of confusion between mL and mg doses. In one case, a patient had been taking 13 mg/day of methadone, which was prepared in the community pharmacy using a 1 mg/mL methadone …
Chronic pain is defined most simply as pain that does not go away. It can be caused by an injury, by nerve damage, or by illness, and can occur in any part of the body. Chronic pain can range from mild to severe, but it is constant. Being in chronic pain can make it difficult to live a normal productive life. Many people who experience chronic pain resort to medications to help make life bearable. Unfortunately, many of the medications commonly prescribed for chronic pain are highly addictive. This means that people can be in pain and also suffering from addictions to these pills. Some of the most commonly prescribed, and most addictive, pain medications are oxycodone, codeine, vicodin, and morphine.
Oxycodone is a narcotic used to treat moderate to severe pain caused by fractures, arthritis, and cancer. It goes by brand names such as Percoset, and OxyContin. Oxycodone is a highly addictive pain medication. Many people begin taking it to manage pain after an injury or accident, then find that they are addicted. Because oxycodone dampens the brain’s responses to pain, people find that they need more and more of it to get the same level of euphoria and pain relief. When taken as directed, oxycodone can cause headaches, nausea, and dry mouth. Overdoses can cause seizures and coma.
Codeine is another opiate commonly used as a pain medication. It is also frequently used in cough medicines. Because codeine is highly addictive, many people find themselves “hooked” without realizing it. Although codeine is only available by prescription, it is possible to become addicted to cough syrup containing codeine. Many people who are addicted to codeine take it along with alcohol, which multiplies its negative effects on the body. Sometimes people get codeine as part of a prescription for dental procedures and accompanying pain. When someone notices the relaxing effects on both pain as well as one’s stress levels, it can be used as another way to deal with daily problems rather than to get more permanent and lasting solutions that are natural.
We also observe commercials on television all the time that show us ways to relieve pain, improve depression, get a better night’s sleep and deal with daily aches. This starts to train the mind to look at prescription pills as ways to solve our daily problems and not explore natural means. Try to incorporate some natural solutions including dietary changes, supplements, increased exercise and meditation to use the mind and body to heal itself. The mind is a very powerful tool in coping with pain and can be explored to aid in relieving discomfort.
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