Addison`s & menstruation

Question:

I actually have an interesting question. I was diagnosed with Addison`s Disease (Primary Adreanal Failure), and I began taking Hydrocortisone & Fludrocortisone Oral everyday which will be a lifetime event for me now. My question is the first year on these medications my periods were normal but now that I have reached the 2-year mark they have dropped off to 1 every two months. I have no choice but to take these pills if I want to live but could taking both of these steroids which affect menstration be damaging my fertility?

Medication mixing

Question:

I`m going through a divorce and just cannot deal with my emotions any longer. I was wondering if taking valium with cymbalta will help me sleep, calm my nerves and help me chill during the day or will it cause bad reactions?? I really need to know pretty soon… Signed, Losing It!

Answer:

Dear Losing It,

Obviously, you are going through a difficult time with your pending divorce. Medications can play a role depending on exactly how all of this is affecting you.

Are these okay to mix?

Question:

I am taking Lyrica, 50 mg, 3 times a day, Flexerill 2 10 mg each night skelaxin 800mg 4x a day, and Oxycodone 5/325mg 2 times a day. Is it okay to mix all these together? I was just wondering

Answer:

All four of the above mentioned medications (Lyrica, Flexeril, Skelaxin, and acetaminophen/oxycodone) are considered to be central nervous system depressants. Use of all four medications may increase the chance of side effects including drowsiness, confusion, or weakness. If you are experiencing any side effects, such as those listed above, you may wish to consult with your primary care physician. Additionally, you may wish to verify that you should be taking both Flexeril and Skelaxin because both medications are used for the short-term treatment of muscle spasms, and use of two medications to treat the same condition is not generally recommended.

Tylenol arthritis pain tablets

Question:

Can I take Tylenol Arthritis Pain medication with high blood pressure? I am currently taking mediforin medication for high blood pressure.

Answer:

Tylenol Arthritis Pain Medication is an over-the-counter medicine that contains 650 mg of acetaminophen in a formulation that releases some of the medicine immediately and some over a period of time. The manufacturer claims the product can relieve arthritis pain for up to eight hours. We were unable to find any evidence that acetaminophen interacts with any currently available blood pressure medicines. Acetaminophen should not worsen blood pressure by itself, either.

Florida Is State With Highest Percentage Of Untreated Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Decision Resources, one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that Florida has 1.2 million untreated patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This number represents an enormous opportunity for pharmaceutical brand marketers and sales teams.

The new analytics tools from Decision Resources entitled PatientFinder: Asthma and PatientFinder: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease reveal that treatment rates for asthma among the U.S. states range from 40 percent to 83 percent, with the bottom rank held by Utah. Utah also has a very poor treatment rate in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ranking 48th out of the 50 states. Mississippi ranks 49th in treatment rate for both diseases. However, both Utah and Mississippi represent smaller states compared with Florida’s 1.2 million untreated patients.

Ten Million Pound Rise In Money Spent On NHS Stop Smoking Services, UK

Expenditure on NHS Stop Smoking Services was almost £61 Million in 2007/08 – nearly £10 million more than in 2006/07 and almost £36 million more than in 2001/02, a report by The NHS Information Centre reveals).

The report; Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services: England, April 2007 to March 2008; is the first annual report about NHS Stop Smoking Services covering the period since the introduction of the smoking ban in England on July 1 2007.

Statin Therapy Is Underused For Atherosclerosis Patients

Statins, a group of drugs used to lower cholesterol levels in people with or at risk of having cardiovascular disease, should be used more frequently to combat the adverse cardiovascular outcomes from atherosclerosis, according to new research published in the September 2008 issue of the Journal of Vascular Surgery. Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is the leading cause of death of adults worldwide and is caused when fatty substances collect in the inner lining of artery walls.

Drug Improves Kidney Function In Diabetics Pentoxifylline Prevents Protein Leakage Into Urine

Pentoxifylline, a drug used to treat patients with circulation problems, may also benefit those with kidney disease caused by diabetes and other conditions. Specifically, pentoxifylline decreases proteinuria, the abnormal leakage of protein into the urine, according to two articles in the September issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation.

“When kidneys are healthy, very little or no protein appears in the urine,” says Dr. Kerry Willis, Senior Vice President for Scientific Activities at the National Kidney Foundation. “Protein in the urine is an early sign that the kidney’s filters have been damaged by disease, allowing protein to leak into the urine.”

Mixing meds

Question:

Is it ok to use these 2 medications together? Indrel 10mg & Plendil 5mg?

Answer:

I am not familiar with a medication named Indrel.  However, it is likely you are referring to Inderal, a medicine commonly used to treat high blood pressure. Another name for Inderal is propranolol.  Plendil is another medicine used to lower blood pressure. Another name for Plendil is felodipine.  These medicines work in different ways to lower blood pressure so their effects can be additive when taken together. Aside from this additive blood pressure lowering effect, we did not find any indication that these medicines interact with each other. In fact, in most cases, the additive effect is the reason the two drugs are used together.  Many people take propranolol and felodipine together without any problems.  

Benefiber

Question:

I purchased a 14.95oz container of Benefiber a few weeks ago and I find that it has a terrible taste. I have been using Benefiber for many years and never experienced this awful taste. Has the formula been changed? Can I return it to the store where I purchased it and get a refund? I would appreciate your advice.

Answer:

The formulation for Benefiber has been changed.  The change in taste you have noticed may be the formulation change.