Medicrit – Medicare

Archive for July, 2009

Reductil sibutramine is categorized as an appetite suppressant weight loss drug. Reductil was approved by the FDA in 1997 as a prescription only weight loss drug. Since then Reductil sibutramine has helped number of obese people to effectively lose weight and lead a more healthy life.

Reductil sibutramine is recommended to patients who do not derive satisfactory weight loss results from regular means such as dieting and exercise. Though proved effective as a weight loss aid, Reductil sibutramine does not guarantee weight loss by its own. Reductil will only help people who are determined to lose weight and who use the drug in conjunction with a reduced calorie diet and exercise.

Sibutramine – the active ingredient in Reductil works on the neurotransmitters in the brain and dupes your brain to feel ‘full’ even when you have eaten less. Further, Reductil sibutramine also reduces craving in between meals so that you are not tempted to eat those high-calorie snacks. Thus by reducing your appetite, Reductil sibutramine controls the calorie in-take and thereby helps you to gradually loss weight.

Proper use of Reductil sibutramine

To achieve best weight loss results, one should make proper use of Reductil sibutramine. Given here is important information that will help you make proper use of Reductil sibutramine.

Always consult your doctor before using Reductil sibutramine and inform in detail about your general health conditions and medicines you may be taking. This will help your doctor determine the suitability of Reductil in your case and also determine the right Reductil sibutramine dosage for you.

The standard recommended dose of Reductil sibutramine is once daily, generally in the morning before your first meal. Reductil treatment is usually started with one 10mg tablet one day. However, your doctor may increase your dosage to 15mg depending on the effectiveness of the drug in your body and also on your tolerance to sibutramine. The dosage may also be reduced to 5mg if the 10mg treatment is not tolerated well by your body. In any case, do not alter the Reductil sibutramine dosage without first consulting your doctor.

Precautions to take before using Reductil sibutramine

Reductil sibutramine is a prescription only drug hence one should use proper precautions before using the drug for weight loss. This section offers you important information on precautions to take before using Reductil sibutramine weight loss drug.

While considering Reductil sibutramine treatment with your doctor either face-to-face or via online consultations always offer detailed information about your general health conditions and any type of prescription or OTC medicine that you may be taking. This will help your doctor to determine if Reductil will be appropriate for you and also determine the dosage.

* Do not use Reductil sibutramine if you have eating disorders, high blood pressure, and hardening of the arteries, have had a stroke.
* Do not use Reductil sibutramine if you have history of seizures, are taking another appetite suppressant, if you have taken anti-depressant monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAO) inhibitor (eg, phenelzine) within the last 14 days.
* Do not use Reductil sibutramine if you have severe liver or kidney problems, hemophilia or other bleeding problems
* Do not use Reductil sibutramine if you are suffering from depression or if you have a history of depression.
* Do not use Reductil sibutramine if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or below 18 years of age.
* Caution is also advised in patients who have epilepsy or sleep apnea.
* Inform your doctor if you have glaucoma (an eye disease) or Parkinson’s disease.
* Inform your doctor if you have any allergies or if you have a known sensitivity to any of the ingredients of Reductil sibutramine.
* Inform your doctor immediately if you experience any bothersome Reductil side effects.

Tests on Reductil sibutramine

Reductil sibutramine is proven to be a safe and effective weight-loss drug in the numerous clinical trials that were conducted before the drug was approved for use. When used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet and proper physical activity, about 77 percent of patients achieved weight loss that benefited their health.

Eleven double-blind, placebo-controlled obesity trials were conducted on weight loss using Reductil. Study length varied from 12 to 52 weeks and doses ranged from 1 to 30 mg once daily. Weight was significantly lowered when doses varied from 5-20mg in Reductil treated patients as opposed to those treated with a placebo. In two 12-month studies, greatest level of weight loss was gained by 6 months and significant weight loss was upheld across the 12 months.

Alkalizing your body is easy if you’re on a raw food diet. Raw vegan foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds are made for our bodies.

We can digest them fast, they contain a truckload of nutrition and we feel A LOT better when eating organic, ripe, and raw fruits and vegetables.

If you’re on the standard american diet (SAD), your body will most likely be highly acidic because of the foods you eat. An acidic body will have an increased risk of developing disease, compared to an alkaline body.

The foods you put into your body DO matter, and they matter A LOT. For a long time I thought that my diet didn’t matter, but then I got stomach problems, eczema and a whole bunch of other annoying little ailments. That’s when I started thinking about why this was happening.

At first I thought I was just unlucky, but after awhile I got sick of feeling sorry for myself and I decided to take action. My research and experiences lead me to the raw food diet, which heals your body and your ailments start to fall away.

Today I am living eczema free, and my stomach is functioning perfectly. All because I am eating a healthier diet and a diet high in raw foods. Now, I am not saying that you have to eat 100% raw. I don’t, and I feel good.

A good question you can ask yourself is “How can I eat more raw foods today?”

If you keep asking yourself that question you will in a few years time discover that you’re eating a high raw diet, and you feel a lot better. This is how you can start alkalizing your body today, you won’t regret it.

Antiviral Drugs General Information What are flu antiviral drugs?

Flu antiviral drugs are prescription drugs (pills, liquid, or inhaler) that decrease the ability of flu viruses to reproduce. While getting a flu vaccine each year is the first and most important step in protecting against flu, antiviral drugs are a second line of defense in the prevention and treatment of flu.

What are the treatment benefits of flu antiviral drugs?

For treatment, antiviral drugs should be started within 2 days after becoming sick. When used this way, these drugs can reduce the severity of flu symptoms and shorten the time you are sick by 1 or 2 days.

How effective are antiviral drugs at preventing the flu?

When used to prevent the flu, antiviral drugs are about 70% to 90% effective against susceptible viruses (i.e. viruses that are not resistant to the antiviral medication). It’s important to remember that flu antiviral drugs are not a substitute for getting a flu vaccine.

Antiviral Drugs for the 2008-09 Season What flu antiviral drugs does CDC recommend for use in the United States for the 2008-09 season?

There are four flu antiviral drugs approved for use in the United States. The four antiviral drugs are oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu ®); zanamivir (brand name Relenza ®); amantadine (Symmetrel®, generic); and rimantadine (Flumadine®, generic). CDC has issued interim guidance for health care providers on which antiviral drugs to use during the 2008-09 flu season.

Antiviral drugs differ in terms of who can take them, how they are given, their dose (which can vary depending on a person’s age or medical conditions), and side effects. Your doctor can help decide whether you should take an antiviral drug this flu season and which one you should use.

Use of Antiviral Drugs Who should take antiviral drugs for flu?

CDC has provided guidelines for health care professionals on the use of antiviral drugs (see Information for Health Care Professionals: Using Antiviral Agents for Seasonal Influenza). In general, antiviral drugs can be offered to anyone who wants to avoid and/or treat the flu. People who are at high risk of serious flu-related complications may benefit most from these drugs. Also, close contacts of people with the flu who are at high risk of serious flu-related complications may benefit from antiviral drugs to protect them from getting sick.

How can I get an antiviral drug for flu?

Antiviral drugs must be prescribed by a health care professional.

How long should antiviral drugs be taken?

The length of time antiviral drugs should be taken depends on how they are being used. To prevent flu, antiviral drugs should be taken for as long as flu viruses are circulating in a given setting. To treat flu, oseltamivir and zanamivir are taken for 5 days. Treatment for flu with amantadine and rimantadine should be stopped 3-5 days after beginning treatment or within 24-48 hours after the disappearance of signs and symptoms. See Treatment & Prevention: Influenza Antiviral Drugs for more information.

What side effects can occur with flu antiviral drugs?

Side effects differ for each drug. If an antiviral drug has been prescribed for you, ask your doctor to explain how to use the drug and any possible side effects. Health care professionals prescribing flu antiviral drugs should alert patients about adverse events that can occur. For more information about side effects, see Antiviral Drugs: Summary of Side Effects.

Can flu antiviral drugs help with other illnesses such as the common cold?

No. Flu antiviral drugs only work against flu viruses. They will not help reduce symptoms from the common cold or any other flu-like illnesses caused by viruses other than flu viruses. Many other viruses cause winter illnesses besides the flu.

Can people who are not in a high-risk group receive antiviral drugs?

Yes. Consult with your doctor if you are ill or have been exposed to influenza to determine if you should take antiviral drugs.

Can antiviral drugs be helpful for people unable to take the flu vaccine?

Yes. CDC and ACIP recommend use of antiviral drugs for people allergic to eggs (which can cause them to have an allergic reaction to the vaccine) or for people who previously have encountered complications from Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) associated with influenza vaccination. In addition, taking antiviral drugs may be recommended among persons that may not have a good immune response to the flu vaccine.

Should people use antiviral drugs before or after receiving the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) called FluMist®?

LAIV is one of two types of flu vaccine. It is given as a nasal spray and contains weakened, live virus. Flu antiviral drugs taken from 48 hours before through 2 weeks after getting LAIV can lower or prevent the vaccinated person from responding to the vaccine and the person may not get immune protection from the vaccine.

Antiviral drugs can be taken with the inactivated (i.e. killed) flu vaccine.

Can antiviral drugs be given even if a person is not tested for flu or if a flu test does not indicate that they have influenza?

Yes. For individual patients, influenza testing is not required for antiviral drugs to be prescribed. Testing is done based on health care provider recommendations.

Tests are available that can test for flu viruses in as little as 30 minutes or less. Flu testing can be used to rapidly confirm the flu as the cause of outbreaks. However, results from these rapid tests are not 100% accurate; the test may indicate that a person does not have influenza even though they really do have the flu. So, other information in addition to influenza test results, if done, need to be factored into decisions about using antiviral drugs. One consideration will be information about influenza circulating in the community in general.

Can influenza antiviral drugs be used in pregnant women?

Antiviral drugs are “Pregnancy Category C” medications, indicating that no studies have been conducted to assess the safety of these drugs for pregnant women. No safety problems have been identified for use of these medications for pregnant women However, because of the unknown effects of these drugs on pregnant women and infants who were exposed before birth, these drugs should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the unborn child. Physicians considering using one of these drugs in a pregnant woman should consult that drug package insert.

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) & Zanamivir (Relenza®) What are oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) and zanamivir (Relenza®)?

Tamiflu® and Relenza® are antiviral drugs known as neuraminidase inhibitors that fight against both influenza A and B viruses.

Oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu ®)is approved to both treat and prevent flu in people one year of age and older.

“nofollow” href=”http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/druginfo/relenza.htm”>Zanamivir (brand name Relenza ®) is approved to treat flu in people 7 years and older and to prevent flu in people 5 years and older.

What are the possible side effects of oseltamivir (Tamiflu®)?

Tamiflu® has been in use since 1999. The most common side effects are nausea and vomiting which usually happen in the first 2 days of treatment. Taking Tamiflu® with food can reduce the chance of getting these side effects. The FDA now requires that neuraminidase inhibitors have information in the package labeling that warns that people with the flu, mostly children, may be at an increased risk of self-injury and confusion shortly after taking and should be closely monitored for signs of unusual behavior. This precaution was added after the FDA received post marketing reports (mostly from Japan) about persons (primarily among children and adolescents) who had purposefully injured themselves or been delirious while using neuraminidase inhibitors to treat influenza. Most reports were among persons using Tamiflu. The reports appear to be uncommon. For more information, visit the Food & Drug Administration’s MedWatch page.

What should be done if complications while taking oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) occur?

Contact a health care professional immediately if someone taking Tamiflu® shows any signs of unusual behavior.

What are the possible side effects of zanamivir (Relenza®)?

Relenza® has been in use since 1999. The most common side effects are diarrhea, nausea, sinusitis, runny or stuffy nose, bronchitis, cough, headache, dizziness, and ear, nose and throat infections. Some persons, mostly those who already had a chronic lung disease such as asthma, have reported serious breathing problems such as wheezing or shortness of breath after taking Relenza® (zanamivir). In rare cases, people have had an allergic reaction to the drug, including rashes and edema (a build up of fluid in body-tissue) of the face and throat.

The FDA now requires that neuraminidase inhibitors have information in the package labeling that warns that people with the flu, mostly children, may be at an increased risk of self-injury and confusion shortly after taking and should be closely monitored for signs of unusual behavior. This precaution was added after the FDA received post marketing reports (mostly from Japan) about persons (primarily among children and adolescents) who had purposefully injured themselves or been delirious while using neuraminidase inhibitors to treat influenza. For more information, visit the Food & Drug Administration’s MedWatch page.

Who is at risk for complications from zanamivir (Relenza®)?

Persons with chronic lung diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are not recommended to use Relenza® (zanamivir), as some patients have reported difficulty breathing after inhaling the drug.

What should be done if complications while taking zanamivir (Relenza®) occur?

If you have side effects while taking Relenza® talk to your health care provider immediately.

Amantadine (Symmetrel®) & Rimantadine (Flumadine®) What are amantadine (Symmetrel®) and rimantadine (Flumadine®)?

Amantadine (Symmetrel®) and rimantadine (Flumadine®) are antiviral drugs known as adamantanes that fight against influenza A viruses, but not influenza B viruses.

Amantadine (Symmetrel®) is approved to treat and prevent flu in people older than 1 year.
Rimantadine (Flumadine®) is approved to prevent flu among people older than 1 year. It is approved to treat flu infections in people 13 and older.

What are the possible side effects of amantadine (Symmetrel®) and rimantadine (Flumadine®)?

Side effects of amantadine and rimantadine can include central nervous system (CNS) side effects such as nervousness, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and lightheadedness, and gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and loss of appetite. CNS side effects happen more often among persons taking amantadine than among persons taking rimantadine. Among some other persons with long-term illnesses, more serious side effects, such as delirium, hallucinations, agitation, and seizures, can occur. Side effects usually diminish and disappear after 1 week.

What should be done if possible complications while taking amantadine (Symmetrel®) or rimantadine (Flumadine®) occur?

If you experience side effects, talk to your health care provider immediately.

• Page last modified December 19, 2008
• Content Source: Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases (CCID)
• National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/antiviral.htm