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Health Focus - November 2006

Furosemide and working

November 13th 2006 04:38
Furosemide and working :
Furosemide is prescribed to treat high blood pressure. It is also used to reduce fluid accumulation in the body caused by conditions such as heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, kidney disease, and the long-term use of some medications. Furosemide reduces fluid accumulation by increasing the elimination of sodium and water through the kidneys

Treatment :
To decrease stomach irritation, take furosemide with a glass of milk or with a meal (unless your doctor directs you to do otherwise). Try to take it at the same time every day. Avoid taking a dose after 6:00 in the evening; this will prevent you from having to get up during the night to urinate.



Side Effects :
Minor: Blurred vision, constipation, cramping, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, itching, loss of appetite, muscle spasms, nausea, sore mouth, stomach upset, vomiting, or weakness. As your body adjusts to the drug, these side effects should disappear.


Major: Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about confusion, difficulty in breathing, dry mouth, fainting, increased thirst, joint pains, loss of appetite, mood changes, muscle cramps, palpitations, rash, ringing in the ears, severe abdominal pain, sore throat, tingling in the fingers or toes, unusual bleeding or bruising, or yellowing of the eyes or skin.


Interactions :
Furosemide interacts with several other drugs:

Furosemide can increase the side effects of alcohol, barbiturates, narcotics, cortisonelike steroids (such as cortisone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, prednisone, and prednisolone), digoxin, digitalis, and lithium.


The effectiveness of antigout medications, insulin, and oral antidiabetic medications may be decreased by the use of furosemide.



Phenytoin can decrease the absorption and effectiveness of furosemide


Warnings :
Tell your doctor about any unusual or allergic reactions you have had to furosemide or any medications, especially to diuretics, oral antidiabetic medicines, or sulfonamide antibiotics.


Tell your doctor if you now have or ever had kidney disease or problems with urination, diabetes mellitus, gout, liver disease, asthma, pancreatic disease, or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).


Furosemide can cause potassium loss. Signs of potassium loss include dry mouth, thirst, weakness, muscle pain or cramps, nausea, and vomiting. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor. Your doctor may want to have blood tests performed periodically in order to monitor your blood potassium levels. To help avoid potassium loss, take this medication with a glass of fresh or frozen orange juice or cranberry juice, or eat a banana every day. The use of a salt substitute also helps to prevent potassium loss. Do not change your diet, however, before discussing it with your doctor. Too much potassium may also be dangerous
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Fluphenazine and working

November 12th 2006 04:38
Fluphenazine and working :
Fluphenazine is prescribed to treat the symptoms of certain types of mental illness, such as emotional symptoms of psychosis, the manic phase of manic-depressive illness, and severe behavioral problems in children and adults. This medication is thought to relieve the symptoms of mental illness by blocking certain chemicals involved with nerve transmission in the brain.

Treatment :
To avoid stomach irritation, you can take the tablet or elixir form of this medication with a meal or with a glass of water or milk (unless your doctor directs you to do otherwise).

Measure the elixir carefully with a specially designed 5-mL measuring spoon. An ordinary kitchen teaspoon is not accurate enough for medical purposes.

Immediately prior to administration, measure the oral concentrate carefully with the dropper provided, then add it to four ounces (1/2 cup) or more of water, milk, applesauce, pudding, or a cola-free, caffeine-free carbonated beverage. To prevent possible loss of effectiveness, the medication should not be diluted in tea, coffee, or apple juice

Side Effects :
Minor: Blurred vision, constipation, decreased sweating, diarrhea, dizziness, drooling, drowsiness, dry mouth, fatigue, jitteriness, menstrual irregularities, nasal congestion, restlessness, vomiting, or weight gain. As your body adjusts to this medication, these side effects should disappear.

Fluphenazine can also cause discoloration of the urine to red, pink, or red-brown. This is a harmless effect

Major: Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about breast enlargement (in both sexes); chest pain; convulsions; darkened skin; difficulty in swallowing or breathing; fainting; fever; impotence; involuntary movements of the face, mouth, jaw, tongue, or limbs; palpitations; rash; sleep disorders; sore throat; tremors; uncoordinated movements; unusual bleeding or bruising; visual disturbances; or yellowing of the eyes or skin. Also tell your doctor if your original symptoms worsen or change after you begin taking fluphenazine.



Interactions :
Fluphenazine interacts with several other types of drugs:

Fluphenazine can cause extreme drowsiness when combined with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants (such as antihistamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepine tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, narcotics, and pain medications) or with tricyclic antidepressants.


Fluphenazine can decrease the effectiveness of amphetamines, guanethidine, anticonvulsants, and levodopa.


The side effects of epinephrine, monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, propranolol, phenytoin, and tricyclic antidepressants may be increased by this medication. At least 14 days should separate the use of this drug and the use of an MAO inhibitor.


Lithium, when used concurrently, may increase the side effects and decrease the effectiveness of this medication.


Warnings :
Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to medications, especially to fluphenazine or any other phenothiazine tranquilizers (such as chlorpromazine, mesoridazine, perphenazine, prochlorperazine, promazine, thioridazine, and triflupromazine) or to loxapine.


Tell your doctor if you have a history of alcoholism, blood disease, bone marrow disease, brain disease, breast cancer, blockage of the urinary or digestive tract, drug-induced depression, epilepsy, high or low blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, heart or circulatory disease, liver disease, lung disease, Parkinson's disease, peptic ulcers, or an enlarged prostate gland.


Tell your doctor about any recent exposure to a pesticide or an insecticide. Fluphenazine may increase the side effects from the exposure.


To prevent oversedation, avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while you are taking this medication.
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Fluocinolone (Topical)

November 12th 2006 04:31
Fluocinolone (Topical) :
Fluocinolone belongs to a group of drugs known as adrenocorticosteroids (or cortisonelike medications). It is used to relieve the skin inflammation (redness, swelling, itching, and discomfort) associated with conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, and poison ivy. Your adrenal glands naturally produce certain cortisonelike chemicals. These chemicals are involved in various regulatory processes in the body (such as those involving fluid balance, temperature, and reaction to inflammation). Exactly how this medication works is not completely understood.

Treatment:
Before applying fluocinolone, wash your hands. Then, unless your doctor gives you different instructions, gently wash the area of the skin where the medication is to be applied. With a clean towel, pat the area until it is almost dry; it should be slightly damp when you apply the medicine.

Side Effects :
Minor: Acne, burning, itching, rash, or skin dryness.

If the affected area is extremely dry or scaling, the skin may be moistened before applying the medication by soaking in water or by applying water with a clean cloth. The ointment form is probably better for dry skin.

A mild, temporary stinging sensation may occur after this medication is applied. If this persists, contact your doctor.

Major: Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or particularly bothersome. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about blistering, increased hair growth, irritation of the affected area, loss of skin color, secondary infection in the area being treated, or thinning of the skin with easy bruising.


Interactions :
This medication should not interact with other medications as long as it is used according to directions.

Warnings :
Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to any medications, especially to fluocinolone or to any other adrenocorticosteroid (such as amcinonide, beclomethasone, betamethasone, clocortolone, cortisone, desonide, desoximetasone, dexamethasone, diflorasone, flumethasone, fluocinonide, fluorometholone, flurandrenolide, halcinonide, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, paramethasone, prednisolone, prednisone, and triamcinolone).


Tell your doctor if you now have or ever had blood-vessel disease, cataracts, chicken pox, diabetes mellitus, fungal infection, glaucoma, shingles, thinning of the skin (skin atrophy), tuberculosis, or any other type of infection, especially at the site currently being treated.

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Flunisolide (Inhalation)

November 12th 2006 04:27
Flunisolide (Inhalation) :
Flunisolide (inhalation) belongs to a group of drugs called inhalation corticosteroids, which are cortisonelike medicines. They are used to help prevent the symptoms of asthma. When used regularly every day, inhalation corticosteroids decrease the number and severity of asthma attacks. However, they will not relieve an asthma attack that has already started. This drug works by preventing certain cells in the lungs and breathing passages from releasing substances that cause asthma symptoms.

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Fluconazole

November 12th 2006 04:22
Fluconazole :
Fluconazole is used to treat fungal infections of the mouth, throat, urinary tract, vagina, kidney, and liver. It is also used to treat pneumonia or meningitis caused by fungi. This medication acts by severely injuring the cell walls of the infecting fungus, thereby preventing it from growing and multiplying. Fluconazole is effective against susceptible fungi but does not kill bacteria, viruses, or parasites

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Fibroid Tumors

November 12th 2006 04:19
Fibroid Tumors :
Fibroid tumors are solid, noncancerous growths composed of smooth muscle fibers and connective tissue that grow in the walls of the uterus or out from the uterus. Only rarely do they appear on the cervix. Occasionally, they fill the entire uterus, push through the cervix, and appear in the vagina. These tumors usually grow slowly and vary in size and shape

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Fibrocystic Breast Disease

November 12th 2006 04:13
Fibrocystic Breast Disease :
Fibrocystic disease is a condition in which benign (noncancerous) lumps form in the breast, either temporarily or for the duration of the childbearing years.

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Fexofenadine and Pseudoephedrine Combination :
Fexofenadine and pseudoephedrine combination is used to treat the symptoms of an allergic response, including sneezing, runny nose, itching, and tearing. Fexofenadine belongs to a group of drugs known as antihistamines, which act by blocking the action of histamine, a chemical that is released by the body during an allergic reaction.

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Fever Blisters

November 11th 2006 07:11
Fever Blisters :
Fever blisters, also called cold sores, are fluid-filled blisters that appear on the border of the lips and on or around the nose. They are the result of a very contagious virus that affects most of the population at one time or another.

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Famciclovi and working

November 11th 2006 03:50
Famciclovi :
Famciclovir is used to treat genital herpes and herpes zoster (shingles) infections of the skin.

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Enalapril

November 11th 2006 03:46
Enalapril :
Enalapril is in a class of drugs called angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. It is most commonly used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. Enalapril is a vasodilator (it widens the blood vessels) that acts by blocking the production of chemicals that may be responsible for constricting, or narrowing, the blood vessels.

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Embolism

November 11th 2006 03:37
Embolism :
An embolism occurs when some part of the circulatory system is either partially or completely blocked by some obstructing mass that has traveled through the system. The occurrence of such an obstruction is called an embolism, whereas the mass causing the embolism is called an embolus.

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Efavirenz and working

November 11th 2006 03:27
Efavirenz :
Efavirenz is used in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. Efavirenz works by inhibiting the reproduction, or growth, of the virus, which slows down the progression of AIDS. Efavirenz does not cure HIV infection or AIDS, but it may delay the onset of other infections and diseases caused by AIDS.

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Dyspareunia and working

November 10th 2006 16:13
Dyspareunia and working :
Dyspareunia is difficulty or pain experienced by a woman during intercourse.

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Dysmenorrhea and working

November 10th 2006 16:03
Dysmenorrhea :
Dysmenorrhea is the term for painful menstruation. It occurs most commonly in teenagers and in women who have never been pregnant.

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Doxycycline and working

November 10th 2006 15:58
Doxycycline :
Doxycycline is used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections and to prevent or treat traveler's diarrhea. It acts by inhibiting the growth of bacteria.

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Doxazosin

November 10th 2006 05:43
Doxazosin :
Doxazosin mesylate is used to treat high blood pressure. It relaxes the muscle tissue of the blood vessels, which in turn lowers blood pressure. Doxazosin is also used to reduce urinary obstruction and relieve associated symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).

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Down syndrome

November 10th 2006 05:36
Down syndrome :
Down syndrome is a congenital (present at birth) disorder characterized by varying degrees of mental retardation and a variety of physical abnormalities.

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Dipyridamole

November 10th 2006 02:51
Dipyridamole :
Dipyridamole is primarily used to prevent blood-clot formation, especially in patients who have artificial heart valves and are taking the blood thinner warfarin. Dipyridamole has also been used to prevent chronic chest pain (angina) due to heart disease, although this medication has not been found to be highly effective for the treatment of angina.

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Diphenhydramine

November 10th 2006 02:44
Treatment :
To avoid stomach upset, take diphenhydramine with food, milk, or water (unless your doctor directs you otherwise).

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Dilation and curettage

November 10th 2006 02:40
Dilation and curettage, also called a D&C, is a surgical procedure in which the cervix of the uterus is dilated (expanded) and the endometrial lining of the uterus is scraped with a curette (a loop-, ring-, or scoop-shaped instrument with a long handle).

Purpose


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Digoxin and working

November 10th 2006 02:25
Treatment :
To avoid stomach irritation, take digoxin with water or with food. Try to take it at the same time every day.

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Diabetes mellitus

November 10th 2006 02:16
Diabetes mellitus, which is often referred to as sugar diabetes, is a condition in which the body is unable to properly process carbohydrates (sugars and starches), which are the body's major source of energy. There are two major types of diabetes -- Type 1 and Type 2. In this article, we will examine the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of both types. We will begin with the causes.

Cause


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Diabetes and Syndrome X

November 10th 2006 02:00
Diabetes and Syndrome X
testing of diabetes and syndrome X
Diabetes and Syndrome X :
If you have type 2 diabetes, you more than likely also have Syndrome X. The two together can be deadly unless you take steps to monitor them regularly and keep them both under control.

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Dexamethasone Neomycin and Polymyxin B

November 10th 2006 01:55
Dexamethasone Neomycin and Polymyxin B :

Dexamethasone, Neomycin, and Polymyxin B Combination is used for the short-term treatment of bacterial infections and inflammation of the eyes


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Dexamethasone (Systemic)

November 10th 2006 01:50
Dexamethasone belongs to a group of drugs known as adrenocorticosteroids (or cortisonelike medications). Your adrenal glands naturally produce certain cortisonelike chemicals. These chemicals are involved in various regulatory processes in the body (such as those involving fluid balance, temperature, and the reaction to inflammation).

Dexamethasone is used to treat a variety of disorders, including endocrine and rheumatic disorders; asthma; blood diseases; certain types of cancer; eye disorders; gastrointestinal disturbances, such as ulcerative colitis; respiratory diseases; and inflammations such as arthritis, dermatitis, and poison ivy. How dexamethasone acts to relieve these disorders is not completely understood


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Detached Retina and working

November 10th 2006 01:44
Detached Retina and working :
Normally, the retina (a part of the eye) is firmly attached to the choroid, an underlying layer of eye tissue that is rich in blood vessels. If blood or other fluid collects between the retina and the choroid, the retina may become partially or totally detached. Fluid from the vitreous cavity (the fluid-filled space within the eye) may penetrate beneath the retina via a small hole. Fluid leaking out of certain blood vessels in the eye may also penetrate beneath the retina to cause detachment.

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Desloratadine and working

November 10th 2006 01:39
Treatment :
The regular tablet form may be taken either on an empty stomach or with food or milk (unless your doctor directs you to do otherwise). The rapidly disintegrating tablet should be placed on the tongue; it will quickly dissolve and can be swallowed with or without water. Take desloratadine only as needed to control the symptoms of allergy. Desloratadine will not cure the allergy, but it will help to relieve the symptoms that are associated with the condition.

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Dermatitis

November 10th 2006 01:34
Dermatitis :
Dermatitis, sometimes also called eczema, can create a vicious cycle. Your skin itches, so you scratch it. It becomes red and swollen, and then tiny, red, oozing bumps appear that eventually crust over. You keep scratching because the itching is unbearable, so the rash gets even more irritated and perhaps even infected.

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Dentists

November 10th 2006 01:28
Dentists :
Dentists are concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and malformations of the teeth, mouth, and jaws. Most people select a dentist with a general practice who can provide routine dental care and, if necessary, can recommend a dental specialist for those conditions needing specialized treatment. Some of the dental specialties include the following practices:

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Delavirdine

November 10th 2006 01:22
Delavirdine :
Delavirdine is used in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. Delavirdine works by inhibiting the reproduction, or growth, of the virus, which slows the progression of AIDS. Delavirdine does not cure HIV infection or AIDS, but it may delay onset of other infections and diseases caused by AIDS

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Defibrillation

November 9th 2006 13:19
Defibrillation :
Defibrillation is a technique to correct ventricular fibrillation, a condition marked by very rapid, disorganized twitching or trembling of the heart muscle in place of the normal rhythmic beat. Ventricular fibrillation produces a condition called cardiac arrest, in which no heartbeat, pulse, or blood pressure can be detected. Death or permanent brain damage follows within a few minutes unless this condition is corrected or unless first-aid measures maintain blood circulation and breathing until emergency medical treatment is available.

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Darbepoetin

November 9th 2006 13:07
Darbepoetin :
Darbepoetin is used to increase the number of red blood cells in the body in patients with anemia due to renal failure and dialysis or from chemotherapy for certain types of cancers. Darbepoetin stimulates the production of red blood cells in the body through a process called erythropoiesis. In patients with chronic renal failure or those receiving certain types of chemotherapy, this process of erythropoiesis is impaired

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