Dangers of Prescription Drug Mixing

While mixing an alcoholic cocktail can be fun, prescription drug mixing can be dangerous, if not fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), unintentional drug overdose mortality rates have been on the rise since the early 1970s.

Drug Interactions

When we feel ill or get sick, we discuss symptoms with a doctor while he measures our blood pressure, temperature and heart rate. After discussion and possibly a few tests, we are most likely given a prescription for a drug.

Let's say you've had trouble sleeping recently. You visited a sleep doctor who prescribed a medicine to treat your insomnia. A few weeks after your visit with the sleep doctor, you contract a lower respiratory infection. You make an appointment with your general practitioner.

Your doctor goes over your symptoms and runs a few minor tests. He tells you that you have a lower respiratory infection and it has progressed to the point that you need an antibiotic. He asks you if you are on any other prescribed drugs and you tell him about the sleep medication.

After a day or so, your arm starts to throb from that accident you had six months ago. It has not hurt this bad for a while. It hurts so bad that you go to your medicine cabinet and grab your old prescription oxycodone. Oxycodone is a narcotic pain reliever.

You take an oxycodone pill and, after a short time, you feel the pain dull. Now it is bedtime and time for your next antibiotic pill (for your infection). It is also time for your sleep pill (for your insomnia). You take both prescribed drugs and look forward to a sound sleep.

This prescription drug mixing is not good. While taken separately, each prescribed drug is fine and will do its job. Yet taken together or near in time, they can make for a deadly combination.

As for our prescription drug mixing situation, the sleep medicine is supposed to cause drowsiness and allow you to fall asleep. One of the possible side effects of oxycodone is drowsiness. In addition, you have taken your antibiotic pill, which can cause dizziness. This combination of drugs is ripe for drug overdose. Added to the mix is your lower respiratory infection, which causes shallow breathing.

Luckily for you, it is just harder for you to wake up in the morning and you feel tired all the next day. Yet for some people this combination can cause respiratory distress or even death.

Accidental Overdose

How many people die from drug overdoses? In 2005, 22,400 deaths were recorded from unintentional and intentional drug overdoses, according to the CDC. This number of fatalities is caused mainly by opioid painkillers, but other prescription drug mixes have played their part in these deaths.

People who take more than six different drugs have a higher incidence (an 80% chance) of at least one drug interaction, New York's School of Pharmacy found. While not every drug mix causes death, some can cause side effects that can confuse you about your condition and make it harder for your physician to make an accurate diagnosis.

Older people are taking more prescription drugs and have difficulty keeping track of what they take and when, according to the American Association of Retired Persons. Since their physcial makeup has changed from their youth, drugs may react differently, another recipe for disaster.

Tips to Avoid Prescription Drug Mixing

While there will always be some risk of prescription drug interactions when you take more than one drug, you can keep your chances of serious side effects down by following some simple guidelines.

• Make a medication list. Include any herbal remedies, vitamins, dietary supplements and over-the-counter drugs. Make note of older prescription drugs on this list that you used to take for a condition that you may no longer have. Do not take any medication without your doctor's knowledge.
• Update the list.

Prescription Drug Abuse and Pill Withdrawal

Prescription Drug Abuse, or pill addiction as it is commonly called, and, ultimately, 'pill withdrawal' have been with us since doctors began prescribing drugs, but has become more widespread since the advent of the ‘repeat prescription’ or ‘refill’, whereby patients can have a prescription renewed without having to visit their doctor. This can be as simple for many people as visiting a pharmacy and filling out a form giving their name, address and the drug they want. This is then returned to the surgery for the doctor to countersign. The problem is that these can often be signed as routine, rather than consideration being given to the need, and so facilitating prescription drug abuse.

If a certain patient begins to request repeats more often, would this be noticed? Theoretically it should, but in practice it is frequently not. Not, that is, until the next review. Frequently, twelve repeats are allowed before the patient must again speak to the doctor personally to review the treatment. Prescription drug abuse, and resultant pill withdrawal symptoms, are generally overlooked by the medical profession.

The type of prescription drugs which lead to pill addiction are wide and varied, and not just tranquilisers such as diazepam (Vallium) and nitrazepam (Mogadon). Common ones are codeine and codeine-containing painkillers such as cocodamol, and even over-the-counter codeine based painkillers such as Solpadeine which has its own addiction support group. Most prescription drug abuse is of one or other of these two types of drug: tranquilizers or painkillers. Tranquilizer pill withdrawal is very common in developed countries.

People involved in prescription drug abuse show any of a number of symptoms which are common to all patients suffering from pill withdrawal.

The main symptom of pill addiction is an increased tolerance to the drug, so that the user needs an increased amount to get the same effects they were used to. More and more of the drug is required, and four times is not uncommon. This leads to many problems, not the least of which is that it becomes difficult to control the symptom for which the drug was being taken in the first place. For example, it becomes increasingly difficult to control pain.

Those who suffer from pill addiction have not done so deliberately. Unlike other drug addicts, they have not taken increasing doses simply to get a 'buzz'. It happens to them gradually, over an extended period of time taking the same drugs to treat their condition. Cocodamol is commonly used in the treatment of arthritis, for example, and prescription drug abuse in such cases is hardly abuse in the real meaning of the word.

The pain-killing effect reduces as the body becomes more and more used to the drug, so the patient must take more or suffer increasing pain, resulting in pill addiction. It is not deliberate, but once it starts the patient can often do little about it due to the pill withdrawal symptoms compelling them to keep taking more and more. They know it is wrong but can do little about it, and try to hide how many they are taking from their family. They reach a stage where they are frightened to admit it, and are terrified to ask their doctor for help in case the drugs are stopped altogether.

Prescription drug abuse leads to physical dependence, and the person cannot function normally without a supply of the drug. The body adapts to the presence of the drug and can function while it is being supplied, but once the course of treatment is over, the patient suffers from pill withdrawal symptoms. These can be severe, including physical illness, mood swings and aggression, and depression. Ultimately pill addiction can lead to death through overdose. Paracetamol based painkillers containing codeine, for example, can be dangerous. The patient overdoses for the codeine content, but the paracetamol is insidious and can cause severe liver damage over a period of time.

The most obvious sign of prescription drug abuse is that the persons affected cannot stop taking them. They will increase the frequency of presentation of repeat prescriptions on a pretext such as needing extra since they are shortly going on holiday, or will resort to doctor hopping. The internet has also made it easy to purchase prescription drugs online, without a prescription from the patients own doctor being required. As has been previously explained, this type of pill addiction is not their fault and more could be done to control the circumstances which cause it.

Doctors, and in some cases the pharmacists, should be aware of the potential problems of long term use of such drugs, and give advice and help once the time has come to stop them. The dose should be reduced gradually rather than suddenly stopping the supply. Prescription drug abuse and pill withdrawal are becoming a serious problem in otherwise innocent law-abiding people. It should be possible to find a means of regularly changing the chemical nature of the drugs an individual has been prescribed with in order to reduce the possibility of this type of pill addiction.

Once dependence has been confirmed, or better still, admitted by a patient, steps can be taken to treat the addiction. Kicking prescription pill addiction is not easy, but better than a lifetime habit, and the doctor can help make it easier to achieve by using gradual withdrawal techniques.

Copyright 2006 Peter Nisbet

A Drug Detox Program Can Overcome Prescription Painkiller Addiction If Done Quickly and Thoroughly

Spencer McIllwain, promising football player and all 'round good citizen of Oklahoma died nearly four months ago from an overdose of methadone. His father, Rick, recently told Tulsa World of his two year battle with his son's addiction to prescription painkillers. "There are countless people in the same situation," he said, "not knowing where to turn." It seems that Rick did everything right, everything he could do. But Spencer is dead. Even drug detox and drug rehab failed him. Why?

Spencer was first prescribed OxyContin when he sustained an ankle injury in 2003. None of the reports available say how long he was on the drug but two years later, Spencer's dad received a call from a dentist who reported that Spencer had asked for a prescription for painkillers because of a toothache. Spencer's dad knew he didn't have a toothache, and decided to look into it.

Spencer's parents went to see him, and Spencer acknowledged that he had a drug problem. He said he could handle it on his own but when his parents checked on him a few weeks later he was a mess. They quickly got him into a 30-day drug rehab program followed by a six-week outpatient program. The articles don't say whether Spencer also did drug detox.

It appears Spencer was doing okay for several months after that, but another surgery - this time for an intestinal block - again pushed him into painkillers. He went back to rehab, where he overdosed on methadone and died.

How can you avoid such a situation happening to someone you love?

1. If it is necessary for a person to take painkillers for surgery or an injury, find out from the doctor if it's possible to take non-narcotic painkillers - no morphine, no methadone, no OxyContin or any drug containing oxycodone.

2. Whatever drug is chosen, ensure you research that drug fully so you know what to expect. Check the Internet, not just with your local doctor. As we found out in the OxyContin hearings, doctors can be misled by drug companies. Thoroughly familiarize yourself with the side effects, and with the drug's potential for dependency, abuse, and addiction.

3. As soon you can, within a few days if possible, get the person to stop the painkillers. This will reduce the risk of dependence and addiction. If they have to stay on them longer than a few days or a week, contact a medical drug detox program that helps with withdrawal from prescription painkillers. They can help you determine whether the person should stop trying to take the drug on their own or if they need medical drug detox.

4. If the person does develop an addiction, get them into a medical drug detox program as a first step. This will allow them to withdraw from the drug safely. It will also set them up to be able to go through drug rehab.

5. After drug detox, ensure they get into drug rehab immediately. Choose a residential treatment program that lasts at least two months, if not longer. This gives the person enough time to address the personal issues that caused the addiction in the first place and shores them up against the possibility of relapse. The person should not leave the drug rehab program until those issues are addressed and are no longer bothering them.

6. After they leave drug rehab, ensure they are not going back into the same environment and situation that got them involved in drugs in the first place. This would generally be addressed as part of a good drug rehab program, but keep you eye on it. Stay in very close touch with them. Watch for any signs of drug use, and also watch out for alcohol. Alcohol can sometimes fuel drug abuse.

7. At the first sign of any trouble whatever, assume the worst. Not a nice thing to say, I know, but with dangerous drugs you can't be too careful.

It is possible to help someone overcome prescription drug addiction and dependency with a good medical drug detox program and long-term residential drug rehab. Prescription painkillers are so common these days that no one can afford to not know about their dangers and what to do about them. Learn what you need to, teach others, be alert, and act fast. You could save the life of someone you care about.

Gloria is a freelance writer who contributes articles on health.

How to Find a Reputable Online Drugstore

Since every other business known to man has moved their business out onto the internet it should have come as no surprise when the pharmaceutical companies decided to do the same. Yet the concept of an online drugstore, particularly one that deals in prescription medications, is one that is disconcerting to say the least. The potential to abuse the anonymity that buying drugs online presents is great, particularly in light of the fact that not all online pharmacies require interaction with a health care professional (i.e. they will sell prescription drugs without a prescription).

In light of the fact that not all drug stores require a prescription it stands to logic that not all of the drugs sold by these establishments are top quality either. There is always the potential of adverse side effects to a medication because it was improperly manufactured, resulting in a minute change to its chemical composition which can have resounding side effects within the body of the patient that they never could have predicted because the medicine in its purest form would cause no such reaction.

Regardless of the consequences, there are a number of benefits of shopping from an online drugstore. For those individuals who live in isolated areas it can be a godsend, saving them the long journey into town every time that they need to fill a prescription. This is especially true for senior citizens and those with chronic health problems who use a number of prescriptions regularly. Many online drugstores will also sell their medications at prices well below that of a regular pharmacy, a service which is priceless to the hundreds of people currently living without health insurance to help absorb some of the exorbitant cost of prescription drugs.

The dilemma, then, lies in identifying which online drugstores are reputable. The first thing to do when looking for an online drugstore is to attempt to find a virtual branch of a pharmacy which has already established a name for itself, such as Eckerd’s. Another is to look for the Vipps symbol on a pharmacies website. This means that the pharmacist is nationally certified and decreases a number of the safety risks involved with purchasing drugs online.

The practice of shopping for drugs online is a risky one regardless, but with the proper precautions it is possible to locate an honest, trustworthy online drugstore and reap the benefits that would not be available to you anyplace else.

Online-Drug-Source.com, one of the Internet's largest sources of drug news, information and online pharmacies. This site will help you evaluate online pharmacy resources and enable you to find sources of medications at competitive prices.

What "No Approved Therapeutic Claims" Means On Herbal Treatment Packages

Herbal supplements have now become popular alternatives for the health needs of many people, as new safety regulations have been implemented. However, some still ask, are they good for you? Well, that would depend on the herb, your current health and your medical history. Herbal medications sometimes have active ingredients that can affect how your body functions, just as over-the-counter and prescription drugs do.

These medications could be particularly risky for certain individuals, and many herbal product labels are often vague, confusing and of little help when it comes to making a wise selection. It is advisable to remember that if you're considering herbal supplements or other dietary products, educate yourself about any medications you intend to use before purchasing them, and talk to your doctor about any herbal products you're considering taking.

Are Most Herbal Treatments Safe?

Until recently, government regulation and consumer protection were quite limited for dietary supplements. However, new rules noted by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the federal agency responsible for regulating the safety of food and drug products, the authority to oversee the production of local and imported dietary supplements, including herbal treatments. Dietary supplements don't need to go through the rigorous review process that new drugs must undergo before being "approved" by the FDA.

However, the new regulations aim to enhance consumer safety by requiring supplement manufacturers to follow certain manufacturing practices and ensure that supplements contain what their labels claim, and are free of contaminants.

The FDA is responsible for monitoring the safety of herbal treatments after they're on the market and enforce punitive action against violators that sell unsafe supplements. These new regulations will be phased in over a three-year period so that by June, 2010, all supplement manufacturers should meet these requirements.

"No approved Therapeutic Claims": What It Truly Means

The proliferation of food and herbal supplements, which are being advertised and passed on as effective cure-all products, despite the fact that these have no established therapeutic effects, is a major problem for regulatory health agencies. To the common consumer, the phrase "No Approved Therapeutic Claims", would generally mean that a supplement has not yet been determined by the FDA to be as safe and effective as advertised.

It could also mean that no studies and long-term research have yet been done to determine the efficacy of the pill, or herb in actually treating anything. This phrase usually serves as a disclaimer of sorts. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) was passed by US Congress to ensure consumers' rights to access safe and effective dietary supplements.

This law gave the FDA the mandate to strictly monitor this sector, and ensure the products were safe and made in a consistent manner. The FDA also passed rules to require "Adverse Event Reporting", which requires herbal medicine producers to track safety data, as well as ensure good manufacturing practices. This also means that the herbal products must be made to standardized quality to ensure that consumers are getting good-quality and safe products.

Contact Lens Approval Process Has Similarities to Clinical Drug Trials

Contact Lenses are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) as Class 3 Medical Devices. Class 3 medical devices are defined by the FDA as those that support or sustain human life, are of substantial importance in preventing impairment of human health, or which present a potential, unreasonable risk of illness or injury.

Class 3 medical devices require the highest level of evidence for market approval which is a process to evaluate safety and effectiveness before the product can be brought to market. Clinical studies, scientific documentation, and reviews are required. There can also be post marketing surveillance studies after a new contact lens is released to look for further problems. Prescription drugs require a similar but much more involved process before they reach the market place.

A press release from the National Eye Institute in 2008 stated a phase one gene therapy clinical trial showed promising results for a blinding disease known as a congenital form (present at birth) of Optic Atrophy. The retinal pigment epithelium is the layer of the tissue lining the back of the eye, the retina, that nourishes the rod and cone cells we see with. A mutation in a retinal pigment epithelium gene causes these cells to respond very poorly to light and results in loss of vision. Frequently we see news on gene therapy and are led to believe everything will be cured by in short order. Patients in the study received a sub-retinal injection to replace the defective gene in areas of the retina that were still relatively healthy. Each patient had visual impairment that had been present since birth due to the defective gene. Over a 90-day period there was significant improvement in vision. Day vision was improved by 50-fold and night vision by 63,000-fold compared to levels prior to treatment. Restored vision was localized to the area of treatment in the eye that received the injection. We tend to think of new drugs and medical devices as overnight miracles but researchers have been working for 15 years to get to this point. The new generation of 30 day wear contact lenses actually started with research done in the 1970's.

All new prescription drugs and medical devices face the funding and regulatory structures that are required to pass the requirements for approval. While this process is frustrating and fraught with problems, if you spend a little time reading about the equivalent processes and equivalent oversight agency in China, you will gain a greater appreciation for the system we do have in place.

Clinical trials for prescription drugs proceed in four phases over a period of years and millions of dollars. Actually there is a new phase zero but since it is still in transition we will cover only the 4 main phases.

The first testing of drugs in humans as referred to as phase one. Typically this involves healthy individuals in a group less than 50. The main goal of phase one trials are the to make sure there are no glaring safety issues and gain some understanding of how the drug works and is processed in the body. Normally, a small (20-50) group of healthy volunteers will be selected.

Phase 2 trials are mostly just an extension of phase one with several hundred patients. They also pry a little more into the amount of drugs needed to be effective in treatment and what time intervals are needed to administer the medication.

Phase 3 studies are what brings a new drug to the corner pharmacy. Phase 3 trials may base tentative approval on only several hundred patients, and typically no more than 2000-3000 are in this phase. For you, that does mean a 1 in 10,000 lethal effect may not be known initially, or some other surprises may not be uncovered for several years. In Phase 3 patients are split into groups with one group receiving placebos (no active medication) and another group receives the actual medication, Researchers typically don't know who is getting what until the end of the study. Occasionally, it becomes so evident that a drug is saving lives or vision that the study is stopped as it is not ethical to deprive the patients receiving placebos of the full benefits of the new drug. The Woman's Health Initiative study on hormone replacement therapy for menopause was an example of this. The study was terminated early when it was determined that hormone therapy increased the risk of breast cancer.

Phase 4 is where the good, the bad, and the ugly comes out. This is also called the Post Marketing Surveillance Phase. Phase 4 trials involve the long term safety monitoring where the 1 in a million problems start to be seen over time. Also the interactions with other medications may become more evident, and strange reactions specific to an individual may appear. Long term effects like the diet drug that caused heart problems may show up after a number of years.

Our Fort Collins office has taken part in several optometrist clinical studies with contact lenses. These are somewhat like the phase 3 clinical trials for medications. A lens may be studied by eye doctors on 500-600 patients prior to approval. While there is no such thing as a placebo lens, a contact lenses that has been approved in the past can be used on one eye as a comparison control. It a lot of fun to be involved in these emerging contact lens products but also a lot of record keeping, and when patients don't keep their appointments the stipulations are pretty rigid about dropping them from the study. Generally we do not expect the same type of serious complications with contact lenses that can be seen with new medications.

One final bit of information. Sometimes things works out in odd ways. While drugs may have undergone all 4 phases and have approval for specific conditions, that does not restrict doctors from using medications "off label" in ways they have not been studied and approved for.The Food and Drug Administration regulates drugs and medical devices, not Doctors. Currently, the standard of care for certain eye infections is "off label eye drops." It would be considered substandard care to use the FDA approved medication in these special cases. This a very uncommon occurrence indicative of some weak point in the system where clinical experience is ahead of the curve. Someday there will be a way to account for these situations. Until then, we will continue to do the best with what we know today.

How To Safely Dispose Of Rx Drugs

According to the White House Drug Policy Office, prescription drug abuse among 18 - to 25-year-olds rose 17 percent from 2002 to 2005. In 2004 and again in 2005, there were more new abusers of prescription drugs than new users of any illicit drug.

Young people mistakenly believe prescription drugs are safer than street drugs, doctors say. But accidental prescription drug deaths are rising and students who abuse pills are more likely to drive fast, binge-drink and engage in other dangerous behaviors. Parents should be alert to these signs and changes in behavior.

Al Gore III's arrest may raise awareness among parents, said Dr. Donald Misch, director of health services at Northwestern University in Evanston. "This is an opportunity for people to understand this is happening in your household," he said. "These are your kids. The drug dealers they're going to are their doctors, their parents and their friends."

Parents should clean out their medicine cabinets and lock up any prescription medications. This is more than likely customary in homes with toddlers but is advisable no matter the age of the child, just to be safe. This would also prohibit giving them to friends if your child isn't a user.

Deputy drug czar, Scott Burns stated: "We found in focus groups of young people across the country that in large measure they're getting the drugs from their own medicine cabinets and the Internet. Some Web pharmacies deliver ordered drugs without legitimate prescriptions, but other sites steal credit card information and never fill orders, Burns said.

With the rise in prescription drug abuse, three federal agencies issued guidelines earlier this year for disposing of medications without harming the environment.

1. Remove unused, unneeded or expired prescription drugs from their original containers.

2. Mix prescription drugs with an undesirable substance, like used coffee grounds or cat litter, and put them in impermeable, nondescript containers, such as empty cans or sealable bags.

3. Throw containers in the trash.

4. Don't flush prescription drugs down the toilet unless the accompanying patient information says specifically it is safe to do so.

5. Return drugs to pharmaceutical take-back sites that allow consumers to return unused drugs for safe disposal.

Sources: White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Protection Agency.

Author's Note: A pharmaceutical sales representative can increase sales by volunteering to return expired or outdated medications for the wholesalers in their territory. This can be a daunting task for their employees. Offering customer service at this level is rare and not expected. This also gives the drug rep an idea of the inventory on hand and an opportunity to help sell their medications. The wholesaler can offer specials to the retail drug stores on your proprietary pharmaceuticals.

Avis E. Ward is a visonary called to unite the personal, spiritual and political through Love. She is an Ambassador of Love, Inspirational Speaker, Certified Seminar Leader and Action Coach. Avis is also an Orthodontic Management Consultant. Avis invites you to view her blog and participate in her forum.

Save Money On Prescription Drugs

Many families who are either uninsured or under-insured face high prescription drug costs. With so many uninsured and under-insured people in the United States and the high cost of prescription drugs, you hear stories about people who have to make a decision about whether to pay for their groceries or their prescription medications. You also hear of people who cut their pills in half because they cannot afford their medications. Unfortunately, patients taking multiple medications or receiving treatment for conditions like Cancer, HIV-AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and other serious illnesses may face hundreds and even thousands of dollars in prescription costs each month.

Patient Assistance Programs also known as prescription advocacy programs have been in the media recently. These programs are offered by the pharmaceutical industry to assist low income people who do not have prescription drug coverage. These programs have been in existence for the past 15-20 years; however, few people know about them. To qualify you must meet certain income requirements-generally 2 times the Federal poverty level with certain allowances for hardship cases. For more information begin your search by entering "prescription advocacy programs" or "patient assistance programs" into an internet search engine.

What if you do not qualify for a patient assistance program? How can you save money on your medications?

One thing that you can do is ask your healthcare provider to prescribe the generic version of the more expensive brand name medication. Most generic drugs are cheaper than their brand name equivalents. Both generic and brand name medications must meet the FDA's rigorous standards, so consumers can be confident that there is no discernible difference between generic and brand name drugs. According to Gary J. Buehler, Director of the Office of Generic Drugs for the FDA: "The American public can be confident that when a generic drug product is approved, it has met the rigorous standards established by the FDA with respect to identity, strength, quality, purity, and potency."

Avoid taking a new and more expensive brand name medication when an older drug is available and is equally effective. In some cases, generic drugs may prove to be safer than brand name medications. Most generic drugs have been on the market for several years, so potential side effects and problems are better known than with newer drugs. The site worstpills.org reports that there have been many more incidences of health problems associated with brand-name drugs than with the older generic drugs. Worstpills.org recommends that consumers stay away from newly launched drugs for several years to avoid this situation. For example there have been many reported serious side effects for the type 2 diabetes drug Avandia. The older drug, Glucotrol, provides equally effective blood glucose control without the serious and possibly deadly side effects of Avandia.

Do some comparison shopping. Consumers can cut their prescription drug costs by doing some comparison shopping both locally and online. Compare prices at local pharmacies, supermarkets and department stores. Also, compare different online sources as well. A study by the National Center for Policy Analysis reveals that price comparison shopping can reduce prescription costs for some common drugs up to 90%.

Consider enrolling in a discount health plan with a prescription discount card. Even if you have medical insurance, you may not have adequate prescription drug coverage. Most discount health benefit companies offer programs which include an Rx benefit. You can save up to 50% or more on your prescriptions with even larger discounts available on mail order maintenance medications.

My Favorite Natural Alternatives to ADHD Prescription Drugs

Adderall is the best known medicine for ADHD. It is a stimulant, however, there are other choices in medications that are considered to be Adderall alternatives. It's true that stimulants are effective but these are substances that must be highly controlled. If not, they can be abused. This will result in some very serious health problems.

Thus, it only makes sense to be educated on Adderall alternatives. Taking one alternative after the other is not practical. One must make sure what the side effects are of what one is taking. Adderall alternatives, therefore, cannot be obtained over-the-counter easily. These must be prescribed. If you want to know more about these alternatives, its best that you read up on the subject matter.

So many stimulant medications for ADHD have the same ingredients. However, these differ from how long each medication lasts or each medication should be released in the body. Also, Adderall alternatives include the Vyvanse, Desoxyn, Dexedrine, and Focalin to name a few. These are some that are quite popular for people suffering from ADHD.

Good thing about being knowledgeable on the Adderall alternatives is that some people know which they should take and which they shouldn't. They know that in order for them to really get over the disease, they must be able to control it on their own. If not, then they will only go through the cycle over and over again and their attempt to lessen the disease will be to no avail. We therefore encourage reading up on the subject matter of Adderall alternatives for everyone's benefit.

Michael Jackson, Demerol, and Prescription Drug Abuse

Did Michael Jackson die from a prescription drug overdose? As I write this it is barely 12 hours since the death of the "King of Pop" and rumors are circulating that there is a strong possibility an overdose of Demerol, a prescription pain killer similar to morphine might have triggered or caused his cardiac arrest. While tragic, if true then Michael Jackson is just another in a long line of meaningless deaths at the hands of prescription medications...an epidemic that has gone on for far too long.

From Elvis Presley to Marilyn Monroe to Janis Joplin and now Michael, the list of victims from prescription drugs reads like a who's who of the talented and successful. But what isn't reported in the mass media are the millions of people that are killed from prescription drugs that aren't rich and famous. These people listen to their doctors, believe the propaganda of the pharmaceutical companies and think they are doing 'the right thing' by buying often toxic man-made chemicals and poisons to treat what ails them.

The truth is that 90% of illnesses, pains and other complaints that people go to their doctors for are treatable just as easily and more effectively without using drugs than with them. Pharmaceutical companies have made billions and billions of dollars convincing people that they 'need pills' in order to deal with what are ordinary, simple health issues that the body will correct by itself without medication.

Painkillers and Antidepressants are the two most abused kinds of drugs. If you think about it, they are really two sides of the same coin. Antidepressants after all are simply 'emotional' painkillers. Unfortunately people have bought into the bogus logic that medicating away your fears, anxieties and problems is 'better' and 'more effective' than actually tackling life's challenges through hard work, focus and follow-through.

Similarly, denial is a condition that is rampant in our society and using painkillers both the physical and mental kind are a key way that pharmaceutical companies encourage denial. Let's take Michael Jackson as an example. It has been widely reported that Michael had suffered from debilitating physical problems with his back and legs from injuries during the years and years of rigorous performing. Instead of accepting that at 50 years old he was not the spry, malleable 25 year old of yesterday and forcing himself to try and live up to what were unexpectedly high levels of physical stress...he turned to painkillers.

Pain has a purpose. It is the way a person's body tells them that they are pushing themselves too hard or under too much stress. Emotional pain comes out as anxiety or depression. It is no different in that way than physical pain. By taking painkillers for his physical pain, Michael very well might have caused his life to be taken far too young. Similarly, people that don't heed their own emotional pain and camouflage it with antidepressants or turning to other drugs both legal or illegal or alcohol are simply emulating the same denial. The end result is ALWAYS bad and sometimes leads to tragedy.

4 Tier Prescription Plan - An Affordable Option That Saves You Money on Your Prescription Costs

The cost of Prescription drugs are increasing dramatically and unfortunately more and more of the expense is coming out of the consumer's pocket. As only about 60% of employers help to cover health insurance and prescription costs for their employees, this places more of a burden on the consumer. A 4-Tier Prescription plan is an option that saves you money on your prescriptions and makes prescription coverage more affordable for you.

What is a 4 Tier Plan?
With a 4 Tier plan, prescription medications are divided into co-payment categories that are called Tiers. A consumer's co-payment is normally the least for generic or brand name medications that are on the Preferred Brand Drug List. Example of Tier Pricing: Drugs in the 1st Tier are priced less than $10, prescriptions in the 2nd Tier are less than $20, drugs that fall in the 3rd Tier are less than $50 and drugs that are in the 4th Tier are at special negotiated discount prices. Consumers can normally fill prescriptions at most pharmacies and there are no deductibles that have to be met, no age requirements, no claims forms and no waiting periods. Consumers simply present their prescription card to the pharmacist to receive the discounted Tier pricing.

Are Generic Medications a Good Alternative?
A drugs brand name, is the trade name under which the product is marketed and sold, and is protected by patents so that it can only be produced by one manufacturer for a certain number of years. Generics are basically a chemical copy of the brand name drug. The drug may look different such as a different color or shape, but the active ingredients must be the same for both. Using Generic drugs does not compromise the quality of your health care and they are lower-cost alternatives to brand name drugs. The preferred drug list contains only FDA-approved generic medications.

Brand name drugs are also included on the Preferred Brand drug list.

How can a 4 Tier Prescription Plan be beneficial for you?
A 4 Tier prescription plan is designed to provide you and your physician with a high quality benefit. One that helps manage costs while still offering enormous choice. When you visit your physician, take your prescribing guide with you and have your doctor choose a preferred drug that is in the same therapeutic class in place of an expensive brand name medication that is right for you. This can significantly lower your prescriptions costs and allow you to keep more of your hard earned money in your pocket.

Today's consumer must take a more active roll in his or her own healthcare and the associated costs. A 4 Tier Prescription plan provides a prescribing guide with the preferred drugs available in each Tier. This allows you, along with your physician, to choose a drug from the same therapeutic class that is right for you and that can save you a substantial amount of money and put you in more control of your out of pocket prescription expenses. 4 Tier Prescription plans are available to both individuals and employer groups.

HOME :: Health-and-Fitness / Medicine Drugs, Impotence, and Sexual Dysfunction - Could Your Meds Be the Cause of Sexual Problems?

IMPOTENCE CAUSED BY DRUGS
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that about 39% of men are affected by impotence and of these, 25% of their problems are caused by drugs - not all of them prescription drugs. The remaining 19% had psychological issues to deal with. And men aren't alone in their plight. Although women haven't been studied nearly as much as men, the studies that do exist clearly show that drugs can and do affect and impair the female sexual response. So the problem isn't limited simply to impotence in men.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS SHOWN TO INTERFERE WITH SEXUAL FUNCTION
Along with the obvious effects produced by alcohol, marijuana, and narcotics, prescription drugs to treat medical conditions significantly interfere with normal sexual function. Drugs used to treat high blood pressure, allergies, anxiety, depression, muscle spasms, obesity, ulcers, and prostate cancer are major players in this scenario. Dr Rubin Bressler, chief of clinical pharmacology at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center in Tucson has noted that any drug that causes sleepiness can negatively affect libido. Many other drugs that affect sexual desire or sexual performance interfere with the autonomic nervous system to block the normal sexual responses to stimuli.

DOCTORS FAIL TO WARN OF SEXUAL SIDE EFFECTS
When prescribing a medication, many doctors fail to warn their patient of the potential negative effects on sexual function. Some don't know
about them. Others fear that a psychological response on the patient's part may cause an effect that would not occur if the patient remained ignorant. Others are simply too embarrassed to discuss a patient's sexual function. Doctors are human, after all.

SEXUAL DYS FUNCTION REVERSIBLE
Nearly all drug-related effects on sexual function are reversible simply by discontinuing the drug usage. Patients often recognize this and unwisely stop taking their medications without telling their doctor. The underlying health problem that caused them to be taking the medication then remains untreated. Not always a good option.

All drugs affect different people in different ways. It's rare to find a drug that has the same affect on all who take it. Some drugs, notably psychoactive drugs may actually enhance sexual funtionality. Other drugs prescribed to correct a hormonal deficiency may do the same. In all cases, a patient's risk depends on the dosage, the length of time the drug is used, the patient's general health and sensitivity to the particular drug. Often the negative effect is really the result of the illness being treated rather than the medication being given.

SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION IN WOMEN MUCH MORE COMPLEX
While sexual dysfunction is fairly straightforward in men - at all boils down to achieving erection - the condition is far more complex in women. Nevertheless, the basic and most visible result is the ability to become sexually aroused. A woman begins to feel as though she's been neutered. Oral contraceptives and anti-depressants are notorious for interfering with a woman's sexual functioning and their effects linger on long after their use has been stopped. Recognizing the vast potential of the market place, drug firms have been searching intensively for a "pink viagra" to counter these problems. To date, although they've come close a couple of times, they have not found anything that will adequately address the complexities of the female sexual response.

NATURAL FORMULATIONS OFTEN THE ANSWER
The solutions to these problems are out there. But the drug industry has no interest in producing anything it cannot patent, so the natural substances that work are pointedly overlooked. Natural formulations that work as well or better than the prescription drugs, without the side effects can be obtained by both men and women if they know where to look. The web is teeming with offers of products promising the solution to every sexual problem through the simple act of taking a little pill. And they're all proclaiming that their product is the one to take. So how do you choose? And how do you know it's the right choice?

Your Quick Guide to Prescription Weight Loss Drugs

Weight loss program and methods have created a frenzy in our society. There is no surprise that various diet plans and exercise programs, surgical methods and prescription drugs for weight loss is being introduced every month. It is the responsibility of the consumer to know the effects of the prescribed weight loss drugs to the body. Our doctors may tell us qualified opinions about the prescribed drugs because they are given commissions by these drug companies. The best thing that you can do is to do your own research on the effects of each prescribed drug given to you by your doctor.

A prescription drug for weight loss is one of the numerous methods that can help an obese person lose weight. If losing weight can not be achieved by dieting and exercise alone, there is a number of FDA - approved drugs in the market that you can talk to your doctor about that will help you achieve your goal.

Weight loss drugs are categorized based on the action of the drug in the body. Some are appetite suppressants while some are lipase inhibitors. Xenical (Orlistat) is categorized in a new class of obesity drug. Lipase is the enzyme that works by breaking down dietary fat for the body's consumption. The drug Xenical interferes with your lipase enzymes thus reducing fat absorption. These undigested fats are not absorbed in our digestive system, instead are eliminated in the body. Its side effects may include diarrhea, flatulence and leakage of oily stool. Meridia (Sibutramine) categorized under appetite suppressant under weight loss drug has been FDA approved that is believed to work by increasing a certain chemical in your brain thus inhibiting your appetite control center. Meridia is not prescribed to persons who have uncontrolled high blood pressure and have had a history of cardiovascular problems because its adverse effects include an increase in your blood pressure and heart rate.

There are also speed-like drugs like Bontril, Ionamin and Adipex - P which is only recommended for short term use because they can increase heart rate and can cause addiction. You have to consult a doctor and have an in depth assessment with your health care provider so that your medical history and present health condition will be known and the correct prescription of the drug will be given to you rather than going out on your own with so limited information on the drug.

How to Get Huge Discounts on Prescription Drugs

What do we do if we fall sick? Find or have an over the counter pill from a pharmacy or even have grandma's tried and tested medicine. For more complicated illness we consult a doctor. As we are all well aware of the fact that consulting a doctor now-a-days is almost equal to buying a used car or sometimes even more than that. Medical care, these days, is madly expensive so also the demand for medical coverage and the need for quality supplemental health care is always moving northwards. So it is the common minimum responsibility and right of every citizen to get quality supplemental health care.

Talking about supplemental health care our attention is involuntarily drawn towards prescription drugs. The fact that drugs of any kind have become expensive, even a 20 to 25 % savings on them is a big relief on our pocket. Identifying this market of supplying subsidized prescription drugs, a few healthcare companies who tie up with independent pharmacies that range from big wholesale drug stores to small independent pharmacies to provide quality subsidized prescription drug care to the large uninsured and under insured citizens is a herculean task in itself. These people actually charge or we save 50% of what we used to spend before on the same drugs without compromising on the quality of service. What works in favor is that these people come into an agreement with the providers that range from big wholesale outlets to small independent pharmacies for discounted prices. With large member base in place, half the tedious work of finding the potential customer and retaining the existing ones is already achieved.

Every time a customer makes a visit to one of these outlets the customers are charged as per the fixed discounted prices based on the agreement between service providers and healthcare companies. Also, these health care companies focus on providing special discounts on most high-volume maintenance type drugs. So even the commercial member's aspect has also been taken care. All said and done, why should one get enrolled in such healthcare programs? What is it that draws the customers to this medical care plan? The answer lies in providing the service that matches with a very few in the market. These companies don't mind in taking that extra effort in providing customer service. The customization and the relevance factor that is maintained throughout the sales cycle stands exemplary. Customization in terms of rendering individual and family healthcare plans. Relevance in terms of being steadfast and on the toes with the ever changing customer's needs. All this trickles down to the benefit of the members enabling them to save up to 80% on expenses incurred on prescription drugs.

On the other hand, the service providers benefit from having constant business without spending a single cent on expensive marketing and advertising of their store - a perfect win-win situation for both the healthcare companies as well as the service providers. These healthcare companies have been successful in creating a healthy competitive environment in controlling the costs of prescription drugs.

Herbal Supplements vs Prescription Drugs - The Real Score

Why did I not think of that before?

Next to a sigh of relief, that is what every patient recently treated with herbal supplements can quip once the symptoms of the disease begin to clear. There are many others who have witnessed the healing wonders of herbs; some of them are already dependent on prescription drugs for many years, only to find their attempts to cure a chronic infection entirely futile. Though with herbal remedies, they share more promising stories.

What is in the extract of herbs that make them a potent cure for diseases? Plants manufacture naturally occurring compounds that promote a healing effect on humans. Some of these aromatic elements are present as phytonutrients that not only provide essential vitamins and minerals, but also supply the body with antioxidant compounds that buffer vital organs against the harmful action of toxic metabolites. Many of the medicinal properties found in prescription drugs have been derived from the extracts of popular herbs.

So what is the real score between prescription drugs and herbal supplements? Of course, we can not help it that we are born into a culture that is largely reliant on synthetic formulations for medical treatment. Moreover, we can not deny the fact that prescription drugs can provide an effective cure. But the process of treatment between conventional medicine and alternative medicine, that is herbal supplements, spells the difference for the sustenance of your health and well being.

The synthetic formulation inherent with prescription drugs has been devised to cripple down and terminate pathogens contaminating the infected organ or soothe the inflammation. Oftentimes, the treatment comes with harsh side effects that you will either have to endure completely or take a complementary medicine to rid the body of its discomforts. The worst side effect of the prolonged use of prescription drugs, particularly antibiotics, is the weakening of the bodys immune defenses that make it susceptible to chronic infections.

Herbal supplements, on the other hand, offer a holistic approach to treatment where a potent formulation of different herbal extracts work in synergy to soothe the inflammation and subdue the pathogens causing infection while treating underlying systemic disorders and restoring a persons vitality. Best of all, herbal supplements do not come with the side effects pertinent with prescription drugs. And why is that? One of the component herbs in the formulation works to cushion the side effects of the stronger herbs.

Effective Treatment For Panic Attacks Using Prescription Drugs

Panic disorders effective millions of people every day, although the severity and the symptoms of the panic attacks may vary. Another thing that varies from person to person is the treatment. While some patients choose to just deal with the panic attacks, others will seek therapy and change their entire way of life just with the hopes of eliminating the panic attacks. Others still, may opt to take prescription drugs as a treatment plan.

1. What are the prescription drugs used for anxiety?
2. How effective are these drugs in stopping my symptoms?
3. How do they work and are there side effects?

These are three of the most common questions asked by panic sufferers. While having a panic attack won't kill you, it can sure make your life uncomfortable so many people are willing to go through almost any type of treatment if they feel it will work. Seeing your doctor is the first step in finding an effective treatment program. Your doctor will also be able to discuss your options and answer any questions you may have.

ALWAYS SEE YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE BEGINNING ANY PRESCRIPTION DRUGS!

Benzodiazepine drugs, also called Benzos, are often prescription drugs prescribed by doctors for the treatment of panic attacks, with Lorazepam being the most common. They are used for many different problems with they are most effective for panic disorders because of their ability to slow your body and thoughts down, which helps prevent the nervousness, anxiety and agitation that are so common. They are also popular because they work very quickly and are successful while you're in the middle of a panic spell or if you have many attacks. The negative thing about these drugs is that they can be very addictive to the patient. For this reason, they should not be used for a long period of time.

SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) are a very modern group of prescription drugs used for many mental illnesses and are commonly used for people that suffer from anxiety and depression. Their ability to help combat anxiety is what makes them so effective for panic attacks because anxiety is often what leads to a panic attack. Citalopram and Paroxetine are the most commonly used SSRIs.

Beta Blockers, also known as hormonal blockers are commonly prescribed for use in panic attacks. Part of what causes panic attacks is the release of the hormone adrenaline. When this hormone begins to overload the body, the result is rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing and tightness of the chest. These are some of the main symptoms of a panic attack so without the adrenaline flood, they can be eliminated. The purpose of beta blockers is to block the adrenaline from overflowing in the body. While beta blockers can be very effective in eliminating these certain symptoms of panic attacks, they will not treat or control all the symptoms.

While many of these prescription drugs can be helpful in treating the symptoms that cause panic attacks, it's important to realize that none of them will take care of all the symptoms by themselves and all may pose some risk to certain individuals so speak with your doctor.