Victor Kuri

Archive for the ‘Guest Post’ Category

A powerful drug that treats acne, Accutane is quite popular among those who suffer from a severe acne condition. Accutane is usually used for the treatment of cystic acne but is never really given to individuals who have mild acne breakouts. Before you decide on what to do with those pimples though, it is best to learn more about the skin condition. Often, we base our conclusions on things we see on commercials or unreliable data we read online and this usually involves believing in what one would call a myth. Here are the most popular myths about acne:

Acne Myth #1 Washing your face often enough will get rid of acne

Your pimples aren’t caused by dirt. In fact, frequent washing of the face may even irritate the skin but the question is, what causes pimples? The pores sticking together is one of the major reasons why you get pimples.

Acne Myth #2 Too much stress can cause acne

It is true that being under too much stress affects one’s hormones but did you know that certain psychiatric drugs can cause acne? If you are stressed out and taking antidepressants, the stress you are going through isn’t what’s causing your acne breakouts.

Acne Myth #3 The sun cures acne

Sun exposure is beneficial for us to get that much needed Vitamin D. However, sun exposure after 9 in the morning will only cause skin damage. Aside from causing wrinkles and sunburn, too much sun exposure may lead to skin cancer.

Acne Myth #4 What you eat can either stop breakouts or cause them

Although diet is connected to a number of health conditions or disappearance of such conditions, experts say that there is still a need for hard evidence to prove this theory. It doesn’t hurt to eat healthy though but do not count on it to get rid of your acne.

Acne Myth #5 Sex causes acne

This myth is an age-old one when people from the 17th century wanted to discourage pre-marital sex.

If you think your acne could no longer be treated with topical treatments, asking your dermatologist if you are eligible to use Accutane is a good idea. Make sure however that you read more about Accutane before you start using it – some people are more sensitive to drugs than others and getting an allergic reaction won’t help you at all.

Prescription drugs manufactured in the United States are monitored by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Consumers file complaints when use of specific medications result in mild or harmful side effects. When complaints reach a certain point, the FDA investigates to see if there is a direct causal relationship between the medication and resulting complication. The FDA also oversees clinical trials to make sure they are conducted with integrity and meet industry standards. Recently, the FDA issued a warning about proton-pump inhibitors.

How FDA Notifies the Public

The FDA published warnings in many ways. Notices are printed in newspapers and online media sources. Television stations will often report on warnings issued by the FDA. Medical journals are another source of FDA warnings. Of course, the best place to read FDA notices is on the FDA website. Consumers can monitor changes to FDA regulations specific to the medications they take.

Purpose of FDA Warning

The FDA notified the public that use of proton-pump inhibitors can cause a certain type of bacterial diarrhea which is particularly dangerous for elderly patients. Warnings indicate there have been substantial documented cases that connect inhibitor use to that condition and research has confirmed the causality. It is intended to inform consumers and physicians about this added side affect not included on previous consumer literature. This is not the first FDA warning related to proton-pump inhibitors and may not be the last.

What Consumers Should Do

It is suggested that consumers who use these inhibitors and experience prolonged bouts of diarrhea immediately contact their doctors. If you are concerned about the FDA warning, consult with your doctor to see if you need to make modifications to your treatment regimen. Otherwise, consumers just need to take the information under advisement as additional safety guidelines.

What Consumers Should Not Do

Consumers should not stop taking this medication without approval from their doctor. If you suddenly stop taking Nexium, you may experience serious side effects including acid reflux rebound and extreme diarrhea. Some people who suddenly stop treatment have reported uncomfortable bloating and stomach gas pressure. Consumers often feel worse than they did before they started taking the drug.

This article examines the purpose of an FDA warning about nexium. Warnings are intended to provide additional information to consumers who use the medication. Consumers do not have to stop using nexium unless mandated by the FDA.

One of the more exciting marketing strategies of the last ten years has been the growth in the use of coupons. The idea is simple. A central marketing agency promotes the named businesses by offering discount vouchers. Go to this restaurant, eat a magnificent meal, and enjoy a discount of 50%. This is a great promotion for the restaurant and the statistics show the majority of people who come to try out the meals return and pay the full price later on. Now let the pharmaceutical industry play with this idea. Suppose the drug manufacturers were to offer coupons to their loyal customers, how would the marketing plan work? Well, for a moment, consider the problem of the generic market. When the patent runs out on a brand, others may copy the chemistry and sell a generic version of the drug for a significantly lower price. From the customer’s point of view, this is wonderful news. The same drug is available. It has been approved by the FDA as an exact match for the original branded drug. And it comes at a heavily discounted price. Not surprisingly, this knocks a big hole in the profits of the branded manufacturer, so this manufacturer will search for a way to keep the generic manufacturer out of the market.

Enter the copayment coupons. The idea of copayments has been central to insurance policies for some years. This requires the patient to pay a proportion of the medical costs. It is actually self-insurance of that part of the costs. The justification advanced by insurance companies is that it reduces moral hazard, i.e. it is an encouragement to people only to seek treatment when it is genuinely necessary. Through the coupons, the manufacturers offer a form of subsidy to the patients if they copay for branded drugs. This makes the branded drugs more affordable and maintains more of their profit margin. Obviously, if the brands were losing too much of their market share, the manufacturers would have to reduce their prices to compete with the generics. In theory, the coupons represent a compromise. The patients pay less for the brand, but more than for the generic. The manufacturers give away a part of their profits, but less than through a price reduction to complete with the generic directly.

There is now a class action effectively accusing the manufacturers of fraud through their use of these coupons. As it stands, the insurance companies pay the manufacturer a fixed price for every branded pill or tablet prescribed. The manufacturers and pharmacists have been forgetting to tell the insurers about the coupons. It is highly relevant that the patients have been paying less at the drugstore counters. Because there are no savings to the insurance companies in paying for the generics, the premium rates stay high. This makes cheap health insurance even less likely to appear. In reality everyone is losing. Customers are still paying more than they should. Both individual and group health insurance plans cost more than they should. All this being purely for the benefit of the pharmaceutical industry. The class action describes these coupons as part of a bait and switch scam. If the courts agree, heavy damages will be awarded and there will be compensation available to some consumers.

A common side effect with many medications is unwanted weight gain. However, men who suffer from hair loss and treat the condition with oral medication should not experience weight gain during their treatment. If you do gain weight, it is possible there are underlying causes since weight gain is not a documented side effect of their hair loss treatment. There are several things men can do to manage their weight while taking this drug.

Identifying Cause of Weight Gain

Weight gained by men when they are using this medication is rarely due directly to the medication itself so they are most likely gaining weight for another reason. The drug can result in mild depression. And since men taking the drug may be anxious to begin with because of their hair loss, they are probably less interested in exercising. If their exercise routine is changed in any way this can often lead to a few additional pound being put on.

Addressing Weight Problem

Let your doctor know you are gaining weight. He will check to make sure there is not an underlying cause to your weight gain. Sometimes drug interactions can have unexpected consequences in people so make sure your doctor know about all the medications you take. If there is not another reason for your weight gain, he will work with you so you can make lifestyle changes that stop the weight gain and promote weight loss. Expect exercise and diet to be at the top of the list.

Treating the Hair Loss

By changing your lifestyle or working at stopping your weight gain you will not need to stop your treatment for hair loss. Fast or excessive weight gain can be dangerous. It can also impact your treatment regimen. Your doctor can decide you are becoming too unhealthy and stop the treatments. You should figure out why you are gaining weight and address it as soon as you find out it is happening for just this reason.

Keep in mind that the weight gain is likely to disappear after your propecia treatment ends. This means that you will at least stop gaining weight. Depending upon factors such as age and overall health condition, you may have to work at losing weight you gained. It is usually depression or a medical condition that causes men using using propecia to put on weight and not the medication as this article shows. Lifestyle changes can address weight gain.

Men experience hair loss for a variety of reasons. Many men are embarrassed about going bald especially if the hair loss is not uniform or appears patchy. As long as there is not an underlying medical reason for the hair loss, it is possible to stop further balding and possibly reverse it in some men. Propecia is a popular medication used to treat hair loss in men. Men around the world have benefited from this drug. But it is not a cure-all for every male that experiences hair loss.

Men Who Should Take Hair Loss Medication

This hair loss treatment is particularly effective in men who experience male-pattern baldness. Characterized by hair loss above the temple to the top of the head, this type of baldness is the most common type of hair loss in men. It is a genetic disorder that contributes to thinning of the hair in men as young as 17.

Men can experience hair loss for non-genetic reasons as well. The most common of these reasons is extreme treatment of the hair. This includes keeping your hair in tight braids, cornrows or dreadlocks. Known at traction alopecia, the type of hair loss may respond to hair loss treatments.

Men Who Should Avoid Hair Loss Medication

Men diagnosed with alopecia areata of any type may not be able to use this particular hair loss treatment. It is also not a suitable treatment for men who have hair loss due to chemotherapy. If you are one of these men, you will need to wait until your hair grows back before your doctor can assess whether or not you are an appropriate candidate for this drug.

Hair loss that results as a side effect of a serious illness or use of certain medications may not be treated with this drug. You may even be experiencing hair loss because of the shampoo or conditioner you use. Dying your hair can damage your hair, causing it to break. You may believe this is hair loss when it is not.

If you believe propecia will benefit you, it is recommended you begin treatment as soon as you identify signs of hair loss. The sooner you begin treatment, the more effective it will be in preventing further hair loss. There is even the potential that some of your hair will grow back. Men who use propecia can successfully treat their hair loss.

With several different erectile dysfunction medications available, it is difficult to know which option is best for you. Levitra is a leading ED drug that effectively treats impotence in men. It continues to be a strong contender among the different ED treatments. But how do you know if it is right for you?

Who Should Not Take It

Men who have heart problems and take nitrates should not use this medication. Nitrates, such as nitroglycerin, in combination with an ED drug can cause your blood pressure to suddenly drop which can be dangerous and even life-threatening. Another type of nitrate can be found in poppers. Men who engage in recreational drug use should not take this ED medication.

Because this medication is only intended to treat erectile dysfunction, you should not take it if you have no ED symptoms. Using this drug when you do not have ED can cause extremely high blood pressure, chest paints, and fainting. Keep in mind that it will not actually enhance your sexual desire. So if you have a low libido, you should consult your doctor about other treatment options.

If you already take an ED medication, do not take Levitra as well. Men who currently are receiving another type of treatment for their erectile dysfunction should never take this drug without first talking to their doctor. Men told to refrain from any sexual activity, especially intercourse, should not take this medication because it can increase your risk for heart attack or stroke.

Who Should Take It

It is recommended that only men who plan to have sex within a few hours of taking the medication should use this ED drug. It begins to work within one hour and is effective for up to four hours. Men who want to regain their sexual confidence and have minimal health problems are ideal candidates for this drug.

Men who take alpha-blockers can still use this medication but their dosage may have to be reduced. As long as you are willing to provide a complete medical history to your doctor, including all medications you are taking, you can take levitra to treat your erectile dysfunction.

With the exception of heart problems, men who have other medical conditions can safely take this medication. The dosage of Levitra may be adjusted to reduce potential interaction with other medications or to minimize possible side effects.