Apanemia Health Centre

Archive for the ‘Drug and Medicine’ Category

Antihypertensives. Reduce blood pressure when it involves health risks, such as cerebral infarction (death of neuronal tissue due to lack of blood supply, which occurs because a blood vessel breaks and blood pressure). Achieve its goal primarily in two ways: promoting the elimination of fluid (diuretics) or dilating veins and arteries (vasodilators).

Side effects. In the case of diuretics:

- Dehydration. Abuse these products generate significant water loss, weakness and malaise.
- Altered levels of salts. It can have many consequences, such as cramps, joint pain and muscle fatigue.
- Heart disease. This follows from the above, and the main problem arrhythmias (changes in heart rate).
- Loss of sexual appetite. Low salt and water also adversely affects the intimate life. Read the rest of this entry »

Influenza. Used for colds that affect the upper respiratory tract (nose and throat), help relieve nasal congestion, fever, cough, headache and body aches. Among its active ingredients are analgesics (paracetamol or ibuprofen) and substances that help to reduce some discomfort: chlorpheniramine, pseudoephedrine and loratadine.

Side effects. Many of them are shared with the painkillers, but from other antihistamines, which block the action of histamine (a substance that causes narrowing of the airways) Read the rest of this entry »

Antidiarrheals. Control frequent and watery bowel movements (diarrhea) which may be accompanied by pain, weakness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps (cramping), fever or loss of appetite. These drugs eliminate discomfort, give greater consistency to the stool and stop the loss of water and nutrients. The most common active ingredients are kaolin, pectin, bismuth subsalicylate, furazolidone and nifuroxazida.

Side Effects

Darkening of the stool. It is normal, by its action on the digestive process.
Coated tongue. Geographic tongue or fissured.
Constipation. When used in excess, can hinder the evacuation. Read the rest of this entry »

Antidepressants are used in patients with depression, with more employees called third generation, such as fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, citalopram, trazodone, and nefazodone, and tricyclic antidepressants: amitriptyline, amineptine, melitraceno, imipramine, clomipramine, and lofepramine.

Side effects. Is due to its action in the nervous system:

- Changes in behavior. The person who takes care and monitoring required in some cases, can motivate us to exclude life and attack it.
- Insomnia. Lack of sleep, inability to sleep.
- Drowsiness. Is likely to feel very sleepy during the day.
- Nervousness. Alteration in the nervous system manifested by anxiety, restlessness and irritability.
- Constipation. Failure to pass the fecal mass on a regular basis and complete.
- Dry mouth. Difficulty producing saliva and chewing. Read the rest of this entry »

Hormonal contraceptives are pills, injections and skin patches whose active substances are female hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Inhibit ovulation and make the mucus thicker contained in the cervix (cervical), while driving changes in the endometrium so that the egg does not implant.

Side effects. Nowadays they have high efficacy and few adverse consequences, but can cause:

- Menstrual irregularities. The period of bleeding may be delayed or brought forward, as well as more intense or weak.
- Headache. Read the rest of this entry »

Antibiotics are used in many bacterial infections that affect different organs. The most commonly used substances are penicillins (amoxicillin, tetracycline, ampicillin), but also include salts such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

Side effects. Most are allergic reactions (rejection)

- Vomiting. Forceful expulsion of gastric contents through the mouth.
- Rash or hives. Pimples and redness of the skin.
- Itching. Itching.
- Fever. Elevation of body temperature.
- Shivers. Sensation of cold accompanied by pallor.
- Swelling of the face. The face looks swollen and deformed. Read the rest of this entry »

Antacids are given for excessive acidity, gastritis and ulcer, as neutralize the digestive juices generation or reduce its secretion. Contain substances that destroy the acid (sodium bicarbonate and magnesium aluminum hydroxide) or blocking its production (cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine).

Side effects. Hydroxides of aluminum and magnesium can cause:

- Frequent stools. Both substances have a mild laxative effect, ie stimulate intestinal motility.
- Diarrhea. The stool may have a liquid consistency.
- Constipation. At higher doses the effect is opposite and creates difficulty for intestinal emptying. Read the rest of this entry »

Anxiolytics have a sedative effect and are used as tranquilizers or sleep aids. The most used are the benzodiazepines, among which are diazepam, buspirone, ketazolam, lorazepam, midazolam and alprazolam. Prescription.

Side effects. Many more are caused by the action of these drugs, which decreases the activity of the nervous system.

- Drowsiness. Excessive sleepiness.
- Weakness. Lack of strength.
- Muscle fatigue. Feel tired without having physical effort.
- Confusion. Lack of clarity in thinking. Read the rest of this entry »

Knowing them helps to make good use of them.

One of the most frequent questions posed by people who start drug treatment is how to make good use of their medicines. The question is completely valid, since the use of these sensitive products when it is inappropriate or improper, can be very dangerous to health.

It is therefore useful to know what are the main indications of drugs in order to learn to use them according to responsible self-medication, in the case of OTC products, or to follow the advice of the foot of the letter and report any problem in therapy.

Each drug has a number of indications that detail what the disease or relieve symptoms, the recommended dose for each age, the contents of the formula, the product presentation and, above all, two parameters to be considered for treatment to a good end: side effects and contraindications. Read the rest of this entry »