Sunday, December 27, 2009

Prescription Drugs for Hair Loss Treatment

Millions of men and women suffer from hair loss. Hair loss is more common to men than to women, however. Not only does it make men look older beyond their actual age, it also negatively impacts their self esteem and social confidence. Fortunately, there are many options for male hair loss treatment.

Most of hair loss treatments are cosmetic in natural. Those treatments make the patients look better as if they have healthy hairs. Cosmetic treatments include hairpieces, weaves and surgical methods for permanent effects. Today’s hairpieces either made by real hair or synthetic hair look so real, that no one can tell. Many people don’t realize how advanced some of these pieces have become. Many hairpieces have new netting that allows the hair to flow naturally and look like your original hair. There are also plenty of new adhesives so you don’t have to worry about your hair ever being removed even in a tornado. Other cosmetic options are cosmetically based lotions, shampoos and herbal supplements.

Medical scientists have been researching and testing solutions that help to slow down hair loss or actually to regrow hairs. Rogaine and Propecia are commonly used medicines for male hair loss treatment. Both of them are approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Rogaine is available over the counter. It has been proven effective by the Federal Drug Administration for slowing down hair loss and regrowing back your hair. Minoxodil is the active ingredient in Rogaine. Rogaine is a topical solution that is applied twice daily to the scalp. Romaine is effective for both slowing hair loss but regrowing hair. Regrowing will normally takes a few months and results are more often seen on the crown of the scalp. Rogaine is for genetic hair loss only, not effective for hair loss due to another disease or ailment. You must also be over the age of 18 in order to use this product. Rogaine actually works on women as well.

Propecia, which requires a prescription from a doctor, is another drug effective for male hair loss treatment. It helps treat hair loss by lowering chemicals levels in the body that decrease the growth of hair. Unlike Rogaine, Propecia is not a drug specifically designed for male hair loss treatment. It is actually a drug to shrink the prostate, but was shown effective in controlling the hormones that cause hair loss. Surprisingly, this drug has been proven to work better then Minoxodil in regrowing hair back. It also grows hair back on the front of the scalp as well.

While both drugs won’t help hair loss patients grow back a full head of hair, they do slow down the hair loss and can fill up some of the more pronounced areas.

Friday, November 27, 2009

The Truth About Prescription Drugs in Drinking Water - Did You Know?

With the recent reports by several reputable scientists and institutions that show that there are drugs in the drinking water, alarm has raised and the population has become worried about the potential harmful health effects that prescription drugs in drinking water may have. Drugs in the drinking water include many prescription and over the counter products, including ibuprofen, acne medication, heart medication, cancer drugs, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, sex hormones, contraceptives, aspirin, antacids and many more.

While the vast majority of the population is highly concerned about this fact, water providers continue to disregard the issue claiming that drugs in the drinking water come in such low doses that are harmless. Pharmaceuticals have stated the same thing, and have also said that the main way these drugs reach the drinking water is through normal use.

The theory says that when a person takes medication, the body absorbs most of it, and the small portion that is not absorbed gets eliminated by normal body functions into the sewage system. The sewage water gets treated and then released into the environment, gets treated again and once clean it's delivered into people's homes.

While this is the way the whole system works, this theory has many flaws. For instance, this theory can explain how massively consumed drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin get to be present in the drinking water, but doesn't explain the presence of more specific, less used drugs like cancer drugs are present there after body absorption, two treatments and the normal dispersion when the water is released into the environment.

Another theory that may explain the presence of drugs in the drinking water is that these chemicals are released into the environment in the water pharmaceuticals use for their manufacturing process. Of course, pharmaceuticals deny this and state that every drop of water they utilize is carefully treated to remove any present contaminants before being released into the environment again.

The truth is that prescription drugs in drinking water are there, and may be a huge health risk especially for small children, elder people and people whose health is already compromised. And, even if you don't fit in any of these risk groups, drugs in the drinking water can be a threat to you on the long run.

The best way to be safe and guarantee that you and your family is protected against nasty drugs in the drinking water is to only consume and use water that has been carefully filtered and purified. That's why home water filter systems have become so popular and necessary.

A good home water treatment system ensures the water is free from harmful toxins and contaminants, and that it is good enough for drinking or showering without being at risk of endangering your health. There are many different water treatment systems around, designed for both general use or with a particular purpose.

Prescription drugs in drinking water may have really bad effects on you or your family. Install a water treatment system now; the day you or your loved ones' health becomes tainted, it may be too late.

9 Great Ways to Save Money on Your Prescription Drugs

Whether you're recently unemployed and without prescription coverage or you just want to put extra cash into your pocket, I'm sure you're game for saving money on your prescription drugs.

Want to figure out how to save that moolah? Well, you're in the right spot!

Here are 9 great ways to put that dough right back into your wallet:

1. Price match -if you like your pharmacy, that is awesome! But then you find your drugs are much cheaper elsewhere...ask them if they price match. Many pharmacies do!

2. Coupons -ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist -quite often we have them because we get them in the mail and/or from drug reps.

3. Be aware when you leave the hospital -talk with your primary care provider (regular doctor) when you leave the hospital to change to less pricey meds. Usually drug companies give hospitals good deals on drugs so they will start you on their more expensive drug (and continue once you leave).

4. Free diabetes kits -contact the diabetes kit manufacturer (on phone or via internet) most companies will give the kits away for free.

5. Know thy insurance -take some time and learn about your insurance plan. When you are prescribed a new drug, contact your insurance company (via phone or internet) and see if it is covered and what the copay will be.

6. Pet prescriptions -when your furbaby needs medicine ask the vet if it is a "human" drug. If it is, you can get it at your regular pharmacy- and it is usually much less money!

7. Don't watch TV -okay, you don't have to go that far...but if you see an ad for a drug, it means that it is going to be a new, expensive medicine...so, don't listen to all their hype.

8. Tax deduction - http://www.irs.gov/ You may be able to get a tax deduction on your prescription drugs - use this website to find out what the guidelines are for this idea!

AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST....
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9. Cialis - Get a 30-day trial of low-dose Cialis (2.5mg or 5mg Cialis) or 3 free tablets of 36-hour Cialis (10mg or 20mg tablets) by going to the main web site for this medication.

So, with all of that being said, I'm sure you're dying for some more fantastic ways to save money on your meds.

How to Overcome Anxiety Without Drugs - The Real Secret to Curing Panic Attacks

If you are reading this, you want to know how to beat your anxiety and all the symptoms that accompany it. You want to know what anxiety medications are available, and what alternatives there are to prescription drugs. What you need to know is that it is absolutely possible to manage and overcome your anxiety without the use of drugs.

Chemical Imbalance

Mental health professionals and general physicians commonly refer to conditions like anxiety and depression as a "chemical imbalance" in the brain. The imbalance is treated with medication in an attempt to restore balance to mind and body. The problem with this form of treatment is that the chemical imbalance approach is only a theory - not a fact - and patients are usually prescribed powerful drugs until the problem (hopefully) goes away.

In these situations, it is extremely easy for the patient to become addicted to the medication - especially to tranquilizers (Xanax, Ativan, Valium), which should be used only occasionally or for a short period of time. Others become reliant upon SSRI's (Paxil, Lexapro, Zoloft), often for years at a time, hoping to eventually correct this mysterious "chemical imbalance."

The truth is, there is no test for chemical imbalance in the human brain, so the prescription of these medications is guess-work from the beginning. And while prescription drugs my dull the senses enough to lessen the severity of panic attack symptoms, they do nothing to solve the problem that causes the panic attack in the first place.

Also, the process of stopping the drugs can be more traumatic than the condition for which they were prescribed, which can worsen anxiety in the long run.

Once the cycle of anxiety has begun, certain practical steps must be taken to end it. While medication can be helpful in the initial process, it must be used in connection with other forms of therapy for the patient to actually stand a chance of overcoming anxiety.
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An excellent form of counseling therapy is known as CBT - or cognitive behavioral therapy. This method teaches the patient to focus on the present, and to deal with anxiety in a practical manner. The better the counselor, the better the results for the patient.

Personally, my anxiety was treated only with medication for years, and I became dependent upon Xanax. The process of cleansing the drug out of my system was a nightmare, and as a result my anxiety became worse than ever. I saw a number of therapists - most focused primarily on my past experiences, which did little to solve the problem. I walked away with a clear understanding of what caused my anxiety, but without real tools to overcome it.

The best anxiety treatment is natural, behavioral therapy.

I was desperate to finally break out of my anxiety cycle, and had to solve the problem without using prescription drugs. I finally found my answer: a program that is natural, powerful, and does not involve doctors or medications. I learned what situations triggered my panic attacks and most importantly, how to change the way I respond to my fears.

Off-Label Promotion of Prescription Drugs - Should Medical Writers Be Concerned?

In the prescription-drug industry, off-label use of prescription drugs is not that unusual. Health care providers are permitted to use a drug or device off label, that is, in an unapproved manner. Pharmaceutical companies, however, are not allowed to market or promote their products for any uses other than those approved by the US FDA.

In January, 2009, Eli Lilly and Company agreed to pay $1.415 billion to resolve allegations that it promoted its antipsychotic product, Zyprexa, for off-label conditions. This huge fine includes a criminal fine of $515 million and an additional $800 million in a civil settlement with the federal government and the states. Among health care cases, this is the largest fine on record, and the largest criminal fine for an individual corporation ever imposed in a criminal prosecution in the United States.

If you're a medical writer who writes content for pharmaceutical sales and marketing materials, should you be concerned? In my opinion, medical writers need to be aware of the regulations surrounding off-label use, and help clients by avoiding writing about off-label uses when that content will appear in promotional materials, since that is illegal. About the only places where writing about off-label uses may be acceptable is in continuing medical education (CME) programs, textbooks, and clinical study reports (CSRs).

When medical writers are hired by our clients, we are expected to create content that is accurate and well referenced. That means that writers need to be acutely aware of a product's approved uses. If you include information about off-label use in something you are writing, you need to state that this is an unapproved use. Once the content we create is out of our hands, however, we have no control over how that content is ultimately used. It is incumbent on the company marketing and promoting the product to ensure that all materials comply with government regulations.

Still, it's impossible to know what kinds of repercussions might follow a medical writer who creates content for materials that are later used illegally to promote prescription drugs. The ongoing investigation into the influence the pharmaceutical industry has on physicians has already resulted in the public naming of a reputable medical communications firm and the medical writers it hired. A year ago, most medical writers would have thought this impossible, but today I'm not so sure. The best strategy in the current environment is to write accurately, cite your sources, and keep copies of the final drafts as they left your computer, just in case.

Prescription Drugs Versus Herbal Medicine

People in all cultures have used herbs as natural remedies for centuries. Herbs have passed the test of time and have proved to be safe and effective. Millions of people have recovered from various ailments. Unlike prescription drugs, with herbal medicine, each diagnosis and treatment is tailored to fit the individual. Today, increasing number of people are seeking herbal treatment as an alternative to synthetic drugs that could be hazardous to health in the long run.

It may be weird that modern drugs are being replaced with grandma's powders and teas, but with the knowledge that most modern drugs are synthetic versions of plant substances, people are opting for the original.

There was a time when herbs have been dismissed and herbal treatments not valued, but things are changing as herbs contain properties that are far superior to synthetic drugs and are more in tune with the human body. They create far fewer and harmless side effects if any, and bestow 'side' benefits instead of side effects. There are several side effects of prescription drugs, some long lasting and some which cause permanent damage or impairment to the body parts. To cure one part, another part of the body has to be compromised, and this can be totally avoided with herbal medicine.

Let us take the example of 'ginkgo biloba', which improves memory and also boosts blood circulation in the legs and arms. 'Garlic' is used to enhance the immune system and also lower cholesterol.

Herbal medicine has proven to fulfill roles that synthetic drugs cannot. The whole range of adaptogens found in herbal medicine have no equivalent in modern medicine.

Europe has a stronger history of herb use when compared to the United States. European doctors always retained an interest and skill in prescribing herbal medicine in conjunction with modern drugs.

The difference between treatment with modern medicine and herbal medicine is enormous. When treating, herbal medicine practitioners pay attention to all aspects of the individual's health, looking at building their health and not just covering up a specific ailment. Another difference is that, herbal medicine doctors look not only at the chemical and molecular components of herbs but also their energetic aspects. Herbal medicine believes that all living things, including plants contain energy. The Chinese call this vital energy force 'qi'. Where the modern medicine is concerned about treating the illness itself, Chinese medicine looks at this illness as a blockage to the vital life force. It aims at removing that blockage.

This concept is better understood with the example of acupuncture. Acupuncture is based on unblocking flow and the 'unseen' energy pathways of the human body. The huge success of acupuncture speaks for itself. The right herb to open the blockage is all it takes to allow the body's energy to flow, thus healing.

All this certainly may seem strange to the mindset of modern medicine. But herbs have been proven to work for the human body without any serious side effects.

Herbs are the original source for at least 25% of all pharmaceutical drugs. For example, morphine which is used as a pain killer, comes from opium poppy; digitalis, a cardiac stimulant, comes from foxglove; resperine, a sedative and antihypertensive, comes from rauwolfia (Indian snakeroot).

While modern medicine looks for active ingredients in a plant and extract it and discard the rest of the plant, herbal medicine depends on the synergistic action of the complete plant, to take the benefit from the thousands of compounds present in the plant. While prescription drugs have a rapid and targeted action, which is also the reason why side effects are caused; herbs tend to work slowly but gradually, in the process strengthening the body's defenses over a period of time.

Of course, herbs too have to be taken with caution and used responsibly, and preferably under guidance. For example, ephedra should never be used by people with weak hearts, especially in combination with synthetic ephedrine. In any case, if one herb causes a problem, there are others that can be taken.