Lipitor

About LIPITOR



LIPITOR is a type of cholesterol-lowering medicine called a statin. Statins block an enzyme in the liver that the body uses to make cholesterol. When less cholesterol is made, the liver uses more of it from the blood. This results in lower levels of cholesterol.
Along with diet and exercise, LIPITOR is proven to reduce "bad" cholesterol by 39%-60% (average effect depending on dose). LIPITOR is the #1 prescribed branded cholesterol-lowering medicine in the world.*
High cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease—the #1 health problem in the United States. 80% of people who have had a heart attack have high cholesterol. Stroke is the #3 health problem. LIPITOR, along with diet, is clinically proven to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, certain kinds of heart surgeries, and chest pain in patients with heart disease or several common risk factors for heart disease. Common risk factors include family history of early heart disease, high blood pressure, low good cholesterol, age, and smoking.
LIPITOR is backed by more than 18 years of research. And LIPITOR has been studied in more than 400 ongoing or completed studies that included over 80,000 patients.
If you have high cholesterol, don’t kid yourself. You may be at risk for heart attack. If you don’t know your cholesterol numbers, you may be putting your heart health at risk. Go to your doctor and have your cholesterol checked.

Important Information About LIPITOR

Read the Patient Information that comes with LIPITOR before you start taking it and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This Web page does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your condition or treatment. If you have any questions about LIPITOR, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Who Should Not Take LIPITOR?

Do not take LIPITOR if you:

    * Are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant. LIPITOR may harm your unborn baby. If you get pregnant, stop taking LIPITOR and call your doctor right away
    * Are breast feeding. LIPITOR can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby
    * Have liver problems
    * Are allergic to LIPITOR or any of its ingredients. The active ingredient is atorvastatin

What Are the Possible Side Effects of LIPITOR?

LIPITOR can cause serious side effects. These side effects have happened only to a small number of people. Your doctor can monitor you for them. These side effects usually go away if your dose is lowered or LIPITOR is stopped.

These serious side effects include:

    * Muscle problems. LIPITOR can cause serious muscle problems that can lead to kidney problems, including kidney failure. You have a higher chance for muscle problems if you are taking certain other medicines with LIPITOR.
    * Liver problems. LIPITOR can cause liver problems. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before you start taking LIPITOR, and while you take it.

Call your doctor right away if:

    * You have muscle problems like weakness, tenderness, or pain that happen without a good reason, especially if you also have a fever or feel more tired than usual
    * You have allergic reactions including swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing, which may require treatment right away
    * You experience nausea and vomiting
    * You pass brown or dark-colored urine
    * You feel more tired than usual
    * Your skin and whites of your eyes get yellow
    * You have stomach pain
    * You have an allergic skin reaction

In clinical studies, patients reported the following common side effects while taking LIPITOR:

    * Diarrhea
    * Upset stomach
    * Muscle and joint pain
    * Alterations in some laboratory tests

The following additional side effects have been reported with LIPITOR:

    * Tiredness
    * Tendon problems

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that bother you or that will not go away. These are not all the side effects of LIPITOR. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list.
Before You Start LIPITOR

Tell your doctor if you:

    * Have muscle aches or weakness
    * Drink more than 2 glasses of alcohol daily
    * Have diabetes
    * Have a thyroid problem
    * Have kidney problems

Some medicines should not be taken with LIPITOR. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including:

    * Prescription and nonprescription medicines
    * Vitamins
    * Herbal supplements

LIPITOR and certain other medicines can interact causing serious side effects. Tell your doctor if you are taking any medicines, especially those for:

    * Your immune system
    * Cholesterol
    * Infections
    * Birth control
    * Heart failure
    * HIV or AIDS

Know all the medicines you take. Keep a list of them with you to show your doctor and pharmacist.
What You Should Know About Taking LIPITOR

Along with diet and exercise, taking LIPITOR as the doctor recommends may help manage cholesterol. But taking LIPITOR correctly is essential.
How Should I Take LIPITOR?

Take LIPITOR exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not change your dose or stop LIPITOR without talking to your doctor.

Your doctor may do blood tests to check your cholesterol levels during your treatment with LIPITOR. Your dose of LIPITOR may be changed based on these blood test results.

Take LIPITOR each day at any time of day at about the same time each day. LIPITOR can be taken with or without food. Don't break LIPITOR tablets before taking.

Your doctor should start you on a low-fat diet before giving you LIPITOR. Stay on this low-fat diet when you take LIPITOR.

If you miss a dose of LIPITOR, take it as soon as you remember. Do not take LIPITOR if it has been more than 12 hours since you missed your last dose. Wait and take the next dose at your regular time. Do not take 2 doses of LIPITOR at the same time.

If you take too much LIPITOR or overdose, call your doctor or Poison Control Center right away. Or go to the nearest emergency room.
What Should I Avoid While Taking LIPITOR?

Talk to your doctor before you start any new medicines. This includes:

    * Prescription and nonprescription medicines
    * Vitamins
    * Herbal supplements

LIPITOR and certain other medicines can interact, causing serious side effects.

Do not get pregnant. If you get pregnant, stop taking LIPITOR right away, and call your doctor.

How Does LIPITOR Help Manage High Cholesterol?

Before taking any medicine, it's good to know how it works. LIPITOR is a statin. Statins lower cholesterol in the body by blocking an enzyme in the liver. The body uses this enzyme to make cholesterol. When less cholesterol is made, the liver uses more of it from the blood. This results in lower levels of cholesterol in the blood.

Along with diet and exercise, LIPITOR is clinically proven to lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol by 39%-60% (average effect depending on dose).

If you have high cholesterol, don’t kid yourself. You may be at risk for heart attack. Talk to your doctor about your risk and if LIPITOR is right for you.

LIPITOR Helps Manage Cholesterol

LIPITOR may start working within 2 weeks. At your next doctor's visit, your blood tests may show lower cholesterol numbers. Use these results to motivate you.

Motivation is key to making lifestyle changes that can help manage cholesterol. This should include exercising and eating healthier. The more you can make heart-healthy habits a natural and comfortable part of your daily routine, the more successful you may be in managing cholesterol.

If you have high cholesterol, don’t kid yourself. You may be at risk for heart attack. Talk to your doctor about your risk and about LIPITOR.
LIPITOR Helps Protect the Heart

High cholesterol is a risk factor for heart attack and stroke. In fact, 80% of people who have had a heart attack have high cholesterol. Other risk factors, such as being overweight, diabetes, and high blood pressure, can also increase your risk. If you have one or more of these risk factors, speak to your doctor about how to manage them.

LIPITOR, along with diet, is clinically proven to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, certain kinds of heart surgeries, and chest pain in patients with heart disease or several common risk factors for heart disease. Common risk factors include family history of early heart disease, high blood pressure, age, low HDL ("good") cholesterol, and smoking.
LIPITOR Has an Established Track Record

LIPITOR is the #1 prescribed branded cholesterol-lowering medicine in the world.† It also is one of the most widely studied medicines in the world. LIPITOR is backed by more than 18 years of research. LIPITOR has been studied in over 400 ongoing or completed clinical studies that included over 80,000 patients.
LIPITOR Offers Patients Information and Advice

When it comes to your heart, you can never have enough information. That's why LIPITOR has developed the free My HeartWise Program for LIPITOR Users. The My HeartWise program offers LIPITOR patients a wealth of tips, information, and advice. It's all designed to help patients build—and maintain—heart-healthy habits that they can use every day for years to come.

For people with high cholesterol who aren't taking a medication, there's the My HeartWise 12-Week Guide to Managing Cholesterol. The 12-Week Guide is designed to help people manage cholesterol through diet, exercise, and other heart-healthy habits.

You can buy original Lipitol HERE


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Xanax


Xanax is a drug obtainable by prescription for the use of treating panic disorders and anxiety. By stimulating a calming chemical in the brain, the medication is able to reduce the effects of seizures and anxiety, as well as acting as a muscle relaxant. Xanax is usually consumed three times per day in the form of a tablet. Drowsiness, problems with coordination, and fatigue are common side effects when taking this medication.

What Exactly Is Xanax?

The tranquilizer, Xanax, belongs to a group of drugs that are known as benzodiazepines. This chemical affects other chemicals that are found in the human brain that are known to cause anxiety when they get out of balance. Xanax is most often prescribed only for short-term use.

Xanax medication is used as a treatment for the following:

    * Anxiety
    * Panic disorder
    * Generalized Anxiety disorder (GAD)


How Does Xanax Work?
Xanax belongs to the benzodiazepines group of medications.

These drugs induce many effects including:

    * Reduction in anxiety
    * Causing sleeplessness
    * Relaxing muscles
    * Managing seizures
    * Short term memory impairment


Medications within the benzodiazepines category can have create these effects in varying degrees according to what type of benzodiazepine is taken. They effect a natural calming chemical within the brain which is called gamma-aminobutyric acid or GABA. GABA has the ability to slow down or even stop specific signals within the brain. For this reason benzodiazepines including Xanax are considered mild tranquilizers, nervous system depressants, or sedatives.

Xanax Indications
The indications for the use of this drug are many. Some of the more common indications for Xanax include:

    * Treatment of panic attacks or panic disorders. It has been clinically shown and proven that Alprazolam can be a very effective drug for preventing and even treating panic attacks. Many psychiatrists, however, will not prescribe it due to it having dependency issues.
    * Severe generalized anxiety disorders long-term treatment The drug Alprazolam is sometimes used as a long-term treatment option for anxiety when other medications and therapies have not worked or when other meds are contraindicated. The drug therapy duration for this medication is often at least four months. It can be longer. The use of Alprazolam must be made carefully and only by specialized psychiatrists, who must take into account the level of suffering, quality of life issues, dependency risks, and decreased social performance.
    * Combination treatments for depression. Alprazolam may, at times, be used with other types of medications. These might include: paroxetine, sertraline, or fluoxetine which are known to lessen the symptoms associated with depression. It should be noted that these drugs may have side effects such as sexual dysfunction. When this happens, the use of tricyclic antidepressants should be considered.


How and When You Should Take Xanax
Here are some general considerations on how and when Xanex should be taken:

    * Available in tablet form, Xanex is usually taken orally approximately three times a day.
    * Take Xanax either with meals or without your meals. Note: if it causes an upset stomach consume it only with food.
    * The drug dosage must be followed as per the prescription for it to work properly. Serious problems can occur when you are exposed to Xanex in high doses for extended periods of time (see Xanax Addiction).


Xanax Side Effects
The side effects of Xanax cannot be anticipated. Persons taking this medication should be on the lookout for changes in the drug's intensity. Should that happen, contact your doctor immediately. Your doctor is the only one who can determine whether or not it is safe to continue using Xanax. In addition, your doctor will most likely periodically reassess your need for this medication.

Most people will suffer no ill effects at all. Typically, when side effects occur the symptoms are usually minor and do not require any treatment. Severe side effects are even less frequent. Any side effects are easily remedied by a physician

Typical side effects can include some of the following:

    * Feeling drowsy
    * Feeling fatigued
    * Problems with coordination


If you have any side effects report them to your healthcare provider immediately.

Xanax Drug Interactions

Xanax has the potential to interfere with many other drugs (see Xanax Drug Interactions).

Before Taking Xanax What Should My Healthcare Provider Know?
If you suffer the following conditions you must consult your physician prior to taking the medication:

    * Glaucoma
    * Previous history of alcohol or drug abuse
    * Depression
    * Liver failure or liver disease
    * Kidney failure or kidney disease
    * Any breathing or lung problems
    * Allergies, including food, preservatives or dye sensitivities.


In addition, consult your doctor if you are:

    * Currently pregnant or planning a pregnancy
    * Breastfeeding


Also, if you are taking non-prescription or prescription drugs, herbal supplements, vitamins or any other types of medications be sure to inform your healthcare provider.

What Will Happen If I Overdose?
Get emergency medical attention as soon as possible if you believe that you have taken too much medicine. Overdosing on this drug can be deadly.

When too much medication is taken Xanax overdose symptoms can occur. These can include:

    * Feeling confused
    * Feeling drowsy
    * Problems with coordination
    * Coma
    * Slow reflexes
    * Problems breathing
    * Death


Immediate medical attention must be sought should an overdose occur.

Are There Generic Forms of Xanax Available?
At present, both generic and brand-name Xanax versions are available and licensed for sale. (refer to Generic Xanax).

Xanax Safety Information
This medication should not be taken if the patient is allergic to Xanax. It should not be taken if the patient is allergic to other benzodiazepines, like lorazepam (Ativan), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium), clorazepate (Tranxene), or oxazepam (Serax). This medication has been shown to cause birth defects. Pregnant women should not take Xanax.

Tell your physician if you have any type of respiratory problems before you take Xanax. Also, if you have glaucoma, liver, or kidney disease, or if you have a history of substance addiction, depression, or suicidal thoughts, tell your doctor.

Xanax: Missing a Dose
If you miss a dose, that it when you remember you missed it, unless the next scheduled dose is close at hand. If this happens, skip the dose that you missed and take only your next regular dose at its scheduled time. Do not ingest extra doses hoping to make up those that you missed. This can be very dangerous.
 
Xanax Issues with Addiction

According to the Food and Drug Administration, Xanax is a habit forming drug. Xanax addiction treatment must be supervised and guided by trained doctors. This is important because abruptly withdrawing from this drug may cause serious health problems. After the immediate detox takes place, a Xanax rehab program is recommended. This will often include individual counseling along with supervised group sessions.


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VICODIN

 
What class of treatment is Vicodin (Acetaminophen Hydrocodone)?
Category: Central Nervous System Agents / Analgesics / Narcotic Analgesic Combinations

Why you can be prescribed Vicodin?
Vicodin is a tablet containing a combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone. Hydrocodone is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers.

Acetaminophen is a less potent pain reliever that increases the effects of hydrocodone.

Vicodin is used to relieve moderate to severe pain.

Vicodin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Vicodin:
Make sure you tell your health provider if you have ever had liver cirrhosis or is you usually have more than three drinks per day, as this is likely to affect the success of  your treatment and make it impossible for you to take this medication. Make sure you discuss all the factors that may affect the efficiency of Vicodin before starting the treatment. For instance, you need to report the fact or ever being diagnosed with such health conditions as a mental illness, curvature of the spine, low blood pressure, underactive thyroid, stomach or intestinal disorders, liver or kidney disease, breathing disorders, history of head injury, or adrenal gland disorder, as they can affect the dose you are prescribed and how often you will need to take Vicodin. If you need to have some urine tests done – it's very important that you tell the nurse you are taking Vicodin, as it may affect the accuracy of the results.

How should I take Vicodin?

Take Vicodin exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take it in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.
An overdose of acetaminophen can cause serious harm to your liver. The maximum amount of acetaminophen for adults is 1 gram (1000 mg) per dose and 4 grams (4000 mg) per day. One
Vicodin tablet may contain up to 750 mg of acetaminophen. Know the amount of acetaminophen in the specific product you are taking.
Drink 6 to 8 full glasses of water daily to help prevent constipation while you are taking Vicodin. Ask your doctor about ways to increase the fiber in your diet. Do not use a stool softener (laxative) without first asking your doctor. You may have withdrawal symptoms when you stop using Vicodin after using it over a long period of time. Do not stop using this medication suddenly without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely.
This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain urine tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using Vicodin.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using Vicodin. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Pregnant women taking Vicodin

This medicine is FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known for sure whether it can do any harm to an unborn baby, but it does cause withdrawal symptoms in newborn babies, as well as breathing problems. Consult your doctor before you start taking Vicodin. However, you need to know that the use of Vicodin in pregnant women is rarely justified, as the risks usually outweigh potential benefits.

Store Vicodin at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Keep track of how many tablets have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Hydrocodone is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.

 What happens if I miss a dose?


Since this medication is taken as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of Vicodin can be fatal.The first signs of an Vicodin overdose include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, sweating, and confusion or weakness. Later symptoms may include pain in your upper stomach, dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.
Overdose symptoms may also include extreme drowsiness, pinpoint pupils, cold and clammy skin, muscle weakness, fainting, weak pulse, slow heart rate, coma, blue lips, shallowbreathing, or no breathing.

What should I avoid while taking Vicodin?

Vicodin can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Do not use any other cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as "APAP") is contained in many combination medicines. If you use certain products together you may accidentally use too much acetaminophen. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains acetaminophen or APAP.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Vicodin. Alcohol may increase your risk of liver damage while taking acetaminophen. Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, antidepressants, or seizure medication can add to sleepiness caused by hydrocodone, or could slow your breathing. Tell your doctor if you need to use any of these other medicines while you are taking Vicodin.

Vicodin side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Vicodin: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
  1.  shallow breathing, slow heartbeat;
  2.  feeling light-headed, fainting;
  3. confusion, fear, unusual thoughts or behavior;
  4. seizure (convulsions);
  5. problems with urination;
  6. nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Less serious Vicodin side effects may include:
  1.  feeling anxious, dizzy, or drowsy;
  2. mild nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, constipation;
  3. headache, mood changes;
  4. blurred vision;
  5. ringing in your ears; 
  6. dry mouth.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Vicodin?

Before taking Vicodin, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
  1.   an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), clomipramine (Anafranil), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), and others;
  2. an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate);
  3. atropine (Donnatal, and others), benztropine (Cogentin), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), glycopyrrolate (Robinul), mepenzolate (Cantil), methscopolamine (Pamine), or scopolamine (Transderm-Scop);
  4. bladder or urinary medications such as darifenacin (Enablex), flavoxate (Urispas), oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol), tolterodine (Detrol), or solifenacin (Vesicare);
  5. a bronchodilator such as ipratropium (Atrovent) or tiotropium (Spiriva); 
  6. irritable bowel medications such as dicyclomine (Bentyl), hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin, and others), or propantheline (Pro-Banthine).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Vicodin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Dosage and Administration for Vicodin

Dosage should be adjusted according to the severity of the pain and the response of the patient. However, it should be kept in mind that tolerance to hydrocodone can develop with continued use and that the incidence of untoward effects is dose related.
The usual adult dosage is one or two tablets every four to six hours as needed for pain. The total daily dosage should not exceed 8 tablets.


Vicodin comes in 3 strengths:

      1. Vicodin - 5mg hydrocodone bitartrate + 500mg acetaminophen.
      2. Vicodin ES - 7.5mg hydrocodone bitartrate + 750mg acetaminophen.
      3.Vicodin HP - 10mg hydrocodone bitartrate + 660mg acetaminophen.