Canadian Pharmacy » Archives for December 2006

How does this medicine work?

Kaletra blocks HIV protease, a chemical that is needed for HIV to multiply. It helps reduce the amount of HIV in your blood and increases the number of T-cells. HIV infection destroys CD4 T-cells, which are important to the immune system. After a large number of T-cells are destroyed, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) develops. Reducing the amount of HIV in the blood and helping to raise the number of T-cells reduces the chance of death or infections that happen when your immune system is weak.

How would I take Kaletra?

Kaletra is always used in combination with other anti-HIV medicines to treat people with HIV infection. It is available in tablet or liquid form. Kaletra tablets are supplied in a bottle of 120 pills. It is also available in an oral solution that comes in 2 bottles (160 mL each) for a 30-day supply. The liquid contains large amounts of alcohol.
The usual dose for adults is 2 tablets with or without food or 5 mL of the liquid with food twice a day in combination with other anti-HIV medicines. If you’re new to HIV therapy, meaning you have not taken HIV medications in the past, your doctor may prescribe Kaletra once a day. This dosing option consists of 4 tablets with or without food or 10 mL of liquid with food once daily in combination with other anti-HIV medicines.

Will Kaletra cure HIV or AIDS?

No HIV medication, including Kaletra, can cure HIV or AIDS. The long-term effects of this medicine are not known at this time. People taking Kaletra may still get opportunistic infections or other conditions that happen with HIV infection. Some of these conditions are pneumonia, herpes virus infections, and Mycobacterium avium complex infections.

Will Kaletra reduce the chance of spreading HIV to other people?

No, Kaletra does not reduce the risk of passing HIV to others through sexual contact or blood contamination. You should take steps to minimize the risks associated with these behaviors. Continue to practice safe sex and do not use or share dirty needles.

Does my doctor need to know anything before I start taking Kaletra?

Tell your doctor about any of the following:

• If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant: The effects of Kaletra on pregnant women or their unborn babies are not known.
• If you are breastfeeding: Do not breastfeed if you are taking this medicine. You should not breastfeed if you have HIV. If you are a woman who has or will have a baby, talk with your doctor about the best way to feed your baby. You should be aware that if your baby does not already have HIV, there is a chance HIV can be transmitted through breastfeeding.
• If you have liver problems: If you have liver problems or are infected with Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C, you should tell your doctor before taking Kaletra.
• If you have diabetes: Some people taking protease inhibitors develop new or more serious diabetes or high blood sugar. Tell your doctor if you have diabetes an increase in thirst or frequent urination.
• If you have hemophilia: Patients taking Kaletra may have increased bleeding.

Does Kaletra have any side effects?

• Blood tests in patients using Kaletra may show possible liver problems. People with liver disease such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C who take this medicine may have worsening liver disease. Liver problems including death have occurred in patients taking Kaletra. In studies, it is unclear if Kaletra caused these liver problems because some patients had other illnesses or were taking other medicines.
• Some patients taking Kaletra can develop serious problems with their pancreas (pancreatitis), which may cause death. You have a higher chance of having pancreatitis if you have had it before. Tell your doctor if you have nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. These may be signs of pancreatitis.
• Some patients have large increases in triglycerides and cholesterol. The long-term chance of getting complications such as heart attacks or stroke due to increases in triglycerides and cholesterol caused by protease inhibitors is not known at this time.
• Diabetes and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) occur in patients taking protease inhibitors such as Kaletra. Some patients had diabetes before starting protease inhibitors, others did not. Some patients need changes in their diabetes medicine. Others need new diabetes medicine.
• Changes in body fat have been seen in some patients taking antiretroviral therapy. These changes may include an increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the trunk. Loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face may also happen. The cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known at this time.
• Some patients with hemophilia have increased bleeding with protease inhibitors.

There have been other side effects in patients taking Kaletra. However, these side effects may have been due to other medicines that patients were taking or to the illness itself. Some of these side effects can be serious.

Venlafaxine XR (Effexor XR) is a prescription medicine used to treat depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder in adults. It is believed to help treat depression by affecting the levels of 2 chemicals in the brain — serotonin and norepinephrine. Correcting the imbalance of these 2 chemicals may help relieve symptoms of depression.

Important information about Venlafaxine XR

People taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) should not take this medicine. MAOIs can cause a very serious reaction or even death if taken at the same time as Venlafaxine XR. Stop taking your MAOI at least 14 days before beginning Venlafaxine XR. Similarly, you should wait 7 days after stopping Venlafaxine XR before starting an MAOI. Be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist if a medicine you are taking is an MAOI.
It is important that both adults and children treated with Venlafaxine XR should be watched closely for signs that their condition is getting worse or that they are becoming suicidal. This is true especially when they first start therapy or when their dose is increased or decreased. Patients should also be watched for becoming agitated, irritable, hostile, impulsive, or restless. Such symptoms should be reported to the patient’s doctor right away.

Can children take Venlafaxine XR?

Venlafaxine XR is not approved for use in children under 18. Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in studies in children and teenagers with depression and other psychiatric disorders.

Should I avoid anything while taking Venlafaxine XR?

It’s important to tell your doctor if you are pregnant, intend to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. Newborns whose mothers used Venlafaxine XR late in the third trimester have had problems. Because of those problems, the newborns needed long hospital stays, help with breathing, and tube feeding.
Until you see how the medication affects you, be careful doing such activities as driving a car or operating machinery. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Venlafaxine XR.

Does Venlafaxine XR have any side effects?

The most common side effects include:

• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Sleepiness
• Abnormal ejaculation
• Sweating
• Dry mouth
• Gas
• Abnormal vision
• Nervousness
• Insomnia
• Loss of appetite
• Constipation
• Confusion/agitation
• Tremor
• Yawning
• Palpitation

Tell your doctor right away if you have:

• Increases in heart rate
• Extreme confusion or seizures, which may indicate very low levels of sodium in the blood
• Abnormal bleeding or bruising
• Sudden, unexpected eye pain, eye redness, or changes in vision, which may indicate increased eye pressure
• Symptoms of mania or hypomania, such as persistently elevated or irritable mood, a decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts, hyperactivity, and rapid, excessive speech

Taking Pramipexole (Mirapex) eases the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease–a progressive disorder marked by muscle rigidity, weakness, shaking, tremor, and eventually difficulty with walking and talking. Parkinson’s disease happens when there is a shortage of the chemical messenger dopamine in certain areas of the brain. Pramipexole is believed to work by increasing the action of whatever dopamine is available.

Something you should know about Pramipexole.

If you are using Sinemet or Larodopa, taking Pramipexole may allow a decrease in your dosage. Plus, if you suffer from the “on-off” effect that often develops during Parkinson’s therapy (symptom-free periods alternating with severe attacks), Mirapex may extend the good “on” times and shorten your “off” periods.

How is this medicine taken?

Always take Pramipexole (Mirapex) exactly as prescribed. If it you feel nauseous, try taking it with food.
If you are stopping your Pramipexole therapy, try to do it gradually. Your doctor will tell you how to taper your dose over a week’s time.
If you miss a dose take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Do not take 2 doses at the same time.
Store Pramipexole at room temperature; protect from light.

Are there any medications that may interact with Pramipexole?

If Pramipexole is taken with certain drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Mirapex with the following:

• Carbidopa/Levodopa (Sinemet)
• Sedatives and tranquilizers such as chloral hydrate, codeine products, Dalmane,
• Halcion, and phenobarbital
• Cimetidine (Tagamet)
• Diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor XR)
• Major tranquilizers such as Compazine, Haldol, Mellaril, Navane, Prolixin,
• Stelazine, and Thorazine
• Metoclopramide (Reglan)
• Quinidine (Quinidex, Quinaglute)
• Quinine
• Ranitidine (Zantac)
• Triamterene (Dyrenium)
• Verapamil (Calan, Isoptin)

Does Pramipexole have any side effects?

More common side effects may include:

Abnormal dreams, arthritis, chest pain, confusion, constipation, decreased sensitivity to touch, difficulty breathing, difficulty walking, dizziness, dizziness upon standing, drowsiness, dry mouth, hallucinations, increased muscle tone, increased urination, insomnia, involuntary movement (jerky motions), lack of appetite, memory loss, nasal inflammation, nausea, swelling, urinary tract infections, vision abnormalities, weakness.

Less common side effects may include:

Decreased sex drive, delusions, difficulty swallowing, fever, a general feeling of illness, impotence, inability to hold urine, muscle spasms or twitching, pneumonia, skin disorders, thinking abnormalities, uncontrollable restlessness, unfounded suspicions, weight loss.

Rare side effects may include:

Abnormal ejaculation, abnormal heartbeat, agitation, blood clots, blood in urine, blood circulation problems, convulsions, difficult or painful urination, enlarged abdomen, eye disorders, heart attack, heart problems, joint problems, lung problems, mental illness, muscular problems, prostate problems, severe chest pain (angina), thirst.
Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any persist or worsen, speak with your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Pramipexole (Mirapex).

Cryogesic is a fast-acting vapor-coolant spray that provides rapid, transient, topical analgesia for minor invasive procedures, and a source of instant coolness for tooth vitality testing and checking epidural blocks.

What is a Topical Anaesthetic?

Topical anesthetics or local anesthetics are used to numb the skin and reduce pain before a procedure, such as a blood test or injection. They are very effective at taking away the pain of the procedure but there may still be some discomfort associated with fluid going in during injection, or pressure on the skin while your child is being held in the right position.

How fast does Cryogesic work?

The pain-killing effect is almost instant because rapid evaporation of ethyl chloride causes cooling and numbing of the skin. Cryogesic’s effect can last for about 30-45 seconds until the skin re-warms but will vary depending upon circumstances.

How is Cryogesic used?

• Hold the can on its side a few inches above the skin.
• A fine tube can be attached for a more accurate application.
• Press the nozzle gently and let the fluid drip onto the skin. It will feel very cold and a thin white film will appear.
• It is easiest to spray a flat, horizontal surface, so if you are spraying your child’s tummy, he or she will need to lie back.
• The needle should then be inserted within 30 seconds of spraying the area.
• Do not repeatedly spray the same area with Cryogesic as this may cause frostbite and pain.

Is Cryogesic considered sterile?

No it is not sterile. Cryogesic is for external use only.

How is Cryogesic available?

Cryogesic Direct Stream – 100ml can deliver a narrow stream of liquid for more accurate placement.
Cryogesic Fine Spray – 100ml can for general clinical use.

Does Cryogesic have any side effects?

Some people can be allergic to the ingredients, which may cause itching, swelling or bruising where the cream or spray has been applied. Some changes in skin color may occur, but this is normal. Local anesthetics should not be used in the following areas:

• Wounds, broken skin, and eczema.
• Mucous membranes such as inside the mouth or nose.
• The mouth or lips.
• The ears, nose, or eyes.
• The anus or genitals.