How does this medication work?

Lamisil (generic name: Terbinafine) is an antifungal medication used to treat fungal infections of the skin and nails.
Lamisil comes in several forms, including:

• Tablets
• Cream
• Spray

Tablets: Each round, white/yellow, uncoated tablet is scored on one side. Lamisil 250 contains terbinafine 250 mg.
Cream: Each gram of white, smooth, glossy cream contains terbinafine 10 mg.
Spray: Each gram of clear solution contains terbinafine 10 mg.

It is crucial that you take your medication according to your doctor's instructions. Continue using Lamisil even if your infection clears up, to prevent it from coming back. If you miss a dose, simply take your dose as soon as you remember. If you don't remember until it is almost time for your next dose, skip your last dose. Do not double your medication.

Who should NOT take this medication?

You should not use Lamisil if you are allergic to terbinafine or any of the ingredients of the medication. Please talk to you doctor before taking Lamisil.

What side effects are possible with this medication?

Side effects occur when taking any medication. In general, Lamisil is well tolerated by most patients. The most common side effects are:
In tablets:

• diarrhea
• nausea
• vomiting

In cream and spray:

• dryness
• redness
• itching
• burning
• peeling
• rash
• stinging
• other signs of skin irritation not present before use of this medication

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

• aching joints and muscles
  
• dark urine
  
• difficulty swallowing
  
• fever, chills, or sore throat
  
• pale skin
  
• pale stools
  
• redness, blistering, peeling, or loosening of skin
  
• unusual bleeding or bruising
  
• yellow skin or eyes
  
• continuing headache
  
• stomach pain or vomiting

Are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?

Lamisil cream and spray are for external use only. Avoid contact with the eyes. Do not use the spray on the face. In case of accidental contact with the eyes or inhalation, contact a doctor if any symptoms develop and persist.

Low-dose combined oral contraceptive pills, like Yasmin, are effective and safe. In terms of preventing pregnancy, oral contraceptive pills are much more effective than standard barrier contraceptives like condoms and diaphragms. Taking your pill regularly can help eliminate the risk of unwanted pregnancy.

In the past, the pill contained unwanted hormones that caused side effects in women. Today, oral contraceptive pills contain only a fraction of the amount of hormones. As a result, most women experience no side effects.

There are several additional benefits of taking Yasmin with drospirenone, including:

• Reduced pain during menstruation
  Most women find periods become less painful and more manageable.

• Reduced blood loss during menstruation
  If you suffer from heavy periods, Yasmin can also help by making them much lighter and easier to cope with and prevent problems associated with heavy blood loss (For example, iron deficiency).

• More regular cycle
  Yasmin regulates your menstrual cycle so that you know exactly when your period will come every month.

• Reduced PMS symptoms
  Many women find that especially Yasmin significantly reduces symptoms associated with pre-menstrual syndrome like bloating, water retention, tender breasts and stomach cramps.

• Reduced risk of ovarian and womb cancer

What is Drospirenone?

Drospirenone is a synthetic hormone that mirrors the behavior of the progesterone hormone your body produces during menstruation. The major function of the progesterone hormone is to remove the water that is retained by your body during your cycle. This new synthetic agent is the first to mirror natural Progesterone in the way it combats water retention.

All modern contraceptive pills are extremely safe and effective at preventing pregnancy, but only Yasmin reduces the amount of water retained by the body during menstruation. Retaining water can cause:

• Weight gain
  
• Bloating
  
• Decrease in energy
  
• Tender breasts

By taking drospirenone, you will retain less water, drastically reducing your discomfort that can make you feel so uncomfortable in the second half of your menstrual cycle.

Celecoxib (Brand Name: Celebrex) is a prescription medication that helps relieve the pain and swelling of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Celecoxib is also used to treat pain in adults (strains and sprains) or pain after surgery, primary dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual cramps) and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis. Ankylosing spondylitis is arthiritis that affects the spine and is common in young people.

How does Celecoxib work?

Celecoxib relieve arthritis pain by targeting the COX-2 enzyme. The COX-2 enzyme is a protein that is involved in the mechanisms that cause pain and inflammation.

Side Effects of Celecoxib

Side effect can occur when you take any medication. In most patients, no side effects result from taking Celecoxib. The most common minor side effects are:

• Indigestion
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain

Are there other side effects?

In extreme cases, taking Celecoxib can:

• Increase your chance of serious heart problems (for example heart attack or stroke).
• Cause serious skin reactions or stomach problems (for example stomach bleeding).

Please talk to your doctor before taking Celecoxib.

How do I take Celecoxib?

Celecoxib provides all day/all night relief for arthritis pain. You can take your pill with or without food at any time during the day. Doctors recommend that you take your pill at the same time each day. Taking your pill at the same time each day will help you remember and reduce the chance you will miss a dose.

Ultram is an effective pain reliever, or analgesic. Ultram's mode of action for is very similar to the mode of action of a narcotic, but the potential for abuse and addiction is much less. Unlike narcotics, Ultram does not reduce respiration.

It is important to note that Ultram is not a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID). Ultram, unlike NSAID's, does NOT increase the risk of stomach ulceration and internal bleeding.

How Do I Take Ultram?

Ultram comes in tablet form and is taken orally. Ultram can be taken with or without food. It is common for your doctor to start you on a low dosage of Ultram and gradually increase your dose every three days.
Ultram is normally taken every 4-6 hours, but it is important to follow the dosage recommended by your doctor.

Taking too much Ultram can result in serious side effects. The mode of action is very similar to the mode of action of a narcotic, so Ultram you can become addicted to Ultram. Only take Ultram for the amount of time recommended by your doctor.

Never stop taking Ultram suddenly. In most cases, your doctor will gradually reduce your dosage to reduce the chance of suffering from withdrawl.

Side Effects of Ultram

If you take Ultram, you may experience the following minor side effects:

• Dizziness
  
• Weakness
  
• Headaches
  
• Anxiety
  
• Shaking hands that you cannot control
  
• Increased muscle tightness
  
• Mood Swings
  
• Blurred vision
  
• Heartburn
  
• Vomiting
  
• Diarrhea
  
• Constipation
  
• Itching
  
• Dry mouth

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• Hives
  
• Sores on the inside of your mouth, nose, eyes, or throat
  
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing
  
• Swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
  
• Fast heartbeat
  
• Hallucinations
  
• Seizures

The cost of brand name medications is often too high for people to afford without a medical plan. Most of the cost associated with brand name pharmaceuticals is associated with the marketing and researching of the drug.

A cost efficient solution is to purchase generic alternatives. After the patent for a pharmaceutical expires, companies can manufacture generic alternatives without investing money into the research and marketing of the product.

Note: Generic alternatives are tested to the same standards as brand name medications.

Until March 10/2006 - Save 5% on generics alternatives at DoctorSolve.com

• Alendronate (generic alternative to Fosamax)
• Levothyroxine (generic alternative to Synthroid)
• Sertraline HCl (generic alternative to Zoloft)
• Lamisil (generic alternative to Terbinafine)
• Pravastatin (generic alternative to Pravachol)
• Gabapentin (generic alternative to Neurontin)
• Warfarin (generic alternative to Coumadin)
• Lamotrigine (generic alternative to Lamictal)
• Meloxicam (generic alternative to Mobic)

Order now and receive a free deck of playing cards!

Fluoxetine is an antidepressant drug used to treat depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, bulimia, and panic disorder. Fluoxetine sold under the brand names Prozac. Fluoxetine is believed to work by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin, a chemical messenger in the brain.

Should I take Fluoxetine?

More than 30 million North Americans suffer from some type of depression. Recent studies prove that depression is not mental. You can't just "cheer up" and start feeling better. Fluoxetine can help combat the effects of the following conditions:

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  Although lots of people may appear to have some of the symptoms of OCD, OCD is only diagnosed if these events take over an hour and interfere with your daily life.
  
• Bulimia
  Bulimia nervosa is a disorder where a person will binge on food, then purge the food. Purging can involve vomiting, taking large doses of laxatives or diuretics, exercising compulsively, or fasting.
  
• Panic Disorder
  Panic disorder causes repeated attacks of intense fear in every day situations. You may experience shortness of breath, an accelerated heart rate, dizziness, chest pain, or stomach upset for no apparent reason. You may feel like you are going crazy, or even dying.

Side Effects

People taking Fluoxetine may experience some of the following minor side effect:

• Insomnia
  
• Weight loss
  
• Weakness
  
• Skin rash
  
• Decrease in sexual drive

NOTE: An overdose of fluoxetine or combining it with other antidepressants can lead to serotonin syndrome.

Taking Fluoxetine

• Take each dose with water. Ensure each dose is measured properly. Do not measure your dose with a standard kitchen spoon.
  
• Fluoxetine can be taken with or without food.
  
• Take each dose at the same time each day.
  
• Do not stop taking fluoxetine without first talking to your doctor.

Note: If you miss a dose, simply take the dose as soon as you remember. If you don't remember until it is almost time to take your next dose, simply skip the dose. Do not double dose.

Brand name: Soma

Carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant, is used with rest, physical therapy, and other measures to relax muscles and relieve pain and discomfort caused by strains, sprains, and other muscle injuries.

Carisoprodol should NOT be taken for minor aches.

How do I take Carisoprodol

• Take each dose with a full glass of water
  
• Never take more than 1,400 mg (4 tablets) in one day

If you miss a dose of Carisoprodol, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

Side Effects of Carisoprodol

Side effects as a reuslt of taking Carioprodol are not common, but some patients do experience the following:

• Drowsiness
  
• Dizziness
  
• Headaches
  
• Increased heart rate
  
• Upset stomach
  
• Skin rash

If you experience any of the following symptoms after taking Carisoprodol, call your doctor right away:

• Difficulty breathing
  
• Fever
  
• Weakness
  
• Burning in the eyes

Doxycycline (Brand name: Adoxa, Doryx, Periostat, Vibramycin) is used to treat bacterial infections, including pneumonia and other respiratory tract infections (for example, lyme disease, acne and genital infections). Travelers use the medication to prevent malaria.

Doxycycline works by preventing the growth and spread of bacteria.

Taking Doxycycline

The absorption of doxycycline is not affected by food, and therefore, it can be taken with meals. For most infections, doxycycline is taken once or twice daily for 7 to 14 days. Some doctors will prescribe a "double dose" for your first dose.

Side Effects of Doxycycline

Doxycycline is generally well-tolerated. The most common side effects are diarrhea or loose stools, nausea, and abdominal pain. Exaggerated sunburn can occur so your exposure to sunlight shouild be minimized.

A slight discoloration of teeth may occur for people under the age of 8 when doxycycline is used.

What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?

• Keep your doxycyline in original container, tightly closed, and out of reach of children.
  
• Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture.
  
• Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed.
  

Brand Name (Caduet, Norvasc)

Why is this medication prescribed?

Amlodipine is used to treat high blood pressure and chest pain (angina). Amlodipine is a calcium channel blockers that lowers blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels so the heart does not have to work as hard. Amlodipine controls chest pain by increasing the supply of blood to the heart.

How should this medicine be used?

Amlodipine is usually taken once a day. You should try to take your dosage at the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of amlodipine and gradually increase your dose.

Although Amlodipine controls high blood pressure and chest pain, it does not cure either. Make sure you take amlodipine even if you start feeling better. Do not stop taking amlodipine without consulting your doctor.

What special precautions should I follow?

Make sure you aren't allergic to amlodipine or any other medications.

Make sure amlodipine doesn't react with any medications you are currently taking.

If you are pregnant or plan on being pregnant while taking amlodipine, alert your doctor.

What should I do if I forget to take my medication?

If you forget to take a does, simply take your dose as soon as you remember. If you don't remember until it is almost time to take your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.

What side effects can this medication cause?

Amlodipine may cause side effects. If any of the following symptoms do not go away, alert your doctor:

Swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs

Headaches

Upset stomach or stomach pain

Dizziness

Drowsiness

If you experience any of the following side effects, please contact your doctor immediately:

Increased or more frequent chest pain

Rapid or irregular heartbeat

Fainting

What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?

Keep Amlodipine in the original container, tightly closed, and out of reach of children.

Store it at room temperature.

Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed

An allergy is a hypersensitivity to a foreign substance that is normally harmless. If you are allergic to a substance, the result is usually a violent reaction like a skin rash or nasal drip. An allergic reaction is how the body tries to get rid of the foreign substance. Typical allergic reactions are hay fever, asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema and other skin rashes, drowsiness, CFS, hyperactivity in children, and ear infections.

Allergies affect more than 20% of the population.

The most common allergy is a "Type1" allergy. If an allergen encounters a cell that can produce antibodies, the cells will produce IgE antibodies. These antibodies bind to the surface of the cell. When the bond is formed, cells begin to produce mediators (for example histamines), that cause an allergic reaction.

Almost any substance can be an allergen (foods, pollens, dust, mold), but as many hay fever sufferers know, the arrival of Spring marks the beginning of allergy season. Wind, rain and temperature all affect pollen counts. Rain washes pollen down before it becomes airborne. Wind transports the pollens through the air, elevating allergy symptoms.

You can take a few simple precautions to help reduce your exposure to molds and pollens. For example:

• Close your windows at night to prevent pollens and molds from entering your house.
• Close your car windows when driving.
• Use an air conditioner and dehumidifier to keep air clean, cool, and dry.
• Minimize outdoor activity on days when the pollen count or humidity is high
• Avoid hanging sheets or clothing out to dry.
• Take a shower after spending time outdoors to remove pollen and mold that may be on your skin and hair.

Allergy relief is available in both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications.

OTC

• Claritin
• Sinutab Allergy

Prescription

• Reactine
• Zyrtec (Generic Reactine)
• Allegra

Remember when you said you were going to exercise more this year to get in shape for summer? Did that exercise program somehow fade away?

"To get back on track with your exercise program, you only need 3 things," says Joshua Klapow, PhD.

Information. You need to know what exercises to do.
Several organizations provide free exercise information: The American Heart Association (http://www.americanheart.org/), The President's Council on Fitness (http://www.fitness.gov/), and the Department of Health and Human Services (http://www.smallstep.gov/).

Motivation. You have to want to get back on track.
So what if you are losing interest? Here a simple exercise to increase your motivation. Write down your answers to these questions:

If I don't exercise:

• How will I look this summer?
• How will I feel this summer?
• What will my health be like in 5 years?
• How will my health affect family and friends?

Most people find that writing these answers down helps to remind them of why they decided to exercise in the first place. It boosts their motivation.

Skills. You need to know how to change your habits.

Change your habits the SMART way:

• Set a new exercise goal. Start fresh today with a realistic goal for the summer. It's better to keep it easy at first. You can always get more difficult.
• Monitor your exercise. Keeping track of what you are doing is going to help you actually do it. So grab that calendar, put it on the fridge and mark down every time you exercise.
• Arrange for success. Make it easy to exercise. If you plan to exercise in the morning, take your clothes out the night before. If you want to exercise on the way home from work, make sure your gym bag is packed and in the car.
• Recruit a support team. The research clearly shows having others support you in your efforts will help you be a success. Ask friends and family to provide support.
• Treat your actions. Reward yourself. Plan out how you are going to treat yourself for sticking with your new exercise goals.

Advair Diskus is a long term meidcation used to prevent asthma attacks. Advair Diskus can not stop an asthma attack once it starts. Advair Diskus contains the following chemicals to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD):

• Salmeterol - is a bronchodilator that relaxes the muscles in the walls of the small air passages in the lung to make it easier to get air in and out. The long term effects of salmeterol keep air passages open for longer periods of time.
• Fluticasone - is a corticosteroidthat reduces inflammation in the lungs and help reduce the swelling and irritation in the walls of the small air passages in the lungs.

These medications are used for long-term relief, not to stop an asthma attack after it starts. For immediate relief, you should continue to use your regular asthma inhaler.

Advair Diskus is often prescribed for other medical conditions. If you have any questions regarding Advair, please talk to you doctor. Do not stop taking this Advair without talking to your doctor first.

How should I use this medication?

For children over 12 and adults, doctors recommend one inhalation of Advair Diskus twice during the day. To ensure maximum effectiveness, it is important you use the medication as prescribed. Using more than the prescribed amount of medication can result in unwanted side effects.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss your Advair dose, inhale your dosage as soon as possible. If you don't remember for a few hours, skip your scheduled dose and take the next dose when it is due.
Note: Do not double dose to make up for any missed doses.

Are there any side effects?

Common Side Effects
The following list indicates the most common side effects in Advari Diskus users.

• Body aches
• Choking
• Congestion
• Dryness of throat
• Increased heartbeat
• High-pitched noise when breathing
• Frequent sneezing
• Voice changes

The following side effects occur, but are less common:

• Abdominal or stomach pain
• Mucis producing cough
• Dizziness
• Flu-like symptoms
• Headaches
• Muscle pain
• Sleep disorders
• Tremors
• White patches in mouth, throat

Levothyroxine sodium (brand name - Synthroid) is the most commonly prescribed drug to help treat hyperthyroidism. Levothyroxine is a synthetic version of the principle thyroid hormone, thyroxine (T4) that is made and released by the thyroid gland. Thyroid hormone increases the metabolic rate of tissue cells in the body.

Levothyroxine works to fuel some metabolic processes. This includes growth and development, and glucose, protein, and fat production in the body.

Hypothyroidism occurs anytime your body's thyroid hormone production is below normal. Hypothyroidism can cause several disorders. These disorders may or may not directly involve the thyroid gland. Your thyroid hormones directly affect your growth, development and several cellular reactions. As a result, insufficient levels of the thyroid hormone can greatly affect your body.

What Causes Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a very common condition. Studies show that up to 5% of the population suffers from some form of hypothyroidism. The condition is more common in women than in men, and its incidence increases with age.Here are the most common causes of hypothyroidism in adults:

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - is the most common cause of hypothyroidism (HT). HT is an inherited autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system inappropriately attacks the thyroid tissue.

Lymphocytic Thyroiditis - is an inflammation of the thyroid gland. When the inflammation is caused by a particular type of white blood cell known as a lymphocyte, the condition is referred to as lymphocytic thyroiditis.

Thyroid Destruction (from radioactive iodine or surgery) - patients who have been treated for a hyperthyroid condition (such as Graves' disease) and received radioactive iodine may be left with little or no functioning thyroid tissue after treatment.

Pituitary or Hypothalamic Disease - in some cases the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus are unable to signal the thyroid to make thyroid hormones even if the thyroid gland itself is normal.

Medications - medications that are used to treat an over-active thyroid (hyperthyroidism) may actually cause hypothyroidism.

Severe Iodine Deficiency - in areas of the world where there is an iodine deficiency in the diet, severe hypothyroidism can be seen in up to 15% of the population.

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Weight gain or increased difficulty losing weight
• Coarse, dry hair or hair loss
• Rough pale skin
• Cold intolerance
• Muscle cramps and aches
• Constipation
• Depression and irritability
• Memory loss
• Abnormal menstrual cycles
• Decreased libido
  

Common side effects

• Chest pain
• Rapid heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Increased nervousness or agitation

When your red blood cell count (hematocrit) is low, you might develop a condition called anemia. This means you are not making enough red blood cells or are losing blood from your body. You need the red blood cells to carry oxygen everywhere.

If your doctor tells you your red blood cell count is low - or if you have been unable to donate blood because your hematocrit level is too low - you may not be ill but could stand to pump up your blood. And the best way to help your body replenish your red blood cells is to increase your intake of iron. Iron is needed to make red blood cells.

Food sources of iron:

Meats: liver, beef, pork, poultry and fish
Shellfish: shrimp, clams, mussels and oysters
Iron-fortified cereals
Beans or legumes (especially kidney beans, pintos and chickpeas)
Vegetables such as peas, spinach and lentils
Fruits, especially apricots and raisins
Enriched and whole grain breads
Molasses

And to improve the absorption of iron from any of these sources, eat vitamin C-rich foods at the same meal. For example, a glass of orange juice, cantaloupe, green peppers or tomatoes, suggests the American Red Cross Blood Services. Avoid drinking tea with meals. It decreases your body's ability to absorb the iron.

With diabetes comes increased risk for heart disease. Manage your diabetes and understand the link with keeping blood pressure and cholesterol within normal ranges. Know these numbers:

• A1C. This is a blood test that measures average blood sugar levels over the past 2 to 3 months. Strive to keep it less than 7%. Ask your doctor to check this level at least twice a year.
• Blood pressure. Do a simple check at home with a home blood pressure monitor or at drug stores and fire stations, not just in your doctor's office. Check your blood pressure at every doctor's visit and more often if you can. Keep readings below 130/80.
• Cholesterol. Target your LDL cholesterol levels. This is measured by a simple blood test at the doctor's office or at a health fair. Strive for an LDL below 100, and check it at least once a year.
  

If levels of any of the ABCs are higher than they should be, talk with your doctor. Diet and exercise help keep your numbers - and your diabetes and risk for heart disease - in check.

Please visit DoctorSolve for more information on cholesterol and diabetes medications.

Recommendations are from the National Diabetes Education Program (www.ndep.nih.gov); American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org); and American College of Cardiology.