Posts

Showing posts from September, 2021

Hydroquinone: Uses, safety, risks, and more - Medical News Today

Image
Hydroquinone is a chemical that a person can use to lighten their skin tone. It is available as a cream, gel, lotion, or emulsion. Hydroquinone is generally safe to use, but some people may experience side effects, such as dry skin. This article examines the various uses of hydroquinone, its safety, and whether or not there is any risk to using it. It also looks at alternatives and tips for protecting the skin from damage. Hydroquinone is a chemical that bleaches the skin. It can come as a cream, emulsion, gel, or lotion. A person can apply these products directly to the skin. Creams that contain 2% hydroquinone are available to buy over the counter in most drugstores. Stronger creams are available with a prescription from a doctor. People may use hydroquinone as a form of treatment for hyperpigmentation skin conditions, wherein some areas of skin grow darker than surrounding areas. Some conditions that people may use hydroquinone for include: Melasma People with melasma have brown or ...

USPSTF Doubles Down on Aspirin for Preeclampsia Prevention - MedPage Today

Image
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) reaffirmed its recommendations that pregnant women at a high risk of preeclampsia should take a daily aspirin regimen at the end of the first trimester. In grade B recommendations, the USPSTF suggested a daily, low dose of aspirin (81 mg) for at-risk pregnant women to prevent preeclampsia after 12 weeks' gestation, said task force members Karina Davidson, PhD, MASc, of Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health, and co-authors. Writing in JAMA , they explained that the USPSTF concluded with "moderate certainty" that there is "substantial net benefit" of a daily regimen of low-dose aspirin in high-risk pregnant women to reduce the risk of not only preeclampsia, but also preterm birth, small for gestational age or intrauterine growth restriction, and perinatal mortality. These updated guidelines reaffirm the USPSTF's 2014 recommendation on low-dose aspirin use for preeclampsia prevention...

Shingrix Second Dose: Side Effects - Healthline

Image
Common side effects of the second dose of the Shingrix vaccine include pain, swelling, or fever. Shingrix is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved vaccine that helps prevent shingles, an infection caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, in adults ages 50 and older. People contract the virus through exposure to chickenpox, where it remains dormant in the nervous system. Healthcare professionals administer the Shingrix vaccine in two doses, with the second dose being given 2 to 6 months after the first. As with any vaccine, there are potential side effects. However, some side effects may be more common after receiving a second dose, like: muscle pain chills fatigue headache In this article, we review all the potential side effects of Shingrix. We also explore how to ease symptoms and when to seek medical help. Pain at the injection site is a common side effect of many vaccines, including Shingrix. This pain is generally mild but can feel like anything from slig...

What Are Chewable Medications for Erectile Dysfunction? - WebMD

Image
Ever since erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs were introduced, scientists have been looking at different formulas that may be easier to take while providing the right amount of medicine. Some people have a hard time swallowing pills. Some want a more discreet way to take them without having to grab a glass of water. One newer option is chewable tablets. In the United States, chewable ED tablets are available only through the online subscription service BlueChew. According to the company website, it makes chewable versions of sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis).  (While the active ingredients have FDA approval, chewable forms of these drugs haven't been separately approved.) Unlike traditional ED pills, chewables aren't made directly by drug companies in the U.S. They're created at a compounding pharmacy. A doctor affiliated with the company prescribes them for you after an online visit with the doctor. The tablets are sent directly to your home. Monthly subscri...

Dantrolene: The Forgotten Molecule for Outpatient Spasticity - PracticalPainManagement.com

Image
A case report demonstrates why practitioners should consider dantrolene as a muscle relaxant when treating spasticity in refractory chronic pain and CNS disorders. Painful muscle spasticity is a chronic complaint among patients with various pain syndromes, particularly those involving upper motor neuron disorders, such as brain and spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, and strokes. Spasticity is defined as a velocity-dependent increase in tone with joint movement that occurs due to excitation of spinal reflex arcs or a loss of descending inhibitory control. 1 Symptoms of Muscle Spasticity Spasticity can present as muscle hypertonicity and involuntary jerking that affects movement, speech, and gait. A muscle spasm is a sustained muscle contraction that can occur as a result of spasticity or of acute trauma or muscle strain. Although nonpharmacological therapies are favored by most guidelines, adjunctive medications are often required. The American College of Physicians (ACP...

FDA approves first generic version of Sabril to help treat seizures in adults and pediatric patients with epilepsy | FDA - FDA.gov

[unable to retrieve full-text content] FDA approves first generic version of Sabril to help treat seizures in adults and pediatric patients with epilepsy | FDA    FDA.gov

How Can You Clear Your Child's Stuffy Nose - Ohionewstime.com

If that stuffed-up nose is cleared, it will likely be easy for your child to breathe, eat, and sleep. The majority of new parents receive a rubber bulb syringe in their newborn package for this reason, and it typically works well. A few new devices on the market may be even more effective in clearing mucus from a Snotty Noses . Before you try to suction out the mucus, spray a little nasal saline into your child's nose to moisten and loosen it up. Saline can be purchased from pharmacies or made at home by dissolving 1/4 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water. Every day, create a new batch and keep it in a clean, covered glass jar. (If you're using well water, it's a good idea to boil it first to sanitize it.) Place your kid on her back with her chin slightly raised. Using an eyedropper, place one or two drops of saline in each nostril (or squirt once or twice if using a saline spray) and attempt to keep your baby's head steady for around ten seconds. After each usa...

Nifedipine: Side Effects, Dosage, Uses, and More - Healthline

Image
Highlights for nifedipine Nifedipine oral tablet is available as both a generic drug and brand-name drug. Brand name: Procardia XL. Nifedipine tablets are an extended-release form of the drug. Nifedipine is also available in immediate-release oral capsules. The capsules are available as the brand-name drug Procardia. They are also available in a generic drug. Nifedipine is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). It's also used to treat two types of angina (chest pain): vasospastic angina and chronic stable angina. Important warnings Congestive heart failure warning: In rare cases, upon starting to take nifedipine, some patients without a history of heart failure have developed heart failure. Chest pain (angina) warning: If you're taking this drug to treat angina, it can cause a temporary increase in chest pain. Low blood pressure warning: This drug can cause very low blood pressure. This most often occurs when the drug is started, or when the dosage is increased. Ni...

How to Spot Serious Flu Symptoms - AARP

Image
martin-dm / Getty Images En español | Fever. Fatigue. Muscle aches. A cough. In the age of COVID-19, it can be hard to know what exactly these symptoms point to. One major clue they point directly to the flu: They came on abruptly (while those associated with COVID-19 tend to start out mild and gradually worsen). You can also expect to be out of commission for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, the average amount of time it takes an otherwise healthy person to get over the flu (with the help of plenty of rest, fluids and over-the-counter pain medication like acetaminophen or ibuprofen). But if you're 65 and older, you stand a...

Statins for Graves' orbitopathy (STAGO): a phase 2, open-label, adaptive, single centre, randomised clinical trial - The Lancet

[unable to retrieve full-text content] Statins for Graves' orbitopathy (STAGO): a phase 2, open-label, adaptive, single centre, randomised clinical trial    The Lancet

12 Reasons You Have a Constant Runny Nose, and How to Fix It - Livestrong

Image
A constant runny nose could be your body's reaction to food, exercise or even aging. Image Credit: Mindful Media/iStock/GettyImages Drip, drip, drip. That's the annoying sound of your leaky faucet, also known as your constant runny nose. It's not only inconvenient, but a consistent flow of mucus may also indicate an irritation or inflammation (known as rhinitis) of the nasal tissues. Because a whole host of health-related issues can irritate or inflame your mucous membranes, we spoke with Cecelia Damask, DO, a board-certified otolaryngologist, to discuss the most common causes and help you get to the root of your runny nose. Tip Fun fact: Often the same conditions that cause a runny nose also create nasal congestion. That means you may (or may not) have a leaky and stuffy nose at the same time. 1. A Nasal and Sinus Infection Thick, yellow or greenish mucus draining from your nose normally indicates a nasal and sinus infection (also called ac...