Crazy Viagra blog.

What is Viagra?

Viagra is a prescription medicine taken by mouth for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. ED is a condition where the penis does not harden and expand when a man is sexually excited, or when he cannot keep an erection. Viagra may help a man with ED get and keep an erection when he is sexually excited. Viagra must be used only under a doctor’s care.

Viagra does not:

• cure ED
• increase a man’s sexual desire
• protect a man or his partner from sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Speak to your healthcare professional about ways to guard against sexually transmitted diseases.
• serve as a male form of birth control

Viagra is only for men with ED. Viagra is not for women or children. Viagra must be used only under a healthcare professional’s care.

Who Should Not Take Viagra?

Do not take Viagra if you:

• take any medicines called “nitrates”
• use recreational drugs called “poppers” like amyl nitrate and butyl nitrate
• have been told by your healthcare professional to not have sexual activity because of health problems

What are The Risks?

The following are the major possible risks and side effects of Viagra therapy. This list is not complete.

Viagra can cause your blood pressure to drop suddenly to an unsafe level if it is taken with certain other medicines such as nitrates and alpha-blockers, and recreational drugs that contain nitrates called “poppers”. A sudden drop in your blood pressure could cause you to become dizzy, faint, or have a heart attack or stroke.

Tell all your healthcare professionals that you take Viagra. If you need emergency medical care for a heart problem, it will be important for your healthcare professionals to know when you last took Viagra.

Viagra may uncommonly cause:

• an erection that won’t go away (priapism)
• vision changes, such as seeing a blue tinge to objects or having difficulty telling the difference between the colors blue and green

Some common side effects with Viagra include:

• headache
• flushing
• upset stomach
• stuffy or runny nose
• urinary tract infection
• diarrhea

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Professional?

Tell your healthcare professional if you:

• have or had heart problems
• have low blood pressure or have high blood pressure that is not controlled
• have had a stroke
• have liver problems
• have ever had severe vision loss
• have kidney problems or require dialysis
• have retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic (runs in families) eye disease
• have stomach ulcers
• have a bleeding problem
• have a deformed penis shape or Peyronie’s disease
• have had an erection that lasted more than 4 hours
• have blood cell problems such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia
• are taking a medicine called a protease inhibitor for the treatment of HIV
• are taking medicines called alpha blockers (alpha blockers are sometimes prescribed for prostate problems or high blood pressure)

Can Other Medicines or Food Affect Viagra?

Viagra and certain other medicines can interact with each other. Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them with you to show your healthcare professional.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The first drug to treat a blood disorder that strikes one in a million people won federal approval Friday. Soliris, or eculizumab, treats paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria or PNH, the Food and Drug Administration said. The rare blood disorder can lead to disability and premature death. The drug is made by Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Cheshire, Conn.

The drug is not a cure. Instead, it treats the breakdown of abnormally developed red blood cells that are the hallmark of the disease. If left untreated, the body naturally breaks down those cells, causing anemia. Depending on the severity of the disease, patients with PNH may have pain, fatigue and debilitating weakness and require frequent blood transfusions. It also can lead to blood clots and life-threatening or fatal strokes, heart attacks and intestinal disease, the FDA said.

Since Soliris blocks the body’s natural immune system it can increase susceptibility to serious infections, particularly bacterial meningitis, the FDA said.

The drug’s label flags that risk and requires that patients be vaccinated for meningitis before starting treatment.

Among 300 children who arrived at the emergency department with pain from a musculoskeletal injury, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil and generics ) led to significantly better improvement on a pain scale than acetaminophen (Tylenol and generics) or codeine, reported Eric Clark, M.D., of the University of Ottawa, and colleagues. The injuries to the extremities, neck, or back included fractures, bruises, and sprains, all incurred within the previous 48 hours, the investigators reported in the March issue of Pediatrics. For analgesia, the children, from the ages of six to 17, were randomly assigned to receive orally 15 mg/kg of acetaminophen, 10 mg/kg of ibuprofen, or 1 mg/kg of codeine. The children, parents, and research assistants were blinded to assignments. The primary study outcome was the change in pain from baseline to one hour after drug administration, as measured by a 100 mm visual analog scale with 1 = no pain and 100 = the worst pain. There were no significant differences in pain scores among the three groups at 30 minutes, but from 60 minutes onwards, the patients who had received ibuprofen reported significantly greater pain relief (improvement in pain score) than patients in either the acetaminophen or codeine groups (P<0.001). There were no significant differences at any point between the two latter groups. The children who received codeine had an 11-point decline in pain scores (95% confidence interval -16 to -5), compared with a 12-point drop in the children who received acetaminophen (95% CI -16 to -8), and a 24-point decline in the kids on ibuprofen (95% CI -29 to -20). Ibuprofen still provided better pain relief at two hours than either of the other analgesics, and was also significantly better at one hour (but not at two hours) at providing adequate analgesia, defined as a visual analog scale score of less than 30 mm (P<0.001). Ibuprofen was also significantly better at relieving pain from fractures at both 60 and 120 minutes. There was no statistical difference between codeine and acetaminophen for relief of fracture pain, however. There were no significant differences in change in pain score among the three drug groups for patients with soft-tissue injuries. When the authors looked only at those patients with pain scores higher than 30 mm at baseline, they found that ibuprofen was significantly better than the other two drugs at the 60- minute but not 120-minute mark. There were no significant adverse events, except that one child in the codeine group was accidentally administered 5 mg/kg of codeine as a single dose. The child was withdrawn from the study, treated with oral charcoal, monitored in the ED, and had no adverse outcome. The authors pointed out that “it is also important to note that although ibuprofen was more efficacious in providing adequate analgesia, only 52% of children in this group could be defined as receiving “adequate analgesia” at 60 minutes.” “Although codeine and acetaminophen did result in some improvement in pain, the actual level of improvement (a change of 10-11 mm on the VAS) is only just within the range previous studies have suggested to represent a significant improvement in pain,” the authors noted. “Thus, although ibuprofen provided better pain relief than codeine and acetaminophen in our study, it seems that ibuprofen alone is not adequate for relieving pain in all children with musculoskeletal injuries.”The study was limited by a large number of eligible patients who did not participate, although the characteristics of the participants were similar to those who opted out, the authors said. The study also may not have been adequately blinded, they acknowledged, as suggested by the fact about half of patients, parents, and research assistants involved in the study correctly guessed the medication that was given in the acetaminophen and ibuprofen groups.

What is the most important information I should know about Zocor?

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Rare cases of muscle problems and liver problems have been associated with the use of Zocor and other similar medicines. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by a fever or flulike symptoms or yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, unexplained fatigue, dark colored urine or pale colored stools. These may be early symptoms of muscle or liver problems.

•

Do not take Zocor without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease.

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Alcohol and Zocor can both be damaging to the liver. Alcohol should be used only in moderation. Discuss the use of alcohol with your doctor so that the potential for liver problems can be determined.

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Do not take Zocor if you are pregnant, could become pregnant during treatment, or if you are breast-feeding a baby.

What is Zocor?

•

Zocor is an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor. Zocor blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in the body.

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Zocor is used to reduce the total amounts of cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, triglycerides (another type of fat), and apolipoprotein B (a protein needed to make cholesterol) in your blood. Zocor (Zocor) is also used to increase the level of HDL (good) cholesterol in your blood. These actions may reduce the risk of hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

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

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Zocor?

•

Do not take Zocor without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease.

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Before taking Zocor, tell your doctor if you

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have kidney disease,

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drink alcoholic beverages,

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have a chronic muscular disease, or

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have a blood disorder.

•

You may not be able to take Zocor, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

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Zocor is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that Zocor is known to cause birth defects if it is taken during pregnancy. Do not take Zocor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

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It is not known whether Zocor passes into breast milk. Do not take Zocor without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take Zocor?

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Take Zocor exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

•

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

•

For the greatest effect, Zocor is usually taken at bedtime or with an evening meal. Follow your doctor’s instructions.

•

Your doctor may want to monitor your liver function with blood tests before starting treatment with Zocor and every six months after both the start of your treatment and any increase in dose. Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor can determine how much monitoring you will require.

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Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Zocor. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

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Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. To realize beneficial effects from Zocor, avoid fatty, high-cholesterol foods.

•

It is important to take Zocor regularly to get the most benefit.

•

Do not stop taking Zocor without first talking to your doctor. Zocor may need to be taken on a long-term basis for the treatment of high cholesterol.

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Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with Zocor to monitor progress and side effects.

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Store Zocor at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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

What happens if I overdose?

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Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.

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Symptoms of a Zocor overdose include nausea, diarrhea, stomach distress, and indigestion.

What should I avoid while taking Zocor?

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Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Zocor. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

•

Alcohol and Zocor can both be damaging to the liver. Alcohol should be used only in moderation. Discuss the use of alcohol with your doctor so that the potential for liver problems can be determined.

What are the possible side effects of Zocor?

•

Rare cases of muscle problems and liver problems have been associated with the use of Zocor and other similar medicines. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by a fever or flulike symptoms or yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, unexplained fatigue, dark colored urine or pale colored stools. These may be early symptoms of muscle or liver problems.

•

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Zocor and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:

     ·

an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

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decreased urine or rust-colored urine; or

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blurred vision.

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Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Zocor and talk to your doctor if you experience

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gas, bloating, nausea, stomach upset, heartburn, abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea;

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cough;

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headache; or

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insomnia.

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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect Zocor?

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Do not take Zocor without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

     ·

cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral);

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gemfibrozil (Lopid), clofibrate (Atromid-S), or fenofibrate (Tricor);

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niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Slo-Niacin, others);

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erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, others) or clarithromycin (Biaxin);

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cholestyramine (Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);

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an antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole (Diflucan), or ketoconazole (Nizoral);

     ·

nefazodone (Serzone);

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digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);

     ·

warfarin (Coumadin);

     ·

a protease inhibitor such as amprenavir (Agenerase), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), lopinavir-ritonavir (Kaletra), or saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase);

     ·

amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacer one); or

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verapamil (Calan, Covera-HS, Isoptin, Verelan).

•

You may not be able to take Zocor, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

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Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Zocor. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

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Your pharmacist has additional information about Zocor written for health professionals that you may read.

FLOMAX frequently improves male urinary symptoms due to BPH in one week.Most men with male urinary symptoms due to BPH are treated with prescription medications. The most commonly prescribed medications, known as alpha-blockers, work by relaxing the muscles in the prostate that surround the urethra. This relieves pressure on the urethra, allowing urine to flow more freely. Find out more about the Benefits of FLOMAX, the #1 branded prescription medication for BPH that frequently improves male urinary symptoms in one week. It’s the first and only prescription medication developed specifically for BPH. If your doctor prescribes FLOMAX, you’ll want to know how to take it and understand possible side effects. You may also want to learn about other treatment options.

FLOMAX is the first and only prescription medication developed specifically for BPH. For many men, FLOMAX improves male urinary symptoms due to BPH in as little as one week. And it has been shown to maintain long-term symptom relief. In fact, FLOMAX is the #1 branded prescription medication for BPH.Once you get your urinary symptoms under control, you may feel more confident taking long drives, going fishing, golfing and generally living your life as you’d like without worrying about constant pit stops. You also may find you’re less likely to wake up as often at night to go to the bathroom.

FLOMAX benefits at a glance:

• Often improves male urinary symptoms due to BPH in one week
• Is the #1 branded prescription medication for BPH
• Once-daily dosing: approximately 30 minutes after the same meal each day
• FLOMAX significantly improved quality of life (QOL) during the first year of treatment, and the improvement was maintained for up to 6 years
• Accepted by most insurance plans (98% of HMOs/PBMs)

Follow your doctor’s directions carefully. The recommended dose of FLOMAX is one 0.4 mg capsule, taken once daily, approximately 30 minutes after the same meal each day.

It’s important to stay on course with the prescription you and your doctor have selected: FLOMAX once a day, every day. After all, left untreated, the annoying symptoms of BPH are likely to get even more annoying.

What are the most common side effects associated with FLOMAX?

Important Safety Information
FLOMAX is approved to treat male urinary symptoms due to BPH. Only your doctor can tell if your symptoms are due to BPH and not another condition such as prostate cancer. Common side effects of FLOMAX are runny nose, dizziness and decrease in semen. A sudden decrease in blood pressure may occur upon standing, rarely resulting in fainting. So when starting FLOMAX, avoid situations where injury could result. If considering cataract surgery, tell your eye surgeon you have taken FLOMAX capsules.

Can I take FLOMAX while I’m using other medications?

FLOMAX can be taken with these common antihypertensive (high blood pressure) and cardiovascular (heart disease) medications without dosage adjustment:

• atenolol
• enalapril
• nifedipine

However, there are some medications that should be used with caution when taking FLOMAX, such as:

• warfarin (a blood-thinning medication) also known as Coumadin^®
• cimetidine (a medication that treats ulcers)

Always tell your doctor what prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and/or dietary supplements you are taking. This is important so that your doctor can avoid prescribing medications that may negatively interact with each other.

f your symptoms are mild, your doctor may suggest some minor lifestyle changes. For example, if you urinate frequently at night, you may try drinking less during the evening. Your doctor may also choose to engage in a period of “watchful waiting” before recommending anything else. Depending on the outcome of this “wait and see” period, your doctor may or may not recommend prescription medication.

A number of alternative treatments are being used for male urinary symptoms; the most commonly used natural compound is the extract of the saw palmetto plant, Serenoa repens (Sabal serrulata). These treatments are not evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

For men with severe symptoms, medications or even surgery may be appropriate.