The Side Effects of Drugs: A Strategy

A lot of doctors don't talk about side effects and patients too don't bother asking except for cases where the potential side effects are quite common. There is a high chance that the doctors won't warn about a potential side effect if it is a rarely occurring one. If that were to be done, the doctors would need all day to reel out all the potential side effects on a prescription card.

A person that's highly at risk of a serious allergic reaction will most likely experience the side effects of the drug and any food can also cause reactions too. Whatever we do as humans, there's a level of risk and probably that's why doctors don't warn about the rare side effects of the drugs they prescribe.
http://groupspaces.com/drugsideeffects2/

Drug Abuse and Addiction

What is drug addiction?

Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences.^† It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain—they change its structure and how it works. These brain changes can be long-lasting, and can lead to the harmful behaviors seen in people who abuse drugs.

^†The term addiction as used in this booklet may be regarded as equivalent to a severe substance use disorder as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5, 2013).

 
Source: From the laboratories of Drs. N. Volkow and H. Schelbert
Addiction is a lot like other diseases, such as heart disease. Both disrupt the normal, healthy functioning of the underlying organ, have serious harmful consequences, and are preventable and treatable, but if left untreated, can last a lifetime.

https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-abuse-addiction

Dizziness Can Be A Fatal Side Effect Of Many Drugs

It has been observed from studies that drugs that cause a sudden drop in blood pressure and alter the neurochemistry of the brain can intensify or cause dizziness in a quarter of patients who take them. Dizziness is a deficit in spatial perception and we're more prone to dizziness as we age due to the physiological changes. There are a lot of drugs that can evidently exacerbate dizziness and this makes us more susceptible to injuring ourselves.
However, there are still a lot of people that are ignorant of the fact that some of the prescription meds they are taking may cause them to be dizzy. Some of them don't even know about some of the dangers of dizziness. Medical professionals say that dizziness is one condition about 30% of the population experience from time to time and it is often caused medications or conditions that have something to do with it brain function, vision or nervous system. It could also be caused by disorders related to the vestibular system or the inner ear.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/maximmaider/dizziness-can-be-a-fatal-side-effect-of-many-medic-3be9o?utm_term=.bv2en3jAO#.qs9YKV1J2

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 What You Know Can Help You - An Introduction to Toxic Substances

Armed with some basic facts about toxic substances, you can reduce your exposure to chemicals and lower the chance of harmful health effects.

The old saying, "what you don't know can't hurt you," isn't always good advice. When it comes to toxic substances, WHAT YOU KNOW CAN HELP YOU. Radon in basements, lead in drinking water, exhausts from cars and chemicals released from landfills are just a few examples of toxic substances that can hurt you. By understanding how, you can reduce your exposure to chemicals and reduce your risk of harmful health effects.

What is a toxic substance?

A toxic substance is a substance that can be poisonous or cause health effects. People are generally concerned about chemicals like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxin which can be found at some hazardous waste sites. Products that we use daily, such as household cleaners, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, gasoline, alcohol, pesticides, fuel oil and cosmetics, can also be toxic. Any chemical can be toxic or harmful under certain conditions.

Health effects: toxic or hazardous?

Chemicals can be toxic because they can harm us when they enter or contact the body. Exposure to a toxic substance such as gasoline can affect your health. Since drinking gasoline can cause burns, vomiting, diarrhea and, in very large amounts, drowsiness or death, it is toxic. Some chemicals are hazardous because of their physical properties: they can explode, burn or react easily with other chemicals. Since gasoline can burn and its vapors can explode, gasoline is also hazardous. A chemical can be toxic, or hazardous, or both.

https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/chemicals/toxic_substances.htm

HOW TO DETERMINE IF AN ONLINE PHARMACY IS TRUSTWORTHY

The major reason why patients opt for online pharmacies in Canada is that the drugs are more affordable, and that can be a huge edge especially when the patient’s alternative is to buy drugs worth thousands of dollars.

Some drugs though, cannot be found at these stores. Some medications are controlled substances and even illegal, and so they would be better bought at a certified pharmacy licensed to dispense those drugs.

Another drawback is the time it will take to import the drugs. They will have to pass through immigration clearing channels just like any other thing being imported internationally. If there is a time crunch on taking the medication, you should consider buying from a reputable physical pharmacy instead.

http://scalar.usc.edu/works/edusys/how-to-determine-if-an-online-pharmacy-is-trustworthy

Health and Financial Risks of Fake Online Pharmacies

Buying medications from fake online pharmacies can be dangerous, or even deadly. It can also hurt your wallet.

• You could receive counterfeit or substandard drugs.
• Slight differences in your medicine can make a big difference and cause further health complications.
• You could put your personal and financial information at risk.

Warning Signs of Fake Online Pharmacies

Learn how to identify the warning signs of a fake online pharmacy. You should be suspicious if an online pharmacy:

• Allows you to buy medication without a prescription from your doctor
• Offers medications at deep discounts that seem too good to be true
• Is not licensed and has no physical address in the U.S.
• Sends unsolicited email (spam) offering cheap drugs
• Does not have a licensed pharmacist available to answer your questions

https://www.usa.gov/medicine

The Dangers of Expired Medications

The formal way of classifying a medication as having expired is thru it's labeled expiry date. This date is regularly set primarily based on a combination of the common homes of the dosage shape in addition to the stableness and expiration research of the product that have been carried out by using the manufacturer. Importantly, this expiry date is contingent on precise storage situations of the product. Although a remedy can also skip it is classified expiry date, it can now not always be any less powerful or dangerous to consume relying on the product itself, the storage situations and the instances main as much as expiry.

While most medicinal drugs pass their expiry date below suitable garage conditions, they are normally taken to have come to be so variable in effectiveness as to have emerge as fallacious to be used. This often comes approximately as a result of the degradation of the lively ingredients of the medication with publicity to bodily, chemical or microbiological variables like temperature, stress, humidity, mild, micro organism as well as different components of the product called excipients.

https://www.kiwibox.com/anmolosm/blog/entry/143390993/the-dangers-of-expired-medications/

Unused prescription drugs should not be treated like leftovers

Patients may think that if a medication served a purpose previously, it might do so again. Analgesics may be the best example here, because people are often inclined to treat pain as soon as it arises. Opioids are often overprescribed, even for short-term pain. In a study involving 212 patients who underwent dermatologic surgery, one-third were prescribed opioids. Only 41% of the dispensed tablets were used, 86% of the patients did not take all of the prescribed medication, and more than 50% of these patients planned to keep their remaining tablets.³ Another familiar example is the misuse of antibiotics. A systematic review found that more than a third of patients did not complete their antibiotic course as prescribed, and unused antibiotics were taken by more than a quarter of the patients for new infections.⁴
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4119135/

Can We Trust Online Pharmacies?

As e-commerce continues to sweep through most industries and companies all over the world continue to tap into its enticing advantages, it has entered into more quality levels in the past few years.

From the largest to the smallest of things, you'll find them all on the internet. It is fast, convenient and cost-effective for both sellers and buyers but some people still feel awkward when buying certain things online. One of such things is medicines and the question tons of people ask is if we can trust online pharmacies.
https://www.minds.com/blog/view/807906833513185280

How to Buy Medicines Safely From an Online Pharmacy

Ever been tempted to buy your medicines from an online pharmacy or another website?
Protect yourself and your family by using caution when buying medicine online. There are many pharmacy websites that operate legally and offer convenience, privacy, and safeguards for purchasing medicines.
But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that there are many rogue online pharmacies that claim to sell prescription medicines at deeply discounted prices, often without requiring a valid prescription. These Internet-based pharmacies often sell unapproved or counterfeit medicines outside the safeguards followed by licensed pharmacies.

https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm048396.htm

Is It Safe To Take Expired Medicine?

 There are a few factors that determine whether or not it’s okay to take medication past its expiration date. The type of drug, how much time has passed beyond the date and how the medicine has been stored all matter. If you are using something that was a few months or a year after the expiration date, and it had been stored well, for most drugs I don’t think you have a problem. 

https://www.buzzfeed.com/maximmaider/is-it-safe-to-take-expired-medicine-3be9o

FDA study gets to the heart of medicine expiration and safety

With a splitting headache, you reach into your medicine cabinet for some aspirin only to find the stamped expiration date on the medicine bottle is more than a year out of date. So, does medicine expire? Do you take it or don't you? If you decide to take the aspirin, will it be a fatal mistake or will you simply continue to suffer from the headache?
This is a dilemma many people face in some way or another. A column published in Psychopharmacology Today offers some advice.
It turns out that the expiration date on a drug does stand for something, but probably not what you think it does. Since a law was passed in 1979, drug manufacturers are required to stamp an expiration date on their products. This is the date at which the manufacturer can still guarantee the full potency and safety of the drug.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/drug-expiration-dates-do-they-mean-anything

Illegal Drug Use Statistics

For over 40 years Drugs has been the definitive journal of drugs and therapeutics, promoting optimum pharmacotherapy by publishing reviews and original research authored by leading international clinicians and researchers to support clinical decision-making.

In a similar way that the nodes of KEGG pathway maps are defined by the KEGG Orthology (KO) groups generalizing the information of individual organisms, the nodes of drug interaction networks may be defined by the drug groups generalizing the information of individual drugs. https://www.buzzfeed.com/shopno99/illegal-drug-use-statistics-35uxx 

Journal Of Studies On Alcohol And Drugs

WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Steroids are drugs that mimic certain natural hormones in the body that regulate and control how the body works and develops. If you get the flu, antiviral drugs are a treatment option. ADIS is a 24hr confidential service that can help with information, counselling, referral and advice on alcohol and other drugs.

https://www.webmd.com

If you feel drunk and haven't drunk any alcohol - or, if you feel like the effects of drinking alcohol are stronger than usual - get help right away. Written in plain language, easy to understand, and available in 22 languages, this information explains the physical and mental effects of drugs on a person.

https://article.wn.com/view/WNATc55cb29c6feb9e575789e726cd3d4277/ 

Education, Prevention And Policy

Many drugs have been withdrawn from the market because of their potential to interact with other drugs and cause serious health care problems. There are no FDA-approved medications to treat addiction to ketamine or other dissociative drugs. You feel drunk and haven’t drunk any alcohol — or, you feel like the effects of drinking alcohol are stronger than usual.

https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/hallucinogens-dissociative-drugs/what-are-effects-common-dissociative-drugs-brain-body

Surveys by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction show a rising population have never tried any mind-altering substance including alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, inhalants and sedatives. The KEGG drug interaction database contains known adverse drug-drug interactions associated with contraindications (CI) and precautions (P) extracted from the package inserts (drug labels) of all prescription drugs in Japan.
https://medium.com/@shopno99/education-prevention-and-policy-640581e67282

Drugs & Medications

WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Evidence We reviewed the peer-reviewed medical and health policy literature from January 2005 to July 2016 for articles addressing the sources of drug prices in the United States, the justifications and consequences of high prices, and possible solutions

The present report aims to analyze the most common perceptions and fears, contrast them with available evidence on drugs and the people who use them, and provides recommendations on changes that must be enacted to support reforms toward more effective drug policies.
https://www.minds.com/blog/view/798657634203664384

Rapper With Song 'Sell Drugsz' Gets Prison For Selling Drugs

Pharmacology. Finding ways to address these feelings as they arise is an essential component to your treatment and recovery. If they think you're unfit to drive because of taking drugs, you'll be arrested and will have to take a blood or urine test at a police station. 23.1 Million people need treatment for illicit substance or alcohol abuse — 9.1% of all Americans.

Therefore, people who take several drugs are at the greatest risk for interactions. However, you can also use our online drug interaction checker to learn more about possible drug interactions, too. The police can stop you and make you do a ‘field impairment assessment' if they think you're on drugs.

https://ampleom.livejournal.com/5408.html

 

What is a therapeutically equivalent drug?

Pharmaceutical Equivalents. Drug products are considered pharmaceutical equivalents if they contain the same active ingredient(s), are of the same dosage form, route of administration and are identical in strength or concentration (e.g., chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride, 5mg capsules).

Therapeutic Equivalence-Related Terms

• Pharmaceutical Equivalents
• Pharmaceutical Alternatives
• Therapeutic Equivalents 

Orange Book is composed of four parts: (1) approved prescription drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations; (2) approved over-the-counter (OTC) drug products for those drugs that may not be marketed without NDAs or ANDAs because they are not covered under existing OTC monographs; (3) drug products with approval under Section 505 of the FD&C Act administered by the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research; and (4) a cumulative list of approved products that have never been marketed, are for exportation, are for military use, have been discontinued from marketing and we have not determined that they were withdrawn for safety or effectiveness reasons, or have had their approvals withdrawn for other than safety or efficacy reasons subsequent to being discontinued from marketing.

Save some money with Computer app. 

Now technology has made it possible for you and me to have an instantaneous answer to the question: “What are the generic equivalents to my brand name drug?” FDA very recently released a mobile app called Orange Book Express, or OB Express. The app is free to download and is available for the iOS and Android platforms.

Brand Name or Generic Drugs: Your choice

Generic drugs are copies of brand-name drugs that have exactly the same dosage, intended use, effects, side effects, route of administration, risks, safety, and strength as the original drug.

Generic medicines work the same as brand-name medicines
A generic medicine works in the same way and provides the same clinical benefit as its brand-name version. This standard applies to all FDA-approved generic medicines. A generic medicine is the same as a brand-name medicine in dosage, safety, effectiveness, strength, stability, and quality, as well as in the way it is taken and should be used.

 Generic medicines cost less than brand drugs.
Generic medicines tend to cost less than their brand-name counterparts because they do not have to repeat animal and clinical (human) studies that were required of the brand-name medicines to demonstrate safety and effectiveness.

If you look up a brand name the references will give you the generic in parenthesis. Also if you look at the label on the bottle it will say under the name generic for and the brand. Of choose if is the brand you won't have that. Labels have a lot of info if people would just read them.

• Generic name. Each medicine has an approved name called the generic name. A group of medicines that have similar actions often have similar-sounding generic names. For example, ampicillin and flucloxacillin are in one group of antibiotics.
   
•  Brand name. Many medicines also have one or more brand names. This is chosen by the company that makes it. Several companies may make the same generic medicine, each with their own brand name. For example, paracetamol is a generic name. There are several companies that make this with brand names such as Panadol®, etc.