The FDA watches risk factors of different drugs and occasionally they will either put out a warning or in some cases pull a product all together. Well today one product type for pain relief did get pulled

On July 7, 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced actions it was taking to reduce the risk of overdose in people who use pain medications, such as Darvon and Darvocet. These medications contain the drug propoxyphene, which is linked to death from overdoses.

FDA finds there is evidence that propoxyphene can effectively treat pain at recommended doses. But because of the drug’s potential risks, the agency is requiring manufacturers to provide more information to help physicians and patients decide whether propoxyphene is the appropriate pain treatment. Read the rest of this entry »

Looking to make a change and lose some weight? I have reviewed the top diet on the internet and you can go and read over 200 comments people have made about why this diet has worked well for them, as well as some of the problems.

Tags: Darvon, dizziness, fda, food and drug administration, lightheadedness, nausea, pain, vomiting

If you have wrinkled or sun damaged skin or acne, you may be considering a chemical face peel. There are several different types ranging from the mild AHA peel which is just one step up from many exfoliating skin products, to a deep peel that requires anaesthetic and can take several months to heal.

Whatever type of peel you choose in consultation with your dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon, the idea is that the new skin revealed by the peel is less wrinkled or blemished. This can be a great bonus for people wanting to maintain a youthful look, as well as having health benefits for some people.

The AHA or alpha hydroxy acid peel is usually applied by a dermatologist. Beta hydroxy acid is sometimes used as an alternative. These treatments are not painful and do not require an anesthetic, although there will be some discomfort during the process and for a few days after treatment you are likely to have some stinging, redness and mild irritation. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: acne, chemical face peel, chemical peels, cosmetic surgeon, croton oil, freckles, gentle cleansing products, irritation, pain, phenol chemical peel, skin products

A new study by The George Institute for International Health has found Tai Chi to have positive health benefits for musculoskeletal pain. The results of the first comprehensive analysis of Tai Chi suggest that it produces positive effects for improving pain and disability among arthritis sufferers.

The researchers are now embarking on a new trial to establish if similar benefits can be seen among people with chronic low back pain.

“This is the first robust evidence to support the beneficial effects of Tai Chi. Our study proves that Tai Chi relieves pain and disability among people with arthritis and shows a positive trend towards effects for overall physical health. We now want to see if these benefits are the same for people suffering from low back pain”, said author Dr Chris Maher at The George Institute. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Amanda Hall, arthritis, Australia, Author, back pain, China, Chris Maher, exercise therapy, George Institute, George Institute for International Health, low back pain, north America, pain, Tai Chi

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Caldolor, the first injectable dosage form of the common pain medication ibuprofen, to treat pain and fever.

“Injectable ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are promising pain management options,” said Bob Rappaport, M.D., director, Division of Anesthesia, Analgesia and Rheumatology Drug Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “But until now there were only oral forms of most NSAIDs. An injectable ibuprofen product can provide patients with relief from pain and fever when they cannot take oral products.”

Caldolor will be available for hospital use only. It is approved to be administered in 400 mg to 800 mg doses, over 30 minutes, every 6 hours for acute pain. To treat fever, the drug is approved in a 400 mg dose administered over 30 minutes, followed by 400 mg every 4 to 6 hours, or 100-200 mg every 4 hours, as necessary. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: allergic reactions, Bob Rappaport, Congestive heart failure, director, Division, Division of Anesthesia, fda, FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, fever, headache, high blood pressure, hysterectomy, ibuprofen, nausea, pain, pain management, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, vomiting

Glucosamine with Chondroitin is an excellent supplement for joint health. Its function is to draw fluid into the joint and lubricate it. Please check with your doctor if you are currently on any medications before taking it.

Glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) occur naturally in the body. The glucosamine used in supplements is typically derived from the shells of crabs although a corn source is also available.

Glucosamine is available in a variety of chemical forms, such as glucosamine hydrochloride and glucosamine sulfate. These vary in terms of the amount of actual glucosamine available for use in the body from an equal weight of each form (See ConsumerTip™ for Glucosamine for more information).

Chondroitin sulfate is generally derived from cow cartilage, but porcine (pig) and even chicken cartilage has been used and algae are another potential source. MSM is synthetically produced. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: arthritis, cancer, chemical forms, inflammation, interstitial cystitis, joint disease, muscle spasm, osteoarthritis, pain, rheumatoid arthritis, treatment of degenerative joint disease

Detoxification diets are specially-developed with the main purpose of sanitizing and cleansing the body by flushing out toxins and other synthetic chemicals. Detox diet plans are proven to have good beneficial effects on the over-all state of health of users. However, some scientific studies have revealed that detox diets can harm the body, especially to young people.

What are Detox Diets?

It is common knowledge that detox programs involve fasting. There are various versions of fasting: full, moderate, and maintenance. The full version requires complete absence of solid foods during the detoxification period. The moderate fasting allows only fresh fruits and vegetables with the detox diet. Lastly, the maintenance version set aside one day of full-version fasting every week-which is a diet of no-solid-all-liquid.

The general idea of eliminating waste materials from the body is very good. Who want to store toxins inside their bodies? Cleanliness, inside and out, is very much desired by users of detox diets; even though they have to suffer from several side effects during the cleansing period. Most people experience headaches, dizziness, vomiting, and fatigue. These are negative reactions shown by the body while getting detoxified. It is not surprising that body systems are shocked while massive amount of harmful substances passes through on their way out. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: body systems, dizziness, energy levels, flushing, headaches, pain, synthetic chemicals, vomiting

A sore throat may have many causes and it is important to find the right sore throat remedy for the particular condition that you have.

Common Causes Of A Sore Throat

Laryngitis: inflammation of the larynx. This usually results in losing your voice.

Tonsillitis: inflammation of the tonsils. Common in children.

Mononucleosis or glandular fever: accompanied by swelling of the glands in the throat.

Strep throat: a streptococcal bacterial infection of the throat or tonsils, often accompanied by fever.

Symptom of a viral infection: a sore throat is often the first symptom of a cold or flu.

Candida albicans or oral thrush.

Some of these conditions can become serious if not successfully treated. If your sore throat remedy does not work and the irritation or inflammation persists for more than 24 hours, or if you have swelling or a fever, it is important to see a doctor. You may need antibiotics or other medication. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: anti inflammatory, antibiotics, antiseptic solution, bacterial infection, cancer, chemotherapy, fever, glandular fever, HIV infection, home remedy, ibuprofen, inflammation, irritation, Laryngitis, natural remedies, pain, sore throat, thrush, Tonsillitis, viral infection

Natural earache remedies are very popular because they are effective in so many cases. As a father with a couple of kids I have seen the problems that my kids and other peoples kids have for earaches and ear infections. Usually you just give them some kids Tylenol but this may not actually be needed.

Are Natural Earache Remedies Effective?

Most infections occur in the outer ear. These infections are easy to access with drops and they usually clear up fast. In these cases, yes, natural and home remedies can be very effective.

However, you should be sure what you are treating before you begin using any natural earache remedies because infections in the middle ear are much harder to treat and can be serious. Middle ear infections are characterized by severe pain which is usually more acute than in an outer ear infection. In some cases, swelling occurs behind the eardrum to the point where the eardrum perforates to allow the pus to escape. This can cause long term deafness. So it is very important to see a doctor before beginning any natural earache treatment, to be sure what type of infection it is.

Inner ear infections can also occur. Often these are not painful at all but the person’s balance is affected. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: deafness, ear infection, ear infections, earache, earaches, fever, home remedies, olive oil, pain, pus, sinus infections, Swimmer, tablespoons olive oil

Many people looking for core strength neglect lower back exercise while focusing on the abs. This is a huge mistake as the muscles of the back are vital for core strength. If you are undertaking any kind of workout program or even for normal day to day life, the back must be strong to avoid back injuries.

The first thing to say when we consider lower back exercises is that especially if you have current back pain or a recent injury or medical condition you should consult with your doctor or physiotherapist before undertaking any exercise program. While gentle stretching and controlled movement is generally good for healing back injuries, intensive exercise is usually better postponed until your pain is gone. Also, there are many causes of back pain and some require more rest than others.

Assuming you are fit and well, there are a number of exercises that can be undertaken to improve your lower back strength. Some of the best of these are included in the series of stretches and poses known as yoga.

Many of the forms and postures in yoga training are perfect for improving the flexibility and strength of the back. There are many different muscles in the back and if any of them are neglected, as they often are if we do not perform regular stretching exercises in all directions, they become tight. This can lead to distortion of the spine (causing back pain) or injuries when these neglected muscles are suddenly called into action.

If you do not want to join a yoga class, you can perform these same exercises at home. Find a yoga DVD that includes the poses that you need. If you are looking online, searching for the Indian names of the stretches or poses (called asanas in yoga) makes them easy to find. Look for the following stretches or postures:

- pelvic tilt (not strictly a yoga pose but you will find it on many yoga sites)

- knee to chest (pawanmuktasan)

- supine twist (supta matsyendrasana) or half spinal twist (ardha matsyendrasana)

- cat (marjariasana)

- cobra (bhujangasana)

- downward facing dog (adho mukha svanasana)

It is important to do them all because they have different and complementary actions on the spine. In other words, they balance each other out.

Move into each position slowly and be sure to follow all of the instructions, noticing especially the correct position of your head. You can hold each position for 2-3 minutes. You will probably find that you can comfortably increase the stretch once or twice while you hold, as your muscles become accustomed to the pose.

Do not expect to be able to do the pose to the full extent demonstrated by the teacher. This is especially true if you are more muscular than the teacher or others in the class. A muscular body will be less flexible. There are also differences between the sexes in how far they can stretch in certain poses. That is natural and nothing to be concerned about. Yoga is not a competition, it is just about increasing your own flexibility within the range that you have.

Keep in mind that yoga exercises should never stress the muscles or the spine. Do not try to stretch to your limits. You should be able to breathe freely without constriction at all times during your lower back exercise program.

Tags: back injuries, back pain, pain, physiotherapist, teacher

Knee exercise is vital if you are suffering from the painful condition of arthritis in the knee joints. The right kind of exercise can help to maintain or possibly even increase your range of motion, which helps to prevent the knee from causing sudden acute pain or giving way. Exercise helps to maintain healthy cartilage. It is also important to build strength in the muscles and tendons that support the knee, so that you avoid putting unnecessary stress on the joint itself when you walk, climb stairs etc.

Exercise To Strengthen The Knee

Choose a chair the right height so that you can sit on it with your feet flat on the floor and thighs horizontal. Consciously tighten the muscles in the right thigh (it can be helpful to put your hand on your thigh at first to feel the muscles tighten). You should see your kneecap move a little.

Then push out with your heel, point your toes and move your toes around in a slow circle. Continue for up to 30 seconds, then repeat with the other leg.

Do not let your knee fall away to either side. It must stay in a straight line with your leg. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: arthritis, chair, pain, Swimming, Tennis, volleyball