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You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | can you give a 9-year-old excedrin migraine medicine? | excedrin migraine contains acetaminophen 250 mg aspirin 250 mg and caffeine 65 mg. aspirin and products containing aspirin should not be used for children due to the increased risk of reye's syndrome. the exact cause or cure for reye's syndrome is unknown. however we do know that children taking aspirin increases the risk which attacks the organs of the body. since there isn't a cure we don't want to take the risk of harming the child. i would not give your child excedrin migraine. pay attention to the label on all over-the-counter medication to make sure you taking appropriately and so you know the recommended age as well. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | what is the strongest over-the-counter headache/pain reliever medicine? | there is no stronger over-the-counter medication for headache or migraine pain relief. headaches are very individualized. there are several over-the-counter medications you can use to alleviate painful headaches. these medications include acetaminophen (tylenol) an effective over-the-counter analgesic (pain reliever) and antipyretic (fever reducer) medication. this medication can help with achy pain stiffness and fever. however it does not have any anti-inflammatory properties. this is important for some types of headache relief. in addition the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug class (nsaids) consists of products like ibuprofen (motrin advil) and naproxen (naprosyn aleve) which work by exhibiting analgesic relief antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties. lastly combination products such as excedrin migraine contain acetaminophen aspirin and caffeine. these ingredients combined make a more powerful headache/pain reliever than the ingredients separated out alone. it is important to follow the instructions on the label of over the counter medication and not to mix products in order to prevent overdosing or toxicity. monitor the frequency and intensity of your migraines to know when it is time to seek professional help and possibly the addition of a prescription medication. if you're 18 or older advil migrane and excedrin migrane are really good. i don't know about all around pain relievers. advile migrane is a gel so it is easy to swallow and fast-acting it also lasts all day. excedrin migrane is supposedly the safest and #1 nuerologist reccomended migrane medicine. also if you're not talking about a migrane just a really bad headache please don't take these because these are really strong drugs and can hurt you if they are in your system fro no reason. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is it safe to give my child an antibiotic while she is taking an iron supplement? | iron supplements can interact with certain antibiotics such as tetracyclines cipro noroxin and levaquin. the type of antibiotic your daughter is taking determines whether the iron should be taken at a different time of day or not at all. your daughter may just need to stop taking the iron while she is taking the antibiotic and then continue with the iron once the antibiotic is finished. work with your pharmacist to make sure it is all right to take both. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | i have allergies to sulfur drugs. is it ok to take lasix? | if you have a true allergy to sulfa medications then lasix may not be for you. it does contain sulfa product. if you have difficulty breathing or your airways feel like they are closing off or a rash has developed specifically on the trunk of the body then you should stop taking this medication immediately and consult with your pharmacist and health care provider. it is important to differentiate between allergies to medications and side effects. if you have experienced intolerable side effects to medications containing sulfa products that doesn’t mean you are allergic. work with you local pharmacist and physician to re-evaluate this situation and to make sure you are taking medication that is appropriate for you. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | does monistat contain aspirin or ibuprofen? | monistat is an antifungal medication and doesn’t contain any aspirin or ibuprofen. do advil p. m. have aspirin in it |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is it ok to take plavix with zantac? | plavix does not have a direct interaction with zantac. however if you have a history of ulcers or if you are being treated for ulcers you should consult your health care provider before taking plavix. if you are just using zantac for a temporary relief of indigestion these two medications should be fine to take together. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is oxybutynin in the family with diazepam? | oxybutynin is a medication used for overactive bladder and urinary tract spasms. it is not in the same class or family as diazepam (benzodiazepine class). they work differently and have different indications. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is avinza a narcotic medication? | avinza is the extended release formulation of morphine sulfate. due to the addictive properties associated with this medication it is classified as a narcotic or schedule ii medication. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | can i take alka-seltzer if i am taking nexium? | it is important to look at the alka-seltzer box and identify the active ingredients found in the product. assuming that you are inquiring about the regular alka-seltzer this product would be all right to take but i would still recommend that you take them separately meaning at different times. can i take alka seltzer if i'm taking nexium |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is there a generic form of plavix or coreg? | plavix does not have a generic currently on the market and can have a rather expensive co-pay. for co-pay assistance check with the plavix main web site for coupons and programs to aid in the cost. however coreg does have a generic otherwise known as carvedilol. the co-pay for the generic medication can be considerably less expensive and some pharmacies have this medication on their special pricing list which could make it even more affordable. there is now a generic form of plavix called clopidogrel. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | what is the difference between augmentin and amoxicillin? | augmentin is a combination product containing amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium. this medication was designed to help reduce the drug resistance seen with bacteria when just amoxicillin was used alone. the selection of the antibiotic is done by evaluating the type of bacteria that is present and the common treatments that have been effective in treating the infection. side effect profiles and drug interactions are similar. remember if you are allergic to amoxicillin you will be allergic to augmentin. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | can i take cymbalta with triamterene without an interaction? | there is a moderate drug interaction between these two medications that may cause an increased occurrence of orthostatic hypotension (blood pressure suddenly falls when standing up) that subsides within two weeks of initiating adjunctive therapy. hyponatremia (low sodium) has also been seen in some cases. if you begin to experience potential signs and symptoms of hyponatremia such as headache difficulty concentrating memory impairment confusion weakness and unsteadiness (which may lead to falls) you should consult your health care provider and pharmacist. this doesn’t mean that you cannot take these two medications together. work closely with your health care provider or pharmacist in monitoring yourself for any side effects associated with the drug interactions. risks and benefits should be weighed in this situation to make sure the therapy is the correct therapy for you. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | if i take amlodipine in the morning can i take viagra at night? | yes taking the medication spread out will decrease the possibility of hypotension symptoms such as dizziness lightheadedness or fainting. this is typically seen with co-administration and should be avoided. do not take the medications together. since you would be taking the medications at different intervals you should be fine. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | what precautions can i take against sudden infant death syndrome? | co-sleeping isn’t recommended because of what we know about sleep safety. there’s more of a risk of smothering sudden infant death syndrome and of falls off the adult bed when there’s bedsharing. . always put your baby on his back to sleep never on his side or tummy. there’s a higher risk of sids if they’re on their tummy or their side; they can roll onto their stomach if they’re lying on their side. and be sure that childcare providers grandparents and so on know to put the baby on his back because there’s also a higher risk of sids if a baby is usually put to sleep on his back but suddenly gets put to sleep on his tummy. finally be sure to give your baby a lot of tummy time when he’s awake. tummy time helps promote physical development; generally babies don’t roll or crawl as soon if they don’t get tummy time for example. and if you’re worried about sids you want them to have a stronger head and neck so they can [lift] their face up if it gets covered. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | what’s the safest way to put my baby to bed? | always put your baby on his back to sleep never on his side or tummy. there’s a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome if they’re on their tummy or their side; they can roll onto their stomach if they’re lying on their side. and be sure that childcare providers grandparents and so on know to put the baby on his back because there’s also a higher risk of sids if a baby is usually put to sleep on his back but suddenly gets put to sleep on his tummy. finally be sure to give your baby a lot of tummy time when he’s awake. tummy time helps promote physical development -- generally babies don’t roll or crawl as soon if they don’t get tummy time for example. and if you’re worried about sids you want them to have a stronger head and neck so they can [lift] their face up if it gets covered. also babies can actually end up with lopsided heads or bald spots from rubbing the back of their head on the mattress if they spend too much time on their back. these aren’t dangerous but if babies spend more time on their tummy it’ll relieve some of the friction and pressure. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | can paxil 30 mg geodon 80 mg and dilantin 100 mg taken for seizures be taken at the same time? | these medications have minor drug interactions that i am sure your physician is monitoring. it is safe to take these medications together and i have seen this combination many times. dilantin can decrease the concentrations of geodon. this may explain why a higher dose is being used in your situation. remember all of the medications can cause dizziness drowsiness and may impair your normal functioning causing an additive effect. just limit your activities until you are better accustomed to the side effects or until the side effects begin to decrease. work with your pharmacist and health care provider especially if the side effects are too much for you. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is it safe to have an energy drink every day? | it is important to read the components of energy drinks to make sure they are right for you. most energy drinks provide you with a boost of energy through sugars which make you crash quickly after they are eliminated or metabolized. in addition the calorie content can be very large and lacking in nutrients. other ingredients include caffeine and ginseng. it is important to see what herbals are present in the product to find out if there are any drug interactions with medications that you may be taking on a regular basis. it is important to keep in mind that regular sleep patterns and healthy eating habits are more important for maintaining energy and balance. the risk of energy drinks can be greater than the value of the short energy boosts they provide. the answer to your question is no and yes i say (yes) because you do have natural energy drinks that don't use sugars or don't use a lot of sugars. a product i have used my self and have proven results myself is all day energy greens it is all natural you can read more about it here: <link> |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | should i discontinue ambien when i'm combining 10 mg of valium with 2 mg of ativan? | valium and ativan are both in the same drug class benzodiazepines. they are both intermediate-acting benzos meaning that the onset of action is immediate (within 15-30 minutes) and can last about eight hours in the body. taking both medications would give an additive effect and not be very beneficial. consult your health care provider about additive use and the reasons behind this decision. knowing more behind the use of the benzos in addition to the use of ambien is important in recommending an answer. i would not recommend taking all these medications at one time and you should consult your health-care provider. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | can taking benadryl nightly to help me sleep cause dangerous side effects? | benadryl or diphenhydramine is an antihistamine used to aid with sleep because it makes people drowsy. taking benadryl every night alone should be all right depending on other medications that you may be taking. keep in mind a few things. while benadryl is over the counter for self-treatment it is for temporary relief. if sleep issues continue you many want to look into lifestyle modifications and consult your health-care provider. be careful when taking benadryl with other antihistamines such as claritin zyrtec and other prescription medications. additive side effects will occur such as constipation; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth nose or throat; excitability (especially in children); headache; loss of appetite; nausea; nervousness; restlessness; trouble sleeping; vomiting. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | if i stop taking a sleep aid suddenly after using it two years will i have withdrawal symptoms? | depending on the sleep aid and dose of the medication withdraw[al] symptoms can be normal and uncomfortable. you should work with your health-care provider including your pharmacist to help decrease the effects of withdrawal and possibly taper or decrease the sleep aid dose rather than just abruptly stop taking the sleep aid. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | what is the difference between valproic acid and sodium valproate? | valproic acid is a substrate that the body converts to the active form valproate. both valproic acid and valproate are used to help decrease seizures within the body. you may see both of these names when looking at a package insert or reading information about the drug. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | will taking multivitamins at night affect my sleep? | taking a multivitamin at bedtime is fine and should not interfere with sleep patterns. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is bringing my baby to bed with me -- co-sleeping -- safe? | co-sleeping isn’t recommended because of what we know about sleep safety. there’s more of a risk of smothering sudden infant death syndrome and of falls off the adult bed when there’s bedsharing. if you’re breastfeeding often and you want the baby close one option is to use a bedside co-sleeper. it looks like a crib with a missing side and you can put it right next to the adult bed and raise it up to the bed’s height but an adult can’t accidentally roll over on the baby. if you’re feeding baby often you can also consider putting a bassinet cradle or crib nearby. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | should i let my baby cry himself to sleep? | it depends on the baby and it depends on the age. the method of crying it out has been the most studied and it works for many babies but you should talk to your pediatrician about whether it’s right for yours. some babies get tired and go to sleep after crying but some just get angrier. so where crying it out works for many babies it doesn’t work for all of them. there are some babies who just need to wake up and feed and then they’ll go back to bed. instead of denying the feeding and having the crying it’s best to feed them. generally after four months or so you’ll find that the baby probably won’t need to eat as much at night so if they're waking up and crying and falling asleep as soon as they get the breast or bottle you’ll know they’re not hungry. but if they’re waking and ravenously finishing the breast or bottle they still need to be fed at night. a rule of thumb: if it’s been one or two hours since you put them to bed they probably don’t need to be fed but if it’s been more than three or four hours they probably are hungry. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | what is the difference between nexium and kapidex? | nexium and kapidex (now called dexilant) are both within the same drug class. they are proton pump inhibitors which aid in the decrease of acid production to prevent and/or treat gerd and certain ulcers. they are made by different companies but work very similarly having similar drug interactions and side effect profiles. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | my mom has intestinal worms and has tried several home remedies. now she is experiencing some pain. what can she do? | to eradicate intestinal worms you need a prescription medication based on the type of worm or parasite. this really needs to be checked out by a physician. there are specific lab tests that need to be done to make sure she is infected. there is not a product found over-the-counter that will treat worms or parasites. so be sure to work closely with her health care provider. . |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is it safe to have intercourse with my husband while he is taking cytoxan? | it is safe to have intercourse with your husband while he is taking cytoxan which is a chemotherapy agent. this medication works by slowing or stopping cell growth. however since this drug can be absorbed through the skin women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should not handle or break the tablets of this medication. so you should be cautious if and when you are handling your husband’s prescription bottle or tablets. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is there a difference between prenatal vitamins prescribed by my doctor and over-the-counter choices at the pharmacy? | over-the-counter vitamins usually have less folic acid than prescription prenatal vitamins. also depending on your lab results your doctor may have prescribed more or less of some vitamins. so consult with your ob-gyn first. if your doctor approves it’s fine to use over-the-counter vitamins. it is really important to make sure you are giving your body the right nutrients during this time of fetal growth. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | i have been on ortho tri-cyclen lo for nearly a year. my period started a week early this month. what could this mean? | ortho tri-cyclen lo contains a low amount of estrogen. sometimes your own hormones can rule over the pill form that you are taking. other factors can also throw off your cycle like stress. sometimes women’s’ hormones can also "talk" to each other causing women in the same vicinity to become regulated to the same cycle. if you have just started a new job or school where you are hanging out with other women every day your cycles can become synced with theirs. before you start a new pill pack you may want to take an at-home pregnancy test. keep an eye on your cycles and if they are continually irregular you may need a different type of birth control. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is it ok to take phentermine zyrtec as together? | there currently aren’t any drug interactions between phentermine and zyrtec. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | would taking glutathione for cell boosting benefit me and where can i get it? | glutathione (gsh) is a tripeptide meaning a large protein made up of several amino acids. it functions as an antioxidant protecting cells from free radicals and peroxides. raising one’s gsh levels through direct supplementation of glutathione is difficult. research suggests that glutathione taken orally is not well-absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract. if you feel that you need this to supplement your immune system speak to your health care provider first. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is it safe to take the revolution abdominal cuts natural supplement with birth control pills? | revolution abdominal cuts is a product that is not fda approved. therefore we do not know much about the truth behind the company’s product claims. the web site does not list any ingredients which makes it very difficult for me to check whether there is an interaction with birth control pills. as a precaution if a complete label of the quantities and ingredients for a product cannot be found and is not provided on the product that product has not been scientifically proven safe or effective by the fda. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | i was taking 300 mcg of melatonin. now i can only find 3 mg. which is stronger? | one milligram (mg) is equal to 1 000 micrograms (mcg). therefore if you were taking 300 micrograms of melatonin then you would need to find a product that is 0. 3 milligrams of melatonin. the highest amount of melatonin found over-the-counter is 3 milligrams or 3 000 micrograms. there are different strengths available. if you cannot find the dose you are looking for speak with your local pharmacist. they can order different strengths for you to purchase that are still over-the-counter and that don’t require a prescription. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is it safe for me to have a 6-hour energy drink if i’m on trazodone depakote and celexa? | without knowing the exact drink that you would like to use it is hard to say whether it would be an issue with the current medications you are taking. you should certainly be careful with energy drinks. they can contain lots of sugars herbals and caffeine. specific products vary so it is important to know the exact ingredients in whatever you’re thinking about taking. in general herbal medications do not work well with the medications you are taking. for the energy you need i would consider replacing energy drinks and supplement usage with sleep exercise and a better diet making sure to take a daily multivitamin as well. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is it safe to take otc energy pills/supplements if you drink a lot of coffee? | otc energy pills and supplements contain a large amount of caffeine sometimes 2-3 times the amount of a cup of coffee depending on the brand. by increasing your daily caffeine dosage you may be increasing your risk of caffeine addiction. and too much of any stimulant has consequences for the body such as elevated blood pressure and an increased heart rate. this could be dangerous. i would use these products with caution or not at all. the risk can be greater than the value of the short energy boosts they provide. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | my son brought home cell-tech hardcore pro series dietary supplement. are there any risks or dangers from this product? | to determine if this product is right for your son’s age and developmental stage it is important to obtain an ingredient list of all the vitamins and minerals that the product contains. depending on his age it may not be wise to give him a supplement for muscle building that is high in protein. check with his pediatrician or physician to see if it is the right supplement for him. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | will taking antibiotics with milk keep your stomach from hurting? | every antibiotic has different absorption characteristics. some antibiotics work better with or without food. some are better with a fatty substance such as milk. however some may have a drug interaction with the calcium contained in dairy products. in this case milk should not be drunk with the medication and the consumption of the two should be separated out by about two hours. the best liquid to take medication with is water. it is important to check with your local pharmacist at the time of picking up the antibiotic or any medication to see if there are any food restrictions with your prescriptions. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | my new omeprazole prescription (40 mg twice daily) is working but must i always take it on an empty stomach? | omeprazole 40 mg twice daily is a high dose and is not recommended over a long period of time. it is a safe and effective medication used within the recommended prescribing guidelines. the medication is intended to decrease the release of stomach acid. therefore it is the most effective if taken 30 minutes prior to having a meal. this medication has 24-hour coverage. therefore it should not be taken prior to every meal. it is intended to be taken on an empty stomach. if you take it with food the stomach will release acid to digest the food. the acid can decrease the absorption of the medication and decrease the effectiveness. therefore i would not recommend taking the medication with food or a meal. it is important to take the dose 30 minutes prior to a meal or first thing in the morning. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | can my 9-year-old take over-the-counter prevacid? | prevacid or lansoprazole has recently moved from prescription strength to over-the-counter. the over-the-counter dose is labeled for adults 18 and older. this medication is intended to treat stomach ulcers or heartburn that occurs 2 or more times per week. it is not a quick fix to elevate symptoms for heartburn. it slows the production of acid within the stomach over a period of time and is taken daily for 14 days. we recommend seeking medical advice if the product needs to be taken for more than 14 days. i would not give prevacid to your 9-year-old child. while this product is found over the counter it still must be used according to its labeled directions in order to be safe and effective. if your child is having constant heartburn or stomach issues seek medical advice from your pediatrician. consider looking at the cause of the symptoms to help educate your child. for instance eating slower avoiding certain foods that trigger symptoms or eating smaller portions may help his/her symptoms. while medications are readily available and sometimes seem to be the quick fix look at preventing the symptoms by changing behaviors. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | what is the difference between prescription protonix 40 mg and ranitidine 150 mg an over-the-counter medicine? | protonix and ranitidine can both be used to treat gi ulcers gerd maintenance therapy for ulcer prevention and heartburn. both of these medications block acid production by two different mechanisms. protonix is a proton pump inhibitor while ranitidine prevents gastric acid stimulation by blocking histamine release in the stomach. protonix is prescription strength while ranitidine is over-the-counter. this means that there could be a price difference depending on the co-pays with your health insurance. protonix does have a generic (pantoprazole) that is equally effective as the brand name. if you are thinking about switching without knowing the severity of your stomach condition is it hard to give information as to whether ranitidine can be supplemented for protonix. i recommend that you speak to your health-care provider about your options. these medications do work differently and the effectiveness can be different. if the symptoms have subsided keep in mind that the medication can be the controlling factor. therefore it may not be necessary to switch if your current treatment is working for you. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | instead of taking nexium 40 mg could i take prilosec 20 mg twice a day? | prilosec 20 mg is the approved over-the-counter dosage by the fda for consumers to use safely. the medication should be used once daily according to the label on the product. it is important to realize that nexium and prilosec are two different medications and the strengths should not be compared as equal. different studies have been conducted for each medication individually to determine what doses are the safest and most effective for treatment. if you are taking over-the-counter prilosec and it is not effective for the treatment of your symptoms consult your health-care professional about your condition. do not assume that doubling the dose of the over-the-counter medication will have the same coverage as the prescription strength. while these two medications are both made by the same company you should only accept advice from your health-care professional about whether the dose of the over-the-counter medication should be increased. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | what happens if you crush or chew a prilosec otc pill? | this medication is not intended to be crushed or chewed which may interfere with the absorption of the medication and decrease the effectiveness. if you are experiencing symptoms of heartburn or an ulcer seek advice from your health-care professional. there are liquid products available also. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | what causes leg cramps? | leg cramps are mostly caused by dehydration low magnesium or low blood calcium. the best treatment for cramps is to rehydrate and replenish your electrolytes possibly with chicken or beef broth. use pain patch |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | my wife fell. she has bruising on her buttocks and is sore all over. what rub-on pain relief can she use? | to relieve the soreness your wife should try the rice method: rest ice the sore areas compress the sore areas with an ace bandage. elevate the sore parts of her body. she may also try taking over-the-counter pain relievers (particularly nsaids) and doing some light stretching exercises. there are many different over-the-counter pain relievers to select. ask your local pharmacist to aid in the selection that best fits your wife’s age and health. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | after working out i sometimes get a pain in my backside. it seems similar to sciatica. how can i ease this pain? | it is important to differentiate between sore muscles from the workout and a possible injury. you typically feel sore muscles about a day later and the feeling can last for 2 to 3 days. you can treat it with rest and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines such as aspirin ibuprofen or naproxen. if there is pain associated with the sciatica you should consult your physician to make sure there isn't a more intense injury that needs to be treated. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | i have been experiencing hand and lower arm tremors. is the herbal treatment limbarax safe and will it help? | there is not a lot of information about limbarax. keep in mind that herbal products are not regulated by the fda leaving plenty of room for consumers to believe a product works without knowing about the ingredients warnings side effects and dosages. i would be cautious about using this product. i would also encourage you to seek medical attention about the lower arm tremors to make sure nothing more complicated is going on. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | can medications pass from one person to another through mucous membranes oral or skin contact or sexual contact? | yes. medications that are applied topically can be absorbed by touching skin to skin. there are some medications that are so strong in effect (such as cancer medications) that simply touching them can cause side effects. there is no list of these medications. so it is important to ask your local pharmacist or check with your physician. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | what is the recommended spf to use for summer? | it is recommended that you use products that contain both uva and uvb protection with an spf of at least 30. you might find yourself paying more money for a higher spf that may not be as effective as it claims. watch out for combination products that also contain bug spray. the chemicals in bug spray should not be applied to the body as often as sunscreen. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | how can i get my baby to start sleeping through the night? | keep it dark and quiet and have a routine every evening that consists of quiet time -- maybe a bath reading a book or brushing baby’s teeth if they have any yet. get them calm and drowsy before putting them in their crib and be consistent -- put them down the same way each time. in the middle of the night shorten your routine. you don’t want baby to fall asleep while you’re feeding or rocking them though because you want them to figure out how to put themselves to sleep. don't wake them if they do fall asleep especially not in the first month; it’s impossible to avoid falling asleep during feedings and rockings when they’re that young. but after the first month put them to sleep drowsy…if they’re falling asleep when you’re nursing for example stop nursing and put them to sleep. if they’re falling asleep too soon try starting your calming quiet routine sooner. also make sure they aren't overtired when you put them to bed. once babies start eating more in the daytime they don’t need to wake and eat at night. but don’t overfeed to encourage them to sleep through the night. some parents try to push more formula breast milk or baby food on the baby right before sleep and that can backfire. wait until they settle into a pattern where they naturally eat more in the daytime. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | i’ve been taking generic toprol xl 50 mg and i’m excreting the medication still intact. is something wrong? | toprol xl is an extended-release blood pressure medication. it is not uncommon for medications that have the enteric coating or protective surroundings to be excreted in the stool. this does not mean that your body did not absorb the medication. the active ingredient has been absorbed while the coating has passed through your digestive tract. the coating is what protects the medication so that it will last longer in the body and act over a longer period of time. as long as your blood pressure is being controlled and there is no interference with your colon i’d advise you to continue the therapy. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | can you help me find where to get octogen cream? | octogen is a product that is not monitored or approved by the united states food and drug administration. it can be ordered online. but after going to the web site and seeing how little information they give about the product i am less confident about recommending it. the exact ingredient list contains only four active ingredients: methyl salicylate (a. k. a. oil of wintergreen) rectified gum spirits of turpentine camphor and menthol plus octogen’s proprietary blend of five herbal essences (not listed). the quantities or percentages of each of the ingredients are not available. without this information or fda monitoring it is not wise to use this product. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | can taking clarithromycin 500 mg make my ulcer pain worse? | just like many antibiotics clarithromycin can cause upset stomach nausea vomiting and diarrhea. however there isn’t any contraindication regarding a history of ulcers when taking this medication. if you are taking any ulcer medications it would be important to check with your pharmacist to make sure there aren’t any drug interactions that would decrease the effectiveness of your ulcer medication which would cause flare-ups. the medication can be taken with or without food. if the upset stomach is present try taking it with food to see if it subsides. if at any point it worsens you should consult your health-care provider to see if another medication is better for you. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | are sun-tanning pills safe and do they work? | sun-tanning pills do not work. also sun-tanning pills are not approved by the fda. the dietary supplement health and education act passed by the united states congress in 1994 allows the marketing of products as a "dietary supplement" without the approval of any government agency. the labeling for these products must include a disclaimer saying that they have not been approved by the fda and are not intended to diagnose treat cure or prevent any disease. if a question about safety arises the burden of proof is on the fda not the manufacturer. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | when a prescription says take twice daily is that twice in 24 hours or twice during normal waking hours? | typically it is best to take these kinds of medications every 12 hours. the flexibility of the frequency of dosage depends on the medication. check with your local pharmacist to understand the importance of the timing of your medication. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is there a drug interaction between synthroid and prevacid? | currently there are no drug interactions found between synthroid and prevacid. however this does not mean that interactions cannot exist. it is important to work with your pharmacist to see if there is any new information regarding these two products. prevacid should be taken 30 minutes prior to a meal. synthroid should be taken 30 minutes to one hour prior to a meal. they can be taken together with water on an empty stomach. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | are there less-expensive generics for nexium for long-term use? | currently nexium does not have a generic available on the market. however it belongs to the proton pump inhibitor drug class which includes several generics both prescription and over-the-counter strength. for over-the-counter there are two medications available which are prilosec (omeprazole) and prevacid (lansoprazole). prescription medications that have generics available are prevacid (lansoprazole) and protonix (pantoprazole). [check with your] insurance company to see what medications in the same drug class are covered. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is it ok to take nexium at night before going to bed? | it is best to take nexium 30 minutes prior to breakfast to experience longer-lasting effects throughout the day. however if you are more compliant and seem to have symptoms just before going to bed it would not be inappropriate to take before going to bed. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is it ok to take prilosec while taking avelox an antibiotic? | currently there are no drug interactions found between prilosec and avelox. however this does not mean that interactions cannot exist. it is important to work with your pharmacist to see if there is any new information regarding these two products. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | what is the difference between prilosec and prevacid? | prilosec and prevacid belong to the same drug class which is the class of proton pump inhibitors. the mechanism of action within the body will be the same producing similar side effects. both medications have generics and can be found over the counter. they are simply made by different companies. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | would there be an interaction if i'm taking nexium and an enzyme with probiotics? | currently there are no drug interactions found between nexium and probiotics. however this does not mean that one cannot exist. it is important to work with your pharmacist to see if there is any new information regarding these two products. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | what is the difference between famotidine and omeprazole? | famotidine (pepcid products) is in a drug class called h2 blockers. omeprazole (prilosec) belongs to the proton pump inhibitors. these medications work two different ways to decrease acid production and flare-ups with stomach issues. both medications can be found over-the-counter. famotidine is typically taken 1 to 2 times daily while omeprazole is taken once daily (may be dosed differently than recommended in over-the-counter packaging label by prescriber). it is also important to keep in mind that since they are two different medications the side effect profile will be different. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | i’m taking sulfameth/trimethoprim for a bladder infection. can i take acetaminophen or excedrin migraine for a headache? | you can take either product; acetaminophen or excedrin migraine. only take one since excedrin migraine contains acetaminophen as one of the three active ingredients (along with caffeine and aspirin). make sure to follow the instructions on the bottle closely to make sure you are taking appropriately and for the correct reasons. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | i take zonisamide lyrica entocort ec maxalt and atenolol and now celexa. are there any known drug interactions? | zonisamide lyrica and celexa have a similar side effect of increased dizziness and drowsiness. combining all three of these medications can increase the intensity of their side effects. driving and doing activities that require cognitive function may be more difficult than usual. the side effects may subside with time. maxalt is a triptan medication for symptomatic relief of the migraine. celexa works on serotonin receptors just as maxalt can. the increased combination of both these products may potentiate the risk of serotonin syndrome which is a rare but serious and potentially fatal condition. symptoms of the serotonin syndrome may include mental status changes such as irritability altered consciousness confusion hallucinations and coma; autonomic dysfunction such as tachycardia hyperthermia diaphoresis shivering blood pressure lability and mydriasis; neuromuscular abnormalities such as hyperreflexia myoclonus tremor rigidity and ataxia; and gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal cramping nausea vomiting and diarrhea. because of these side effects i would monitor how frequently the migraines occur and how often you are taking the maxalt. if you are taking the maxalt more than twice a week then you may need to start taking a preventative medication. monitor all your side effects if you have any and make sure to partner with your pharmacist or health care professional regarding any concerns or discomfort. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | can my daughter take naproxen sodium for menstrual cramping if she has a grade 1 concussion? | headaches can be a common side effect from the trauma of the concussion and nsaids (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are commonly used to help treat the pain. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | i take trinsicon and have a problem with stomach upset. i’ve taken it with food and on an empty stomach. what can i do? | trinsicon is a multivitamin used to help treat or prevent low levels of iron. it contains iron with b12 vitamin c folic acid and intrinsic factor. generally this medication is well tolerated especially when the directions are followed including taking this medication as directed by your physician. it may be taken with food or a meal if stomach upset occurs. take each dose with a full glass (8 oz or 240 ml) of water unless your doctor directs you otherwise. swallow it whole. do not crush or chew. do not lie down for 30 minutes after taking this medication. it is important not to exceed the recommended dosage. the common side effects for this medication are constipation and stomach upset. this is largely due to the iron component and can be minimized by eating a meal when taking the tablet and by using a stool softener for extended complications with constipation. if all the instructions have been followed and the side effects become more intense you should consult your health care professional. you may also consider working with your pharmacist to find an alternative medication. there are several brand names for this vitamin that you could try to see if you experience lesser side effects. iron is also formulated as a slow-release product. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | if i have some miralax that is expired would it be a safe to give it to anyone? | expiration dates are printed on the medication container for a reason. i would advise you not to use this medication since the expiration date has passed. medications can change effectiveness. and you wouldn’t know how to supplement the dose to make it accurate. some medications can become “sour” after they expire. and you wouldn’t want to become sick from taking an expired medication. i would dispose of expired medication with a local pharmacy through a local drug take-back program (check with your local police department) or through proper disposal at home. to dispose of medication at home mix drugs (crush first if in tablet form) with an undesirable substance such as cat litter or used coffee grounds and place in a plastic sandwich bag. seal the bag and double bag to prevent leakage. throw the bag in the trash keeping it out of reach of children and animals. do not flush medication down the toilet or pour it into a drain. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | i’ve been diagnosed with h. pylori but i’m allergic to the antibiotics. what about other treatments such as mastic gum? | helicobacter pylori (h. pylori) is a bacterium that causes inflammation and ulcers in the stomach. about 80% of patients with h. pylori are asymptomatic meaning they do not feel any pain or symptoms. treatment is very important. we must eradicate the bacteria and allow the ulcer to heal. typically treatment is a combination of two antibiotics and 1-2 stomach medications. there are several different effective combinations for treating h. pylori. depending on what your antibiotic allergy is we can find an alternative antibiotic that will safely and effectively eradicate the infection. work with your pharmacist for alternatives. the mastic gum is not going to be as effective in eliminating the bacteria. . |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | i am taking metronidazole 500 mg and smz/tmp ds 800-160 for diverticulitis. can i take a pain reliever like tylenol too? | if you are experiencing pain or need to take an over-the-counter pain medication i would recommend that you avoid any nsaids (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen naproxen advil or aleve. this class of medications is harsh on the stomach and can increase gi bleeding without you being aware of it. i would stick with acetaminophen (tylenol) to aid in pain relief. also consult with your local pharmacist for product selection and with your health care professional about the symptoms you are experiencing and the treatments you have used for the pain. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | i’m taking maxalt daily for headaches. i took one this morning and my head still hurts. can i take excedrin now? | i would be careful taking maxalt daily on a regular basis. this medication is not designed or recommended for daily use. it is to be taken within the first hour of migraine symptoms. it doesn't prevent the onset but rather helps to relieve symptoms from the migraine. i would seek a second medical opinion about using maxalt daily. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | what are the warnings about prilosec and other drugs like it? | the fda recently released a warning about the increased risk for fractures of the hip wrists or spine with high doses or long-term use of proton pump inhibitors. the labeling on all ppis will change to reflect this new finding. if you have been taking prilosec an over-the-counter product for longer than 14 days and without the advice of your health care professional i would discontinue and seek medical advice. if you are currently taking this medication according to the recommendations of your health care professional be sure to continue. nevertheless ask questions upon your next visit to the office. if you have any other concerns or issues don’t hesitate consulting your health-care professional or your local pharmacist about whether this medication is right for you. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is laudanum still used for headaches or other conditions? | laudanum is an opium-type product still available but not for the use of migraine relief. i suggest consulting your health care professional if migraines or headaches are an issue and you are seeking treatment. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | my health plan no longer covers allegra-d. what else can i take? | allegra-d is in the same drug class as zyrtec-d claritin-d and all its generics. all three of these medications used to be prescription strength. a few years ago claritin and all its products converted to over-the-counter status which led other medications in its class to make the switch from prescription to over the counter as well. allegra and it products have not made that switch yet. it is worth the cost savings to see if another one of the antihistamines found over the counter work as comparable to your usual allegra-d. monitor your symptoms to make sure they do not worsen. both claritin and zyrtec products work relatively quickly. so you would see relief taking place on the same day you take the medication. if your symptoms do worsen then switch to another antihistamine or pick up your prescription for allegra-d. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | can a nursing mother safely take any otc nasal allergy medication? | there are three different types of nasal sprays used for allergy relief: corticosteroids antihistamines and decongestants. if you need relief you would work with your ob-gyn to make sure one of these medications is right for you especially the decongestants (the only group found over the counter). examples of corticosteroid nasal sprays include fluticasone (flonase) mometasone (nasonex) budesonide (rhinocort aqua) flunisolide (nasarel) triamcinolone (nasacort aq) and beclomethasone (beconase aq). side effects can include unpleasant smell or taste nasal irritation and nosebleeds. these medications are much less likely to cause any side effects than are oral corticosteroids. prescription antihistamine nasal sprays include azelastine (astelin astepro) and olopatadine (patanase). side effects of antihistamine nasal spray may include bitter taste dizziness drowsiness or fatigue dry mouth headache nasal burning nosebleed nausea runny nose sore throat and sneezing. examples of nasal decongestant sprays include phenylephrine (neo-synephrine others) and oxymetazoline (afrin others). nasal decongestants can cause dryness burning or stinging inside the nose runny nose and sneezing. taking too much of a nasal decongestant can cause irritability fast or irregular heartbeat dizziness insomnia headaches anxiety tremors and increased blood pressure. don't use a decongestant nasal spray for more than a week or so or you may develop severe congestion as soon as you stop taking it (rebound congestion). |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | the two ferrous gluconate tablets i take daily upset my stomach. is there an alternative to get my iron? | iron alone is harsh on the stomach. ferrous sulfate rather than gluconate is more commonly used and in an enteric coating to help decrease the tendencies of upset stomach. take the medication with food. you also can take it twice daily rather than two tablets at once. in addition the slow-absorption iron may aid in decreasing the upset stomach effects. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is it safe for a 17-year-old to take lodine for her seasonal allergies? | lodine is the brand name for etodolac a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication. this medication does not give allergy relief and i would find out more about why she is taking this medication. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | can you take zyrtec if you are using mucinex dm? | yes as long as both medications are for the correct symptoms. zyrtec is an antihistamine which will work for runny nose itchy eyes and sneezing symptoms that are associated with allergic reactions. mucinex dm has two ingredients guaifenesin and dextromethorphan. the guaifenesin is an expectorant which will help to thin mucus found in the chest making it more manageable to cough up and out of the body. dextromethorphan helps with coughing. the important take-home message is to not over-medicate yourself. while all these medications are readily available over the counter for self-treatment only treat the symptoms that are present. don’t over-medicate or make you body work harder than it needs to. and remember taking more medication isn’t going to make you better quicker. there isn’t a quick fix. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | how do i care for my daughter whose ear and face are covered in poison oak? | with poison oak involving the face the child should be seen by a doctor and evaluated for the possible need for prescription medications. poison oak is a reaction from the oil found in the plant. the more contact you have with the oil the more severe the rash. it is important to make sure you wash all clothing in hot water to eliminate all the oil from the plants and to prevent further contact or spreading to other people. once the oil is off the clothing and the body it is no longer contagious. if it doesn’t involve the face the first part of treatment for poison oak is to wash the body thoroughly with wet compresses or cool water. the sores or the rash can be treated with many different over-the-counter products. antihistamines can help to decrease the swelling itching and redness. the corticosteroid cream is also great to use to treat the rash. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | how do i use my epipen? | first check the expiration of the pen to make sure it is within date. store it in a dry space out of the sun and moisture from the bathroom or kitchen. if a severe allergic reaction occurs you want to pull off the gray or orange cap of the pen. place it directly over the clothes on the outside area of the thigh. push the black end in and count to 30 leaving the pen still in contact with the leg. once you have finished releasing the medication call 911 or have someone drive you to your doctor right away. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is fexofenadine the same as allegra for allergies? | yes allegra is the same as fexofenadine. every medication has two names a brand and a generic name. the original creators are the only ones who can use the brand name. once the recipe becomes available to other drug manufacturers they sell the product under the generic name. it usually takes approximately seven years for the brand to go generic. the main active ingredient has to remain the same in each recipe. what differs from the brand and generic are the inactive ingredients that can hold the medication together and that give it its color. in addition the generic can be much more affordable. most generics are fda approved to be equally effective. therefore if the generic works for you then there is no need to switch. also make sure to only take one and not both the brand and generic to prevent overdosing and additive side effects. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | what allergy medications are safe when i already take norvasc for my blood pressure? | antihistamine medications that are not combined with other medications are safe to take with blood pressure medications and should not affect your blood pressure. we tend to be more concerned about nasal decongestants affecting blood pressure more than the antihistamines when treating allergy symptoms. i suggest working with your local pharmacist to help select a product for the specific symptoms you are trying to treat that would not affect your blood pressure. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | i am five and a half months pregnant and take xanax. can this drug harm the fetus and how do i taper off my dosage? | the u. s. food and drug administration (fda) assigns a category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. xanax and its generic (alprazolam) have been assigned pregnancy category d meaning this class of medication have shown clear evidence of risk to the fetus in studies. pregnancy category d is a stronger warning class than pregnancy categories c or b classifications. a pregnancy category d medicine may still be given to a pregnant woman if the health care provider believes that the benefits to the woman outweigh the possible risks to the unborn child. i would not just stop taking the medication if you are concerned that you may be causing harm to your baby. work with your health care provider to decide whether you should be taking the medication. if you reach a decision to not take the medication any longer work with your provider or pharmacist to taper (decrease gradually) the dose to take and to prevent withdrawal symptoms. common withdrawal symptoms consist of but are not limited to nausea vomiting diarrhea increased heart rate palpitations hallucinations memory loss confusion panic attacks seizures dizziness headaches depression and insomnia. it is important to work with your health care provider to make sure you are getting the best care possible. one side effect is clef lip to your unborn child |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | i am 4 weeks pregnant and my throat is very sore. my tonsils feel swollen but i don’t have a cold. what can i take? | keep your throat moist and drink plenty of fluids specifically those that will not dehydrate you (less or no caffeine). if you have regular issues with allergies partner with your pharmacist and physician to make sure it is right for you concerning the timing or current trimester of your pregnancy. keep gargling with hot water with salt added. you could also keep drinking lemon juice mixed to warm water and add honey insead of sugar. you could have green tea with honey. keep having warm soup and water. take care. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is it safe to take adderall citalopram klonopin and grifulvin together? | this combination of medications does not have any drug interactions. however i would take the grifulvin with food to minimize the stomach irritation and with a fatty substance like milk or yogurt. a fatty substance will help to increase the absorption of the medication to effectively treat the condition. do not skip any doses and you may have to complete therapy for 6 weeks in order to eradicate the condition. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | if i take hydrochlorothiazide in the morning at 6 a. m. and a metoprolol at 12 midnight is that too close together? | the two medications that you are taking are both blood pressure medications that work different ways to help lower your blood pressure. hydrochlorothiazide is best to take in the morning to help with diuresis during the day rather than night when you are trying to sleep. metoprolol is a beta-blocker that can cause drowsiness dizziness or impaired thinking. all these side effects may wear off by the time you wake up in the morning. therefore taking it at night before bed may be best for you. how you are taking the medication is fine since they both work in different ways to help control your blood pressure. just watch for hypotensive effects or dizziness in the morning when you’re trying to get out of bed. if this occurs you may want to take the metoprolol earlier than midnight. you should also monitor your pulse to make sure it doesn’t get too low. consult your pharmacist and health care provider if any of these symptoms persist. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | my husband has been taking janumet for over a year. our insurance wants him to take cheaper medicine. any suggestions? | janumet is a combination product containing januvia and metformin. both medications are used to help decrease sugar levels found in blood circulation after eating a meal but by different mechanisms of actions. metformin is a generic medication that can be found at several pharmacies on their special pricing lists for one month and three month supplies. however januvia is still a brand medication as well as janumet. there are plenty of different combinations of diabetes medications that can be used to lower sugar levels. however if sugar levels are being maintained with this combination product i would not switch. check with your insurance company to see if there is a lower co-pay for using januvia versus janumet. if so you still can get the same coverage as janumet by taking the two ingredients januvia and metformin. there aren’t medications in the same drug class but there are medications available to help lower sugar levels by a different means of action within the body. start by contacting your insurance to see what they cover and at what co-pay costs. work with your pharmacist and physician to see what will work best for diabetes coverage specific to your husband’s needs. check around with pharmacies to see if they have different generic lists of medications they cover at a lower cost that may be lower than your insurance. lastly talk to your doctor to see if he/she has any co-pay assistance cards. many brand medications do have an assistance program to aid with co-pays. . |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | what are the side effects of estroven? | estroven contains many vitamins such as vitamin e thiamin riboflavin niacin vitamin b12 and folate. in addition it contains calcium selenium boron isoflavones from soybeans and black cohosh. the black cohosh is thought to be the ingredient responsible for decreasing menopause symptoms such as hot flashes. it is ranked by the natural medicines comprehensive database as “possibly effective. ” the u. s. food and drug administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. therefore this ranking is based on the little studies and information that we have available about this herbal. it is important to check and make sure there are no other interactions with additional medications that you may be taking and that it may not work for everyone. the most common side effect for black cohosh is gastrointestinal upset with additional less common side effects of rash headache dizziness weight gain feeling of heaviness in the legs cramping breast tenderness and vaginal spotting or bleeding. remember black cohosh is not the only component to estroven. therefore there may be other side effects that can occur based on the other ingredients. however the black cohosh side effects are the most common. work with your ob-gyn and your pharmacist to look at other options that maybe more individualized for you. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | my daughter takes citalopram hydrobromide tab 20 mg and seroquel tab 100 mg. which is for indicated for sleeplessness? | both medications are depression medications and have side effects for drowsiness. seroquel tends to cause more drowsiness but both have the side effect. when used adjunctively the side effect tendency increases. neither of these medications will be prescribed for sleep aid alone. you should consult your daughter’s doctor for a better understanding as to why these medications were prescribed and use your pharmacist for a better understanding of how these medications work in the body. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | i take diltzac evista and nexium. i also take a multivitamin and supplements. do these interact with gemfibrozil? | the medications that you are taking do not interact with gemfibrozil. however if you are looking for a better schedule for taking your medications preventing any drug interactions i would separate out the nexium from the group. nexium can decrease the absorption of some vitamins and minerals more specifically the calcium. calcium is better absorbed in an acidic environment. take the nexium in the morning on an empty stomach by itself. later with breakfast take the multivitamin calcium vitamin d fish oil biotin and coq10 (at least 60 minutes later). diltzac and evista should be taken per frequency prescribed by your physician and may be taken with or without food. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | should i take calcium pills or vitamins that are expired? | never take products that are expired. we wouldn’t drink milk two weeks past expiration dates. just because the pill doesn’t have an odor or appear different to the eye does not mean that it cannot have harmful effects to the body. some medications lose the effectiveness of the intended outcome while others can be converted to a different form that can be harmful. every medication or product whether it is over-the-counter or prescription medication should be properly disposed of after it has reached its expiration date. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | i am allergic to iodine and need to know is it in flaxseed oil? | it is important to read the bottle looking at active and inactive ingredients to make sure that it doesn’t contain iodine. if you are still unsure check with your pharmacist to make sure that it is all right to ingest. i also recommend calling the manufacturer to make sure iodine is not listed as a component. better safe than sorry! |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is it safe to take fish oil capsules if you have shellfish allergies? | when it comes to medication products it is important to read all product labels carefully before purchasing and consuming any item. consult the local pharmacist to help make sure no shellfish materials are found in the product. remember also that ingredients change from time to time. so check labels every time you shop. fish oil products usually come from oily fish such as salmon trout swordfish and mackerel. particular products that are epa and dha derived come from the “omega-3” sources tend to be more bio-available making the product more effective to provide the cardiovascular effects desired. shellfish are typically not used to make the fish oil products. however it is important to read all ingredients on the bottle. call the manufacturer to make sure there are no shellfish ingredients. once you find a particular brand that works for you stick with it. but continue to check the label to make sure nothing has changed with the product. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is vitamin water helping the body as much as it advertises? | there are indeed a variety of vitamins in any flavor of vitamin water. but it seems the benefits of vitamins are offset by the effects of sugar. there are 13 grams of sugar in one serving so an entire bottle contains about 32. 5 grams of sugar. in addition vitamin water contains between 100 to 125 calories. in comparison a can of coke has 140 calories. the best thing to do is to drink regular water and get vitamins from a good source of fruits and vegetables. if you can't change your diet because of medical reasons convenience or availability a wide range of vitamin supplements are available in pill or liquid form. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | can a b12 supplement taken with an antidepressant cause severe gas pains? | it depends on the form of vitamin b12 you are taking. gastrointestinal side effects associated with parenteral cyanocobalamin or vitamin b12 given by injection have included dyspepsia nausea vomiting and mild transient diarrhea. these side effects are very mild or not present at all with oral vitamin b12. if you are experiencing severe gas pains that have not subsided within a few hours you should consult your health-care provider. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | is taking a prenatal vitamin and a daily supplement too much? should i be taking only my prenatal vitamin? | if your ob-gyn has not recommended that you take the extra supplements i would not take the products. your ob-gyn has access to many lab results and is there to monitor your pregnancy. he/she knows best. make sure you are honest and let him/her know about every medication herb supplement and over-the-counter product. they should know about any drug you are taking in order to provide better care for you and your baby. your doctor can work with you to help make supplement decisions that will not harm you or your baby. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | what does delayed release mean in the drug nexium? | delayed release means that there is an enteric coating or capsule that protects the medication from being destroyed by gastric acids of the stomach to allow the active ingredient to get to the intestine for proper absorption and functioning. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | should i keep my baby on a strict sleeping schedule? | i think you should give your baby the opportunity to have a routine and i like for babies to have down time to relax in their own crib. try to have some semblance of a routine and schedule but it doesn’t have to be right down to the minute. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | should i wake my baby for feedings? | i don’t recommend waking babies for nighttime feedings because you want them to sleep. however i would suggest you wake them for night feedings in their first couple of weeks if they haven’t yet gained back their birth weight; babies tend to lose 10% of their weight after they’re born. also if they’re sleeping more in the day than the night i do suggest waking them so they don’t go more than four hours without eating. overall i suggest not waking babies at night so they can find their own sleep schedule. and you generally don’t have to wake them in the day either because most will wake on their own. if you notice that the baby is sleeping for longer stretches during the day then i would start waking them in the day so they don’t get night and day mixed up. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | how much nap time does my baby need? | normally when babies are first born everything is eat sleep eat sleep so you don’t really count any of that sleeping as naps. but somewhere between 1 and 6 six months of age babies tend to settle into a three-naps-a-day pattern where each nap can last an hour or two before going to a one-nap-a-day pattern after their first birthday. most kids lose their need for naps by about 5 years of age. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | can i take too much vitamin d? | everything that we consume whether it is food medication (prescription and over-the-counter) or a supplement (vitamins and herbals) can have toxic side effects if you take too much. the side effects can vary per product. vitamin d is needed to aid in absorption of calcium. high levels of vitamin d can lead to high levels of calcium and symptoms include nausea vomiting constipation poor appetite weakness confusion and kidney stones. to treat toxicity seek medical advice and discontinue the use of the product until advised by your health care provider to resume use. |
You are a medical knowledge assistant trained to provide information and guidance on various health-related topics. | can you take too much magnesium or potassium? | both magnesium and potassium are used for many different biological reactions within the body and are vital for life. however just as other elements and vitamins there is a range that is important for functioning. too little and the body doesn’t function. too much can cause toxicity issues and side effects. dietary magnesium does not pose a health risk however pharmacologic doses of magnesium in supplements can promote adverse effects such as diarrhea and abdominal cramping when taken in excess. risk of magnesium toxicity increases with kidney failure when the kidney loses the ability to remove excess magnesium. very large doses of magnesium-containing laxatives and antacids have been associated with magnesium toxicity. symptoms for hyperkalemia or too much potassium include irregular heartbeat nausea and slow weak or absent pulse. ultimately too much potassium can stop the heart. certain medical conditions or medications raise your risk of developing problems from potassium so consult your doctor before taking supplements. it is important to take all medications prescriptions and supplements as directed. never take more than the recommended dose. |
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