Archive for the ‘drug therapy’ Category

Folic Acid Does Not Prevent Memory Decline

Sunday, July 18th, 2010

The addition of folic acid to the list of vitamins and supplements for the prevention of memory decline is addressed in this meta-analysis. Wald et al conducted a meta-analysis of 9 randomized controlled trials on folic acid, with or without vitamin B and its effect on memory, speed of information processing, language and executive function (decision making). The median duration per study is 6 months and the median age of participants is 75 years.

The results showed no effect of folic acid in the prevention of cognitive decline (memory, speed of information processing, language and decision making) among individuals without preexisting dementia.

The pooled standardized mean difference
in cognitive function test scores was 0.01 (95% CI,
-0.08 to 0.10) after a median treatment of 6 months; an
increase of 1% of a standard deviation of a cognitive
function test score, with confidence intervals excluding
an improvement or a deterioration greater than 10% of 1
standard deviation.

Studies of longer duration are needed in order to address the role of folic acid in the prevention of cognitive decline.

Source: The American Journal of Medicine (2010) 123, 522-527

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in complimentary and alternative therapy, drug therapy, geriatrics, psychiatry, psychology, research | No Comments »

20% Discount on Vitamins, Eyeglasses and Diapers for Seniors

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

The newly signed Expanded Senior Citizens Act 0f 2010, RA 9994 includes discounts for vitamins, minerals, diapers, and essential medical supplies. This includes Calcium for osteoporosis, Iron tablets for anemia, and B complex for patients with neuropathy.

However, the DOH and FDA have clarified that discounted drug and medicine purchases, now extend to vitamins and minerals specifically prescribed by doctors for senior citizens for purposes of prevention, treatment, or diagnosis of a disease or illness. This excludes those classified as “food supplements with no approved therapeutic claim”.

This law also mandates that DOH is to provide free pneumoccocal and influenza vaccines to indigent senior citizens.

Moreover, the 20% discount also extends to the purchase of essential medical supplies, accessories or equipment like eyeglasses, dentures, hearing aids, walkers or wheelchairs, and even to geriatric diapers.

Wheelchair

Wheelchair

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized, complimentary and alternative therapy, drug therapy, healthcare services, medical, philippines, policy, public health | No Comments »

How to Make Wise Health Choices

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

Ask yourself these questions before following a health advise from a friend:

1. Is this person giving advise a friend or a salesperson?

2. Will I suffer from harm if I do not follow his/her health advise?

3. What kind of product or procedure is this person recommending?

4. What are the benefits?

a. what are the effects on my body/mind and are these the effects I desire?
b. how soon can the benefits be felt?
c. how long will the effects last?
d. how many in 10 who follow the advise will feel the benefit? how many in 100?
e. how many in 10 people tested represent my age group?


Watch out for testimonials or personal anecdotes! One person in ten may have benefited but you need to ask: “How many took the product? What happened to the nine others who took the product?”

5. Are there side effects or harmful outcomes?

how many in 10 persons will feel worse? how many in 100?

7. Will the cost/money/time I spend be worth the benefit?

8. Do I have enough information to make a wise health choice?

a. ask about scientific randomized trials or systematic reviews on the product or procedure in which all relevant studies are identified and those of adequate quality selected. Results from selected studies are usually pooled (using meta-analysis) to give the
best single estimate of effect.
b. ask for help from a trusted physician but avoid doctor shopping.
c. search trusted internet sites and peer reviewed medical journals.

Do your homework! Click any of these links for medical information on western and complementary medicine Medline Plus , the Cochrane Review of Complementary Medicine and Pubmed and the US Food and Drug Administration

Watch out for quacks and snake-oil salesmen!
You may be dealing with a quack if:
1. The information only includes stories of patients who benefit from the product.
2. You cannot obtain information on the number of people who do not improve after taking the product/procedure.
3. The advertiser is quiet about those who experience harmful side effects.

Reference: Irwig et al. Smart Health Choices. Allen and Unwin 1999.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Words from the Wise, complimentary and alternative therapy, drug therapy, education, healthcare services, lifestyle, research | No Comments »

Pandemic Flu H1N1 Vaccination 2010

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

The flu pandemic is not over.
The 2009 AH1N1 influenza virus continues to be the dominant influenza virus in circulation in the world. Based on historical data, pandemics are characterized by several successive waves, potentially more impactful (e.g. 1968 pandemic). Compared with seasonal flu, the proportion of severe / deadly cases in previously healthy and young subjects is substantially higher. Although fewer older persons were infected with the pandemic AH1N1 virus, paradoxically, infected older people will experience the highest rates of severe disease and death of any age group. Vaccination of older persons is therefore a priority.

Because it is the dominant circulating strain, the WHO recommends that the pandemic H1N1 strain should be incorporated into the seasonal flu vaccine for 2010. Keiji Fukuda, MD, MPH, special adviser to the WHO director-general on pandemic influenza, stressed that the recommendation does not indicate that the pandemic is over.

Although fewer older persons were infected with the pandemic AH1N1 virus, paradoxically, infected older people will experience the highest rates of severe disease and death of any age group. Vaccination of older persons is therefore a priority.

“The recommendation to put the pandemic virus in the upcoming vaccine really means that this has been a dominant virus, and it is expected that it will continue to be a very significant virus circulating around the world,” Fukuda said.

The WHO Recommendation for the Composition of the 2010 Southern Hemisphere (SH) Vaccine is:
— an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus, the pandemic strain
— an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus;
— a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in drug therapy, emergency preparedness, healthcare services, public health | No Comments »

Urinary Incontinence Drugs may Aggravate Dementia ADLs

Sunday, October 19th, 2008


Bladder and dementia therapy may be incompatible

by David Douglas

Last Updated: 2008-06-04 11:04:04 -0400 (Reuters Health)

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Dual use of anticholinergics for urinary incontinence and cholinesterase inhibitors (CIs) for cognitive impairment in well-functioning elderly patients leads to pharmacological opposition and a more rapid rate of functional decline, researchers report in the May issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

“The most important clinical implication” of this study, lead investigator Dr. Kaycee M. Sink told Reuters Health, “is that drugs that cancel each other out should not be used in combination.”

Dr. Sink of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina and colleagues studied data on more than 3500 Medicaid-eligible nursing home residents who were taking cholinesterase inhibitors. Of this group, 367 were concomitantly prescribed the bladder anticholinergics oxybutynin or tolterodine.

The researchers found that in participants who initially had the highest activities of daily living (ADL) function scores and were not taking bladder anticholinergics, ADL function declined by an average of 1.08 points per quarter, while in those who were taking both types of drugs, the decline in ADL score was 1.62 points per quarter — a significant 50% greater decrease.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in drug therapy, medical | No Comments »