Saturday, February 11, 2006
Cocaine Toxicity
It is an addictive stimulant that can adversely affect the brain. It is extracted from cocoa leaves, and can be administered intravenously, intranasally or smoked.
Side effects: increased motor activity, hyperthermia, skeletal-muscle injury, and rhabdomyolysis (muscle weakness).
Medical uses as a schedule II drug include: local anesthetic for some eye, ear, and throat surgeries.
Epidemiology: 64,000 patients are being evaulated annually for cocaine-related medical problems. The cost to healthcare annually is $83 million.
Clinical presentation: chest pain, dyspnea, anxiety, palpitations, dizziness, nausea. Most patients have symptoms within 24 hours of drug use, and cocaine withdrawal may result in myocardial ischemia which can be fatal.
Treatment: oxygen, benzodiazepines, aspirin, nitroglycerin, and a lesson learned
However, do these addicts ever learn their life-n-death lessons?
Friday, February 10, 2006
Treatment of cold and viral symptoms
Differentiation: a flu is different from a cold due to the accompanying fever/fatigue/muscle ache symptoms.
Fever or muscle ache: acetamenophin (Tylenol®) (4 gm/day max), ibuprofen (Motrin®), or aspirin (Bayer®). Do not use aspirin as anti-pyretic in young children.
Cough: guaifenesin (Mucinex®) for productive cough and/or dextromethorphan (Delsym®) for dry cough.
Sore throat: Halls® Defense cough drops or Vicks® lozenges to numb the irritated throat.
Runny nose: pseudoephedrine (Sudafed®)
Nasal Congestion: saline nasal spray to clear up the snod or inhaling hot steam; must give time for it to work. Other decongestant products over the counter may be addicting with long term use. I will not mention them. Have available at home a humidifier or vaporizer to help with nasal congestion.
Allergy symptoms: will be similar to above symptoms; prescription nasal spray (inhaled corticosteriod, ie. Rhinocort AQ®, Nasacort®, Flonase®) and oral anti-histamines (Claritin®, Allegra®, Zyrtec®). Take before season occurs and throughout the allergy season to prevent symptoms.
Note: Buy generic brands to save money. Follow OTC dosage recommendations.
