tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222869492011-12-14T18:42:25.165-08:00Blog from a UT Austin PharmD graduate relating to pharmacy and medicine.Kristen Thaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164182579006873528noreply@blogger.comBlogger21100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22286949.post-1139687235200609302006-02-11T11:45:00.001-08:002006-02-11T12:01:59.706-08:00<span>What is cocaine?<br />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. <br /><br />Side effects: increased motor activity, hyperthermia, skeletal-muscle injury, and rhabdomyolysis (muscle weakness).<br /><br />Medical uses as a schedule II drug include: local anesthetic for some eye, ear, and throat surgeries.<br /><br />Epidemiology: 64,000 patients are being evaulated annually for cocaine-related medical problems. The cost to healthcare annually is $83 million.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Treatment: oxygen, benzodiazepines, aspirin, nitroglycerin, and a lesson learned<br /><br />However, do these addicts ever learn their life-n-death lessons?<br /><p:colorscheme colors="#FFFFFF,#000000,#00007D,#000000,#9999FF,#9999CC,#666699,#CCCCE6"> </p:colorscheme><div shape="_x0000_s1026"> <div class="O1" style=""><span style="font-size: 156%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 125); position: absolute; left: -4.2%; top: 0.3em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 75%;">n</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-size: 28pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 24pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 156%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 125); position: absolute; left: -4.2%; top: 0.3em; font-size: 75%;">n</span></span><span style="font-size: 28pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 24pt;"> </span></span></div> </div> </span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/22286949-113968723520060930?l=utpharmd.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Kristen Thaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164182579006873528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22286949.post-1139636639850129442006-02-10T21:37:00.000-08:002006-02-10T22:10:20.196-08:00<p><strong>Differentiation:</strong> a flu is different from a cold due to the accompanying fever/fatigue/muscle ache symptoms. </p><p><strong>Fever or muscle ache:</strong> acetamenophin (Tylenol®) (4 gm/day max), ibuprofen (Motrin®), or aspirin (Bayer®). Do not use aspirin as anti-pyretic in young children.<br /><br /><strong>Cough:</strong> guaifenesin (Mucinex®) for productive cough and/or dextromethorphan (Delsym®) for dry cough.<br /><br /><strong>Sore throat:</strong> Halls® Defense cough drops or Vicks® lozenges to numb the irritated throat.<br /><br /><strong>Runny nose:</strong> pseudoephedrine (Sudafed®)<br /><br /><strong>Nasal Congestion:</strong> 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.<br /><br /><strong>Allergy symptoms:</strong> 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.<br /><br />Note: Buy generic brands to save money. Follow OTC dosage recommendations. </p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/22286949-113963663985012944?l=utpharmd.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Kristen Thaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01164182579006873528noreply@blogger.com0