Category Archives: Medical Tidbits

Adverse effects of Amphetamines

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Adverse effects of Amphetamines

Amphetamine, Dextroamphetamine, Methamphetamine.

Amphetamines are central nervous system stimulant.  Amphetamines  (dexedrine) are being miss used by many.  Psychological dependence and tolerance may occur with amphetamines following prolonged use or high doses.

Amphetamines are used in the treatment of Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Amphetamines are indicated as an integral part of a total treatment program that includes other remedial measures (psychological, educational, social) for a stabilizing effect in children  with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, characterized by moderate to severe distractibility, short attention span, hyperactivity, emotional lability, and impulsivity.

Due to their high potential for abuse, amphetamines are not recommended for use as appetite suppressants. Amphetamines should not be used to combat fatigue or to replace rest in normal subjects.

More frequent adverse effects
CNS stimulation – false sense of well-being; irritability; nervousness; restlessness; trouble in sleeping, drowsiness, fatigue, trembling, or mental depression may follow the stimulant effects.

With prolonged use or high doses
Cardiomyopathy – chest discomfort or pain; difficulty in breathing; dizziness or feeling faint; irregular or pounding heartbeat; unusual tiredness or weakness. Irregular heart beat.

Increase in blood pressure

Psychotic reactions – mood or mental changes

Less frequent adverse effects

Allergic reaction – skin rash or hives

Chest pain, fast or pounding heartbeat; increased sweating

Tourette’s syndrome – uncontrolled movements of the head, neck, arms, and legs

Hyperthermia – extremely high body temperature

Blurred vision

Changes in sexual desire or decreased sexual ability

Constipation, diarrhea loss of appetite nausea stomach cramps or pain, weight loss, vomiting, dizziness lightheadedness headache; dryness of mouth or unpleasant taste.

Symptoms indicating possible withdrawal – after medication is discontinued

Mental depression; nausea stomach cramps or pain vomiting; trembling; unusual tiredness or weakness

Body builder – had Stroke after taking energy suppliments
Warning About Body Building Supplement

Body builder – had Stroke after taking energy suppliments

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Body builder – had Stroke after taking energy suppliments

The 33-year old young man, who used to train two hours daily as a body builder, purchased energy supplements over the counter. The MaHuang supplement contained 20 mg of ephedra, 200 mg caffeine, and other compounds. Each day, the man took four to six of these pills, as well as a daily creatine supplement containing 6000 mg of the drug. The man, who worked as a baggage handler in an airport, had the stroke about six weeks after starting to take the supplements. He awoke one morning unable to speak, and with weakness in his right arm and the right side of his face. Brain scans showed that he had had a stroke, where the blood supply to part of his brain had been cut off, perhaps by a clot. The patient had no vascular risk factors, in particular no tobacco use, and he was perfectly fit until his stroke.

The supplements he was taking, however, have been associated with adverse side effects. Ephedrine has been linked to stroke, heart attack and psychosis. Large doses of caffeine also affect the heart. Although cardiovascular problems have not been reported with creatine, the drug may have negative effects when combined with supplements, particularly those that affect the sympathetic nervous system. Creatine has also led to kidney problems.

Dangers of Creatine
Warning About Body Building Supplement
Adverse effects of Amphetamines

Dangers of Creatine

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Dangers of Creatine

Creatine has become a popular nutritional supplement among school student athletes. These young men are using this suppliment without realising its possible benefits and hazards. Most students who take, do so in hopes of improving their athletic performance, their appearance or their endurance and body building. The effectiveness of this suppliment remains unproven.

Creatine is naturally produced by the liver, kidney and pancreas and plays a role in muscle contraction. When taken as a supplement, creatine can cause water retention and cramping.Two youngsters are known to have suffered kidney failure in the last 3 years after taking creatine.

French researchers report in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry – A stroke in a young body builder who took pills sold as energy supplements suggests that these pills may cause stroke. The risk may be greatest when the supplements are used in combination, the researchers suggest.

The sports community should be alert to the danger of such supplements as MaHuang extract and creatine, which are popular among athletes in a number of countries.

The safety of long-term creatine use is uncertain. A recent case report in the Lancet (April 25, 1998) describes a young man whose kidney problems worsened when he took creatine. There have also been three fatalities among college wrestlers using creatine. Whether the supplement contributed to the deaths remains unclear.

Instead of taking creatine, youngsters should go in for a program of weight training, which can safely improve performance by 30% to 40%.

Body builder – had Stroke after taking energy suppliments
Warning About Body Building Supplement
Adverse effects of Amphetamines

Warning About Body Building Supplement

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Warning About Body Building Supplement

California health officials are warning consumers to avoid a group of dietary supplements used by body builders because of the danger of sickness or even death.

The officials say a product containing 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BD) caused three body builders in Riverside County to be hospitalized with acute respiratory failure and delirium.

Products containing 1,4-BD, also known as 1,4 tetramethylene glycol, 1,4 butylene glycol, butane 1,4 diol or Sucol-B, are sold under a variety of names including enLiven, Zen, Serenity, Somato-Pro, Orange FX Rush, Lemon FX Drop, Cherry FX Bomb, Borametz, Pine Needle Extract, Promusol or BVM.

The products can be in liquid, powder, capsule or other forms and claim to build muscles, improve physical performance and enhance sex. But, there can be serious side effects including headaches, vomiting, slow heart rate, slow breathing and seizures.

Adverse effects of Amphetamines
Body builder – had Stroke after taking energy suppliments
Warning About Body Building Supplement

The Top Medical Advances Of The Last Century

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The Top Medical Advances Of The Last Century

On top of the list we can mention the control of infectious diseases. This has lead to immense improvement of health and average life span.

Mass immunization – has helped in eradicating number of diseases that were once rampant but don’t exist today – smallpox, diptheria and polio are few of the diseases conquered by vaccines. Smallpox has been eradicated from this earth but diptheria and polio and some others do have their presence in under developed and developing countries.

Discovering how vitamins work is another important advancement. Finding out what vitamins do what has been a major accomplishment in understanding our diet and our health.

Cardiovascular risk factors: We’ve learned tons about fats, diet and exercise in relation to heart disease.

Rational drug design: Today, we no longer have to just try folk remedies and hope that they work. We study and test various compounds to see if they’ll be effective. The safety and efficacy of drugs is of the highest standard. Rigorous testing is required before drugs can be prescribed, which protects us from trying anecdotal remedies that might be harmful.

Molecular genetics: As we unravel DNA – the genetic blueprint of life – we’ll learn how to treat or prevent many stubborn diseases.

Cancer diagnosis and treatment. We can already pinpoint and treat some cancers successfully and we’re learning more all the time. New drugs and drug delivery systems are in the pipeline that will help to turn the tide in the fight against this killer disease.

Organ transplantations. Some day we’ll probably clone organs that can be stored and used as needed. Meanwhile, heart transplants are almost routine compared to only a few years ago. Anti-rejection medications and new techniques are making transplants a common part of our health care system.

Diagnostic technology. We couldn’t even take someone’s blood pressure at the turn of the last century, we have machines that can peer into the body without using surgery.

Of course, there are a lot of other medical achievements that can be mentioned here. Humanity has gained tremendously from the advancement in the knowledge of the fuctioning of the human body during the last century ( rather present century ). At the turn of last century our knowledge of medicine was too little as compared to the present.