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I feel a vet ought to be taking care of this dilemma.

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The move announced on on Thursday aims to limit combination drugs such as the opioids Percocet and Vicodin to 325 milligrams of acetaminophen per pill and calls for them to carry a “black box” warning about potential liver failure.

Some of these medicines now contain as much as 750 milligrams of acetaminophen, a drug also sold over the counter in lower doses as a generic painkiller and Johnson & Johnson’s Tylenol.

“This change will provide an increased margin of safety to help prevent liver damage due to acetaminophen overdosing, a serious public health problem,” the U.S. Food and Drug Administration wrote in a public notice.

The move affects products made by Johnson & Johnson, Endo Pharmaceuticals Holding Inc, Watson Pharmaceuticals Incorporated and Boehringer Ingelheim’s Roxane Laboratories unit, among others.

FDA said it was asking affected companies to comply but stopped short of ordering the actions. Changes would be phased in over three years.

Acetaminophen has long been know to cause liver damage if patients overdose or take multiple products that contain the ingredient.

FDA began re-examining the issue in 2002 but at the time its outside advisers cited a lack of data to target dosing. Another advisory panel in 2009, however, recommended some of the changes requested on Thursday.

Acetaminophen is one of the most commonly used U.S. drugs, according to the FDA, and is often combined with other medications. Prescription versions often include it along with opioid painkillers, it added.

While about 80 percent of the acetaminophen market is nonprescription products, about 20 percent includes prescription combination products, according to the agency.

Technorati Tags: Acetaminophen, Percocet, prescription pain medicines, Vicodin

The study showed that celecoxib could prevent skin cancers such as squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carcinomas from developing, said study researcher Dr. Craig Elmets, chairman of the dermatology department at University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“The fact that celecoxib was observed to inhibit the development of these cancers opens up a new class of drugs that may be able to prevent these common malignancies,” Elmets told MyHealthNewsDaily.

The study was published online today (Nov.29) in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

These skin cancers are among the most common cancers in the United States. More than 2 million new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are seen every year, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

However, celecoxib and other COX-2 inhibitors have been linked to heart attack and stroke. A colorectal cancer trial of the drug led by the National Cancer Institute was stopped in 2004 because of these health risks.

Celecoxib versus placebo

Celecoxib is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug similar to ibuprofen, and it acts by blocking an enzyme called cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The enzyme has been linked to many kinds of cancers, including colorectal cancer and nonmelanoma skin cancers caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Researchers gave 240 people ages 37 to 87 who had precancerous skin lesions either celecoxib or a placebo for nine months, checking them for skin cancers every three months during the treatment and then two months after the treatment ended.

At the 11-month mark, the people who took celecoxib had 50 to 60 percent fewer nonmelanoma skin cancers than those who took the placebo, Elmets said.

However, the trial was cut short by the Food and Drug Administration because of heart problems reported by people in an unrelated study involving a similar COX-2 inhibitor, rofecoxib.

Although no one in the celecoxib study reported heart problems, such effects usually develop 12 to 18 months after taking COX-2 inhibitors, said Dr. Frank L. Meyskens Jr., of the University of California, Irvine, who was not associated with the study.

Meyskens said further studies of celecoxib should involve lower doses or fewer doses – one dose a day, instead of two – to prevent the risk of heart problems.

If the drugs are safe, more research is needed to see if lower doses would be effective, he said.

Finding the right patient

Most nonmelanoma skin cancers are caused by overexposure to the sun and artificial light sources such as tanning beds. But right now, the only FDA-approved method for preventing skin cancer is to apply sunscreen, Meyskens said.

That’s because preventive treatments have to have extremely low risks that can’t outweighed their benefits, he said.

“If you look at somebody completely normal and you’re trying to prevent something, the agent better be very, very safe,” Meyskens told MyHealthNewsDaily. “But on the other hand, if they’re very high-risk because of family history, previous cancer or their lifestyle, [the preventive drug] could be worth accepting.”

People who have a very high risk of developing skin cancer on the head or neck could be willing to accept more of the potential adverse side effects than people who don’t have a high risk, he said.

The new finding doesn’t mean people will soon be able to forgo sunscreen in exchange for a COX-2 inhibiting drug, Elmets said. Rather, new skin cancer prevention agents could be used in the future in addition to sunscreen.

Because of the FDA concerns, Elmet said he will investigate whether similar drugs that don’t have negative heart effects could achieve the same results.

He said he also would test whether combining similar drugs with other medications could produce a synergistic effect without negative side effects, and whether it’s possible to make a topical form of the drugs that could be added to sunscreen.

Technorati Tags: Arthritis Drug, celebrex, celecoxib, Prevent Skin Cancers

This makes the emergence of hyaluronic acid supplements even more important to an aging America. While we are inundated with disturbing news regarding drugs such as Cox-2 inhibitors and Nsaids
(Vioxx® and Celebrex®), hyaluronic acid is a safe and effective solution for osteoarthritis sufferers.

Hyaluronic Acid Supplements Relieve Osteoarthritis Pain

More and more supplements are entering the market with hyaluronic acid in their formulations. Numerous clinical trials have proved their effectiveness when used as an oral supplement.

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in connective tissue. It is a major component of articular cartilage and acts as a lubricant within the joints. When choosing a hyaluronic acid supplement molecular weight is extremely important. The most absorbable and clinically effective form is found in a material called BioCell Collagen II®. BioCell Collagen II® contains a uniquely bioavailable form of hyaluronic acid making it readily usable by the body. Several products on the market contain BioCell Collagen II® (hyaluronic acid). Phosoplex™ from Optimal Therapeutics is an excellent formulation utilizing BioCell Collagen II®, MSM, Glucosamine, Nextrutine and other safe pain and joint aiding ingredients. When combining multiple quality ingredients with hyaluronic acid a synergistic effect occurs making these types of formulations extremely effective in fighting Osteoarthritis pain.

The Phosoplex™ Hyaluronic Acid Connection

Fran, a 48 year old school teacher from Rockville, Maryland, used Phosoplex™ for 12 weeks. Fran states “I feel so much better. I can actually see the inflammation in my hands and knees going away. Everyday activities are no longer a painful experience.” These types of results and comments seem to be the norm with consistent users of hyaluronic acid containing products.

Hyaluronic acid in the form of BioCell Collagen II® is an exciting safe new alternative to pharmaceuticals in our never ending battle with osteoarthritis pain. Based on current research and recent problems with both pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter drugs, natural alternative ingredients like BioCell Collagen II® and natural formulas like Phosoplex™ are the future for safe and effective pain management. If you are in pain give these natural alternatives a try. Be consistent and administer as directed and hopefully you will get the desired results thousands of others have already experienced using these natural aids.

Technorati Tags: celebrex, natural pain relief, Osteoarthritis Pain, Pain Relief

Well, did you know the Drug Enforcement Agency of the United States (DEA) has busted and close over 5000 online pharmacies? Did you know that many online pharmacies sell counterfeit medication? Did you know it is a federal crime for you to order prescription drugs from outside the United States?

It is true, online pharmacies are a great source of pain relief medication. This article teaches you to order pain medication legally, from within the United States, with a legal prescription. It’s the only way to go!

First, the caveats: You cannot legally order medication from outside the United States, even if you have a prescription. We always hear about the elderly taking buses to Canada to buy cheap medicine. The fact is, as of this writing, this course is illegal. Also, you cannot legally order medicine from a pharmacy without a prescription. Many online pharmacies (including my own) have physicians on staff who review your medication request and write you a prescription if they think it’s safe. In addition, NEVER order narcotics through the mail. Forget codeine, Tylenol #3, oxycontin, demerol, percodan and percocet. You can be charged with a federal crime for buying these substances. Lastly, regardless of the medication you buy, be sure to read the package insert (or a monograph on my web site). Drugs interact with each other and with your body- the package insert will tip you off to potentially dangerous behavior with respect to the medication you ordered.

The following are quick summaries of common pain relief drugs you can order through the Internet with very little risk:

Fioricet (butalbital)

Fioricet is a combination drug. It is made up of acetaminophen, caffeine and butalbital. Acetaminophen is the same medication in Tylenol You know caffeine from coffee (or even your favorite candy bar.) Butalbital is a mild barbiturate. It relaxes you.

Medical Science does not have an explanation for the reason this combination of drugs works so well, but the fact is Fioricet (and its generic form butalbital) is highly effective for tension headache. Presumably, it relaxes the muscles in the head and neck which typically tighten during tension headaches.. This is the top selling drug at our pharmacy month after month- it really helps headaches!

Soma (carisoprodol)

Soma is a muscle relaxant. It acts by blocking electrical signals among nerves in the reticular formation of the brain and in the spinal cord. Carisoprodol, combined with rest and physical therapy, is prescribed for the short term relief of painful muscle conditions- particularly muscle spasm (where the muscle tightens and does not relax). Most back strains result in muscle spasm, so patients find carisoprodol highly effective in relieving back pain.

Celebrex (celecoxib)

Celebrex is used in the treatment of symptoms of arthritis. This includes joint pain, stiffness, swelling and inflammation. The medication does not cure arthritis, but does provide symptomatic relief. It s a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) which relieves pain and inflammation. The drug works by blocking the production of prostaglandins in the body. Prostaglandins contribute to the pain and swelling associated with arthritis.

Ultram (tramadol)

Ultram is used for treatment of moderate to severe chronic pain. It binds to the opiod receptors on nerves (the same mechanism used by narcotics), but it has a far lower potential for dependency. It’s the closest medication to a narcotic you can order legally in the US online. It is not a NSAID (nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drug) and does not carry the risk of stomach ulceration and internal bleeding which can accompany the use of such medications. It is often prescribed for pain associated with shingles, fibromyalgia and other chronic diseases.

Ulracet

Ultracet is a combination of acetaminophen and tramadol. It is typically prescribed for the short term (up to five days) relief of moderately severe acute pain. It is often prescribed for post-surgical pain or after dental procedures.

The ultram mechanism as described above is very similar to the mechanism employed by narcotics. Acetaminophen of course is the active ingredient in Tylenol. It works by increasing the threshold to pain (i.e. it takes more pain stimulus to cause the sensation of pain). These two drugs work by different mechanisms, and they combine to be more effective than either drug alone.

Pain relief medication can be ordered safely online, but one should exercise appropriate caution before doing so. Specifically, it’s important to determine whether you need to see a physician before ordering pain medication. If you have a sudden onset of pain which is not readily explained, you should consult a physician first. If in doubt, go to the emergency room. If however you are a patient who has been diagnosed, and pain is a recurring problem, you can conveniently order pain medication online- typically at a lower cost than the combined cost of a doctor’s appointment and the medication itself.

Technorati Tags: celebrex, fioricet, order pain relief medication, Pain Relief, pain relief medication, ultracet, ultram