Posted on 08/12/2008 6:55:21 PM PDT by yorkie
With 3,480 pages of fine print, the Physicians' Desk Reference (a.k.a. PDR) is not a quick read. That's because it contains every iota of information on more than 4,000 prescription medications. Heck, the PDR is medication — a humongous sleeping pill.
Doctors count on this compendium to help them make smart prescribing decisions — in other words, to choose drugs that will solve their patients' medical problems without creating new ones. Unfortunately, it seems some doctors rarely pull the PDR off the shelf. Or if they do crack it open, they don't stay versed on emerging research that may suddenly make a once-trusted treatment one to avoid. Worst case: You swallow something that has no business being inside your body.
Of course, plenty of M.D.'s do know which prescription and over-the-counter drugs are duds, dangers, or both. So we asked them, "Which medications would you skip?" Their list is your second opinion. If you're on any of these meds, talk to your doctor. Maybe he or she will finally open that big red book with all the dust on it.
Advair
It's asthma medicine... that could make your asthma deadly. Advair contains the long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) salmeterol. A 2006 analysis of 19 trials, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that regular use of LABAs can increase the severity of an asthma attack..................
(Excerpt) Read more at health.msn.com ...
“If zerObama gets it that could be a daily occurrence...”
I think I’ll take them all if he does. :]
(Lord Forbid)
According to this article, antacids - six years good - seven years VERY bad.....
Published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the study suggested that seniors who take proton-pump inhibitors such as Prilosec, Nexium and Prevacid to fight acid reflux may be at greater risk for bone fractures.
While there was no detectable risk for those who used the drugs for six years of therapy, patients who used them from seven years or longer were 93 percent more likely to suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture.
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=5560474&page=1
Darned if I didn’t!
Advair?! What a joke and very misleading this dufus is. The studies on LABA were from patients taking LABAs alone without the use of corticosteroids, thus having the result of masking underlying inflammation, which is why there were fatal asthma exaserbations . Advair contains a steroid (Flovent) along with Salmeterol, so it controls both inflammation and smooth muscle constriction.
With regard to “mild” asthma, most patients would be prescribed only albuterol (short-acting BA)or possibly (possibly) a steroid as maintenance treatment. I don’t know any MD who would prescribe Advair for mild asthma.
Dangerous and irresponsible article.
Advair
Avandia
Celebrex
Ketek
Prilosec and Nexium
Visine Original
Pseudoephedrine
I agree - every month, it seems that someone comes out with information that points the ‘finger of death’ at another RX. I personally, wonder if we will ever know the truth about any medications.
Had Nexium been available some years back, I am convinced he would be with us today. He went through Hell on Earth from the moment he was diagnosed.
The shame of it all is that the disease is preventable if caught early enough. He ate Tums like they were candy, but to no avail. Nexium is a miracle drug IMHO.
People should be aware of the condition called Barrett’s Esophagus, especially those who are inclined to “soldier through” the pain of heartburn.
marking for later
In studies there is no significant difference in the efficacy of different Proton Pump Inhibitors. All marketing. I’ve taken Aciphex and the others myself. No difference I can pick up.
Regarding the calcium deficit, a calcium supplement along with L-Lysine is one way to deal with that.
Why do I have to show more ID and paperwork to get 12 hour sudafed than to vote for the President for the next 48 months?
By the herb Ma Huang and cap it up yourself while it is stil legal to do so.
Ma Huang is also imposible to find here!!
My wife managed to find five pounds a few years ago when there was talk of banning the herb.
I think we got it from an herb wholesaler in Iowa. I haven’t had any luck finding it again.
Bump.
There is a boatload of drugs that I would never take, and I wonder why anyone would take them. People who think that life should be free of all inconveniences and symptoms are living in a fantasy world. Especially given that many drugs do not cure or help the underlying problem, they simply temporarily mask the symptoms. Many have side effects worse than the symptoms they are trying to mask. If one can’t put up with some minor hay fever, why would you take a drug whose side effects are far more debilitating? “I have dry mouth, headaches, can’t sleep and it hurts when I pee, but thank goodness I don’t have that annoying hay fever sniffle”
Yep. I’m off statins.
I’d ruther have high cholesterol (with crystal clear arteries, I might add) than low cholesterol and feeling like I’m 25 years older.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.