Healthy living
Medicines and supplements
Pharmacy news: are you taking these medications?
Check out the latest pharmacy news to see if it affects you:
Time for a medications review?
American doctors have identified 32 medicines, mostly older drugs, which are highly likely to produce a severe reaction in older people. The list includes sedatives and antidepressants such as amitriptyline and benzodiazepines, heartbeat-regulating drugs such as amiodarone, and laxatives such as bisacodyl.
They say that if you're already taking these drugs, you don't necessarily need to stop, but you should ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your medication. This is especially true for patients taking medicines that affect the mood (antidepressants, sedatives, antipsychotics) and those who are taking more than four medicines at any one time.
New joint pain relief pills
New Anadin Joint Pain tablets (200mg ibuprofen) are designed to relieve rheumatic and muscular pain, backache, and pain relating to non-serious arthritic conditions. One tablet lasts for eight hours, ensuring sufferers can sleep through the night. They're available from pharmacies without a prescription in packs of 16 tablets (£2.46) and 48 (£5.79).
Watch out for staining
Denture wearers using Pyralvex to relieve ulcers and sore spots in the mouth may experience a short, burning sensation where they apply the product. It may also stain teeth or mouth but the makers say the effects are only temporary and easily removed during normal cleaning. If these or any of the other side effects listed on the information leaflet become serious, do tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Don't let bladder weakness get you down
As many as one in four women may experience unintentional urine loss when laughing, sneezing or coughing. Men can have similar problems, although they are more likely to complain of a continuous 'dripping' caused by swelling in the prostate gland. Experts say that giving up smoking, losing weight and doing pelvic floor exercises can all help, as can taking certain prescription medicines. A range of liners and pads has just been launched by Envive in a choice of absorbencies; prices start from £2.49, and free samples are available from the product's website, www.alwaysenvive.co.uk, from the end of February.
Cholesterol tablet alert
People taking simvastatin for high cholesterol should check their medicines as certain packs have been incorrectly labelled. The affected product is simvastatin 20mg, made by Metwest Pharmaceuticals with batch number TS0010806, and an expiry date of July 2008. The mistake relates to the strength of the medicine. Instead of containing 20mg, the affected tablets actually contain 10mg of simvastatin, so there is no danger if you have taken any already; just take them back to your pharmacy to get a replacement.
New Kwells advice
People with urinary, heart, stomach, liver or kidney problems, and those suffering seizures are being advised to consult a doctor before taking Kwells travel sickness tablets. Although no actual problems with the drug have been reported, the manufacturer has decided to take a precautionary stance and advise people to talk to their doctor before using the product to check it is right for them.
Written by Ailsa Colquoun
Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.
