UNTOWARDS REACTIONS OF SULPHONAMIDES

Last week, a woman walked into the pharmacy with very deep sores on her lips. She could hardly talk because of the pain she was experiencing and had also been unable to eat. She explained that she had symptoms of malaria and approached a nurse to prescribe her some medications while also informing her that she reacts to Fansidar (sulphadoxine& pyrimethamine). Unfortunately for her, the nurse prescribed Laridox which contains the same active ingredients(sulphadoxine & pyrimethamine) as Fansidar which she was trying to avoid. She ended up at the hospital and was admitted for 3 weeks.

WHAT ARE SULPHONAMIDES?
Sulphonamides are synthetic antimicrobial agents (sometimes called sulpha drugs). Some sulphonamides are devoid of antibacterial activity. It is important to make a distinction between sulpha drugs and other sulphur- containing drugs and additives such as sulphate, which are chemically unrelated to the sulphonamide group and hence, do not cause the same hypersensitivity reactions seen in sulphonamides.

Examples of Sulphonamides include:

• Sulphamethoxazole (found in Septrin, Primpex, Bactrim, Emtrim)
• Sulphadoxine (found in Fansidar, Laridox, Maldox, Amalar)
• Sulphadiazine (Dermazin) 
• Sulphacetamide 
• Sulphonyureas 
• Chlorpropamide 
• Glipizide 
• Gliclazide 
• Glibenclamide 

SIDE EFFECTS OF SULPHONAMIDES
The most common hypersensitivity reactions to sulpha drugs are rash and hives. However, there are several life-threatening manifestations of hypersensitivity to sulpha drugs including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (in which people get blisters around the mouth, eyes or anus), toxic epidermal necrolysis, agranulocytosis, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia.

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

If you have to take non-prescription medications, read the label and package ingredients carefully. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to medicines in this group or other medicines.

Reference: Wikipedia

SLEEP DEPRIVATION MAY EQUAL WEIGHT GAIN

How many hours do you sleep per night on the average?

Today, lots of people are sleep deprived. Here in Lagos, Nigeria, we have people who are out of their houses as early as 4.30am trying to beat early morning traffic and don't get back in until about 10.30pm and eventually get to sleep by 12pm only to be up by 4am the next day.

On the average, we need about 8 hours of quality sleep per night. When we are sleep deprived and running on low energy, we tend to make poor food choices, and rely on foods with higher calories. According to Micheal Breus PhD, author of Beauty Sleep, your metabolism will not function properly if you are sleep deprived.

HOW DOES SLEEP DEPRIVATION AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO LOSE WEIGHT?

"This has a lot to do with our nightly hormones", explains Breus. The two hormones that are key in this process are ghrelin and leptin. Ghrelin is the 'go' hormone that tells you when to eat, and when you are sleep-deprived, you have more ghrelin. Leptin is the hormone that tells you to stop eating, and when you are sleep-deprived, you have less leptin. Invariably, more ghrelin plus less leptin equals weight gain.

HOW DO YOU MANAGE SLEEP DEPRIVATION?

• Avoid eating, reading and watching TV in bed. 
• Turn off the lights in your room.
• Reduce caffeine intake and avoid caffeinated drinks at least 6 hours before bedtime. 
• Eat healthy. 
• Do not eat heavy meals within 4-5 hours before bedtime. 
• Avoid long- term use of over-the counter sleeping pills. 
• Reduce stress as much as possible.
• Use relaxation techniques, laugh more often.
• Exercise, but not more than 4 hours before bedtime. 

References:
Robin Widmar WedMD .

ANTIBIOTICS AND YOU

In Nigeria, studies have shown that there is a high level of irrational use of antibiotics which has contributed to increased resistance of microbial strains. Why would anyone walk into a pharmacy to obtain an antibiotic without a prescription? Antibiotics are a group of medicines that inhibits bacterial growth or kills bacteria. Antibiotics are available as creams, ointments, or lotions. Many infectious illnesses are caused by viruses rather than bacteria. These include common colds, measles, mumps, hepatitis e.t.c.

APPROPRIATE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS

• Antibiotics prescribed to you by your doctor should be taken at regular, specified time intervals such as every four, six, eight or twelve hours. 
• Always take the entire course of antibiotics as directed by your doctor to prevent the bacteria becoming resistant to them. 
• Some antibiotics should not be taken with certain foods and drinks. 
• Some should be taken when there is no food in your stomach usually an hour before meals or two hours after. 
• Don't pressure your doctor for antibiotics if you have a viral infection. For instance, a saline nasal spray is enough to clear a stuffy nose or a mixture of warm water, lemon and honey to temporarily soothe a sore throat. 
• Don't take antibiotics because it had been prescribed to a friend of yours that had similar symptoms. 

SPECIAL CARE

When you are prescribed an antibiotic you should:

• Tell your doctor if you take other medicines or herbal remedies. 
• Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Let your doctor or pharmacist know if you are allergic to antibiotics. 
• Tell your doctor if you have problems with your liver or kidney. 

SIDE EFFECTS 

The most common side-effects of antibiotics are diarrhoea, feeling sick, and vomiting. Some people get a fungal infection such as thrush after taking antibiotics for an extended period of time.This is because, as well as killing the harmful bacteria causing the infection, antibiotics may also destroy your body's good bacteria that prevents micro-organisms such as fungi from growing out of control. 

INTERACTIONS 

Some antibiotics such as rifampicin react with contraceptive pills, hence making them ineffective. Stop inappropriate use of antibiotics today. Get well soon without antibiotics. 

REFERENCES:

• Dr Tim Kenny 
• MayoClinic.com 
• Bupa Uk 
• Olanike O.Kehinde and Babatunde E.Ogunnowo: The pattern of antibiotic use in urban slum in Lagos state,Nigeria..

SAFE MEDICINE TIPS FOR PARENTS

Wow, It's been a while. Pardon me, I've been indispensable.

How much do you love your kid/kids?

WARNING!!!
Don't give any OTC medicine or prescription medicine to your child without first asking a pharmacist or doctor.

If your child is on prescription medicine, check with your doctor or pharmacist first before giving your child an OTC medicine. Some medications should not be used together as they interact and therefore increase or decrease the potency of either of them.  

TIPS

• Use the specific dropper, dosing cup or spoon that comes with your child's medicine as kitchen spoons and other household utensils are not accurate enough to measure doses of medicines.  
• Check for duplicate ingredients when using OTC medicines. I met a mother once who was giving her son a teething mixture which already contained paracetamol and was also giving paracetamol syrup because she didn't realize it.
• Don't hesitate to ask a doctor or pharmacist on medicine selection.
• Do not give children half of adult strength tablets as it can result in an accidental overdose. 
• Give them medicines specially formulated for their weight and age.

Have a blessed week!

BE MEDICINEWISE

Happy new year to you all.

A lady walked into the Pharmacy to buy a certain antidepressant without prescription. On enquiry, I discovered she needed the medication for a condition entirely different from what the medicine is indicated for and had been recommended to her by a friend.

Help make better health decisions for yourself and loved ones.

• Do not take medicines recommended to you by a friend.
• Do not recommend medicines to anyone except you have a medical background.
• Ensure that you consult a doctor before taking prescription medicines.
• Always compare active ingredients before taking more than one OTC medicine at the same time to ensure you are not getting more than the recommended dosage.
• Do not take too much of an OTC medicine, more is not better or faster.
• Only take the recommended amount stated on the label.
• Inform your doctor or pharmacist of medicines you are taking. Note the medicines you have reacted to in the past and inform your doctor or pharmacist. 
• Don't chew, break or crush capsules or tablets unless instructed by your doctor or pharmacist. 
• Keep medicines out of reach of children. 

Ask your doctor or pharmacist about your medicines:

• What does it contain (active ingredient)? 
• What is it used for?
•  How should it be taken and for how long? 
• What are the possible side effects and what should I do if I experience a side effect? 
• What foods, drinks, other medicines should I avoid while taking this medicine? 
• What should I do if I miss a dose? 
• Can I drink alcohol while using this medicine? 
• How and where should I store this medicine? 
• Can I drive or operate machinery while taking this medicine?

It is important that you have adequate knowledge about what goes into your bodies. Help your health care giver, Doctor or Pharmacist to help serve you better.

Compliments.