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Why The War on Drugs Is a Huge Failure

Low Testosterone! What is Normal? What's not?

Testosterone may be the most notorious of hormones. It conjures up thoughts of muscles and masculinity. In fact, testosterone does fuel sex drive and muscle mass, but it also regulates mood and bone strength. When a man's level falls below normal, a doctor may prescribe shots, gels, or patches.  But there is some debate over who needs treatment.

1.      Aging and Testosterone Levels: A slow drop in testosterone is a normal part of aging, sometimes called "andropause" or "male menopause." For many men, this doesn't cause any significant problems or symptoms. Others may notice hot flashes, irritable moods, or less interest in sex.

2.      Low Testosterone and the Body: Low testosterone can cause visible changes in some men:

·         Thinner muscles

·         Loss of body hair

·         Smaller, softer testicles

·         Larger breasts

3.      Low Testosterone Affects Bones: You may think osteoporosis, or brittle bone disease is a woman's disease, but it can affect men as well. Low testosterone is a common cause. As testosterone levels fall, the bones may get thinner, weaker, and more likely to break.

4.      Low Testosterone and Sex: A drop in testosterone doesn't always interfere with sex, but it can make it more difficult for your brain and body to get aroused. Some men may notice a drop in libido, while others may lose interest in sex completely. Low testosterone can also make it tougher to get or keep an erection.

5.      Testosterone, Mood, and Thinking: Some men have subtle problems like irritability or other mood changes, poor concentration, and less energy. These symptoms can easily be caused by other health problems though, like anemia, depression, sleep troubles, or a chronic illness.

6.      Low Testosterone and Infertility: Testosterone helps a man's body make sperm. When levels of the hormone are low, his sperm "count" can be low, too.  Without enough sperm, he may not be able to father a child.

7.      What Causes Low Testosterone? Getting older is the most common reason testosterone levels dip. Illnesses are sometimes to blame, including:

·         Type 2 diabetes

·         Liver or kidney disease

·         COPD

·         Pituitary gland problems

·         Testicle injuries

·         Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and steroid medicines can also affect testosterone levels.

8.      Should You Be Tested? Your doctor may suggest a testosterone test if you have:

·         Erectile dysfunction

·         Lower sex drive

·         Low sperm count

·         A loss of height, body hair, or muscle size

If you have an illness known to lower testosterone, your doctor may want to test your levels of the hormone.

9.      Testing for Low Testosterone: Testosterone is usually measured with a blood test done early in the morning, when levels are highest. Normal levels range from 300 to 1,000 ng/DL. Your doctor may want to run this test a second time before diagnosing low testosterone.

10.  Treating Low Testosterone: If you have low blood levels of testosterone AND symptoms that affect your daily life, your doctor may suggest taking supplemental testosterone.  Not everyone with low testosterone will need treatment. You may want to see a specialist to discuss the risks and possible benefits of treatment. Look for a urologist or an endocrinologist, a doctor who treats hormone problems.

·         Testosterone Replacement Therapy: If you need treatment, your doctor may prescribe testosterone to boost your levels. Some studies suggest this can strengthen a man's muscles, protect his bones, and improve his sex drive. But the effects can be quite different from one man to the next.

·         Testosterone Injections: Testosterone comes in several forms; including shots, gels, patches, and tablets you place on your gums. Injections are the least expensive option, but they can be painful. You take the shots every 7 to 22 days, as prescribed by your doctor. Your testosterone levels can swing up and down between doses.

·         Testosterone Gels or Patches: These are placed directly on your skin. The hormone seeps through the skin, and is slowly released into the blood. Because gels and patches are applied every day, they keep a steady level of testosterone. However, they can cause itching, irritation, and blisters. Women and children should not touch skin treated with a gel or patch.

·         Testosterone Tablets: Tablets are placed on the gums above your incisors every 12 hours. As the gel-like tablet dissolves it slowly releases testosterone. Gum tablets can cause a bitter taste, irritated mouth, tender gums, or headaches. These side effects may get better with time. You can eat, drink, and kiss women and children while using testosterone tablets.

11.  Risks of Testosterone Therapy: Testosterone therapy has some drawbacks. Some men may develop:

·         Too many red blood cells

·         Sleep apnea

·         An enlarged prostate

·         Acne

The risks and benefits of taking testosterone for many years are not known, because large studies haven't been completed, yet.

12.  Testosterone Use and Cancer:
There's some concern that long-term use of testosterone may cause prostate cancer in older men. Men taking testosterone will need regular checkups to look for early signs of prostate cancer. This covers: All men over 50, men over 40 with a family history of prostate cancer, and all African American men.

13.  Who Should Not Take Testosterone?
Men with these conditions shouldn't take testosterone:

·         Prostate or breast cancer

·         Poorly controlled heart disease

·         Untreated sleep apnea

·         Too many red blood cells

"Ibuprofen Use may worsen your heart contitions" - American Heart Association

A recent statement from the American Heart Association has revealed that many common drugs, including ibuprofen, may cause or worsen heart failure. The organization is also reportedly urging doctors to thoroughly check over all of their patients’ medication, including those that they take without a prescription, in order to ensure their lives aren’t at risk.

Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to efficiently pump blood around the body. Some of the symptoms include extreme tiredness, breathlessness and swelling of the legs. It often develops in patients who have suffered a heart attack or stroke, and the condition tends to deteriorate over time.

The CDC reports that nearly 6 million American adults will experience heart failure. Statistics from 2009, indicate that roughly one-in-nine deaths list heart failure as a contributing condition. Nearly half of all people diagnosed with heart failure will die within five years of their diagnosis, according to the CDC. In other words, heart failure is a serious condition. Given that the average heart failure patient takes about seven medications daily, it is easy to see where things could become problematic. This is especially true if their medications are not being managed properly.

The statement from the AHA was released in July, and was also published on the website of the organization’s journal Circulation. Robert L. Page II, the chair of the committee that formulated the statement has commented: “Since many of the drugs heart failure patients are taking are prescribed for conditions such as cancer, neurological conditions or infections, it is crucial but difficult for healthcare providers to reconcile whether a medication is interacting with heart failure drugs or making heart failure worse.” Page is also a professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado Schools of Medicine and Pharmacy.  He also notes that while patients are often instructed to read food labels and be mindful of their diets, they are not often advised to watch what over-the-counter drugs they may be taking.

Ibuprofen is cited as being especially problematic for patients with heart failure. Patients who take ibuprofen or similar drugs are 10 times more likely to experience flare-ups. It’s estimate that they are also about 33 percent more likely to require a hospital admission.

This underlines how very dangerous just about any drug can be, especially if you have a preexisting health condition.

Your Medication might make you Depressed!

Medications have a variety of side effects. Some drugs can contribute to depression. According to the WebMD experts, The elderly are particularly susceptible to depression while taking medication that treats their conditions. 

Moods can change because of medicine or the illness itself. It’s best to talk to your primary healthcare provider if you suspect that your medication is causing your depression. Your doctor can suggest to discontinue the drug, lower the dosage, prescribe alternative therapy or provide additional medication that treats depression, depending on your condition.

Some of the drugs that may cause depression include Accutane for severe acne, anticonvulsants, alcohol based drugs, barbiturates & benzodiazepines to treat anxiety, interferon for sever infections and cancer, calcium-channel blockers for high blood pressure, interferon for cancer treatment, opioids for severe pain, and statins used to lower harmful cholesterol levels. According to a study published in BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology in September 2014, 110 different drugs were found to be associated with a risk of depression between 1998 and 2011.

The FDA requires that medications linked to depression display warnings. Ask you pharmacist about any possible risk of depression from your medication. If you develop feelings of sadness, hopelessness, sleep changes, or thoughts of suicide while you are on a certain medication, discuss the issue with your doctor.


Comment below for any specific questions and stay tuned for more information.

Choosing the Right Pain killer

An analgesic or painkiller is any member of the group of drugs used to achieve analgesia, relief from pain. These drugs are distinct from anesthetics, which reversibly eliminate sensation. Common pain killers include paracetamol, the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as the salicylates, steroidal analgesics such as prednisolone and opioid drugs such as morphine and oxycodone.

Know the right drug!

In choosing analgesics, the severity and response to other medication determines the choice of agent; the "World Health Organization (WHO) pain ladder" specifies mild analgesics as its first step.

It provides proper guideline for the use of drugs in the management of pain. Pain ladder concept was originally applied to the management of cancer pain, but is now widely used by medical professionals for the management of all types of pain.

Please note that not all pain yields completely to classic analgesics, and drugs that are not traditionally considered analgesics, but which reduce pain in some cases, such as steroids or bisphosphonates, may be employed concurrently with analgesics at any stage. Tricyclic antidepressants, class I antiarrhythmics, or anticonvulsants are the drugs of choice for neuropathic pain. These are more complicated types of pain management and you should probably consult to your healthcare provider for better guidance.

Comment below for any specific questions and stay tuned for more information.