What To Look For When Evaluating Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Options: The Three “C’s” of Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage
People with Medicare can start saving money by enrolling in the government’s prescription drug plan, and with open enrollment running through May 15, 2006, there is still time to save.
“This is the most significant change to Medicare since the program’s inception, and it will offer people with Medicare more choices than ever before,” said Scott Latimer, M.D., Central and North Florida Market President for Senior Products at Humana, one of the nation’s leading private sector Medicare insurers. “In order to select the plan that best meets their needs, beneficiaries will need to carefully evaluate their options prior to enrolling.”
When choosing a plan, people with Medicare and their family members and friends involved in the process need to factor three areas into their decision: affordable cost, plan coverage of required drugs and services and ease of obtaining medications.
Cost
While some plans have a monthly premium, there are Medicare Advantage plans that provide Parts A and B medical coverage and include Part D drug coverage as a built-in benefit without an additional monthly premium cost.
Plans also have varying coverage of the coverage gap, which is commonly referred to as the “doughnut hole.” Some plans offer more choices than others, including $0 deductible options, varying co-payment levels and possibly generic drug coverage through the gap.
Additionally, people with Medicare will also pay part of the cost for prescriptions, which varies depending on the drug plan chosen.
Coverage
Each Medicare drug plan has a list of the prescription drugs it covers. When comparing plans, beneficiaries need to find plans that cover all or most of the drugs they take. Many plans may also offer lower-cost generics.
Of course, insurance plans can change the list of drugs they cover. Companies must provide at least 60 days’ notice before making a coverage change. Beneficiaries can then evaluate other options and speak to their doctors about the possibility of switching to an alternate drug that is on the plan or to a generic medication.
Convenience
All private insurers offering prescription drug coverage have pharmacy networks. These include both national pharmacies such as Wal-Mart, Rite Aid and CVS and non-chain independent pharmacies. Mail-order drug delivery services may also be an option, and may be particularly beneficial for people who take multiple medications daily.
People should speak with their pharmacist about the plan they are considering. It is important to know if that pharmacy will be part of that preferred network.
Web-based tools can help calculate prescription drug costs by plan, determine all out-of-pocket costs and even allow online enrollment.
As a counselor, I am often asked, Can drugs be helpful for anxiety and depression? The answer I give is Yes and No.
Yes, drugs may be useful for short-term help. No, drugs are not a good long-term solution.
Anxiety and depression are not caused by a lack of drugs. Drugs do not heal the underlying causes of anxiety and depression. However, when drugs are temporarily used to give a person a window of relief to do the inner work necessary to heal the underlying causes, they can be useful.
Anxiety and depression generally have two major underlying causes – emotional and physical.
THE PHYSICAL CAUSES OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION
Our bodies go into imbalance when we do not eat well or have enough healthy exercise. Our bodies are not made to handle the unnatural substances found in processed food. When we overload our bodies with chemicals, pesticides, sugar, and devitalized foods, our bodies become depleted of vital nutrients and go into stress. Anxiety and depression can be the result of this physical depletion and resulting stress.
Our bodies are designed to thrive on the food and water that God gave us pure, clean, organic, unaltered food and water. If you take drugs for anxiety and depression and do not clean up your diet and get proper exercise, you are just using a Band Aid for a gaping wound.
THE EMOTIONAL CAUSES OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION
Emotionally, anxiety is caused by dysfunctional thoughts thoughts that are not true. For example, if you tell yourself that you are not good enough or you have to be perfect, you will likely feel anxious. Thoughts of not being good enough and having to be perfect are generally focused on our outer qualities of looks and performance, rather than on the inner qualities of kindness, compassion, and gratitude. When we choose to be kind, loving and compassionate with ourselves and others, we feel good about ourselves. When we choose gratitude for what we do have rather than dwell on what we dont have, we create inner peace. Kindness and gratitude are wonderful antidotes to anxiety!
Anxiety is always a sign that we are telling ourselves a lie. The truth creates peace inside, while lies create fear and anxiety. This is a sure-fire way of knowing what is true and what is not true!
Emotionally, depression is caused by not taking good care of ourselves. If we ignore our needs, dont speak up for ourselves, judge ourselves, and make others responsible for our feelings, the result may be depression. If you have a child whom you ignore and judge, that child will likely be depressed. The same occurs on the inner level when we ignore and judge our own inner child. Putting yourself last and taking care of everyone else but yourself may cause you to feel unworthy and depressed.
There is little point in taking drugs for anxiety and depression without attending to your dysfunctional thinking and to how you are treating yourself. However, if you take drugs for a short time and give yourself the opportunity to do your inner work, they may be helpful. Many of the people I work with find that as soon as they start taking good care of themselves, they dont like the effect of the drugs. They dont like the fact that the drugs take the edge off their feelings. They find that, rather than wanting to be numbed out, they want to feel all of their feelings deeply, both the highs and the lows. The more they learn to take responsibility for their feelings by attending to their thoughts and needs, the more they want to feel all of their feelings. They discover that, while drugs may take the edge off pain, they also take the edge off joy.
Most of the people I work with can avoid drugs completely by learning to take loving care of themselves, both physically and emotionally. Many of the people who practice the Inner Bonding process that we teach find Inner Bonding to be far more powerful in healing anxiety and depression than drugs.
If you are a person who does not want to learn to take personal responsibility for your pain and joy, then drugs may be a way out for you. But if you want to feel true peace and joy, drugs are not the answer.
Vitamins and minerals that are depleted by the prescription drugs you take
In todays world every time somebody comes down with a cold they turn to prescription drugs, this might not be the wisest choice, if we are concerned with living a long and healthy life. In this fast paste world we want a quick fix, being down with a cold or disease like cancer is unacceptable, thats why most of us will turn to a prescription drug. Little did we know that as we take these prescription drugs they deplete our body of essential vitamins, minerals and phyto-nutrients our body needs to operate properly.
Safeguarding out bodies against vitamin and mineral deficiencies should be our number one priority. The following guidelines can help if you are on of the 20 million people out there using prescription drugs.
Calcium
Calcium is the first mineral that can be depleted by taking prescription drug. These drugs include diuretics such as Bumex, Demadex, Diuril, and Lasix, as well as, bone building drugs like Fosamax and anti-inflammation steroids Cortef and cortone can be deplete calcium in the body. You can help prevent calcium deficiency by eating foods rich in calcium. Foods rich in calcium are Kale, Cabbage, Dairy, and broccoli, if you do not consume several servings a day of these vegetables you might consider taking a calcium supplement.
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 is an enzyme vital to the crebs cycle (Energy production cycle in the body), if you are taking cholesterol medication Statins such as Lipitor, Lescol, Mevacor, Pravachol, or Zocor you will be at risk of Coenzyme Q10 depletion. Also, Sulfonylureas drugs such as Amaryl, DiaBeta, and Glucotrol for diabetics, you can be at risk. Eating oods high in coenzyme Q10 can help prevent COQ10 deficiency. The foods containing CoQ10 are Mackerel, red beets, sardines and organ meats, if you do not consume several servings of these meats and vegetables you might consider taking additional Coenzyme Q10 supplements available at any health food store.
Folic Acid
Folic Acid is a B Vitamin vital to both men and women but especially women in child bearing ages. If you are taking cholesterol meds, pain relief medications or diabetic medication such as Questran, Welchol, Celebrex, and Glucophage you may be at risk of Folic Acid depletion. The following are Foods high in Folic Acid. Broccoli, peas, beans, leafy greens, oranges and whole grains all have a good amount of folic acid in them. Folic Acid is relatively inexpensive you can find it at any health food store in 400mcg and 800mcg doses.
Magnesium
Magnesium is vital for muscle relaxation and bone building, if your taking diuretics bone building or steroidal anti-inflammation drugs you might be at risk of magnesium depletion. Foods high in magnesium are leafy greens, lean meat, beans, nuts whole grains, and seafood. Recent studies have suggested that 40% of the population are low in magnesium already, taking prescription drugs that delete magnesium can put one at risk for disease related to magnesium deficiency.
Potassium
Potassium is needed for proper nerve and muscle function. Also, potassium is essential for proper heart function. Prescription drugs that reduce potassium in the body are diuretics that reduce excess fluid and reduce blood pressure, Levodopa that is for parkinsons disease, and Steroidal anti-inflammation drugs. The list of foods high in potassium are as follows: bananas, dates, brown rice, garlic, nuts, avocados, and spinach. You can also find potassium in your local vitamin store usually selling at 99mg per capsule.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is the next vitamin under attack, essential for proper eye development and immune system function, Vitamin A can be depleted by bile acid sequestrants, steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and Xenical. Xenical, a fat blocker, can also affect vitamin D and vitamin E. Foods high in vitamin A are as follows: Fish COD and SALMON, Liver and Dairy.
Thiamin (B-1)
Thiamin (B-1) is involved in numerous body functions, including: nervous system, muscle functioning and carbohydrate metabolism to name a few. Drugs that may reduce B-1 in the body are Antibiotics that help fight infections and diuretics. Foods high in B-1 and other B Vitamins are nuts and whole grains. You can find single B vitamins or B complexes at your local health food store. B vitamins are vital for proper stress management in the body as well they are essential keeping your body healthy and taken daily can help prevent drug related deficiencies.
Riboflavin (B-2)
Riboflavin (B-2) is required for cell growth and release of energy, formation of red blood cell, and synthesis of antibodies. Drugs that can delete riboflavin is Elavin for migraines. Foods high in Riboflavin are Dairy, lean meat, broccoli, and whole grains. B-2 can be found at your local Vitamin Store.
pyridoxine (B-6)
Vitamin B6 helps the body process protein and carbohydrates in food and helps produce hemoglobin (red blood cells). High cholesterol medications like bile acid sequestrants and steroid anti-inflammation drugs delete B-6 in the body. Foods high in Vitamin B-6 are Fish, leafy greens, bananas, and potatoes.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a great antioxidant to protect your body from free radical damage, helps strengthen blood vessels and reduce the incident of bruising when you bump your arms and legs on something. Diuretics and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs deplete the body of Vitamin C, if you are taking these types of drugs make sure you consume lots of broccoli, citrus, potatoes, tomatoes and strawberries. Additional supplementation of vitamin C can help as well. Vitamin C can be found at any health food store.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is important for strong bones and teeth and recent studies suggest Vitamin D may even help fight some kinds of cancer. If youre taking barbiturate sedatives like Butisol and Phenobarbital for anxiety or insomnia or blood pressure and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs you could be at risk for disease involving vitamin D depletion. Sunlight is the primary way our bodies produce vitamin D and with our fast life styles nobody has time to lay in the sun for 30min a day, if you live in the north you receive very little vitamin D from the sun. Supplementing Vitamin D is essential for optimal health, available in 400IU and 1000IU doses.
Zinc
Zinc is essential for proper immune system function, hair, skin and nail formation. Taking anti-acids like Pepcid, prilosec, tagamet and zantec, also diuretics, and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will deplete your body of the essential mineral zinc. Zinc is found in lean meat and seafood, also can be purchased in 10mg 100mg doses in your local vitamin store.
These are only a few of the essential vitamin and minerals that prescription drugs deplete from the body. It is important to eat your fruits and vegetables with every meal of the day. Most Americans do not eat the daily recommended fruits and vegetables required to stay healthy so alternative vitamin supplements are needed more and more every day. Biochemists have found that the nutritional values of fruits and vegetables have been steadily declining over the past 40 50 years due to the fast growing varieties the farmers are growing today. If you do not consume the recommended servings of Fruits and Vegetables consider taking a multivitamin supplement every day.
If youre not currently on a prescription drug and considering taking one please consult your doctor about all the known side effects and health issues that might result form taking the drug remember knowledge is power.
As the new year begins, people with Medicare who have already joined a Medicare drug plan can take advantage of the new Medicare prescription drug coverage. Since this is a new program for Medicare, you might have questions about how to use your Medicare drug plan. For instance, what if you joined a plan but haven’t received a plan ID card in the mail yet? Or, what if your drugs were covered by Medicaid and you’re not sure how to get your medicines now? Whatever questions you have, Medicare has answers.
First Pharmacy Trip
Here are some tips people with Medicare can use to make sure their first trip to the pharmacy goes smoothly:
• When you first join a Medicare drug plan, you’ll get an acknowledgement letter in the mail about a week after you join. Your plan ID card should arrive three to five weeks later.
• If you need to go to the pharmacy before your ID card arrives, bring the acknowledgement letter from your plan, your Medicare and/or Medicaid card, and a photo ID.
• Save the receipts from your pharmacist.
• For additional assistance, call 1-800-MEDICARE, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
People with Medicare and Medicaid
If your pharmacist is having trouble confirming what plan you’re in or whether you also get Medicaid, he can also call a special toll-free number that Medicare set up for pharmacists to get help. People with Medicare who also get Medicaid should be able to get their prescriptions filled with minimal copayments and no deductibles.
How to Join a Plan
If you haven’t joined a Medicare drug plan yet, don’t worry. You have until May 15, 2006 to choose and join a plan without having to pay a penalty
Every year for the last five years, the prices of the 50 drugs most used by older Americans have increased faster than the rate of inflation, according to Families USA, a nonprofit organization in favor of affordable health care.
Americans pay more for prescription drugs than anywhere else in the world. Many people on low or fixed incomes are desperate for relief from the high prices of the medications they need.
Because of the escalating prices, many Americans are forced to go without the medications or give up other basic necessities in order to afford their prescriptions.
However, there are some things you can do to help control your prescription drug expenses. Here are a few tips from PolarMeds Pharmacy:
* Be sure the medication is covered under your insurance. Most patients have some type of health insurance. However, your policy might not cover all of the medications you need.
Ask your doctor if the prescribed medication is covered under your insurance.
* Substitute a generic equivalent. The drug companies that make generics must meet the same rigorous standards as the brand-name drug companies. The generic medications work the same way, and you can save
hundreds of dollars a year.
Before getting your prescription filled, ask if the drug is available in generic form. On the prescription, there is often a box that can be checked off, which has wording like “substitute for equivalent drug.” That statement allows the pharmacist to switch to a cheaper, generic equivalent medication.
* Take advantage of pill cutting. Most medications come in several different dosages. When prescribed a medication, ask your doctor if it can be cut in half.
Cutting a pill in half that is twice the dosage you usually take can often save you 25 percent to 50 percent off your usual prescription costs. Pill cutters cost only about $3 and can be found at any drugstore. Do not use a knife or razor blade.
* Do some comparison shopping. If your neighborhood pharmacy does not provide the best prices, go elsewhere. One option is to order online or by mail order through Canada, where prices are generally 30 percent to 50 percent cheaper than in the United States. PolarMeds Pharmacy, for instance, is specially licensed by the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association to conduct international pharmacy services.
The Root Cause and Permanent Solution for an Alcohol or Drug Addiction
The alcohol and drug problem in this country is huge and most of the standard addiction recovery and treatment programs arent working. Consider the following
CRIME: 25% of all prison inmates are there for drug related crimes. 16.4% are in prison for committing crimes to get money for drugs. 47% of crimes were committed while a person was on drugs or alcohol.
SEX: A lot of the sex outside of marriage wouldnt happen if it werent for alcohol or drugs being used to try to drown out guilt and fear (which are natures feedback to try to stop us from doing something against its perfect order). And nature does other harsh things to try to stop sex outside of marriage. USA Today reported that shockingly, 1/2 of everyone under 25 years old in the United States has had an STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease). The U.S. Dept. of Health reports that there are 1.1 million current cases of AIDS/HIV in the United States. (So obviously, it needs to be recognized that nature is hostile towards sex outside of a monogamous, heterosexual marriage, which is the only sexual setting that nature doesnt try to stop via harsh consequences). 80 percent of unmarried teen mothers end up on welfare, costing this country $7 billion annually. And a University of Georgia study reports that of those individuals who experienced unwanted sexual intercourse in the last year, 92.1% had been under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
ACCIDENTS: Alcohol is involved in 50% of all driving fatalities. In the United States, every 30 minutes someone is killed in an alcohol or alcoholism related traffic accident. That amounted to 17,488 people last year alone.
MENTAL ILLNESS: Fifty percent of the mentally ill population has a substance abuse problem. In fact, 22 million Americans suffer from substance dependence or abuse due to drugs, alcohol or both, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
EMOTIONAL HEALTH: The general emotional health of the public is very poor, as is evidenced by the high divorce rate and a teen suicide rate that is higher than the other 26 industrialized nations combined. Other indicators of the general state of the heart of America come from its entertainment industries: the shocking and harsh experiences in the movies, the rampant dysfunction on television, and the high percent of bad feelings (and the big void of good feelings) that come out of the music industry.
Now thats the bad news. The good news is that there is a solution to all of this. That solution starts with understanding what the basic problem is. The basic problem behind alcoholism and drug abuse is that people arent finding happiness and fulfillment naturally. So then they attempt to achieve happiness and fulfillment (or escape their unhappiness and emptiness) by using alcohol or drugs. But those bandaids usually end up leading to a lot more unhappiness, health problems, financial problems, relationship breakups, legal problems, etc. A lot of hidden damage is done while in a stolen euphoria. But obviously those risks arent enough to outweigh the problems in a persons emotional state or the lacking in their life that cause them to overlook the risks and dangers of alcohol and drug use.
So then, WHY are people so unhappy or unfulfilled that they would make that choice? The answer is simple: they are not operating in harmony with the natural design of their being. It starts with the fact that if a person has his or her natural drives unsatisfied for more than a normal period of time while searching for satisfaction, over time the frustration and lack of hope from this can cause them to become more dulled and depressed and even sleepy and prone to drugs to try to make his or her self feel good and not feel bad.
But, the good news is that the continual unnaturalness that led to this bad state can be reversed. And the process that will awaken them, enliven them and make them even feel good and excited about their life. The reason is that they are given hope that there is a real solution for their problemsand then they actually get satisfaction by carrying out that solution.
Teaching a person how to be happy naturally and in harmony with the real design, meaning and purpose of their life is the key to how they get the strength, joy and deep fulfillment that is necessary for them to have no inclination for alcohol or drugs. But, thats easier said than done, and can only happen within THE natural design of how we were made to be. That means first knowing what that design is. That can be a difficult thing to do in this world because there is a great amount of debate and disagreement as to what that design really is. But the world in general, obviously has it wrong if there exists such a huge drug and alcohol problem and poor social statistics.
Having been in the top echelons of the music business as a former member of Sly & The Family Stone and The Elvin Bishop Group, I know alcohol and drug abuse well. But after experimenting with 22 approaches to lifestyle and personal growth, I became free from alcohol and drugs 24 years ago (after 18 years of use). I finally realized that fighting nature is not a battle that anyone can win and be happy. Therefore why even try?
Understanding and flowing with the natural order is how to make inner, outer and social life work at their best. But like I said, that is a task that is easier said than done, given that the mainstream culture in general is not in harmony with the natural order and is tolerant of a lot of dysfunction. Therefore, if a person wants to be free from a weakness for alcohol or drugs, they will have to go through a re-orientation of how the mind, heart and body are designed to function, and they will have to know how to have the strength and vision to transform into that design. My self-help Addiction Free Forever program shows how to do all of those things.
2006 Dennis Marcellino
The internet drugstore becomes the best solution for the buyer
People aspire not to save on their own health and not to make experiments which are fraught with undesirable consequences. For this reason many people concerned with doubt such type of service as internet drugstores until recently. Its well-known fact that innovations not only draw attention and cause a buyer fever, but also produce some fear and reflexions about how much this or that innovation is expedient in general.
But internet drugstores eventually get the increasing popularity because of convenience and advantages by which they are characterized.
In the USA and Europe the percentage of people, who use these internet drugstores services, grows strictly. The most popular are networks of real drugstores, which have got web-sites and show their products there. But drugstores which have no traditional primary source are also demanded. Nevertheless, it does not influence on quality characteristics of sold medical means, because the legal internet drugstore for getting the license is obliged to have suitable warehouse for drugs, and also qualified staff, which will be engaged in consultation of buyers.
Legislative regulation of internet drugstores is strict enough to provide high level of services. Public services are constantly engaged in tracing and liquidation of illegal internet drugstores selling fake medicaments or narcotics without the prescription. Legal internet drugstores are capable to substitute usual street drugstores. The drugstores web-sites give detailed information about company, and also about medicines which they sell. The customer can get proper consultation on medicines, and also find out the symptoms of possible disease on these web-sites. One of the main advantages of internet drugstores is a full confidentiality for customers. The buyer makes an order for medical products individually, not disclosing the information about his/her health condition among other buyers that always happens in street drugstore queues.
The internet drugstore becomes the best solution for the buyer who gets medical treatment in-home and cannot go to a drugstore to buy medical products independently. It is enough to make an order, and it will be delivered to the house in as much as possible short terms. Qualitative internet drugstores provide adequate packing, transportation and transferring of medical products for the purpose of full preservation of their quality and efficiency, transferring of medicines to the person who has made an order, possibility to control order delivery.
There will be no problems with an order of drugs which require prescription from a doctor. The buyer can receive the order after providing the prescription. Internet drugstores are inferior to real drugstores on goods assortment. On the contrary it is possible to make an order in these internet drugstores on rare drugs which not always available in usual drugstores. Users order such goods in internet drugstores more often.
As for the price policy of internet drugstores it does not differ a lot from usual drugstore. With only one difference: some kinds of drugs in internet drugstores are cheaper. Among extra benefits – individually developed discount system for regular customers.
One may consider the hair as a persons crowning glory. In fact, most people spend hours in front of the mirror fixing their hair. Aside from making each one of us look good, the hair has yet another function you might be interested in. In todays modern world, there comes another way of detecting drugs in individuals. Yes, using the hair! And it is actually the most accurate method of detecting drug abuse in individuals. It can detect drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, opiates and the like. It is known as the hair drug test.
1. Ten Times More Effective Than Urine Drug Tests
With this kind of modern and convenient method, it is now easy for schools and even employers to test students and employees to determine whether or not they have drugs in their system. Hair drug tests come in handy kits with instructions on how to get hair specimens, then send it to the laboratory for evaluation.
2. How It Works:
According to studies, when a person takes in drugs, as with any other substances, such as food, medicines, or drinks, it mixes with our blood, and as we all know, the blood nourishes all parts of our body, including the head. Hints of these chemicals then become trapped or filtered through the hair follicle, thus, as the hair grows, these chemicals are stored in the hair. Interestingly, these chemicals become a part of the hair itself.
- Very accurate
- Chemicals in the hair can be traced
- Traces not just drugs in system at the time, but over the past three months!
- A two-inch sample can give that persons drug history for a four month period of time
- Hair drug testing is much more costly than urine testing
- Hair testing is now widely used due to its effectiveness
3. How It’s Done:
- A hair drug test involves cutting a minimum of 50 strands of hair
- Hair must be cut approximately one and a half inches from the scalp
- Hair is then sent to the drug testing laboratory
- The hair is actually screened and reviewed, then liquified for final testing
- There are lots of hair drug testing kits available today
4. Hair Drug Testing Kits
Hair drug testing kits, though widely available, are not affordable. Prices range from $50-$69 for a complete kit. Laboratory processing fees are usually included when you make your purchase.
One point of view to consider tough – a positive test result does not automatically mean the person uses illegal drugs. In fact, positive results are sometimes triggered by other legal substances. One maybe is under medication or taking maintenance medications, or over-the-counter medications. It is wise therefore, that when the confirmation test comes back positive, it is important for a doctor, nurse, or other specialist to review the results and determine if illegal drugs are indeed the guilty party.
5. Beating Hair Drug Tests Is Impossible
Now other smart individuals are finding ways and means to beat the hair drug tests. Some say one can pass it through a kind of shampoo, especially from companies that claim that their shampoo cleans off all the toxins in the hair, but they are wrong. These toxins are already part of the hair follicles structure, cleaning it will literally mean taking it all off. The hair is like a plant. If a plant grows in a toxic environment, it will absorb toxins and toxins will become part of its structure – no amount of shampoo will change that.
As we cannot clean off toxins in the hair, can we mask it by bleach or dyeing ones hair? Maybe for a time, yes we can. But then, our skin is made up of fatty tissues. These fatty tissues are responsible for storing toxins in the body. When our body sweats, it gives off skin oil and release toxins, and these will be touched and be absorbed by the hair. Its like a cycle. The masked hair will then be contaminated once more.
Others shave off their hair, but sad to say, toxins don’t leave the body anytime soon. If you are being kept in confinement, your hair will slowly grow back in, and your drug use history will come back for all to see with it.
The drug propecia is a prescription hair loss medication designed mainly for men with mild to moderate hair loss. The effects of hair loss and propecia were studied in several clinical trials, and propecia was found to be better than a placebo.
The men in the studies, aged between 18 and 41, took propecia daily for a year. Some men took a placebo. Of the men who took the propecia, 86% either did not suffer further hair loss, or actually increased the amount of hair in the affected areas. Only 14% of men had continued hair loss.
The drug propecia has been found to be ineffective for women. This, combined with the potential danger of abnormalities to a male fetus, means that propecia is not prescribed for female pattern hair loss. Propecia has not been studied in older men, or men with complete baldness, and it has not been proved to work with a receding hairline. Propecia is not suitable for children, no doubt due to its negative effect on developing male genitals.
Generally, propecia is a very safe drug for hair loss. Most men taking it did not have any side effects, though some reported:
* erection difficulties
* reduced amount of semen
* less sexual desire
These were not permanent changes, and when those affected stopped taking propecia, their symptoms disappeared. Some men who reported these side effects were also able to continue taking propecia without the side effects continuing. The report I saw did not say whether the side effects just stopped, or if other treatment was undertaken to counteract them.
The drug propecia has only been studied on men for up to two years, and these men had no problems taking it for this period. However, based on research over a period of 32 years on men who are deficient on the enzyme that propecia suppresses, 5-alpha reductase, the mechanism by which propecia works seems to be quite safe for long term use.
Disadvantages of Taking Propecia
Propecia is not a cure for hair loss. Propecia works by interrupting the conversion process of testosterone to its metabolite, dihydrotestosterone (DHT for short). It does this by effecting the enzyme catalyst, 5-alpha reductase, that is involved in the conversion process. In male pattern hair loss, there is an excess of DHT in the part of the scalp where hair loss occurs. So, by reducing the amounts of DHT in the scalp, propecia effectively works to prevent new hair loss, and allows hair to regrow. However, to continue the benefits of propecia, you’ll need to take it for the rest of your life. Once you stop taking propecia, the DHT levels will rise again in the scalp, and hair loss will return to pre-propecia levels.
The Drug Propecia and Pregnancy
Women should be very careful not to handle propecia if they are pregnant, as it can affect the development of the sex organs in a male fetus. So, it would be wise not to touch any open packets, or broken tablets. If you must, use a glove. Unbroken tablets are safety coated, so the active ingredient of propecia, which is the potential problem, is not present on the outside of the tablet.
For men taking propecia, if your wife is pregnant, there is no risk to her unless she is exposed to the active ingredient from a broken tablet. She, or the baby, won’t be harmed when her partner is taking it.
However, given that in some men propecia affects the amount of semen produced, if you are trying to conceive this may pose a problem. This side effect does not affect all, or most, men. But check with your doctor if you think this may be a concern.
Acne vulgaris is an inflammatory disease of the skin, caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units (skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland). Acne lesions are commonly referred to as pimples, spots or zits.
The condition is common in puberty, especially among Western societies most likely due to a higher genetic predisposition. It is considered an abnormal response to normal levels of the male hormone testosterone. The response for most people diminishes over time and acne thus tends to disappear, or at least decrease, after one reaches their early twenties. There is, however, no way to predict how long it will take for it to disappear entirely, and some individuals will continue to suffer from acne decades later, into their thirties and forties and even beyond. Acne affects a large percentage of humans at some stage in life.
Symptoms
The most common form of acne is known as “acne vulgaris”, meaning “common acne.” Excessive secretion of oils from the sebaceous glands combines with naturally occurring dead skin cells to block the hair follicles. There also appeares to be in some instances a faulty keritinization process in the skin leading to abnormal shedding of skin lining the pores. Oil secretions build up beneath the blocked pore, providing a perfect environment for the skin bacteria Propionibacterium acnes to multiply uncontrolled. In response, the skin inflames, producing the visible lesion. The face, chest, back, shoulders and upper arms are especially affected.
The typical acne lesions are: comedones, papules, pustules, nodules and inflammatory cysts. These are the more inflamed form of pus-filled or reddish bumps, even boil-like tender swellings. Non-inflamed ’sebaceous cysts’, more properly called epidermoid cysts, occur either in association with acne or alone but are not a constant feature. After resolution of acne lesions, prominent unsightly scars may remain.
Aside from scarring, its main effects are psychological, such as reduced self-esteem and depression. Acne usually appears during adolescence, when people already tend to be most socially insecure.
Causes of acne
Exactly why some people get acne and some do not is not fully known. It is known to be partly hereditary. Several factors are known to be linked to acne:
Hormonal activity, such as menstrual cycles and puberty
Stress, through increased output of hormones from the adrenal (stress) glands.
Hyperactive sebaceous glands, secondary to the three hormone sources above.
Accumulation of dead skin cells.
Bacteria in the pores, to which the body becomes ‘allergic’.
Skin irritation or scratching of any sort will activate inflammation.
Use of anabolic steroids.
Any medication containing halogens (iodides, chlorides, bromides), lithium, barbiturates, or androgens.
Exposure to high levels of chlorine compounds, particularly chlorinated dioxins, can cause severe, long-lasting acne, known as Chloracne.
Traditionally, attention has focused mostly on hormone-driven over-production of sebum as the main contributing factor of acne. More recently, more attention has been given to narrowing of the follicle channel as a second main contributing factor. Abnormal shedding of the cells lining the follicle, abnormal cell binding (“hyperkeratinization”) within the follicle, and water retention in the skin (swelling the skin and so pressing the follicles shut) have all been put forward as important mechanisms. Several hormones have been linked to acne: the male hormones testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), as well as insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I). In addition, acne-prone skin has been shown to be insulin resistant.
Development of acne vulgaris in latter years is uncommon, although this is the age group for Rosacea which may have similar appearances. True acne vulgaris in older adults may be a feature of an underlying condition such as pregnancy and disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome or the rare Cushing’s syndrome.
Misconceptions about causes
There are many misconceptions and rumors about what does and does not cause the condition:
Diet. One flawed study purported that chocolate, french fries, potato chips and sugar, among others, affect acne.A recent review of scientific literature cannot affirm either way.The consensus among health professionals is that acne sufferers should experiment with their diets, and refrain from consuming such fare if they find such food affects the severity of their acne.A recent study, based on a survey of 47,335 women, did find a positive epidemiological association between milk consumption and acne, particularly skimmed.The researchers hypothesize that the association may be caused by hormones (such as bovine IGF-I) present in cow milk; but this has not been definitively shown. Seafood, on the other hand, may contain relatively high levels of iodine, but probably not enough to cause an acne outbreak. Still, people who are prone to acne may want to avoid excessive consumption of foods high in iodine. It has also been suggested that there is a link between a diet high in refined sugars and acne. According to this hypothesis, the startling absence of acne in non-westernized societies could be explained by the low glycemic index of these tribes’ diets.Further research is necessary to establish whether a reduced consumption of high-glycemic foods (such as soft drinks, sweets, white bread) can significantly alleviate acne, though consumption of high-glycemic foods should in any case be kept to a minimum, for general health reasons.
Deficient personal hygiene. Acne is not caused by dirt. This misconception probably comes from the fact that acne involves skin infections. In fact, the blockages that cause acne occur deep within the narrow follicle channel, where it is impossible to wash them away. These plugs are formed by the cells and sebum created there by the body. The bacteria involved are the same bacteria that are always present on the skin. Regular cleansing of the skin can reduce, but not prevent, acne for a particular individual and very little variation among individuals is due to hygiene. Anything beyond very gentle cleansing can actually worsen existing lesions and even encourage new ones by damaging or overdrying skin.
Sex. Common myths state that either celibacy or masturbation cause acne and, conversely, that sexual intercourse can cure it. There is absolutely no scientific evidence suggesting that any of these are factual. It is true, though, that anger and stress affect hormone levels and thus bodily oil production. Whether or not any increases in oil production due to stress are enough to cause acne is currently being researched.
Entries