Medications and treatments Archive

Dr. Wynne Armand talks with Dr. Terry Schraeder about the increase in opiod addictions and shares prevention and treatment methods for those experiencing an addiction to prescription opioid medication.

Declining testosterone is a normal part of aging, but is replacement therapy right for you? Here is what you need to know.

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Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) has surged in popularity over the past decade. Millions of older men have turned to TRT to restore hormone levels in hopes of refueling energy and reigniting their sex drive.

Yet TRT remains controversial because of its uncertain benefits and potential health risks. Safety concerns were raised years ago when studies showed a possible association between TRT and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Proton-pump inhibitors are among the most-prescribed medications, but is long-term use safe?

Proton-pump inhibitors reduce stomach acid, which helps to treat symptoms of acid reflux.
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Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), which are used to treat a variety of gastrointestinal problems, are among the most popular drugs in the United States. In fact, the FDA estimates about one in 14 Americans has used a PPI.

Each of your medications may be affecting how the others work, leading to harmful side effects and complications.

Each additional medication you take increases the risk of drug interactions.
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Are you taking more than one drug? Are you taking a few different types of medications? Are you seeing several different doctors? If so, you may be at increased risk for drug interactions, which occur when a drug, a supplement, or even a food affects the way your body processes a medication. Such interactions can make a drug more powerful—so that a standard dose becomes an overdose—or can render it less potent or altogether ineffective.

Research We’re Watching

Cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to be effective in treating chronic back pain, but it requires regular visits with a psychotherapist and can be expensive. A team from the University of Washington designed a study to determine whether mindfulness stress reduction—a technique that can be learned and practiced on one's own—is as effective in relieving pain and restoring function as cognitive behavioral therapy or conventional treatment with drugs and physical therapy.

The researchers enrolled 342 people ages 50 to 70—two-thirds of whom were women—who'd had back pain for an average of more than seven years. They randomly assigned the participants to one of three equal groups: one group was taught to practice mindfulness stress reduction, the second received cognitive behavioral therapy, and the third received conventional treatment as needed.

About one in six strokes can be traced to atrial fibrillation. Doctors now have newer and better options to lessen this risk.

Close to one in 10 people ages 65 or older have atrial fibrillation (afib), the most common heart rhythm disorder. During a bout of afib, the usually rhythmic contractions of the heart's upper chambers (the atria) are replaced by an ineffectual quiver. While the symptoms, which include a racing heartbeat, dizziness, and shortness of breath, are troublesome for some people, the real threat lies in the increased risk of stroke that accompanies the condition.

When the heart takes on the afib rhythm, blood does not completely move out of the atria. Instead, it tends to pool and clot in a pouchlike extension in the upper left quadrant of the heart, called the left atrial appendage. If these clots break loose, they may travel to the brain and cause a blockage. This is known as an ischemic stroke.

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It may be time to re-evaluate if it's been a while since you started using proton-pump inhibitors.

Long-term use of some heartburn medications appears to be associated with an increated risk of dementia, heart attack, and chronic kidney disease. 
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You may think you're reaching for heartburn relief when you take a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI), a type of medication that helps block the production of stomach acid. PPIs are effective, and some—such as lansoprazole (Prevacid) and omeprazole (Prilosec)—are readily available over the counter. Others, such as pantoprazole (Protonix), are frequently prescribed for long-term use. But PPIs may have risks when taken over a long period.

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Ask the Doctor

Q: I recently turned 86 and my angina is getting worse, even though I'm taking several different medications for it. Am I too old to have an angioplasty and a stent?

A: Not necessarily. During an angioplasty, a doctor threads a thin tube into a heart blood vessel and inserts a tiny mesh scaffold (called a stent) to keep the vessel open and restore blood flow. This can often improve chest pain, or angina. However, many studies of angioplasty haven't included large numbers of people over 80. That's primarily because older people tend to have more health problems than their younger counterparts, so including more elderly people in a study could skew the results.