Lamictal Rash LawyerWritten by Anna Henningsgaard
Lamictal, or lamotrigine, is an anti-seizure medication that has been prescribed to treat epileptic seizures for about 10 years. In addition to its mood stabilizing effects, Lamictal has antidepressant effects as well that have been prescribed for bipolar or manic depressive patients. Some researchers have suggested that Lamictal be first-prescribed medication for bipolar patients suffering from more depressed versions of disorder. Often antidepressants prescribed for bipolar disorder will trigger manic phases, increasing rate of unhealthy mood swings, but Lamictal does not appear to have this same effect.As an anti-epileptic drug, Lamictal is considered broad spectrum. This means that it effectively treats both partial-onset and generalized-onset epilepsy. It is thought to do this by inhibiting sodium channels and reducing glutamate (an excitatory neurotransmitter) release. Lamictal is available in tablets of many sizes and doses, with tiny pills available for children. Lamictal does have a very serious side effect that takes form of an allergy. The medication can cause a very serious skin rash that, in its worst forms, results in death. When Lamictal was first prescribed about 10% of all patients was getting this life-threatening rash, which is a terrible rate of negative reaction. However, doctors soon found that likelihood of suffering this allergic reaction decreases longer medication is in use. By beginning with a very low dosage of Lamictal and progressively increasing dosage to an effective level, patients can grow acclimated to drug and in doing so avoid rash.
| | Ephedra Product BanWritten by Anna Henningsgaard
Ephedra is a naturally occuring herbal dietary supplement that has been marketed as a weight loss drug. The principal active ingredient is an amphetamine-like compound. Because it has been marketed as an herbal supplement and not a drug, you may not have considered talking to your doctor about it, but if you have been using Ephedra or any dietary supplement containing ephedrine alkaloids, such as ephedra, ma huang, Sida cordifolia, and pinellia, stop immediately and consult a doctor! The FDA has advised consumers to stop using these dietary supplements and published a final ruling in 2004 to ban sale of all supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids.After reviewing Ephedra, Food and Drug Administration found that it has little positive effects beyond temporary short-term weight loss. To contrary, Ephedra raises blood pressure and stresses heart. Many people using Ephedra to lose weight have suffered strokes and died. Recent studies have confirmed that Ephedra use raises blood pressure and stresses circulatory system. Furthermore, a study of calls to poison control centers revealed that a disproportionate rate of negative reactions were cased by Ephedra as opposed to other herbal products.
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