Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions

September 22, 2015

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions: Mixing alcohol and medications

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions can pose serious threats to your health and the sooner you seek for help the better

We are all aware that alcohol is the most abused substance by many users and the consequences are chokingly devastating. What is worrying is that even with this knowledge, many people are still drinking disorderly and to further complicate the matter, they are not only drinking but are also using other toxic substances as accompaniments in their drinking spree. This is what we want to focus on even as we look at the dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions. Speaking to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury who is also the founder of the facility, we were able to establish that alcohol consumption often has very harmful interactions with prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and even some herbal remedies. To shade more light on this doctor Akoury registers that the interaction of alcohol with other prescribe medications is likely to cause problems including some of the following: nausea and vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, dizziness, fainting, changes in blood pressure, abnormal behavior, loss of coordination and even savvier accidents. And besides that it is also very important to appreciate that mixing alcohol with other medications may also increase the risk of complications such including but not limited to the following:

Liver damage
Heart problems
Internal bleeding
Impaired breathing
Depression

In instances where such chronic health complications are present in an individual’s life, it is only fare for that person to seek for medication immediately. Nonetheless when medication is administered, in some cases, the consistent use of alcohol may decrease the effectiveness of such medications or render them useless all together says doctor Akoury. She continues to say that in other cases, alcohol interactions may make drugs harmful or even toxic to the body. And when we make reference to alcohol usage, it is important to note that even what is considered moderate consumption of alcohol may also intensify medication side effects such as sleepiness, drowsiness, and light-headedness, which may interfere with the individuals’ concentration and ability to operate machinery or drive responsibly on the road thereby causing serious or even fatal accidents. It is therefore very essential that when using any kind of medication, careful attention should be taken since alcohol can adversely interact with hundreds of commonly used medications. In that respect, taking time to scrutinize and make clear observation on the warning labels and ask your doctor or pharmacist questions if it’s safe to use alcohol with any medications and even other herbal remedies that you may be using.

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions: Alcohol interactions is significant and increases the danger

Do you have any idea about the significance of alcohol interaction? If you don’t, stay tuned and be informed professionally by our team of experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. Therefore doctor Akoury reports that according to the CDC, about two-thirds of American adults over age 18 at least occasionally use alcohol. Of this population about 51% are currently regular drinkers meaning that they have taken at least 12 drinks in the past year while about 13% are infrequent drinkers and that also means that they have taken up to 11 drinks in the past year.

Use of prescription and non-prescription drugs, as well as herbal remedies, also is extremely prevalent. Partly because of the obesity epidemic, most people of all ages are taking more drugs to control chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol. Because the incidence of chronic conditions increases with age, older individuals are especially likely to take prescription medications often as many as 10 per day many of which likely react adversely with alcohol. As the population ages, the problems associated with mixing alcohol and medications are certain to increase.

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions: Older people are at special risk of alcohol interactions

In older adults especially, alcohol use may increase the risk for falls, serious injury, and disability related to balance problems. Alcohol use also may trigger or worsen certain medical conditions. When alcohol use is combined with multiple medications, it may magnify these problems. Older adults don’t metabolize alcohol as quickly as younger adults do, so alcohol stays in their systems longer and has a greater potential to interact with medications. Even though most people over 65 drink less than the maximum recommended amount, this drinking is still considered harmful for many of them, due to their general condition, medical problems and medications.

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions: Drugs associated with alcohol interactions

We are living at a time when so many administered drugs are easily available over-the-counter. Most of these drugs that can adversely interact with alcohol are administered for treatment of various health complications including:

Depression
Diabetes
Angina and coronary heart disease
Anxiety and epilepsy
Arthritis
Blood clots
Cough
Pain, fever, and inflammation
Seizures
Severe pain from injury, post-surgical care, oral surgery, and migraine
Sleep problems
Enlarged prostate
Heartburn and indigestion
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Allergies, colds, and flu
Infections
Muscle pain
Nausea and motion sickness

Examples of commonly used prescription drugs associated with serious alcohol interactions include heart medications, which can cause rapid heartbeat and sudden changes in blood pressure; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which can increase risk of ulcers and stomach bleeding; blood-thinning medications, which can lead to internal bleeding; and sleep medications, which can lead to impaired breathing, motor control, and unusual behavior.

One of the most common causes of severe liver damage including some cases requiring a liver transplant is a combination of the pain reliever acetaminophen (available over the counter as Tylenol and in some prescription drugs) and alcohol. Other serious alcohol interactions are associated with over-the-counter antihistamines and herbal remedies such as kava, St. John’s wort, chamomile, valerian and lavender.

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions: Guidelines for preventing alcohol interactions

Doctor Akoury reiterates that although most drugs are often safe and effective when used as directed by the physician, it’s however very important to read the warning labels on all medications. Many popular pain medications and cough, cold, and allergy medications contain more than one ingredient that can adversely interact with alcohol. Finally as a precautionary measure, if by any chance you’re not certain if a medication can be combined with alcohol, it is advisable to avoid any alcohol consumption until you’re are properly advised by either a doctor or pharmacist that it’s safe to use the two concurrently. In the meantime as you put the above into practice, when faced with situations of addiction and you don’t know what to do, help is on the way at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury. All you have to do is to can and schedule for an appointment with her today and all you concerns will be professionally addressed.

Dual complications of alcohol and medication interactions: Mixing alcohol and medications

What are the functions of COX Enzyme inhibitors

March 4, 2015

What are the functions of COX Enzyme inhibitors: Inflammation Complications?

What are the functions of COX Enzyme inhibitors

Before we get down to business, I want to bring to your attention that this article may be loaded with some strong medical terms. For this reason we are going to be relying on the expertise of doctor Dalal Akoury the MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center for clarification when it becomes necessary. I want therefore to take this earliest opportunity to advice that you can schedule for an appointment with the experts and you will be home and dry with the facts about what are the function of COX enzyme inhibitors. Therefore to start us off let us try understanding what COX-2 selective inhibitor is. This is a form of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that directly targets COX-2 which is an enzyme responsible for inflammation and pain. The benefits of this selective targeting for COX-2 is that it helps in reduce the risk of peptic ulceration. Nevertheless it must be noted that besides these functions, the following are the main features of celecoxib, rofecoxib and other members of this drug class.

Just to make further emphasis on this medication, COX-2 inhibitors are a subclass of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs primarily work by reducing the production of prostaglandins, chemicals which promote inflammation, pain, and fever. Besides that the prostaglandins are also good at protecting the lining of the stomach and intestines from the damaging effects of excreted acid, promote blood clotting by activating platelets during injuries and also affect kidney function.

In our quest towards understanding what are the functions of COX enzyme inhibitors it would be very important that we get to know that the enzymes that produce prostaglandins are called cyclooxygenase (COX) and that has been the center of our discussion. There are two types of COX enzymes and they may include:

Cyclooxygenase – 1 (COX-1) and
Cyclooxygenase – 2 (COX-2)

Like we have said in the introduction both of these enzymes produce prostaglandins that promote inflammation, pain, and fever; however, it is only COX-1that produces prostaglandins which activate the blood platelets and protect the stomach and intestinal lining.

Doctor Dalal Akoury explains that NSAIDs blocks or obstructs the COX enzymes thereby reducing the normal production of prostaglandins. Therefore, the result of this action is that the inflammation, pain, and fever are reduced by all COX inhibitors. Since the prostaglandins that protect the stomach and promote blood clotting also are reduced, NSAIDs can cause ulcers in the stomach and intestines, and increase the risk of bleeding. Unlike older NSAIDs that block both COX-1 and COX-2, the newer COX-2 inhibitors only block the COX-2 enzyme. Since COX-2 inhibitors do not block COX-1 (which primarily produces prostaglandins that protect the stomach and promote blood clotting) they do not cause ulcers or increase the risk of bleeding as much as the older NSAIDs. Nevertheless, COX-2 inhibitors are as effective as the older NSAIDs for treating inflammation, pain and fever.

What are the functions of COX inhibitors: What are the side effects of COX-2 inhibitors?

Before we conclude this discussion, it will not be fear if we don’t highlight some of the possible demerits or the side effects of COX-E inhibitors. Such may include the following:

Abdominal pain,
Headache,
Nausea,
Diarrhea,
Flatulence, and
Insomnia

The above mentions are some of the most common side effects however, there are other side effects thought not very common and they include:

Fainting,
Kidney failure,
Aggravation of hypertension,
Ringing in the ears,
Bleeding,
Blurred vision,
Anxiety,
Light sensitivity,
Weight gain,
Water retention,
Drowsiness, and
Weakness.

For those who are allergic to various reactions, this is very important because with this kind of medication allergic reactions also can occur. Therefore if this describes your situation and you are one who can develops allergic reactions like rash, itching, difficulty breathing etc. from sulfonamides for example, trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole Bactrim, aspirin or other NSAIDs may experience an allergic reaction to celecoxib and should not take celecoxib.

COX-2 inhibitors and other NSAIDs may increase the risk of heart attacks, stroke, and related conditions, which can be fatal. This risk may increase with duration of use and in patients who have underlying risk factors for disease of the heart and blood vessels. NSAIDs should not be used for the treatment of pain resulting from coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Other NSAIDs and, to a lesser extent, COX-2 inhibitors may increase the risk of serious and sometimes even fatal stomach and intestinal adverse reactions such as bleeding, ulcers, and perforation of the stomach or intestines. These events can occur at any time during treatment and without warning symptoms. Point to note is that the senior citizens or the elderly patients are at greater risk for these types of reactions.

What are the functions of COX inhibitors: The basic difference between traditional NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors?

COX-1 is an enzyme which is normally present in a variety of tissues in the body, including sites of inflammation and the stomach.
Some of the prostaglandins made by COX-1 protect the inner lining of the stomach.
Common NSAIDs such as aspirin block both COX-1 and COX-2.
When the COX-1 enzyme is blocked, inflammation is reduced, but the protection of the lining of the stomach also is lost.
This can cause stomach upset as well as ulceration and bleeding from the stomach and even the intestines.

On the other hand cyclooxygenase, COX-2, also produces prostaglandins, but the COX-2 enzyme is located specifically in areas of the body that commonly are involved in inflammation but not in the stomach.

When the COX-2 enzyme is blocked, inflammation is reduced; however, since the COX-2 enzyme does not play a role in protecting the stomach or intestine, COX-2 specific NSAIDs do not have the same risk of injuring the stomach or intestines.

Finally I mentioned in the introduction of the possible use of very strong medical terms which may not be very easy to understand. Now having read the article, it is our wish that you are able to make correct translation of the information we are passing to you. Therefore if you have any concern, something you need further clarity on, the doors of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are open for you at your convenience. You can schedule for that very important appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury for more professional guidance today.

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