Health Info

These drugs are in the class thiazolidinediones, or glitazones. There have been reports of these medications worsening heart failure and perhaps causing other heart-related problems. Any change to your diabetic regimen should be made in concert with the doctor.

Recent findings called into question the value of Ezetimibe, which is sold under the name Zetia and in the combination pill Vytorin. A recent study suggested it might increase plaque buildup in the coronary arteries.

These drugs include advil, motrin, alleve, naproxen, ibuprofen. They are effective for reducing pain and inflammation. However, with prolonged use (more than say a few weeks) they can cause fatal stomach bleeds and cardiac mortality such as that alleged to be caused by vioxx. Tylenol (acetaminophen) is safer for daily use, so long as you take no more than the recommended dosing. This is 1000mg (2 extra strength tabs or 3 regular strength tabs) maximum 4 times per day. For arthritic joints, strengthening exercize is quite effective. There is some evidence that glucosamine - chondroitin might be

If you are taking proton pump inhibitors for a long time (PPIs, such as nexium, protonix, prilosec, prevacid) you should consider trying to get off them. There have been reports of bone mineral loss due to impaired calcium absorption among people on prolonged PPIs. Also, it has been shown that such people have approx. double the rate of pneumonia and clostridium difficile colitis (a potentially fagtal bowell infection). It turns out that stomach acid has a purpose - primarily, it would appear, to prevent infections. A minority of people on PPIs must be on them long term to avoid dangerous