Alzheimer’s Reversed with Broader-Based Approach
A new study from UCLA suggests that by addressing the many factors that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease all at once, rather than one at a time at is done currently with drugs that have had minimal benefits, the disease’s progression might be reversed.
The study recommends:
- Reducing stress with yoga and meditation
- Getting more sleep
- Eliminating all simple carbohydrates, gluten and processed food from the diet
- Eating more vegetables, fruits and non-farmed fish
- Taking vitamin D, vitamin B12, melatonin, CoQ10 and fish oil supplements
- Initiating hormone replacement therapy for those with hormonal imbalances
Nine out of ten participants saw drastic improvement in cognitive function. Six patients were able to return to their jobs or continue working with improved performance, and their improvements were sustained for up to two-and-a-half years at the time the results were reported. We offer a variety of nutritional supplements through our online store.
Speak with our compounding pharmacist about hormone imbalances and to see if hormone replacement therapy is right for you.
Vitamin D
We have written many times about the importance of Vitamin D and all its incredible benefits. Vitamin D has anti-inflammatory properties that help us tolerate pain and improve performance. Low Vitamin D levels may result in joint/muscle pain, a weakened immune system, and numerous other health problems. We can recommend high-quality, professional grade supplements to meet your needs.
Are you looking for vitamins or nutritional supplements for bone and joint health, cognitive support, or gut & digestive support? Maybe you’re a man looking for additional nutritional support or suffer from migraines and are looking for help. We can help!
Check out our online store for supplements and vitamins in each of the categories listed above. We also offer aromatherapy items such as lavender and orange oil. Click here to visit our online store!
We carry the following brands:
Our HIV Pharmacist can Reduce Medication Errors and Optimize your Care
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a combination of medications that treat HIV. The drugs do not kill the virus, but when taken in combination they can slow the progression of HIV. Antiretroviral drugs are referred to as ARV. Huge reductions in rates of death and suffering have been seen when use is made of a potent ARV regimen, particularly in early stages of the disease.
ART is complex and so medication errors and drug-drug interactions (DDIs) are common, especially when the drugs are prescribed by someone who is not an expert. Patients with HIV require additional attention when admitted to hospital because their antiretroviral regimens can be complicated. Medication errors have occurred when admission or discharge meds are prescribed by someone who is not an infectious disease specialist. In addition, surgical stress can affect drug absorption, metabolism, and excretion, which can in turn require changes in medication doses.
In one study of hospitalized patients with HIV, potential drug-drug interactions were observed in 58% of 200 patients, with 22 (9%) potential DDIs occurring with medication that was not previously recorded in the patients’ notes. Physicians sent 103 responses and 61.2% reported that the pharmacist consultation provided information they did not know, and pharmacist consultants led to change in management in 13.6% of cases.
With the growing number of antiretrovirals and increasing complexity of therapy, the pharmacist has an important role in optimizing care. Our HIV pharmacist can review your prescription for accuracy, and your medication history for potential drug-drug interactions (like with statin drugs) to promptly make changes and prevent potential problems.
RxUnlimited has been a provider of pharmacy services for people living with HIV/AIDS since 1994. Our mission is to help people living with HIV/AIDS or any other chronic illness to optimize their quality of life and maximize their health benefits. For more information, please call 877-877-DRUG (3784).
Reference:
Int J STD AIDS. 2013 Mar;24(3):237-41.
Carpal Tunnel and Your Thyroid
Trying to ignore tingling or numbness in your hand and wrist?
Ever have a sharp pain shoot through your wrist and up your arm?
It could be CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a painful progressive condition caused by pressure on the median nerve in the wrist. Some carpal tunnel sufferers say their fingers feel useless and swollen, even though swelling is not visible. The symptoms often first appear during the night, since many people sleep with flexed wrists. A person with carpal tunnel syndrome may wake up feeling the need to “shake out” the hand or wrist. As symptoms worsen, people might feel tingling during the day. Decreased grip strength may make it difficult to form a fist, grasp small objects, or perform other manual tasks. In chronic and/or untreated cases, the muscles at the base of the thumb may waste away. Some people are unable to distinguish hot and cold by touch. Carpal tunnel syndrome may be due to repetitive strain and CTS is especially common in those performing assembly line work. There are also a variety of health conditions – including diabetes, arthritis and hypothyroidism – that can lead to CTS.
Carpal tunnel syndrome can be a symptom of untreated — or inadequate treatment of — hypothyroidism. If you have carpal tunnel syndrome and have not had your thyroid evaluated, you may want to discuss this with your doctor before you consider an invasive treatment like surgery.
In the U.S., the primary cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s disease — an autoimmune disease in which antibodies attack the thyroid gland, and eventually slow it down. Symptoms can start long before the slowdown is reflected by the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) test but can be detected when a Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPO) test is included as part of a thyroid workup. Studies show that treatment of patients with normal TSH levels who have Hashimoto’s disease may help lower antibodies, and prevent progression to overt hypothyroidism. Research has shown that restoration of hormone balance, immune system support and dietary changes (such as a gluten-free diet) may lower antibodies, reduce inflammation, and help resolve symptoms in some patients.
The thyroid produces the two key hormones, T4 and T3. T4 is a storage hormone, and its function is to be converted into T3, the active hormone that delivers oxygen and energy to cells, tissues, glands and organs. In a thyroid test panel, the prescriber can choose to include TSH, Free T4, Free T3, and TPO. Thyroid hormone therapy is complicated when the active thyroid hormone T3 is not measured and deficiencies are not addressed. A patient can have a TSH in the “normal reference range” and yet still have low-normal or below-normal Free T3 levels, indicating that she does not have enough active thyroid hormone in her bloodstream. Patients often prefer combination treatments that include both T4 and T3.
Ask our pharmacist or visit the following links for more information:
http://www.holtorfmed.com/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-thyroid/
http://www.holtorfmed.com/hashimotos-thyroiditis-and-your-immune-system
Men’s Health
International Men’s Health Week is June 9-15, 2014. “Recognizing and preventing men’s health problems is not just a man’s issue. Because of its impact on wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters, men’s health is truly a family issue,” said U.S. Congressman Bill Richardson. http://1.usa.gov/1rtXoY4 Knowing that on average, men smoke more, drink more, see doctors less, and die five years sooner than women, we want to encourage men to take care of their health. Many of the major health problems that men face, such as colon cancer and heart disease, have better outcomes with early diagnosis and treatment. We encourage all men (and women!) to schedule regular wellness checkups and know your cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose levels.
Another important value that is not always measured is testosterone (“free” testosterone indicates the bioactive form). “Low T” or testosterone deficiency is strongly associated with common medical conditions including metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes, hypertension and atherosclerosis; as well as elevations in triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Other signs and symptoms include:
• Diminished sex drive and sense of vitality
• Erectile dysfunction
• Depression
• Anemia
• Reduced muscle mass and bone density
• Osteoporosis
• Increased fat mass
• Frailty
Evidence indicates that appropriate therapy can relieve or partially reverse the progression of these problems in testosterone-deficient men. Transdermal therapy facilitates adequate absorption of testosterone to mimic the normal daily production. Testosterone can also be administered as a sublingual drop or a lozenge that dissolves in the mouth. Compounded preparations can be very advantageous because customized therapies increase compliance.
The presence of prostate or breast cancer is an absolute contraindication for testosterone replacement therapy, or use of other hormones in this class, known as androgens. Guidelines recommend that testosterone therapy should not be started in older men with PSA serum levels above the normal range. Testosterone should be used with caution in men with severe heart, kidney or liver disease, increased red blood cell counts, and sleep apnea.
A healthy lifestyle is associated with higher hormone levels, and higher hormone levels seem to induce a more active, healthier lifestyle. For optimal results, it is vital that hormone replacement therapy be combined with adequate exercise, proper nutrition, weight management and treatment of other health problems.
Talk to our compounding pharmacist to learn how we can help in your journey to live well.
Adrenal Fatigue
Last month we used the analogy of the thyroid gland being the body’s “accelerator”. Continuing with that analogy, if the thyroid gland is the “accelerator”, the adrenal glands provide the “gas”.
The adrenal glands secrete hormones such as cortisol, estrogen, and testosterone that are essential to health and vitality AND significantly affect total body function. “Adrenal fatigue” can result when the adrenal glands function below the necessary level, and is most commonly associated with intense or prolonged stress. Adrenal dysfunction can also be caused by acute or chronic infections, including respiratory infections such as influenza, bronchitis or pneumonia.
As the name suggests, the primary symptom of “adrenal fatigue” is tiredness that is not relieved by sleep. In more serious cases, individuals suffering from adrenal fatigue may have difficulty getting out of bed for more than a few hours per day. The body will make alterations to compensate for the decrease in adrenal hormones, but at a price. Changes occur in carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism, fluid and electrolyte balance, heart and cardiovascular system, and can even affect a person’s sex drive.
Adrenal hormones like cortisol help to minimize autoimmune disorders. These hormones closely affect the utilization of carbohydrates and fats, the conversion of fats and proteins into energy, and cardiovascular and gastrointestinal function. Ask the pharmacists at RxUnlimited Pharmacy about hormone replacement therapy and to recommend supplements for adrenal support.
February is American Heart Month
February is American Heart Month and February 7th is National Wear Red Day, a reminder to women and those who love them to take action against the #1 killer of women – heart disease. Nearly 1 in 3 American women has high blood pressure, and 80% of women ages 40 to 60 have one or more risk factors for heart disease. Taking good care of your heart means controlling those risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity, and being overweight.
A woman’s natural estrogen supply may also reduce her risk of developing heart disease. A study by researchers from University Medical Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands, found that women who were 52 or older when they entered menopause saw an 18% decrease in cardiovascular disease, when compared to women who entered menopause at age 44 or younger. This suggests that the longer a woman holds onto her natural estrogen supply, the less likely she is to suffer from cardiovascular disease.
Here at RxUnlimited Pharmacy, we specialize in hormone replacement therapy. Our compounding pharmacists will work with you and your doctor to compound the necessary hormones in individualized strengths and dosage forms to meet your unique needs.
Stop in today and speak with one of our compounding pharmacists or fill out our online consultation form to set up an appointment for a personal review of your symptoms and health history. http://www.rxunlimited.com/female_health_history.html
How Can We Serve You?
As part of our commitment to serving our community, we are always looking for areas or issues our patients are struggling with, and how we can help solve their problems.
Some of the ways we are helping people and pets with compounded medications are:
- Treatments for Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
- Customized hormone replacement therapy for relief of menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain and irritability
- Unique combinations of drugs to help combat a wide variety of difficult-to-treat dermatologic conditions including rosacea, psoriasis and pigmentation disorders
- Flavored chews and treats in the proper strength for each pet, so that animals beg to take their medications!
- Medications that are unavailable due to current drug shortages or that have been discontinued due to lack of manufacturer profitability
- Sports medicine customized upon request from trainers, team physicians, physical therapists for athletes and “weekend warriors”, to reduce inflammation and muscle spasms
Whatever issue you’re dealing with, stop by RxUnlimited Pharmacy and talk to our friendly and knowledgeable professionals about how we can help you start living your life to the fullest.
Why Choose RxUnlimited Compounding Pharmacy?
At RxUnlimited, we understand that each individual is unique, and that is why your medication should be customized to meet your specific needs. You, your parents, children or pets may require medication in strengths, flavors and dosage forms that are not commercially available. With over 100 combined years of experience, our professionals are here to help you.
By working directly with our patients and their health care practitioners (including physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists and veterinarians), we are able to optimize care and improve outcomes. We care about our Beverly Hills and Van Nuys communities, and we are here to serve you in whatever capacity you need. Bring us your medication problems!