A Brief Guide to Adipex Side Effects

Like any prescription medication, the use of the appetite suppressant Adipex must be carefully monitored to guard against adverse effects. The side effects of Adipex vary in severity. Contacting your medical doctor or healthcare provider is suggested if you notice any alterations in your normal bodily function following Apidex use.  

One of the most dangerous Adipex side effects is addiction. Chemical reliance on Apidex, like the bulk of amphetamines, is a very real possibility. To help Apidex addiction, your doctor will question you about you family histories of drug abuse or addiction. If addiction history is present, your doctor will search for an alternative.

Some of the potential Adipex side effects are not unique to the drug. Reactions such as insomnia and nausea are common to several prescription medications. The side effects of Adipex may indicate that you may need to discontinue use; however, only a physician will determine whether your Apidex side effects warrant a termination of your prescription.

Other Adipex side effects are more serious and will require immediate medical attention. These serious Apidex side effects include serious mood swings, depression and heart palpitations. Serious Apidex side effects must be reported to a physician as soon as you observe them. Other serious side effects of Adipex include blurred vision and seizures.

The most serious potential side effects associated with Apidex are rare. Adipex side effects, including allergic reactions, are an immediate and serious threat to your health. The side effects of Adipex generally take the form of a rash or, in more extreme cases, hives. Additionally, Adipex side effects could result in increased blood pressure in your lungs, known as "pulmonary hypertension." This particular reaction can lead to potentially fatal consequences. Any alterations in your skin or heart rate will indicate serious side effects of Adipex.

If, after using Apidex, you notice any of the above side effects, you may opt to pursue compensation through civil litigation. You are unlikely to be successful in suing the drug's manufacturer over Adipex side effects without the guidance of a lawyer skilled in such litigation. Should you desire to obtain damages for a drug's negative consequences, gather your medical records and speak to a lawyer. Demonstrating direct cause and effect in such matters to the satisfaction of the law is complicated and too difficult for non-lawyers to do properly.

On November 8, 2012, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that HIV-infected women may benefit from the vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV)—even if they were already exposed to HPV.  

The NIH reports that HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection throughout the world.  The virus can infect the genitals, mouth, and throat of males and females, and the virus is a leading cause of cervix cancer.  Because women with HIV are more likely to develop conditions associated with the HPV virus, they vaccine may help prevent types of cancer and other conditions.  

Jessica Kahn, M.D., with the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine stated: “Health care providers may hesitate to recommend HPV vaccines after a girl starts having sex.  However, our results show that for a significant number of young women, HPV vaccine can still offer benefits.  This is especially important in light of their HIV status, which can make them even more vulnerable to HPV’s effects.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that any girl from 11 to 26 should have the HPV vaccination.  HPV-16 and HPV-18 are responsible for 70 percent of all cervical cancers, and HPV-6 and HPV-11 are responsible for 90 percent of genital warts.  

During medical studies, researchers drew blood and tissue samples from 99 women between the age of 16 and 23 who were HIV-positive.  75 percent of the women were also infected with HPV, and 54 percent tested positive for a type of high-risk virus.  Only 25 percent of the women were infected with HPV-18 and did not show evidence of a previous exposure.  

Dr. Kahn continued on to note, “Even among women who test positive for one type of HPV, the vaccine may effectively prevent infection with others—especially high-risk forms that cause cancer.  It’s important that doctors don’t withhold the vaccine in these cases, thinking that it’s too late for a vaccine to be effective.”

Source: National Institutes of Health

Let’s admit it.  Dogs and cats can eat some gut-wrenchingly disgusting items and act like nothing ever happened.  However, pets can face serious complications if their owners provide the wrong medication.  The Food and Drug Administration is asking pet owners to take steps to protect their animals.  

Linda Kim-Jung, PharmD with the CVM’s Division of Veterinary Product Safety states, “Unclear medical abbreviations are a common cause of medication errors we find.”  Many veterinary students are taught to use abbreviations, and a non-standard abbreviation and poor penmanship can cause prescription errors for your pet.  

Another common type of error is a transcription error.  Kim-Jung explains a common transcription error: “So, a 5 mg dose written with the trailing zero as 5.0 mg can be misread as 50 mg, or a 0.5 mg dose written without the leading zero as .5 mg can easily be mistaken for 5 mg, potentially resulting in a 10 times overdose if the order is not clearly written.”

A pet owner can easily administer the wrong medication as well.  Pets may have to take different medications at different times of the day, and the wrong medication can potentially lead to an overdose.  

In order to prevent medication errors, pet owners should take the following steps:

•    keep a list of all drugs and supplements your animal is taking, even over-the-counter drugs
•    talk with your vet about any adverse reactions you pet had to a medication
•    keep pet medications and human medications in different areas
•    do not share a pet’s medication without another animal before talking with your vet
•    do not give any human medications to your pet without talking with your vet

Pet owners should also talk with a vet about side effects of certain pet medications.  Knowing the signs of an adverse reaction to medication can save time and save your pets life in some cases.  

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration

The Food and Drug Administration has recently announced that Ameridose, LLC, has voluntarily recalled all of its products that are currently in circulation.  All of the recalled products are magnesium sulfate products.  

The FDA is currently inspecting Ameridose’s main facility in Westborough, Massachusetts.  During the preliminary inspections, the FDA became concerned because there was a lack of sterility as the products were being produced and distributed.  The majority of the recalled products were injectable medications, and the FDA states that unsterile injectables can pose a serious health hazard to patients and even lead to life-threatening injuries.  

No infections have been reported in association with Ameridose products, but the FDA recommended the recall as a precautionary step.  The FDA reports that health care professionals do not need to examine patients who received an Ameridose product at this time.  Health care professionals should stop using unexpired products immediately and return the products to Ameridose.  

The FDA warns that some of the products were on the critical shortage list.  Thus, the voluntary recall will impact the shortage even more.  Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., states, “The agency is taking all steps within its authority to help prevent or alleviate shortage situations and to minimize the impact this recall may have on drug supplies.”  

The inspection of Ameridose products was an extension of an investigation into the fungal meningitis outbreak.  The FDA reports that Ameridose shares management with the New England Compounding Center (NECC)—a firm that was tied to the outbreak of fungal meningitis.  

Health care professionals and patients can call the FDA’s Drug Information Line at 855-543-DRUG to get updated information on the recall and speak to a pharmacist.  Information about the recall and a list of all recalled products is listed on Ameridose’s website.  

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration

What is Mescaline?

Mescaline is a psychedelic alkaloid that occurs naturally in the peyote cactus (Lophophora williamsii) and several other cactuses.  The chemical name for the drug is Mescaline hydrochloride or 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylaminehydrochloride.  The drug and peyote are illegal in the United States, and the drug is illegal in Canada. 

Native American tribes have used peyote for thousands of years during ceremonies and rituals.  Most of the Native American tribes are located in the southwestern United States and Mexico.  The drug has strong and intense hallucinogenic effects that can last for many hours. 

Overview of the Drug

Mescaline is produced naturally in Peyote, which is a small and spineless cactus.  The chemical is produced in the top of the cactus, called the “crown.”  The crowns are disc-like shapes and are cut off and eaten.  The drug is uncommon on the streets, and the majority of the drug is found on Native American reservations.  The drug is known as Buttons, Cactus, Mesc, and Peyoto on the streets. 

Method of Introduction

The drug can enter the body a couple of different ways.  The fresh or dried buttons of the cactus are usually chewed or soaked in water.  The cactus can also be ground down into a powder.  This powder can be placed in capsules or smoked in a leaf of cannabis or tobacco. 

A normal dosage of the drug is usually between 200 and 300 milligrams.  About 6 to 12 buttons are capable of producing the normal dosages, but consant users will need a higher dose because the body builds up a tolerance to the drug. 

Affects on the Mind

Mescaline is one of the strongest hallucinogenic substances.  It has affects that are similar to LSD, PCP, and psilocybin, and in some cases, the drug can produce more powerful hallucinations that the other two drugs.  Experiences with the drug differ from person to person, but common affects include powerful illusions and hallucinations along with an altered perception of time and space.  The drug can produce an altered body image or “out of body” experiences.  Feelings of euphoria and anxiety are common with this drug as well. 

Affect on the Body

Peyote and mescaline can cause serious side effects once they are ingested.  Common side effects include vomiting, serious nausea, a fast heart rate, increased blood pressure, a large amount of perspiration, a rise in body temperature, dilation of the pupils, muscle weakness, and headaches. 

Laws for Mescaline in the United States

Peyote and the drug are Schedule I substances in the United States under the Controlled Substances Act.  The drug is a Schedule I drug because it has a high risk of abuse, has not medical use in the United States, and is unsafe under medical supervision. 

Medical studies have examined the usefulness of peyote in the past, but not recent medical tests have examined the drug.  Other hallucinogenic drugs have been used in recent medical tests to treat depression, post traumatic stress disorder, and similar mental illnesses. 

Sources: https://www.justice.gov/dea/druginfo/drug_data_sheets/Peyote_Mescaline.pdf