Pizotifen an Appetite Stimulant for Migraine?

A year ago we have an expiring drug for migraine headache - a generic sumatriptan. Compared to the branded type, this generic version is cheaper but still expensive to be recommended for migraine headaches. Most our customers usually prefer low-cost OTC analgesics like mefenamic or ibuprofen. Analgesics are not directed at migraine but can relieve the pain associated with it.

Sumatriptan is classified as the newest form of anti-migraine drugs. It helps constrict blood vessels and reduce inflammation. The triptans are used when migraine-headaches do not respond to the pain-relievers and to the vasoconstrictors like ergotamine and isometheptine or if adverse reactions are intolerable in the said two groups.

Anyway, to put the near expiry sumatriptan to good use, my boss decided to give ten tablets of these to a friend of hers who was delighted with the free anti-migraine drug. However the next day, the friend had to return the nine unused tablets because of an untoward reaction.  She complained of heaviness as if she was going to die. At first my boss thought of it because of the sumatriptan being an expiry candidate, however checking the possible adverse reactions, we found out that heaviness is actually a side effect of sumatriptan.

Pizotifen an appetite stimulant for migraine? 

Renal failure and stomach upsets are the most common complaint in anti-migraine drugs particularly with the NSAIDS (mefenamic, diclofenac, ibuprofen etc.). While vasoconstrictors as ergotamine can cause heart attack or stroke, triptans like sumatriptan and zolmitriptan can have an intolerable unpleasant effect of pressure or heaviness.

Migraine-headaches can be a burden. There are natural ways to counteract or prevent migraine attacks. However, most people still rely on drugs. Analgesics, vasoconstrictors and the triptans are typically the common drugs for migraine. An anti-nausea drug like flunarizine is also indicated with migraines associated with dizziness.

There are also preventive or prophylactic drugs for migraine. Interestingly, pizotifen, a popular appetite stimulant is one of these.  

Read more here.

Free Will

 Anything illegal becomes legal when everybody is doing it. But, the choice is always ours.

•  Ghost Writer, Ghost Singer, Ghost Pharmacist and Ghost Employee

•  Things That Should Not be Observed on Managing a Drugstore 

•  A Counterfeit Medicine Warning

•  Expired Medication Cover-Ups

•  Erroneous, Violative or Impossible Prescription

Quack-Doctors Writing Rx

A quack-doctor or an albularyo is the Philippine version for the Native American Indians, ‘Shaman’ or the witch-doctor in Africa. They are also known to drive evil spirits away and cure people through spells, holy oil and medicinal plants.

Modern medicine may have influenced the Philippines with the finest medical care and advanced approach in treatment, however there are still some provinces that rely on quack-doctors. Instead of seeing a real physician, they wait in line to be diagnosed by an albularyo. No fees required here but donations. Quack-doctors claim that their healing power come from divine entities that it is a service for them to help those in need without asking for money.

There is nothing wrong in having faith on these spiritual healers. Their practice has been beneficial throughout the centuries. The bad thing about it is when quack-doctors prescribe a synthetic drug.

Click here to read more...