Bromocriptine/Bromocriptine Mesylate/Cycloset/Parlodel Oral Tab: 0.8mg, 2.5mg Bromocriptine/Bromocriptine Mesylate/Parlodel Oral Cap: 5mg. Ziprasidone (marketed as Geodon among others) is a medication of the atypical antipsychotic type. It is used for the treatment of schizophrenia as well as acute mania. Doxazosin official prescribing information for healthcare professionals. Includes: indications, dosage, adverse reactions, pharmacology and more. What’s Causing Your Memory Loss? It's Not Necessarily Alzheimer’s. More than 50 conditions can cause or mimic the symptoms of dementia, and a small percentage of. Cardura XL Oral Tab ER: 4mg, 8mg Cardura/Doxazosin/Doxazosin Mesylate Oral Tab: 1mg, 2mg, 4mg, 8mg. What's Causing Your Memory Loss? It's Not Necessarily Alzheimer's. It's Not Necessarily Alzheimer’s. More than 5. 0 conditions can cause or mimic the symptoms of dementia, and a small percentage of dementias are reversible. Two common examples are dementia caused by vitamin B1. Getting the right diagnosis is important so that you know what options you have, because symptoms subside when the underlying problem is treated. Distinguishing between types of dementia. For physicians and families intent on pinning down a diagnosis, one major complicating factor is the existence of so many kinds of dementia. More than 5. 0 conditions can mimic or cause dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is by far the most common intractable condition. But other causes of irreversible dementia include blood vessel diseasevascular dementia), other degenerative disorders (frontotemporal lobar degeneration, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease), slow- growing brain tumors, or infections of the central nervous system (Creutzfeldt- Jakob disease, AIDS dementia, neurosyphilis). In some types of dementia, treatment will improve mental functioning, and in a small percentage, the dementia is completely reversible if treatment begins before permanent brain damage occurs. That’s why it is important to report to a doctor any signs of dementia as early as possible. Reversible dementias. Reversible dementias are often easier to diagnose than irreversible dementias because they are usually accompanied by other, obvious symptoms. In the following conditions or situations, however, dementia may be the primary, or even the only, symptom. Proper treatment may improve or even restore cognitive functioning. Delirium. Delirium causes changes in mental functioning that can closely resemble dementia, but there are two important differences: Speed of onset. The mental changes in delirium develop quickly, often in a matter of hours or days. In contrast, dementia evolves over months or years. Level of consciousness. In delirium, consciousness is either clouded or fluctuates between drowsiness and alertness. Dementia doesn’t affect the level of consciousness. Delirium is considered a medical emergency, in part because it’s often the main expression of a sudden, life- threatening illness. Elderly people are also susceptible to delirium after surgery. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome presents the classic picture of delirium. Similarly, delirium can occur from abrupt withdrawal from benzodiazepines, a group of anti- anxiety drugs that includes diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), and alprazolam (Xanax). Toxic reactions to drugs. Medications are common culprits in mental decline. With aging, the liver becomes less efficient at metabolizing drugs, and the kidneys eliminate them from the body more slowly. As a result, drugs tend to accumulate in the body. Elderly people in poor health and those taking several different medications are especially vulnerable. The list of drugs that can cause dementia- like symptoms is long. It includes: antidepressantsantihistaminesanti- Parkinson drugsanti- anxiety medicationscardiovascular drugsanticonvulsantscorticosteroidsnarcoticssedatives. Depression. People sometimes manifest dementia- like symptoms—forgetfulness, disorientation, inattentiveness, and slowed responses—when they are depressed. This so- called pseudodementia can masquerade as the depression that often accompanies Alzheimer’s disease, but there are subtle differences. Pseudodementia. In pseudodementia, the depressed mood begins before there is any mental decline. Typically, the person complains about memory loss or lack of concentration, looks sad or worried, and speaks in a flat, expressionless tone. Depression. In Alzheimer’s- related depression, the mental decline comes first, and the person usually tries to conceal memory problems, rather than call attention to them. Vitamin B1. 2 deficiency. Dementia could be a symptom of pernicious anemia, a rare condition caused by low levels of vitamin B1. In people with pernicious anemia, the bone marrow produces red blood cells that are both larger and less numerous than normal (see illustration). In older people, the first symptoms of pernicious anemia are often confusion, slowness, irritability, and apathy. Other symptoms of pernicious anemia include: yellowish skinfatigueshortness of breathheadachesnumbness or tingling in the hands and feettrouble keeping balance. Usually the B1. 2 deficiency that underlies pernicious anemia is not caused by a lack of B1. That’s because this vitamin is plentiful in eggs, dairy products, meat, fish, and poultry, and it’s efficiently stored in the liver. Instead, a B1. 2 deficiency usually occurs because an individual can’t absorb the vitamin from food. Fortunately, B1. 2 injections, if started early, can remedy the deficiency and alleviate the symptoms of pernicious anemia. Hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus (“water on the brain”) is an excess of cerebrospinal fluid around the brain. The fluid is secreted by the ventricles (cavities in the center of the brain). It circulates around the spinal cord and is absorbed by veins on the external surface of the brain. Congenital hydrocephalus is usually diagnosed shortly after birth, but normal- pressure hydrocephalus occurs in a small number of elderly people. This condition can result from head trauma, brain hemorrhage, or meningitis (inflammation of the membrane covering the brain), but most cases occur spontaneously without an obvious preceding illness. In addition to developing dementia, people with this condition lose bladder control and walk in a slow, hesitant manner, as if their feet are stuck to the floor. A surgically implanted tube (shunt) that drains fluid from a cavity in the brain (the lateral ventricle) to the jugular vein or to the abdomen brings rapid improvement, provided treatment is started soon after the symptoms appear. Tumors. Brain tumors may be malignant (cancerous) and therefore capable of invading surrounding tissue. Or they may be benign (self- contained). Brain tumors can interfere with cognitive functioning and cause personality changes. Depending on their location, they can trigger other symptoms, such as headaches, seizures, or vomiting. The first symptoms of slow- growing tumors frequently resemble dementia, especially in older people. Subdural hematomas. Hematomas are blood clots caused by bruising. When they are located in the subdural area, between the brain surface and the thin membrane that covers it (the dura), they can cause symptoms that mimic Alzheimer’s disease. Such subdural hematomas can also be life- threatening, causing coma and death. Most subdural hematomas are caused by severe head trauma sustained in automobile crashes. But elderly people sometimes develop subdural hematomas after a very minor (and, therefore, often forgotten) head injury. As blood oozes into a closed space, the hematoma enlarges and begins to interfere with brain function. Removing the clot within weeks of the injury may restore mental function. However, the symptoms often evolve so slowly that diagnosis is delayed for months. Thyroid disease. An overproduction of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism) is commonly caused by Graves’ disease, while an underproduction (hypothyroidism) usually results from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Both disorders can cause dementia- like symptoms. Hyperthyroidism. To diagnose hyperthyroidism, physicians use a simple blood test that measures levels of thyroid hormones. Surgically removing the thyroid or destroying it with radioactive iodine usually corrects the cognitive problems. Hypothyroidism. This is diagnosed by measuring the level of thyroid- stimulating hormone circulating in the blood. Physicians usually recommend thyroid hormone replacement, but this treatment doesn’t always reverse the dementia. Alcoholism. Wernicke- Korsakoff syndrome, an irreversible state of confusion and amnesia in alcoholics, results from thiamine deficiency due to long- term malnutrition. But consuming excessive amounts of alcohol for a decade or more can also cause impaired thinking that resembles Alzheimer’s disease. In dementia due to alcoholism, memory, orientation, and attention deteriorate, although verbal skills are not always severely affected. In this type of dementia, abstinence may partly restore mental functioning. Irreversible dementias. Although there are many causes of irreversible dementia, the following conditions are among the most common. In some cases, prompt treatment can prevent further damage, but lost cognitive functioning cannot be restored. Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is distinguished from other dementias at autopsy by the presence of sticky beta- amyloid plaques outside brain cells (neurons) and fibrillary tangles within neurons. Although such lesions may be present in any aging brain, in people with Alzheimer’s these lesions tend to be more numerous and accumulate in areas of the brain involved in learning and memory. The leading theory is that the damage to the brain results from inflammation and other biological changes that cause synaptic loss and malfunction, disrupting communication between brain cells. Eventually the brain cells die, causing tissue loss (see illustration). In imaging scans, brain shrinkage is usually first noticeable in the hippocampus, which plays a central role in memory function. The hallmark symptom of Alzheimer’s is difficulty in recalling new information. As Alzheimer’s progresses, the following may occur: Memory loss. This may be severe enough to disrupt daily life (for example, the person may get lost in a previously familiar neighborhood). Cognitive decline. The individual may also experience decline in cognitive ability (finding it hard to make decisions, solve problems, or make good judgments). Mood or personality changes. An individual with Alzheimer’s may undergo significant changes in mood and personality (such as becoming more irritable, hostile, or apathetic). Cardura oral : Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing. Doxazosin is used alone or with other drugs to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. This medication works by relaxing blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. Doxazosin is also used in men to treat the symptoms of an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia- BPH). It does not shrink the prostate, but it works by relaxing the muscles in the prostate and part of the bladder. This helps to relieve symptoms of BPH such as difficulty in beginning the flow of urine, weak stream, and the need to urinate frequently or urgently (including during the middle of the night). Doxazosin belongs to a class of drugs known as alpha blockers. OTHER USES: This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional. Doxazosin may also be used to help your body . It has also been used to help treat bladder problems in women. How to use Cardura. Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start taking doxazosin and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once daily. Doxazosin may cause a sudden drop in your blood pressure, which could lead to dizziness or fainting, usually within 2 to 6 hours after you take it. This risk is higher when you first start taking this drug, after your doctor increases your dose, or if you restart treatment after you stop taking it. During these times, avoid situations where you may be injured if you faint. To avoid injury related to dizziness or fainting, take your first dose of doxazosin at bedtime unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Your doctor will start this medication at a low dose and gradually increase your dose. Any time your dose is increased or if you restart treatment after you have stopped it, take your first dose at bedtime unless otherwise directed. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Take this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day. If you miss taking doxazosin for a few days, you may need to restart treatment at the low dose and gradually increase your dose again. Consult your doctor for more details. It is important to continue taking this medication even if you feel well. Most people with high blood pressure do not feel sick. You should see a benefit from this drug within 1 to 2 weeks. Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens (for example, your blood pressure readings remain high or increase, or your BPH symptoms worsen).
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May 2017
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