09 October 2008

Medicines and Drugs Used in Major Mental Illnesses Treatment,


Mental illness is one of the most complicated disorders about which very little is known. No one likes to be labelled as mentally sick. In India, mental illness is a stigma, and the relatives of usually try to keep the patient isolated. 
 Few patients are subjected to medical treatment. In some cases, it is considered that the illness has resulted from am evil spirit having taken posession of the body, and to get rid of it, prayers are offered. Recent findings have shown that there are definite biochemical aberrations in the brain which cause mental illness. There are several drugs have been introduced which can effectively control the symptoms in most cases. These drugs allow a patient to live a fairly normal life and also prevent further deterioration of mental state. Types of Mental Disorders: Depending on the symptoms, mental disorders have been broadly divided into three groups: major mental illnesses (psychosis, schizophrenia, mania); mini mental illness (neurosis, anxiety reaction); and mental depression (affective disorder). Each kind of disease requires a specific type of treatment. Therefore, it is important to recognize the disease. However, in some cases the patient has symptoms of more than one type of disease and such patients pose a different type of problem to the physician. In this chapter we shall consider the drugs used for the treatment of major mental illnesses. The drugs used in the treatment of anxiety reaction and mental depression are described in separate chapters.Several terms such as psychosis, schizophrenia (literally 'split mind') and mania have been used for major mental illnesses. In general, a major mental illness is characterized by such mental symptoms which cannot be reconciled with. The patient may have violent and uncontrollable instances of destructive behaviour; or he may suffer from illusion which is a false perception of reality: for example, a rope lying on the floor may appear to be a crawling snake; or delusion; which is a false sense of interpretation: for example, he may feel that he is a rich person and people around him are trying to conspire to cheat him and drive him to poverty; or hallucination; which is a false perception not accounted for by any external stimulus: for example, a person may imagine he is sitting in a garden full of trees and flowers with a kaleidoscopic play of colours, or walking around a lake, or that he can hear melodious music when none of these really exists. Such symptoms have been reported to be cause by psychomimetic drugs, hallucinogens like LSD, mescaline, and cannabis (bhang, charas or ganja), which have been widely abused by the younger generation. There is a disorganised thinking and abnormal behaviour. The most important negative manifestations include, flattening of emotions, poor verbalization, little interest in surroundings and relationships. 

Ricky Hussey

Imitrex and Migraine, By: Samir

IMITREX [Sumatriptan] is indicated in the use acute treatment of migraine.
Migraine: Migraine, the most common cause of headache, afflicts approximately 15% of women and 6% of men. It is a vascular headache, comes in attacks A useful definition of migraine is a benign and recurring syndrome of headache, nausea, vomiting, and/or other symptoms of neurologic dysfunction in varying admixtures. Migraine can often be recognized by its activators (Red wine, menses, hunger, lack of sleep, glare, estrogen, worry, perfumes, let-down periods) and its deactivators (sleep, pregnancy, exhilaration, triptans). Severe headache attacks, regardless of cause, are more likely to be described as throbbing and associated with vomiting and scalp tenderness. Milder headaches tend to be nondescript—tight, band like discomfort often involving the entire head—the profile of tension-type headache.
IMITREX [Sumatriptan] is a specific and selective 5-hydroxytriptamine1-like [5HT 1-like] receptor agonist with little or no effect at a variety of other receptor types. It produces dose related constriction in the cerebral circulation. It does not bind to alpha adrenergic, beta adrenergic, muscarinic, dopaminergic or benzodiazepine receptors
Interest in the role of 5-HT a.k.a. serotonin in migraine has been renewed due to the introduction of the triptan class of anti-migraine drugs. The triptans are designed to stimulate selectively a particular subpopulation of 5-HT receptors. At least 14 specific 5-HT receptors exist in humans. The triptans are potent agonists of 5-HT1B, 5-HT1D, and 5- HT1F receptors and are less potent at 5-HT1A and 5-HT1E receptors. A growing body of data indicates that the anti-migraine efficacy of the triptans relates to their ability to stimulate 5-HT1B receptors, which are located on both blood vessels and nerve terminals. Selective 5-HT1D receptor agonists have, thus far, failed to demonstrate clinical efficacy in migraine. Triptans that are weak 5-HT1F agonists are also effective in migraine; however, only 5-HT1B efficacy is currently thought to be essential for anti migraine efficacy
History: The development of sumatriptan was the first experimentally based approach to identify and develop a novel therapy for migraine. In 1972, Humphrey and colleagues initiated a long term project aimed at identifying novel therapy for migraine. The goal of this project was to develop selective vasoconstrictors of the extracranial circulation. They focused on the identification of 5-HT receptors in the carotid vasculature, on which the theory of action of traditional anti-migraine drugs was based during the 1970s. Sumatriptan, first synthesized in 1984, potently contracted the dog isolated saphenous vein which is believed to contain the novel 5-HT receptor located in the carotid circulation. Sumatriptan was approved by the FDA in 1992. Mechanism of action:
Before the onset of a migraine, the 5-HT/serotonin level in the brain becomes extremely low. Sumatriptan is structurally similar to serotonin, and is a 5-HT agonist, which is one of the receptors to which serotonin binds. The specific receptor subtype it activates is present in the cranial and basilar arteries. Activation of these receptors causes vasoconstriction of those dilated arteries. Sumatriptan increases the 5-HT levels in the brain. Sumatriptan is also shown to decrease the activity of the trigeminal nerve, which probably accounts for sumatriptan's efficacy in treating cluster headaches. The injectable form of the drug has been shown to abort a cluster headache within fifteen minutes in 96% of cases. This type of headache is extremely painful and debilitating. The peak plasma concentration of IMITREX [Sumatriptan] i.e. on subcutaneous injection is approximately 12 mins and its bioavailability is approximately 97%. While on oral administration, the peak plasma concentration is 1 to 2 hours and bioavailability of only 14% to 17%.
Adverse effects and Contraindications:
Rare but serious cardiac effects have been associated with the administration of Sumatriptan, including coronary artery vasospasm, transient myocardial ischemia, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, and myocardial infarction. Most such events have occurred in patients with risk factors for coronary artery disease. In general, however only minor side effects are seen with sumatriptan in the acute treatment of migraine. After subcutaneous injection of IMITREX [Sumatriptan], a majority of patients report transient mail pain, stinging, or burning sensation at the site of injection. Other side effects are: - Paresthesia - Asthenia and fatigue - Flushing - Feelings of pressure - Tightness - Pain in neck, chest and jaw - Drowsiness - Nausea - Sweating.
IMITREX [Sumatriptan] is contraindicated in patients who have a history of ischemic or vasospastic coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular or peripheral vascular disease, or other significant cardiovascular diseases. This drug is also contraindicated in patients in patients with uncontrolled hypertension and in those patients who are on monoamine oxidase inhibitors. It is not recommended for use in the pediatric age group and should not be used in the pregnant and lactating mothers.
Indication:
IMITREX [Sumatriptan] is effective in the acute treatment of migraine, with or without aura. The treatment should begin as soon as possible after the onset of a migraine attack. Approximately 70% of individuals report significant headache relief from a 6 mg subcutaneous dose of IMITREX [Sumatriptan]. This dose maybe repeated once within a 24-hour period if the headache doesn’t subside after the first dose of sumatriptan. It should not be used concurrently with or within 24 hours of an ergot derivative nor should it be used with another triptan with 24 hours of each other. IMITREX [Sumatriptan] is not useful for prophylaxis of migraine.
Resource Box:
Bianca is the author of'> http://www.generics.ws/Generic_Imitrex_Sumatriptan_Tablet-p-46.html"> Imitrex and Migraine information located at Genericsmed.com site


08 October 2008

Make Out Best Workout Plan For Body Building

By: Nick Clipton

An increasing number of people are taking up bodybuilding these days. World over people have realized the importance of having a fit body and what better way to fitness than through bodybuilding. A good bodybuilding workout plan should incorporate a regimen of exercises, weight training and a diet plan.


Body building is a great sport that allows competitors to use their experiences and knowledge, all while attempting to sculpt the perfect body. However, it is hard for a beginner in the sport of body building to know how to separate all the hype from the truth, in order to avoid wasting time and effort in the gym. If you are not working out properly, or you do not have a workout plan that will "work out" for you, you are only wasting your time and you are on the path towards frustration!

Once you have a bodybuilding workout plan ready, the most difficult part is in sticking to it. There are many who are keen on exercising for a week or two before dropping out. You must remember that bodybuilding is something in which you cannot expect overnight results. You will need to stick to a strict workout plan, for a substantially long period of time. It is the only way in which you can achieve your bodybuilding goals.

You can always devise a bodybuilding workout plan in consultation with a trainer. These professionals will also be able to teach you the proper exercise and weight training techniques. This is an important aspect that should not be neglected since faulty technique can lead to muscle injuries.

Despite one’s body type, there are common techniques to follow when bodybuilding. These are:

1. Keep a training diary so that you can monitor your progress and determine what you should aim for in the future.

2. Pay attention when lifting any kind of weight to avoid injury. Carelessness is probably the foremost cause of injuries in bodybuilding.

3. Choose the types of exercises that can contract as many muscle fibers as possible during one set. This will maximize the effectiveness of the core repetitions which make up most of one’s training.

4. Warm up properly prior to doing any exercise to prevent injury.

5. Don’t change the technique of doing any exercise unless you know what you are doing. Experimenting is another cause of injury.

Typically a bodybuilding workout plan can be divided into, flexibility, cardiovascular and weight training sessions. Flexibility training helps in keeping the muscles limber and relaxed. Cardiovascular training helps in building up stamina and strength. Weight training is the one that helps in muscle building. You must remember that these three types of training are not supplementary but complimentary to each other. You must therefore concentrate on all the three types of training in order to achieve your bodybuilding goals.



Your nutrition should consist of all the essential nutrients that you would need to achieve your bodybuilding goals. All these factors need to be considered before you decide on your workout plan. musclebuildingprograms.com 

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