--> Better yet, combine an elimination diet with the natural prescription for allergies and you might find you can throw your over-the-counter medications away, or at least reduce your use of them significantly.
I've saved the best for last: Starbuck generously offered to allow me to reproduce the recipe for her homemade decongestant "brew," which not only tastes amazing but is incredibly effective in fighting seasonal allergy symptoms (particularly when used in conjunction with the rest of the natural prescription for seasonal allergies). |
 Some prescription and over-the-counter medications can also contribute to heartburn. These commonly include high blood pressure and heart medications. Heartburn commonly occurs during pregnancy as hormones produced during the first trimester can cause problems, and the stomach can be pushed upwards within the abdominal cavity to make room for the growing baby. |
 As mentioned earlier, many over-the-counter medications also contain caffeine and can increase sleep disorders through overstimulation.
While alcohol may initially be relaxing, the end result of drinking is interrupted, less restful sleep. It may help you fall asleep, but when its effects wear off, it disrupts the deeper stages of sleep during the second half of the night.
Alcohol can reduce overall sleep time, including both REM and non-REM sleep. |
 We repeat two scientific findings: first, COX-2 inhibitors really do hospitalize and even kill people; second, amazingly, they are no better at relieving pain than over-the-counter medications, a finding which was published a full year before the Pfizer CEO's rhapsody.49
THE AMERICAN PHARMACY
Remember the millennial article in the New England Journal from the first page of this book. "Medicine is one of the few spheres of human activity," wrote the Journals editors, "in which the purposes are unambiguously altruistic. |
 Just because some 5 billion over-the-counter medications are sold in the United States annually,does not mean you should believe they are safe.
Take for example, acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol. Besides causing cardiovascular problems, Tylenol is actually the most common cause of liver failure, not hepatitis C, as you might believe. Tylenol 3, which is given to women for postnatal pain, can produce deadly concentrations of morphine in their breast milk. |
| According to the New England Journal of Medicine, "antiinflammatory drugs (prescription and over-the-counter medications, which include Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Ordus, aspirin, and over 20 others) alone cause over 16,500 deaths and over 103,000 hospitalizations per year just in the U.S." The amount of five major painkillers sold at retail establishments rose 90 percent between 1997 and 2005, according to an Associated Press analysis of statistics from the Drug Enforcement Administration.'
Even the smallest amount of aspirin triggers at least some degree of intestinal bleeding. |
| Drug abuse and heavy alcohol consumption can also lead to panic disorders, during active use or withdrawal. Some over-the-counter medications may also contribute to panic attacks. Consult a doctor to rule out these conditions.
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Cognitive behavioral therapy: Most people benefit from cognitive behavioural therapy, which involves exposing the affected person to a feared situation, first in the imagination and then in reality, until he or she can tolerate the situation without symptoms. |
 Another 700,000 people are hospitalized each year because of adverse reactions to prescription and over-the-counter medications. |
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Eucalyptus oil: This well-known decongestant is found in many over-the-counter medications. Simply place a few drops of eucalyptus oil in a \ I f I vaporizer and breathe in the steam through the nose. Keep your eyes ^ Y closed because the volatile oils can cause a stinging sensation. Do not swallow eucalyptus oil. Ingestion can cause severe side effects, including depression of the central nervous system, nausea, and vomiting. Eucalyptus oil is not recommended for use by small children. |
 In addition, there are approximately 1,000 active ingredients used in more than 100,000 over-the-counter medications in the U.S., with combined annual sales exceeding $17 billion.16
The current health of our nation is perfectly aligned with the goals of the pharmaceutical industry. Our lifestyles create disease and drug companies thrive as they develop a wide range of drugs designed to treat the symptoms for every conceivable health related issue of our making. If you have ever invested in the stock market you've probably noticed that most businesses are cyclical. |
| These statistics do not tell the whole story because the true numbers for drug abuse (or misuse) remain buried in the escalation of non-illicit prescription drug use, such as sleeping pills, sinus medication and a variety of other over-the-counter medications.
If you step back from what we have been conditioned to believe, you will conclude that no industry has contributed more to our toxic lifestyle than the pharmaceutical industry. That does not mean that all drugs are bad. Obviously there are drugs that benefit people. Unfortunately, drugs do not cure disease. |
| We take prescription or over-the-counter medications to combat the sleepless nights. The lack of exercise and proper nutrition causes physical breakdowns. The pressures of life create emotional and mental breakdowns. We go to our doctor for help and they prescribe more drugs to treat our symptoms while ignoring the cause.
We are so busy doing the things we've been conditioned to think are important that we forget to focus on the things that really are important. We wonder why we are unhappy. We want to change, but we don't know how. |
 The mean number of over-the-counter medications (mainly acetaminophen) was significantly fewer in the treatment group (Nguyen et al 2001).
Administration of 1,600 mg of glucosamine HC1, 1,000 mg of calcium ascorbate, and a 1,200-mg mixture of chondroitin sulfate-4 and -6, all taken twice daily, produced beneficial effects in TMJ arthritis. Of the 50 participants in the uncontrolled, preliminary study, 80% reported a decrease in joint noises; 2% reported a worsening in symptoms of pain and/or swelling; 10% failed to comply with conditions of the study, and 8% reported no change. |
| So, too, is a poor diet, often marked by overconsumption of stimulants such as alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, and sugar. over-the-counter medications can also play a role. Electromagnetic fields, both natural and artificial, may play a role in diminishing the function of the pineal gland, resulting in decreased melatonin production and an imbalanced body clock.
One of the most prevalent consequences of a disrupted circadian rhythm is an illness called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). |
| In addition, many over-the-counter medications (cold and cough preparations, weight-loss drugs, pain relievers) contain caffeine or caffeine-related substances and can also increase sleep disorders.
Recently, coffee and chocolate have both been touted for their high levels of antioxidants, and in fact, caffeine itself is an antioxidant. A 2005 study found that coffee is actually the top source of antioxidants in the U.S. diet. |
| The number of deaths caused by over-the-counter medications in combination with prescription drugs would be comparable to the number of lives lost if a 747 airliner fell out of the sky every day.
You, the juror, are asked to consider whether the many-ten-tacled media is nothing more than a parasite, lacking knowledge of criminal behavior. Or is it as real a predator as the pharmaceuticals, taking every advantage possible to enrich itself while keeping the rest of us "dumb and dumber." I would encourage you to revisit the quote used to introduce this chapter before you begin deliberation. |
 They also use over-the-counter medications extensively. Problems often result from the misuse of these medications. This includes underuse, overuse, or erratic use that is contrary to label instructions.
As in the younger population, conventional treatment of mental disorders in the elderly often involves the use of antidepressant medications. The selection and dosages of medications is more complicated, however. Because many older patients take medications for other medical conditions, there is an increased risk of adverse drug interactions. |
 Have you ever taken prescription medications or over-the-counter medications, including hormone replacement therapy or birth control?
? Do you have wall-to-wall carpet in your home or office?
? Do you eat commercial (non-organic) vegetables, fruits, or meat?
? Do you wear clothes that have been dry-cleaned?
? Do you wear synthetic materials (such as polyester)?
? Do you eat processed food or fast food?
? Have you ever smoked or been exposed to second-hand smoke?
? Do you eat in restaurants more than twice weekly?
? Do you use bug spray in your home or have a pest control service?
? |
 Thus, those on Coumadin are always given dietary restrictions, and should tell their physician if they are taking vitamin supplements or any other over-the-counter medications.
The chemical structure of coenzyme Qio is very close to that of vitamin K, so it may be that coenzyme Qio does slow the protime and could have a blunting effect on Coumadin therapy. This association should raise interest in performing a study to answer this concern conclusively. In a rat model there has been no association of a coenzyme Qi0 and Coumadin interaction. |
 When Mark didn't respond to any over-the-counter medications, his parents finally took him to the emergency room where he was diagnosed with appendicitis. After a brief surgery and recovery, Mark was released from the hospital.
He wasn't home for long. He returned to the hospital within twenty-four hours due to increasing abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting. Mark was now much sicker than he was before the operation.
The young boy was readmitted to the hospital; however, the local doctors were puzzled. |
 Develop a good diet and exercise regimen. Use over-the-counter medications for allergies; do not waste money on prescription drugs for these. Do not use OTC medications for chronic asthma. As needed use beta-agonist and steroid inhalers for chronic asthma. If these do not control your asthma use a long-acting beta agonist only as a last resort, and then never in the absence of an inhaled steroid. |
| If you do have to take a pill for sleep, I prefer over-the-counter medications like Benadryl to a prescription pill, and strongly advise you not to take medications for more than a few days. And remember, if you do take a prescription pill, you can drink no alcohol, not even a single glass of wine.
Overall, patients who take sleeping pills have a 25% increase in mortality.3 Older patients are prescribed sleeping pills eight times more often than younger people, even though they have less of a tendency to be anxious. |
 There are a variety of over-the-counter medications that can treat the symptoms of a cold, but none of them eliminate the cold virus. Enzyme therapy can support the functioning of the immune system and even introduce protease into the bloodstream to help attack the cold virus. Enzymes can also support the absorption of nutrients to improve overall health and help reduce the excess mucus being produced by the body. |
| In fact, some studies have shown that ginger may be up to three times more effective for treating nausea than common over-the-counter medications. Take 1-4 g daily in pill form or drink ginger tea until the hungover feeling dissipates. Do not take more than 1 g of ginger a day if you are pregnant.
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>w This condition well illustrates the value of homeopathic prescribing in ^^^^V treating an acute ailment that has been triggered by an obvious cause. |
 I believe the answer is yes, and we -- as consumers and as stewards of the environment -- must evaluate the choices we make every day in consideration of the long-term effects of our prescription use, of our dependence on over-the-counter medications, and of our use of chemically charged personal care products.
Note: Be sure to take a look at our CounterThink cartoon, Pharmaceutical Terrorism, for a satirical look at this issue.
Resources
The EWG Skin Deep report: http://www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep
Official drug disposal policy: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy. |
 Treating them with over-the-counter medications can greatly improve your overall quality of breathing. changes in the elasticity of the lung (so it takes more effort to bring in air) and by physiological changes in your lungs that make breathing harder. Much of this happens because of the Major Ager of toxins in our environment, like secondhand smoke and pollution, which pass into us most easily in the air we breathe (several liters per minute).
The rate of aging of the lungs is, in fact, greater than the aging of the heart. |
 The FDA should require a clear, bold warning against driving on the bottles of prescription or over-the-counter medications that cause drowsiness, dizziness, or any other side effect that can make it dangerous to drive. The warning should include a prominent symbol, like a bright red triangle, that patients can't miss.
States also need tough penalties for physicians who fail to warn patients not to drive after taking these medications as well as for patients who don't heed their doctors'warnings. |
 If they had problems, they often simply switched, on their own, to other existing over-the-counter medications. "If we relied on the traditional way of doing things, using medical journal ads directed at physicians, you would have to wait three years for this trickle-down to start resulting in sales," Davis recalls. The obvious solution was to somehow "drive patients to their doctors." But in 1984 the FDA had imposed a moratorium on DTC. |
 Elderly individuals are of en taking a wide array ofprescription and over-the-counter medications, some of which can adversely affect mental function. If the dosages of these drugs can be reduced or if other treatments can be given instead, dementia may improve. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) and vitamin and mineral deficiencies are also treatable causes of dementia. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people suffering from dementia are not helped significantly by the conventional medical approach.
DR. |
 On the other hand, dry eyes are most often either a symptom of something far less worrisome, or a side effect of prescription or over-the-counter medications. Diuretics, decongestants, beta-adrenergic blockers, antimuscarinics, and thiabendazole may all cause dry eyes.
If your eyes are dry and painful, the primary solution is to recognize what's causing your dry eyes and then, if possible, eliminate the cause. |
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