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Can This Common Blood Thinner Prevent A Stroke?

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When working with patients who have atrial fibrillation, the biggest hurdle is deciding whether to prescribe an anticoagulant — a medication to prevent blood clots from forming. Because the average age of an atrial fibrillation patient is 76, the risk of stroke has to be weighed against the risk of bleeding. After that, the decisions get easier. - Stephen Kopecky, MD, professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic. The possibility of a life-threatening stroke is one of the most alarming aspects of atrial fibrillation— the most common type of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. The two small upper chambers— or atria — of the heart, beats chaotically during atrial fibrillation, raising the risk of blood clots. You will have a stroke if a clot breaks free and moves to the brain, which can be fatal. Related article: Compare Eliquis (Apixaban) Prices Online Those with atrial fibrillation are five times more likely than those who don't have the condition to have a stroke. In fact, one

Latuda: A new useful treatment for bipolar depression

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Bipolar depression is a frustrating part of the treatment for bipolar disorder. The new meta-analytic study on antidepressants used in the treatment of bipolar depression found no evidence for its use. Two previous meta-analyses gave contradictory conclusions. Depressive episodes accompanying bipolar disorder have often perplexed all patients with bipolar disorder and also for those who want to help them for treatment. Those with mild clinical depression — previously identified as unipolar depression — sometimes have to choose from a few treatment options, usually beginning with psychotherapy and antidepressants. But the use of drugs for depression treatment may have unintentional and unpredictable effects for someone with bipolar disorder. So whenever you use a new drug — or a different use for an existing prescription drug — it's always welcome news. This is the case of Latuda (lurasidone). Related article: How to Deal Effectively with Symptoms of Depression In general, cu

Read about these side effects caused by Trulance

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The US governing body has approved a new treatment option for chronic constipation. It's called Trulance (plecanatide), and it was approved to treat chronic idiopathic constipation in adult patients. Idiopathic means the cause of the constipation is unknown. Trulance is a tablet that is an agonist for guanylate cyclase-C for the diagnosis of Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC). Trulance's side effects are: Diarrhea Sinus Infection Irritable intestine syndrome Gas Bloating Infection of the upper respiratory tract Increased biochemical testing of the liver Trulance may interact with other drugs, therefore the oral dosage of Trulance for adults is 3 mg per day. As it interacts with other medicines and supplements, it is recommended to consume medications only after consultation with the doctor mainly during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Trulance has been approved as the new cure for chronic constipation treatment. Trulance can be used as a tablet and taken once a