Skin Rashes and Adverse Drug Reactions

Skin rashes are one of the common drug-induced reactions which usually becomes evident within days or weeks of starting a medication. It is an adverse reaction to the presence of the chemicals in the drug. It can either be allergic or non-allergic. This meas that the drug triggers the immune system which then causes skin irritation (allergic) among other symptoms. At other times the skin rash is occurring through other mechanisms without eliciting abnormal immune activity (non-allergic). There are various types of skin rashes that may arise with using different medication. It is however not always possible to ascribe a certain skin rash with a specific drug. Instead an adverse drug reaction is considered as a possible cause of the skin rash when it starts shortly after commencing a certain medication or there is a history of adverse drug reactions to a specific medication or class of drugs.

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What is insulin?

Insulin is a hormone secreted from beta cells of the pancreas. It helps to control the blood glucose levels preventing hyperglycemia (high glucose levels) which can damage the cells. In diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes), there may be a lack of or deficiency of insulin thereby leading to abnormal fluctuations in blood glucose levels and hyperglycemia. Insulin exerts its effects by binding to insulin receptors present on the cell surface of organs sensitive to insulin like liver, muscles and fat tissue. The binding of insulin to its receptors results in activation of an enzyme known as tyrosine kinase which leads to reactions inside the cell that are responsible for various effects of insulin.

continue reading Insulin Information Injection Video, Types, Dosage, Side Effects

Calcium and vitamin D, specifically D3 or cholecalciferol, are essential for maintaining the strength and structural integrity of bones. While other nutrients also play an integral in bone development and strength, it is a deficiency of these two nutrients that have the most marked effect on integrity of the bone. Depending on the extent of the deficiency, it may lead to osteoporosis, osteomalacia (adults) or rickets (children). Both calcium and vitamin D are derived from the diet although the latter is also formed in the skin through sunlight exposure. The bones also serve as a reservoir for calcium. Deficiencies may be linked to dietary factors or underlying diseases that hamper the digestion, absorption or proper utilization of these calcium and vitamin D.

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Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by reduced bone mass and disturbed bone architecture. It can result in spontaneous fractures or fractures from minimal trauma. Osteoporosis is a major reason for the increased the risk of fracture in majority of postmenopausal women and to a certain extent in men, particularly older men. More than 50% of women and about 25% of men suffer from osteoporosis related fractures with advancing age. The body of the vertebrae, radial bone near the wrist joint, and the femur near the hip joint are most commonly fractured bones in osteoporotic individuals. Other bones are also susceptible to fracture in osteoporotic individuals as the bones in general remain easily fragile. The severity of osteoporosis and risk for fractures increase considerably with advancing age.

In osteoporosis there is an imbalance in the bone formation and the bone resorption (breakdown). This is directly related to the imbalance between deposition of calcium in the bones and its removal. The calcium balance is normally maintained by hormones like calcitonin, parathormone and the vitamin D. The treatment of osteoporosis aims at shifting balance in favor of bone formation. Irrespective of the type of osteoporosis, similar therapeutic approaches are useful in minimizing bone loss and increasing bone density.

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Alcohol (ethanol / ethyl alcohol) is a widely use and commonly abused substance throughout the world. Intoxication, misuse and dependence on alcohol is not a new social ill and mankind has a history with alcohol spanning thousands of years. Consumption of alcohol in limited quantities is known to produce a sense of well-being along with reduction of anxiety and some degree of disinhibition. This encourages individuals to consume alcohol repeatedly and more frequently. The repeated use of alcohol produces tolerance to the effects of alcohol on the brain. To overcome the effect of tolerance, individuals tend to consume more alcohol to reach the same level of intoxication. The regular intake of increased quantities of alcohol leads to alcohol abuse (addiction).

continue reading Alcohol Detox Medication & Drug Therapy for Alcoholic Withdrawal