For
many of us, after the first sign of a flu or common cold, we run to the drug
store to get pills or fluids to save the day. It seems as if flu season is the
best business time for Jolly’s Pharmacy.
The
common idea behind this is that medications of all kinds were created with the
purpose of ‘curing’ or helping the body to cure itself. According to Merriam Webster
online dictionary Medication/medicine refers to “a drug or other preparation for the treatment or prevention
of disease”.
However, recent occurrences across the western
world have escalated a major cause for concern in regards to the health threats
associated with these drugs, particularly antibiotics.
Is there a true issue with the drug or its use?
Let’s find out.
As a child I remember having a terrible flu and
even after recovering I opted to continue taking the medication prescribed. My
small mind reasoned that I was doing so for ‘precaution’. It was then my
brother’s slightly more mature mind relayed to me “That’s so stupid”. Now I
grew up and I finally understood why this was so “stupid”.
At least thirty- eight prescribed and over the
counter drugs in the United States of the America are known to cause a rather
strange and rare case of an auto immune disease called Drug-induced lupus erythematosus (DILE). Across The United states annually,
approximately 15000 to 30000 persons of all ages are patients of this type of
lupus.
Lupus occurs when a person’s immune system attacks the healthy tissue
in their body. Drug induced lupus is one of the least common and sever cases
of lupus, although mortality may result in chronic situations. Drug induced
lupus may be caused by the mere use of a drug or the excessive intake of a drug,
triggering an auto-immune response.
Patients who suffer with this auto immune disease are usually
clueless as to how harmful over dosing on a drug maybe to them. One common
mistake made by persons on antibiotics is to take the drugs for extended
periods for ‘precaution’, even long after the infection is gone. This in itself
is a guaranteed ticket to DILE city; of course depending on the drug used.
So here is what really happens. Certain medications including
those listed below, trigger the production of auto antibodies called
antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) that bind to the contents of the cell nucleus.
Actually, it’s not that simple.
The medications (antibiotics usually) stimulate the creation on
white blood cells. Consequently, this high
production of white blood cells results in a RESPIRATORY BURST! Nope this is
not a burst of respiration…if that is even a thing.
A respiration burst is the rapid release of reactive
oxygen species, particularly from neutrophils and monocytes. The monocytes in
particular detect the antigen and relays the information to the T-helper cells
AND these are the cells that produce the antinuclear antibodies, to the
antigens of human cells. Sadly, this often results in cell apoptosis (cell
death) of many tissues including the skin and joints.
Symptoms
and signs of DILE include:
- Blurred vision
- Fever
- General ill feeling (malaise)
- Joint
pain
- Joint
swelling
- Loss of appetite
- Pleuritic chest
pain
- Skin
rash that gets worse with sunlight. (It may appear as a
"butterfly" rash across bridge of nose and cheeks.)
Persons who suffered with DILE have
shared their experiences with this disorder and many had related stories. One
very striking story shared remained with me. “I felt like I was dying. It was
then I found out that this drug was slowly killing me” – anonymous blogger.
(Hence the name of my post). It amazes me how easily one thing can lead to
another so innocently.
DIL
is usually detected by physicians after a complete blood count is done and analyzed
by lab specialists. Otherwise, symptoms usually go untreated and can result in
chronic pain and often lead to misdiagnosis.
Treatment:
Discontinuation of the use of the drug.
It’s
that simple. If the drug use is ended symptoms usually terminate in a couple
days to weeks after. Of course, more extensive situations would require further
levels of treatment. After all, one would patch holes on a proper highway as
opposed to the craters on farm roads; resurfacing would be a better option.
Some extreme conditions result in chronic infection of the heart or lungs which
most likely requires corrective surgeries.
Drugs that may
induce lupus:
High risk:
Moderate to low risk:
·
Isoniazid (antibiotic)
Does this mean that in all cases, excessive intake of these
drugs will lead to DILE? Absolutely not! Although research is not
complete as yet, many scientists are convinced that certain conditions make
persons predisposed to the disorder. One such factor is the rate at which the
body metabolizes the drug, usually controlled by an enzyme - N-acetyltransferase. Persons with the disorder usually have slow
action of this enzyme, which facilitate overproduction of monocytes.
So the answer to your
question “Am I at risk?” is not if you take the necessary precautions. Do not
take medications after the suggested time frame has passed.
I do hope that you all
will share this with your peers and family who may be just as small minded as I
was back then. Now you can say to them “That’s so stupid” with a reason!
I was able to overcome senile dementia via a complete naturopathic process.
ReplyDeleteAbout two years ago, when I was 56, I started feeling foggy and had occasional memory lapses. My wife, Mary, started to notice it, too, but I also have hearing issues so she thought that was the problem. My memory worsened very gradually over the years, and we lived with it, compensating as needed. I became less social. After some months thereafter, it got to the point where we couldn’t keep making excuses or ignoring it. I had gone from doing our grocery shopping without a list to going with a list, to having the list but not buying what was on it.
Mary went online to do some research, and it was during this process we had been fortunate enough to come across Dr. Utu Herbal Cure: an African herbalist and witch doctor whose professional works had majored on the eradication of certain viral conditions, especially dementia, ( improving the memory capacity positively), via a traditional, naturopathic process and distinguished diet plan. It was by the administration of this herbal specialist that I had been able to improve my condition for better. So to say, the encounter with the above-mentioned herbal practitioner was the first time we ever heard there was something that possibly can be done to improve my memory functionality.
By the existence of such an encounter, I was able to learn of the new approach by which this herbalist successfully treated dementia conditions, which included a distinguished herbal therapy and lifestyle changes of which I had undergone to a tremendous, positive effect.
It was after the completion of the herbal therapy I had started to experience a great deal of cognitive improvement when it came to rational decision making.
In brief, I was able to go through the dreadful hollows of senile dementia without any further hazardous damage to my health condition, and within a short period. Had it not been for the support of my wife, of whom had encouraged me to undergo the above-mentioned therapy and that of the herbal practitioner of whom now happens to be benefactor - I would have been long exposed to the further perils of this condition and of which had been apt to result to a calamitous end.
I would also wish for the same positiveness upon patients who may happen to be suffering from this debilitating disease, and would warmly beseech them to find a confidant like this herbal specialist with whose professional action I was able to attain a divine recovery.
For further information concerning this African traditional cure for Alzheimer's disease; feel free to contact Dr. Utu directly via email: drutuherbalcure@gmail.com.