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After the surgery, I was given opioids to take at home. What do I need to know?

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Opioids are sometimes prescribed after discharge from the hospital after surgery to help relieve pain at home.

These strong painkillers may cause unwanted unintended effects or harm, reminiscent of constipation, drowsiness, or the risk of addiction.

However, you may take steps to minimize this harm and use opioids more safely after recovering from surgery.

What varieties of opioids are the most typical?

The mostly prescribed Post-operative opioids in Australia include oxycodone (brand names include Endone, OxyNorm) and tapentadol (Palexia).

In fact, about half latest oxycodone prescriptions in Australia, according to a recent hospital visit.

Most often, patients will receive immediate-release opioids for pain relief. These are fast-acting drugs and are used to treat short-term pain.

Because they work quickly, their dose could be easily adjusted to your current pain level. Your doctor gives you instructions on how to adjust your dose depending in your pain level.

Then there are slow-release opioids, that are specifically formulated to release your dose slowly over about half to a full day. They could also be marked on the carton as ‘prolonged release’, ‘controlled release’ or ‘prolonged release’.

Slow-release preparations are mainly used for chronic or long-term pain. Thanks to the slow-release form, the medicine doesn’t have to be taken as often. However, it takes longer to achieve effect compared to an immediate-release drug, so it is just not commonly used after surgery.

Controlling pain after surgery is necessary. This will assist you to rise up and move faster and get better faster. Moving early after surgery prevents muscle atrophy and harm related to immobility, reminiscent of pressure sores and blood clots.

Everyone’s pain level and pain medication needs are different. Pain levels also decrease as the surgical wound heals, so you might need to take less medication as you get better.

But there’s also risk

As mentioned above, unintended effects of opioids include constipation and feeling drowsy or nauseous. Drowsiness may additionally increase the risk of falling.

Opioids prescribed for pain relief at home after surgery are often prescribed for short-term use.

But to one in ten Australians proceed to take them up to 4 months after surgery. One study found that individuals didn’t understand how to safely stop taking opioids.

This long-term use of opioids can lead to addiction and overdose. It may additionally reduce the effectiveness of the medicine. This happens because the body gets used to the opioid and wishes more of it to get the same effect.

Addiction and unintended effects are also more common slow-release opioids than immediate-release opioids. This is because people normally take slow-release opioids for a very long time.

There are also concerns about “residual” opioids. One study found that 40% of participants were prescribed them greater than twice the amount they needed.

This leads to unused opioids remaining at home could be dangerous the person and his or her family. Storing leftover opioids at home increases the risk of taking an excessive amount of, sharing it inappropriately with others, and taking it without medical supervision.

Don’t keep leftover opioids in your medicine cabinet. Take them to the pharmacy for secure disposal.
Photo by Archer/Shutterstock

How to minimize risk

Before using opioids, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about using over-the-counter pain relievers reminiscent of acetaminophen or anti-inflammatory medicines reminiscent of ibuprofen (e.g. Nurofen, Brufen) or diclofenac (e.g. Voltaren, Fenac).

These could be quite effective in controlling pain and can reduce the need for opioids. They can often be used as a substitute of opioids, but in some cases a mixture of each is mandatory.

Other pain management techniques include physical therapy, exercise, heat or ice packs. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to discuss which techniques will profit you most.

However, for those who do need opioids, there are a couple of ways to ensure that you might be using them safely and effectively: :

  • ask about immediate release as a substitute of slow-release opioids to reduce the risk of unintended effects

  • you must not drink alcohol or take sleeping pills while taking opioids. This may increase drowsiness and lead to decreased alertness and slower respiration

  • as you might be at greater risk of falls, remove trip hazards from your private home and ensure that you may safely get off the sofa or bed and go to the bathroom or kitchen

  • Before you begin using opioids, make a plan together with your doctor or pharmacist about how and when to stop using them. Opioids after surgery are best taken at the lowest possible dose for the shortest possible time.

Woman holding a hot water bottle (pink cover) on her stomach.
A heat pack may help relieve pain so that you need to use less painkillers.
New Africa/Shutterstock

If you might be concerned about unintended effects

If you might be concerned about the unintended effects of using opioids, talk to your pharmacist or doctor. Side effects include:

  • constipation – Your pharmacist will give you the chance to offer you lifestyle advice and recommend laxatives

  • drowsiness – do not drive or operate heavy machinery. If you are attempting to not sleep during the day but still go to sleep, the dose could also be too high and you must contact your doctor

  • weakness and slow respiration – this may occasionally be an indication of a more serious side effect, reminiscent of respiratory depression, which requires medical attention. Contact your doctor immediately.

If you might be having trouble withdrawing from opioids

If you could have difficulty coming off opioids, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. They can suggest alternative methods of relieving your pain and offer you advice on progressively reducing your dose.

Withdrawal symptoms reminiscent of agitation, anxiety and insomnia may occur, but your doctor and pharmacist can assist you to manage them.

What about leftover opioids?

When you stop using opioids, take any leftovers to your local pharmacy for secure and free disposal.

Do not share opioids with others and keep them away from others in your household who do not need them, because opioids could cause unintended harm if not used under medical supervision. This may include accidental ingestion by children.


This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Health and Wellness

WATCH: Cynthia Erivo on the importance of being a sister – Essence

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“; } }); // Drag and scroll functionality const playlistContainer = document.getElementById(‘playlist’); let isDown = false; let startY; let scrollTop; playlistContainer.addEventListener(‘mousedown’, (e) => { isDown = true; playlistContainer.classList.add(‘active’); playlistContainer.offsetTop; scrollTop = playlistContainer.scrollTop; }); playlistContainer.addEventListener(‘mouseleave’, () => { isDown = false; playlistContainer.classList.remove(‘active’); }); ‘, () => { isDown = false; playlistContainer.classList.remove(‘active’); playlistContainer.addEventListener(‘mousemove’, (e) => { if (!isDown) return; e.preventDefault(); const y = e.pageY -List Container playlist.offsetTop; const walk = (y – startY) * 3; // quick playlistContainer.scrollTop = scrollTop – walk; }); } } if (” !== ‘efoc24’) { // Check DoubleVerify Quality Targeting signals before rendering the player if ( ‘undefined’ !== PQ type ) { PQ.cmd.push(function () { // If DVQT signals are not available after 500 ms, render the player anyway. const timeout_id = setTimeout( jwPlayerRender, 500 ); // Get “Authentic Direct” signals. PQ.getTargeting({ signals: [‘abs’] }, function(error, targetingData) { clearTimeout(timeout_id); jwPlayerRender(error? undefined: targetingData); }); }); } else { jwPlayerRender(); } function jwPlayerRender( dvqt_signals=”” ) { let jw_ad_tag ​​= {“client”:”googima”,”adscheduleid”:”G7hR9pQ2″,”schedule”:[{“tag”:”https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?correlator=&iu=/21698916284/ess/VideoNews&env=vp&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&sz=400×300%7C640x480%7C1000x1%7C1920x1080&description_url=__page-url__&tfcd=0&npa=0&vpmute=1&vpa=auto&vad_type=linear&url=__page-url__&vpos=preroll&unviewed_position_start=1&v=4QHYeDGA&pmnd=0&pmxd=60000&ad_rule=1&cust_params=ttid%3D4QHYeDGA%26frnch%3D__item-franchise__%26environment%3Dproduction%26kwblock%3DAbb%2CCapOne%2CLincoln%2CUPS%2CVG%2CATTCric%2CDisney”,”offset”:”pre”},{“tag”:”https://vid.springserve.com/vast/670880?url=https://www.essence.com/news/watch-cynthia-erivo-on-importance-of-sisterhood/h=450&w=800&cb=1535″,”offset”:”50%”}]”offers”:{“bidders”:[{“id”:”jw-video-4QHYeDGA”,”name”:”jwdemand”,”publisherId”:”evcxFIDZ”,”siteId”:”WT5iFegj”,”placementId”:”24399785″},{“id”:”jw-video-4QHYeDGA”,”name”:”connatix”,”siteId”:”WT5iFegj”,”placementId”:”23419a80-fc77-4fd5-bd0c-2a4807a66a6c”}]”settings”:{“disableConsentManagementOnNoCmp”:true,”mediationLayerAdServer”:”dfp”,”floorPriceCents”:200,”floorPriceCurrency”:”usd”,”buckets”:[{“increment”:0.1,”max”:30,”min”:0},{“increment”:0.5,”max”:50,”min”:30}]}}}; // Configure ad tag on the fly… let additional_params = {}; // Input DVQT signals. if ( dvqt_signals && dvqt_signals.ABS.length > 0 ) { additional_params.ABS = dvqt_signals.ABS.join(“,”); } // Create a string of additional_parameters. let extra_params_str=””; for (enter additional_parameters) { let value = additional_parameters[key]; additional_params_str += `${key}=${value}`; if ( key !== Object.keys( additional_params .pop() ) { additional_params_str += ‘&’; } } // Update ad tag cust_params (must be URL encoded). if ( Object.keys( additional_parameters ). length > 0 ) { let ad_schedule = jw_ad_tag.schedule; if ( ‘undefined’ !== schedule type ads ) { for (let i = 0; i < ad_schedule.length; i++) { let ad_url = new url(jw_ad_tag.schedule[i].label); let query_params = new URLSearchParams(ad_url.search); query_params.set("cust_params", query_params.get("cust_params") + `&${additional_params_str}`); ad_url.search = query_params.toString(); jw_ad_tag.schedule[i].tag = ad_url.toString(); } } } let playerId; if ("undefined" !== type jwplayerQueue) { playerId = 'jw-video-4QHYeDGA'; jwplayerQueue.push({ 'instanceId': 'playerInstance_4QHYeDGA', 'playerId': playerId, 'config': { pid: 't6KP9zcV', playlist: "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/4QHYeDGA", autostart: !jw_ad_tag, repeat: true, mute: true, aspect ratio: '16:9', share: {sites: ["facebook", "twitter", "email", "linkedin"]}, cast: {}, float: {disibility: true}, autoPause: {viewability: true}, displaytitle: true, displaydescription: true, controls: true, related: {displayMode: 'shelfWidget'}, interactive: {} , ad: jw_ad_tag ​​​​} }); } // Load video. jQuery(window).trigger("jw:loadplayers"); function waitForJWPlayer(callback) { if (type jwplayer !== 'undefined') { callback(); } else { setTimeout(function() { waitForJWPlayer(callback); }, 500); } } waitForJWPlayer(function() { jwplayer(playerId).on('adsManager', function (adsManagerLoaded) { let adsManager = adsManagerLoaded.adsManager; let videoElement = document.getElementById(playerId ); let config = { anId: '929481' , camp ID: '640x360', ias_xps: "autoplay", // autoplay status ias_xbp: "2", // video destination type ias_xar: "1" // autoplay status }; // Start IAS integration googleImaVansAdapter.init(google, adsManager, videoElement , configuration });

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

Phenergan is no longer recommended for children under 6 years of age due to the risk of hallucinations. Here’s what you can use instead

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The Australian Drugs Regulatory Authority has issued an order safety warning over Phenergan and related products containing the antihistamine promethazine.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has stated that over-the-counter products shouldn’t be given to children under six years of age due to concerns about serious unwanted side effects akin to hyperactivity, aggression and hallucinations. Breathing may turn into slow or shallow, which can be fatal.

When high doses are administered to young children, difficulties in learning and understanding, including reversible cognitive deficit and mental disability, may occur. – said the TGA.

The latest warning follows international and Australian concerns about the drug in young children, which is commonly used to treat conditions akin to hay fever and allergies, motion sickness and for short-term sedative effects.

What is promethazine?

Promethazine is a “first generation” antihistamine that has been sold over the counter in Australian pharmacies for a long time for a spread of conditions.

Unlike many other drugs, first-generation antihistamines can cross the blood-brain barrier. This means they affect your brain chemistry, making you feel drowsy and sedated.

In adults, this will likely be useful for sleep. However, in children, these drugs can cause serious unwanted side effects on the nervous system, including those mentioned on this week’s safety alert.

We’ve known about this for a while

We have known about the serious unwanted side effects of promethazine in young children for a while.

Advice regarding 20 years ago In the United States, the drug was not recommended for use in children under two years of age. In 2022, an Australian Medicines Advisory Committee made its own suggestion to increase the age to six. New Zealand released similar warnings and advice in May this 12 months.

Over the last ten years, there have been 235 cases of serious unwanted side effects from promethazine in each children and adults reported to the TGA. Of the 77 deaths reported, one was a toddler under six years of age.

Reported unwanted side effects in each adults and children included:

  • 13 cases of accidental overdose (leading to 11 deaths)
  • eight cases of hallucinations
  • seven cases of slow or shallow respiration (leading to 4 deaths)
  • six cases of decreased consciousness (leading to five deaths).

TGA security alert comes after an internal investigation by the manufacturer of Phenergan, Sanofi-Aventis Healthcare. This investigation was initiated in 2022 advice from the Medicines Advisory Committee. The company has now updated its information for consumers and healthcare professionals.

What can you use instead?

If you have allergies or hay fever in young children, non-sedating antihistamines akin to Claratine (loratadine) or Zyrtec (cetirizine) are preferred. They provide relief without the risk of sedation and other disturbing unwanted side effects of promethazine.

If symptoms of a chilly or cough occur, parents must be reassured that these symptoms will normally subside with time, fluid intake, and rest.

Saline nasal sprays, adequate hydration, a humidifier or elevating the child’s head can relieve the congestion related to hay fever. Oral products containing phenylephrine marketed for nasal congestion must be avoided because evidence shows that this is the case This article was originally published on : theconversation.com

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Health and Wellness

Why Elon Musk’s Grok Could Pose a Threat to Medical Privacy

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elon musk, DEI, remote work, jobs


Owner of X and candidate for the White House cabinet Elon Musk asked users to submit MRI results, CT scans and other medical information to its AI chatbotGrok reviewed it and a few people fell for it, he reports.

Musk presented this concept to X in late October 2024.

“Try uploading X-rays, PET, MRI, or other medical images to Grok for analysis. It’s still early stages, but it’s already quite accurate and will be extremely good,” he wrote. “Let us know where Grok is doing it right or where it needs work.”

Some individuals who voluntarily submitted photos were comfortable that Grok “did do well” together with his blood test results and breast cancer detection, but others waved red flags against the platform.

Josh Sharp, who goes by @showinvestment on social media, identified how a broken collarbone was viewed as a dislocated shoulder.

Radiologist Docteur TJ provided an in-depth evaluation of the MRI image, which he described partially as “too gross.”

Another example is a robot confusing a mammogram of a benign breast cyst with a picture of the testicles.

Grok was launched in May 2024 after raising $6 billion in an investment financing round through Musk’s tech startup, xAI. Grok is just not the primary of its kind: Google’s Gemini or OpenAI’s ChatGPT also enable the transfer of medical images.

While some praise the technology’s potential advances, medical privacy experts don’t not on this camp.

“It’s very personal data, and there’s no telling exactly what Grok will do with it,” said Vanderbilt University biomedical informatics professor Dr. Bradley Malin, according to “Sending personal information to Grok is more like, ‘Whee!’ Let’s throw out this data and hope the corporate does what I need it to do.”

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects medical information shared with physicians or in a patient portal because federal guidelines protect it from being shared without consent. However, the protection doesn’t cover social networking sites – it only applies to doctor’s offices, hospitals, health insurers and a few firms they work with.


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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