Vitamin Information Center

Are you popping too many pills along with Alesse and INCREASING your risk of getting pregnant? Find out by checking if you are taking any of these medications and possibly reducing the effectiveness of your oral contraceptive pill.

Alesse is a combined oral contraceptive pill that is very effective in preventing pregnancy when taken correctly. However, did you know that certain other drugs, when taken alongside Alesse, can reduce this effectiveness and possibly increase your risk of getting pregnant? Alesse contains ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel which may react with any of the drugs listed below so please carefully check the package list of ‘active ingredients’ on ANY medications you are taking alongside Alesse.

NB. This includes herbal products, vitamins and minerals, over the counter medications such as pain killers, sleeping pills and other prescriptions you have filled. Check with your doctor if you use illegal drugs as well as Alesse and if you are a heavy drinker of alcohol or smoke to excess.

acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ascorbic acid (vitamin C) •anastrozole •antibiotics or medicines for infections, especially rifampin •aprepitant •barbiturate medicines for producing sleep or treating seizures (convulsions)secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton) •bosentan •carbamazepine (Tegretol) •caffeine •clofibrate •cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf) •dantrolene •doxercalciferol •exemestane •grapefruit juice •hydrocortisone •letrozole •medicines for anxiety or sleeping problems, such as diazepam or temazepam •medicines for mental depression •medicines for diabetes, including troglitazone and pioglitazone •mineral oil •modafinil •mycophenolate •nefazodone •oxcarbazepine phenylbutazone (Azolid, Butazolidin) •phenytoin (Dilantin) •prednisolone (Orapred) primidone (Mysoline) rifampin •ritonavir (Norvir)or other medicines for the treatment of the HIV virus or AIDS such as modafinil (Provigil) •selegiline •soy isoflavones supplements •St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) •tamoxifen or raloxifene •testolactone •theophylline (Respbid, Theo-Dur) •topiramate (Topamax) •warfarin

………..and possibly certain antibiotics (such as ampicillin and other penicillins and tetracyclines)

WARNING: Do not share Alesse with anyone else and keep the pack of oral contraceptive pills out of the reach of children. Do not use Alesse or any other medication after the expiry date on the pack. Sources: Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc.Philadelphia, DrugDigest, Drugs.com The above information is intended as a guide only and should not be substituted for the professional expertise and advice from your doctor or pharmacist.

Everyone gets sick sooner or later. Even though you can’t entirely stop a cold you can prevent it from getting stronger and lasting longer. I would like to share with you today a few things you can do to over come your common colds.

When you get sick it is a virus that has entered your body. You have what I like to call helper cells that multiply to fight the illness that is upon you. The thing is your cells create new cells every time a new virus enters your body. A certain cell is created specifically for the virus that is affecting you at the time. Once your cells have defeated the virus you will never get sick from that same virus again because you have those cells in your body ready to fight before it affects you. There are many different forms of every virus so although it may seem like your getting the flu for the 50th time it’s actually the flu but a different type than the other 50.

Things you can do to over come these colds are simple but very effective. You can get a shot which is pretty much like planting those helper cells in you so they are there to fight instead of waiting till your sick to form and fight. This way is the most effective when it comes to fighting the common colds.

Another way you can prevent the common cold is to make sure you get a lot of vitamins everyday. I know people that have been taking vitamins all there life and they are never sick. Now I’m not saying you won’t get sick, I’m just saying this will help. Vitamins help strengthen your immune system which is like your army for the war against the cold.

A few other things that can be done are what most people do; go get the cold medicine at the local pharmacy or store. The pharmacies are always getting the newest kinds of medicine for all types of aches and pains but sometimes can be very expensive. The other things you can do are eating healthy and take care of your body. Make sure you brush your teeth at least two times a day and take showers everyday. It is also good to have some sort of yearly check ups with your family doctor. If you have been keeping a good hygiene and taking good care of yourself you will be fine.

Our drugstores and shopping malls are crowded with acne cures of all kinds. The eBay Health and Beauty section is crowded with them. No wonder young people afflicted with acne don’t know which treatment is most likely to suit them. Continue Reading…

Are vitamin pills good for you or not? Forty years ago, I was taught in medical school that they were useless, because you got all the vitamins you needed in a typical diet. What my teachers meant was that you got enough of the vitamins in your diet to prevent well-recognized vitamin-deficiency diseases. For example, you got more than enough vitamin C in your diet to prevent the disease called scurvy. Continue Reading…