Herbs Vodka

August 20, 2008

Galanthamine

Galantamine, galanthamine hydrobromide, Galanthus nivalis, G. woronowii Galanthamine is an alkaloid and a selective, long-acting acetylcholinesterase inhibitor derived from the plant Galanthus nivalis or G. woronowii. It antagonizes the muscle relaxation caused by nondepolarizing, curare-like muscle relaxants.

Galanthamine may also modulate nicotinic cholinergic receptors and help improve daily functioning in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. It’s available in oral and LV. solutions and tablets, in products such as Jilkon, Lycoremin, and Nivalin.

Reported uses

Galanthamine is used to treat symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, neuromuscular disorders, and mania. It’s also used postoperatively to reverse the effects of neuromuscular blockers.

Administration

  • Alzheimer’s disease: Dosage is 20 to 50 mg by mouth every day, administered in 2 to 3 divided doses; the lowest possible dose should be used.
  • Reversal of neuromuscular blockers: Dosage is 0.3 mg/kg LV.

Hazards

Galanthamine may cause agitation, sleep disturbances, insomnia, light headedness, bradycardia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and anorexia. When used with other cholinergics (parasympathomimetics), there is the potential to increase adverse effects including bradycardia, hypotension, and respiratory distress.

Those with a known allergy or hypersensitivity to galanthamine should avoid use. Pregnant and breast-feeding patients, and those with gastrointestinal ulcer, Parkinson’s disease, severe heart disease, bradycardia, bronchial asthma, epilepsy, hyperkinesia, ileus, or ureter occlusion should also avoid use.

Clinical considerations

  • Galanthamine is considered an investigational drug in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. More studies are being conducted to assess its efficacy. It may not be available for public use.
  • Response to drug for Alzheimer’s disease and mania may take 6 to 8 weeks.
  • If patient is also taking an anti parkinsonian, monitor closely for symptom improvement or progression and adverse effects.
  • Monitor patient for agitation, weight loss, and bradycardia.
  • If patient is pregnant or breastfeeding, advise her not to use galanthamine. . Tell patient to take with meals, if possible.
  • Tell patient to remind pharmacist of any herbal or dietary supplement that he’s taking when obtaining a new prescription.
  • Advise patient to consult his health care provider before using an herbal preparation because a conventional treatment with proven efficacy may be available.

Research summary

The concepts behind the use of galanthamine and the claims made regarding its effects haven’t yet been validated scientifically.

August 6, 2008

Healthy Weight Loss Diet Plan Tips

It is astonishing to see the number of people who think that the best way to lose excess pounds is by starvation and though it might yield some result immediately, but no dietician in his right mind would advocate such a desperate measure. Only healthy weight loss diets are favored by doctors who warn against desperate moves, as then the body not only becomes weaker, but it fails to fight any disease subsequently. The best healthy weight loss diets would advocate two things: keep the calories limited to the exact requirement and supply the body with essential nutrients during dieting.

Most individuals do not take the need for good rest too seriously in the overall upkeep of good health, as it is equally essential as burning all the excess calories which accumulate in the fat in the body. Nearly all of the women’s magazines are seen recommending the use of such unscientific diet plans to its readers who are lead to believe that these plans are part of a healthy weight loss program. It’s called Hydroxycut, and it’s one of the most effective fat-burning supplements of its kind. For example: consume only boiled vegetables with chicken, fruit and salads, and while the fundamental starting idea is not incorrect, a truly healthy weight loss diet needs to include other nutrients as well, that are not naturally occurring in boiled vegetables for instance. People who diet with these food groups, commonly lose excess pounds and feel lighter too, but in the ultimate analysis, they succumb to temptation as sticking to this type of diet is nearly impossible as it is very boring.

If you really want to stick to your healthy weight loss diet, remember not to have high calorific foods and stick your daily exercise schedule, even if it is 30 minutes of walking every day and get a good nights’ sleep. Rest is an astonishingly important part of our lives – something which medicine is only just starting to comprehend but it is common amongst people with weight problems to feast during the night, often not remembering they have done it. In case you too have the habit of stuffing yourself at night, remember, you are completely negating all your efforts of following a healthy weight loss diet plan with the right kind of exercise to burn those calories. You can see the results of a healthy weight loss plan right away, as you get more energetic and feel better in terms of health as you sleep well each night, and these health improvements mean that you are not likely to fall sick often.

Another aspect of a healthy weight loss diet is individual involvement and self-impression about the actual transformation, for instance: being too severe and demanding of yourself, could sometimes do more bad than good. It is serious to note that the body cannot perform magic and slimming down cannot happen like in a dream – most heavy people tend to go through overtly rigorous physical exercises to achieve this impossible ambition. To ensure any healthy weight loss plan works for you, you have to back it with regular physical workouts, which is where overweight people tend to overdo, but remember start slowly with regular jogging or swimming and when your energy levels have increased, join a gym. The moot point here is that you should take one step at a time and never try to overdo anything until such times that you feel totally comfortable with your physical exertions.

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