Alzheimer’s Agitation can be Helped

Agitation in Alzheimer’s can now be helped by the drug combination of quinidine and dextromethorphan.  This complication can be devastating for family members and nursing home personnel.  However, even better results have been reported  by treating affected patients with low level laser therapy  around and below the skull.  The latter usually gets great results in 5-10 treatments.  Occasional maintenance therapy might be needed.  Memory problems are slower to respond, but the loss of agitation shows the greatest improvement.

See Alzheimer’s Association Congress Proceedings, and painmanagementusa.com

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Cognitive Decline After Major Surgery

A report at the Alzheimer’s Association Congress in Washington DC showed that at least 20% of patients who undergo major surgery show significant cognitive decline after the surgery.  It makes sense to me for such patients to receive a couple of vitamin C IVs prior to surgery to reduce the risk and improve recovery followed by a phosphatidyl choline and glutathione IV after surgery to preserve mental function.  I have tried this and it works.  The IVs are given in our office will not be covered by Medicare, but they are not that expensive, and the consequences of not taking this precaution might be major.

See Alzheimer’s Association Congress Proceedings, Dr. Katie J. Schennings.

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Take Aspirin or Not?

Generally speaking, aspirin is recommended after a patient has a heart attack and for primary prevention of heart or stroke events for 87% of men and 16% of women, ages 45-79 y.o.  In real life, doctors recommend aspirin on only 34% of men and in a robust 42% of women.  This means the US Preventive Services is out of touch with practicing physicians and their patients.  One major probable reason is that aspirin can cause brain hemorrhage and life-threatening gastric ulcers.  I usually suggest a more gentle route of nattokinase, garlic, vitamin E, EDTA, or other more natural combination to reduce the risk and avoid the side effects.

See US Preventive Services Task Force, latest issue.

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Dramatic Increases in the Cost of Drugs and Nutrients

In both the Senate and House of Representatives, there have been recent inquiries about drug companies that buy the rights to produce critical drugs and then greatly increase the price.  Turing Pharmaceuticals recently increased the price of Daraprim, which is the only drug approved for severe toxoplasmosis infections, by 5000%.  Complementary physicians can treat many diseases with high dose IV nutrients such as vitamins C and B-complex.  However, nutrient supply companies are also gouging the public.  Vitamin C for IV treatment recently jumped up from $13 to $65 with no explanation.  It might be a good time to send a note of concern to our elected officials.

 

See Associated Press article for Nov. 5, 2015.

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The Other “Drug Problem”

A JAMA article showed that the number of US adults who take prescription drugs increased from 51% to 59% from 1999 to 2012.  The prevalence of those taking 5 or more drugs almost doubled during the same timeframe, from 8% to 15%.  Large increases were noted for drugs to treat cholesterol, depression, acid reflux, and muscle spasms.  The effect was irrespective of age.  Please listen carefully to all the side effects mentioned in the TV advertisements for drugs.

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Metformin Can Increase Neuropathy

Metformin is a very commonly prescribed drug for Diabetes, polycystic ovaries, and even has been touted as an anti-aging therapy.  However, a Swedish study has found that metformin can cause a vitamin B12 deficiency, which in turn has been linked to peripheral neuropathies.  If you are taking metformin, you should be tested for B12.  If you already have a neuropathy a trial of B12 injections might be beneficial.

 See Family Practice News, October 15, p. 3.

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Chelation is Much More Effective than New Drug to Prevent CV Death for Diabetics

The new drug, empaliflozin, reduces the risk for future cardiac events, including premature death by 14% when added to conventional care.  This was in the front-page article of Family Practice News in October.  However, the TACT study of chelation produced a reduction of the same end points by about 50%.  Chelation also reduces the toxic metal load for patients, which might lessen the risk of cancer and other diseases.  If you are a diabetic, or even a pre-diabetic, I urge you to consider chelation.  Without chelation, having diabetes shortens the lifespan by 5-7 years.  Nothing works better.

See Family Practice News, October 15, 2015, p. 1.

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The FDA IS Going After Arthritic Patients and Their Docs?

Word is out that the FDA is formulating regulations to prohibit or restrict the use of Platelet Rich Plasma, which is spun down from a sample of your own blood and then injected into your unstable joints.  To me this is an outrageous intrusion into the patient/doctor relationship.  However, I have found by talking to many of my colleagues that simple prolotherapy using dextrose and lidocaine works just as well and is safer and cheaper than PRP.  We use prolotherapy all the time with excellent results for most patients.

See  The Pulse of Natural Health,  April 28, 2015.

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