People are often caught off-guard when they hear that someone intentionally killed herself. In suicide, the decision to take your own life may come through irrational thought or because life seems too painful to continue. According to the National...
Prescription drug abuse is a rapidly growing health problem in the United States. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that an estimated 20 percent of the population in the United States has used prescription drugs for nonmedicinal...
Vitamins are a leading cause of accidental poisoning in children in the United States, according to Southwestern Medical Center. Vitamins, like medicine, may be harmful if misused or not given as directed. Some children's vitamins are manufactured...
Antimalarial medications, including chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, are used for prophylaxis, treatment and prevention of malaria. They are commonly prescribed to previously-unexposed or immunodeficient people who are traveling to areas...
Caffeine is a substance found naturally in sources such as coffee beans and cocoa-based products and added to certain soft drinks, supplements and medications. Caffeine stimulates your central nervous system, which means it increases your...
Excess coffee intake can lead to a variety of symptoms that mimic those of a heart attack. Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating, shortness of breath and lightheadedness can all occur in individuals who consume more than the recommended daily...
Vitamins are the favorite supplement of Americans, with 40 percent taking at least one per month and spending $1.7 billion a year, according to a report in "Time" magazine. While some vitamin supplementation can be helpful, especially in people...
Iron is a mineral essential for good health. Iron is found in red blood cells, which help distribute oxygen to cells throughout the body. Iron is also important for energy production. You consume iron from foods like red meat, beans, whole grains...
Digoxin is a medication used to control heart rate and rhythm. Digoxin works by slowing down the conduction system of the heart, which decreases and stabilizes the heart rate and helps the heart beat stronger. Digoxin is used to treat congestive...
Caffeine is a potent stimulant that might cause negative reactions in high doses. While most healthy adults can safely consume up to 300 mg of caffeine a day, caffeine sensitivities and allergies might cause you to experience more radical effects....
Lightheadedness and dizziness are common symptoms associated with excess coffee intake. Of all the components of coffee, caffeine creates the most intensive response on the central and sympathetic nervous systems. Since some cups of coffee can...
According to "The Goodman and Gilman Manual of Pharmacology and Therapeutics," caffeine, which is a stimulant found in many foods, is the most widely-used psychoactive drug in the world. Although coffee has a high caffeine content, apples do not....
Caffeine is the most popular mood-altering drug in the world, according to John Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Coffee is the main form for most people in the United states to obtain caffeine, with soda coming in a close second. This drug has...
"The New York Times," in its May 2010 Health Guide, noted that an acetaminophen, or Tylenol, overdose is one of the most common type of poisonings worldwide. People often feel that because acetaminophen is available over the counter and widely...
L-tyrosine, or tyrosine, is a non-essential amino acid, meaning your body can produce it on its own or it can be obtained through your diet. Tyrosine is formed in your body through the synthesis of another amino acid called phenylalanine, which is...
Tea beverages made from the common camellia sinensis tea plant can have an immediate effect on your mental clarity, focus and alertness. While caffeinated teas tend to have the most noticeable effect on brain function, the chemical known as...
About 75 percent of Americans will experience foot pain at some point, according to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Foot pain can be caused by anything from poor posture to poor balance to inactivity; however, not all foot pain is attributed...
Panadol, a brand of acetaminophen, is widely used for pain relief and fever control in adults and children. Panadol is available in oral form as well as suppository form for patients unable to orally ingest the medication. It should be noted,...
Marijuana (also known as cannabis or THC) is emerging as an alternative treatment for a variety of medical and psychological conditions from cancer and arthritis to depression and insomnia. While the use of marijuana as medicine is still a subject...
Vicodin and Percocet are narcotic pain relievers. Both also contain acetaminophen, an over-the-counter pain reliever. The narcotic pain medicine in Vicodin is hydrocodone; oxycodone is the narcotic in Percocet. These are powerful medications used...
Prenatal vitamins contain essential nutrients, one of which is iron. When iron is consumed in large quantities, it can have serious side effects. Prenatal vitamins are prescribed to women to help improve their nutritional status before pregnancy,...
Autism is a developmental delay that causes symptoms including lack of eye contact and speech difficulties in children. Although the cause is unknown, many different theories exist. Some focus on poor nutrition and environmental toxins. Others...
Oxycodone is a prescription-only narcotic opioid painkiller available in a variety of prescription formulations--including instant- and extended-release pills. It is available in combination with acetaminophen as well. Oxycodone is a widely...
Several companies market lecithin and vinegar diet pills, which also come in different doses even though the appropriate dosage of both ingredients has yet to be determined by the FDA. Touted as a weight loss wonder, lecithin and vinegar pills...
Caffeine is classified as a minor central nervous system stimulant. According to Harvard Health Publications, the effects of caffeine can be felt as fast as 15 minutes, and some of these effects can last up to six hours. In modest amounts,...
Vistaril, generically sold as hydroxyzine, is a medication used to treat anxiety and relieve allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose and hives. It is also used for sedation during surgery and to prevent nausea and vomiting, according to...
Caffeine is a substance that naturally exists in some plants but is also produced synthetically and added to certain foods and drinks, according to National Institutes of Health online medical encyclopedia Medline Plus. Some major sources of...
While many Americans are familiar with the pleasant mental buzz that sometimes accompanies a caffeinated beverage, drinking too much caffeine can wreck havoc on the digestive system. Even moderate doses of caffeine can cause an increase in the...
Despite its illegal status, cannabis remains the most popular recreational drug in the world, as well as the single largest cash crop in the U.S., according to a report released in 2006 by Jon Gettman, leader of a group that advocates...
