Prescription for Well-Being

Flomax and Low Cost Alternatives

I won't try and school you on Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, so wiki can do that for me. I will however provide some low cost alternatives for Flomax, the leading prescription drug to help people relieve themselves without urinary hesitancy or frequent urination. Low Cost Alternatives are a great option for those in search of the benefits of brand name drugs without emptying wallets along the way.

Flomax

your prescription	Type (Copay)	Retail	Mail Service
Flomax (tamsulosin)	Brand	$83.92	$248.78
0.4 MG Capsule, 1 Capsule, once a day
	Low Cost Alternative Prescriptions
	Potential Annual Savings: $929.10
your prescription	Type (Copay)	Retail	Mail Service
Prazosin (generic)	Generic	$7.50	$248.78
1MG Capsule, 1 Capsule, once a day	Annual Savings:	$917.10	$929.10
Doxazosin (generic)	Generic	$15.30	$42.90
1MG Tablet, 1 Tablet, once a day	Annual Savings:	$823.50	$835.50
Minipress (prazosin)	Brand	$20.92	$59.78
1MG Capsule, 1 Capsule, once a day	Annual Savings:	$756.00	$768.00
Terazosin (generic)	Generic	$31.65	$91.95
1MG Capsule, 1 Capsule, once a day	Annual Savings:	$627.30	$639.30
Cardura (doxazosin)	Brand	$43.76	$128.29
1MG Capsule, 1 Capsule, once a day	Annual Savings:	$481.95	$483.95
Hytrin (terazosin)	Brand	$63.98	$188.92
1MG Capsule, 1 Capsule, once a day	Annual Savings:	$239.40	$251.40
Uroxatral (alfuzosin)	Generic	$82.88	$245.62
10MG Tablet, 1 Tablet, once a day	Annual Savings:	$12.60	$24.60

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

THE APPROVAL OF YOUR PHYSICIAN IS REQUIRED FOR ALL PRESCRIPTION STRENGTH DRUG OPTIONS AND DOSAGES. THIS INFORMATION USES APPROXIMATE DOSAGES FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES. YOUR DOCTOR WILL SELECT THE APPROPRIATE DOSE BASED ON YOUR CONDITION.

Content provided by Rxaminer: a DRX site, where you can find more information on Low Cost Alternatives.

Health Tools

One of our missions here at Drx is to provide consumers with new media tools to improve their health care experience. With this in mind I thought I'd peruse the net and see what other helpful resources are floating around that can be useful for health minded summer fun.

1. Air Now - Co government sponsored web site for air quality updates that you can even receive by email.
    They carry a good deal of content relating to smoke and other air quality concerns, how to manage them, and what precautions to take.

2. Heal The bay - they have a weekly report card for beaches in California. Very helpful and reliable information broken down by county for easy navigation to your nearest beach of choice.

3. Google Maps Mobile - if you lack GPS or feel you can find point B with a good sense of direction google maps mobile is a great tool for summer road trips. Up to the minute traffic reports on your phone is indispensable.

National Interagency Fire Center can also be useful...I was in Jackson, California this past weekend doing the country thing and had to make some adjustments to the trip because of local fires.

I would suggest trying to contact your local parks and rec dpt to get the latest on forest fires in your area and which roads or highways may be closed as a result.

Save yourself some headaches.

Low Cost Alternatives for Meds and Fuel

Bet you thought all we concern ourselves with here is medical well being...if you call it that. Truth be told we are all feeling the effects of a floundering economy, rising energy and food costs as well. So how can we take what we learn from the health care world, low cost alternatives concept, and apply it to other aspects of our life where we may also feel the need for options without compromising usual benefits.

I bought a bike... though initially not totally for fuel saving costs, it has become my daily commuter to work and other activities that are within riding distance from my home. I wont spend time on the health benefits of riding a bicycle as opposed to driving, we'll just say it's he althier for us and saves us a few bucks, which I am really beginning to appreciate; I saw a $5.00 per gallon station on my way to work this morning.
I read this when I came in today from the Huffington Post which helps me feel grateful for a lower cost alternative.

A number of employees here take the train to work from as far as Orange County and Pasadena.
Obvious benefits are the amount of free time you have to work, watch a movie on your iPhone, catch up on the news or read.
I've even heard of a few of us taking the 720 bus to work...gutsy!

EDF has some great stories on biking to work and how its helped people in their personal health goals and pockets.

So go buy your fixie, road, cruiser or hybrid bike and use it... you may even get a tan.

Heat Exhaustion, Heat Stroke, and Hyperhydration?

    We experienced our first indication of summer in May with 80 plus degree weather and since then it's been pretty mild here in Los Angeles. I spent a stint in Salt Lake a few weeks ago in mid 80 degree weather and this past weekend it appears that a good portion of the country received some heat waves with NY hitting 90 degrees. With such great weather to enjoy there come a few risks to be aware of with those marathons and triathlons you will all be participating in. Mainly heat exhaustion, heath stroke and if we aren't mindful, hyper hydration.

   I first heard of hyper hydration in the news some years back when a college football player passed away during summer practice and it was explained that it came about from water intoxication, or hyper hydration (high water intake). Here's a well known article on a radio show contest, "hold your wee for a wii," in which too much water was taken within a short period of time. This can throw off electrolyte balance causing a low concentration of sodium in the blood and often causing brain cells to swell. Usual symptoms or at least the initial symptoms of hyper hydration include light-headedness, nausea, and vomiting. With the more serious cases leading to coma, seizures or stroke.

    So how do we know how much water is enough water? Good question DRX readers. Our bodies are all different, we should recognize when our body is not demanding liquid and keep from over fueling. From what I have read that's been noted as a cause for Hyper hydration; too much water before and during strenuous workouts. Increasing salt intake prior to heavy workouts (days prior) may help with the low sodium issue, I know in college our trainers would give us salt tablets so you may consider those as well. General rules of thumb for hydration are easy to find, but again, listening to your body is probably best in this case.

For heat exhaustion, which will be all too common this summer, there are some guidelines you can follow if you feel it coming on; for fatigue, headache etc...

    * Get the person out of the sun and into a shady or air-conditioned location.
    * Lay the person down and elevate the legs and feet slightly.
    * Loosen or remove the person's clothing.
    * Have the person drink cool water.
    * Cool the person by spraying or sponging him or her with cool water and fanning.
    * Monitor the person carefully. Heat exhaustion can quickly become heatstroke.

If fever greater than 102 F (38.9 C), fainting, confusion or seizures occur, dial 911 or call for emergency medical assistance.

It's summer, and it's beautiful out... keep hydrated, be active and be informed on the latest health news.

Sources:
www.about.com
www.wikipedia.com
www.ottawacitizen.com
If you wish to get clearly defined terms:
Heat Exhaustion
Heat Stroke

Follow up Unhealthy Buzz...Anti Energy Drink

    I read this and thought it brilliant. If anyone wants the opposite effect of an eye popping, blood pulsating rush, try this other drink that's becoming quite the rage in the South. It's been touted by rappers and common folk alike. It's spiked with melatonin, valerian root and rose hips.
     The following is fomr the press release for Drank, "From design to production, every aspect of this calming drink was inspired by today’s popular hip hop artists who embrace the much sought-after hip hop lifestyle that encourages people to capture a stress-free state of mind."

SLOW YOUR ROLL...

sources:
http://blogs.villagevoice.com

Unhealthy Buzz

The use and popularity of "energy drinks" is evident most everywhere we spend time. Gym rats use them to prolong peak performance, workmates for sustainment during early Monday meetings, and others (me) steer clear. Why you ask? And this has no real scientific study backing me, but anything that can alter the state of your body and senses so rapidly can't be, in my mind, all that healthy for you. But are they that harmful or or am I and others being a bit too cautious?
    I just want to reference a few points I have found helpful if any are interested in some ins and outs of energy drinks, what they contain, documented side effects, and where recent studie's are taking the energy drink debate. Here's an excerpt from a recent New York Times article, "In March, The Journal of American College Health published a report on the link between energy drinks, athletics and risky behavior. The study’s author, Kathleen Miller, an addiction researcher at the University of Buffalo, says it suggests that high consumption of energy drinks is associated with “toxic jock” behavior, a constellation of risky and aggressive behaviors including unprotected sex, substance abuse and violence."

    It's fairly clear that energy drink are marketed towards young adults an kids with names like, Monster, Rock Star, and Amp. So it should at the very least concern us if consumption can cause high risk behavior, increase risk in blood pressure or other harm associated with caffeine and high amounts of sugar intake. Energy Fiend is a site that provides an energy drink directory and its associated caffeine amount along with other helpful tools.
    Across the country there have been reports of abnormal heart rhythms and nausea in schoolchildren after using such drinks. In one recent case an teachers at an Oregon middle school  sent an email to parents advising of the effects of energy drinks on their children at school, stating, "The result is that some students are on a caffeine buzz, or falling off a caffeine crash..."
    Do we call on moderation as a starting solution to help mitigate some trends we are seeing, steer clear, advocate for it? There are studies out there suggesting energy drinks lower your chance of diabetes. I suggest be informed, and anything that alters your being rapidly, for a short time and then brings you down has yet to prove itself as a healthy replacement for a great diet, rest, exercise and limiting the amounts of toxins you take in; including caffeine.

Some content ideas were used from the following sources:
http://blogs.villagevoice.com
http://www.chronline.com
http://www.nytimes.com
 

Oogle it; A Dentist Guide

Open Enrollment here at Drx. And if you have ever been as confused as I've been the last week on which dental provider to choose I have something that may be of help; Dr. Oogle. Dr. Oogle is a user friendly patient driven ratings site for dentists. Easy guide; many stars = make your appointment, 1 or 2 stars = reconsider your options. There are other ratings sites out, feel free to try them out as well, but one thing I do like about Dr. Oogle is it only rates dentists.

Registered individuals on Dr. oogle provide their opinions on just the service they received at a dentists offices, and don't provide reviews on the new kicks they picked up on Melrose, the terrible car wash they received on Pico, or the average cut they got at one of those uber chic salons on Little Santa Monica.