A few years ago, I was interviewed by a German TV channel which wanted to show that taking over the counter drugs was a dangerous practice, and had gone to great pains to do some secret filming in Thai suburban pharmacies (of which there are numerous).
The drug they wished to highlight was our old friend (or probably better described as the “friend of the old”), the blue diamonds. They had chosen Thailand because so many blue diamonds were being taken here, and they wanted to show the disastrous side effects from taking the fake pills.
During the course of the interview I pointed out that Germany has its own very well known red light areas, so they could save money on plane fares and get the blue diamond statistics much closer to home. I also pointed out that we were not inundated with octogenarians with heart failure and loaded condoms, and “over the counter” (OTC) drugs could be found all over the world, and not just here.
It might come as no surprise to those who have an inkling of television “news” that they cut my interview out of the feature. Do not forget the journalist’s creed – “Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story”!
So back to counterfeit blue diamonds, how do you find out that yours are real or otherwise? Every day I receive Spam, offering me the opportunity to keep a battalion of beauties satisfied. These are the internet email offers of cut-price drugs that will keep me in a state of perpetual priapism, a continuing (and painful) male erection and the term was coined after the Greek god Priapus who is shown in paintings to have a central member like a third leg.
Offers like these which are too good to be true, are usually just that – too good to be true! These cut-price drugs are not the real deal. The chances are very high that they are counterfeit.
One of the patients showed me a box purporting to be genuine brand name Cialis tablets, which were not having the desired effect. I was immediately suspicious as the box was not all that well printed. I was quite sure they were counterfeit when I read the Patient Information slip (the printed sheet that you don’t read). The English grammar was incorrect, and there were spelling mistakes. Eli Lilly, the ‘real’ manufacturer does not send out mis-spelled literature with their product. How real is the threat of counterfeit drugs? The World Health Organization estimates that one in three drugs on the worldwide market today is counterfeit. One in three!
Pfizer’s laboratories analyze fakes and stated, “We’ve seen boric acid, heavy metals, road paint, floor wax to coat the pills and give them a shine.”This is actually a serious situation. If specific drugs are only available through pharmacies, on the prescription of a doctor, is it safe to just buy over the internet (or counter), without any doctor’s advice?
According to WHO, drugs commonly counterfeited include antibiotics, antimalarials, hormones and steroids. Increasingly, anticancer and antiviral drugs are also faked. And you can add to that, the ‘blue diamonds’. Get your medications on a doctor’s prescription. There is a reason for it.
I do know that many of our patients complain that my hospital’s pharmacy is expensive, but that is the price of guaranteeing that your medications are not the WHO’s one in three fake medications in our pharmacy! We may be more expensive, but the medication is the real deal!
Previously published in the Pattaya Mail.
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retchedAussie national, Mark community volunteer, email himB. [email protected].Do you want to continue:
On-line advertising ‘Over The Counter’Exact Authenticity? ‘Post [email protected].Australian national, Mark community volunteer, email him1.Nitrates (e.g., nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate): Cialis and nitrates both lower blood pressure. Taking them together can cause a significant and potentially life-threatening drop in blood pressure (hypotension), leading to dizziness, fainting, or even heart attack or stroke. It is contraindicated to use Cialis with nitrates or recreational "poppers" (amyl nitrites).
2.Alpha-blockers (e.g., prazosin, terazosin, tamsulosin): Both Cialis and alpha-blockers relax blood vessels, which can lead to excessive blood pressure reduction when used together. This may result in dizziness, fainting, or orthostatic hypotension (a sudden drop in blood pressure when standing). If needed, your doctor may adjust the dosage or recommend spacing the medications.
3.Other antihypertensive drugs (e.g., atenolol, propranolol, enalapril, lisinopril): Cialis can enhance the blood-pressure-lowering effects of these medications. While this interaction is usually less severe than with nitrates or alpha-blockers, it can still cause dizziness or fainting in sensitive individuals. Close monitoring of blood pressure is recommended.
Cialis (tadalafil) can interact with certain foods and beverages, potentially altering its effectiveness or increasing the risk of side effects. Here are the key drug-food interactions to be aware of:
Cialis (tadalafil) can cause a drug to interact with certain drugs, potentially altering its effectiveness or increasing the risk of side effects.
1.Nitrates (e.g., nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate): Cialis and nitrates both lower blood pressure. Taking them together can cause a significant and potentially life-threatening drop in blood pressure (hypotension), leading to dizziness, fainting, or even heart attack or stroke. It is contraindicated to use Cialis with nitrates or recreational "poppers" (amyl nitrites).
2.Alpha-blockers (e.g., prazosin, terazosin, tamsulosin): Both Cialis and alpha-blockers relax blood vessels, which can lead to excessive blood pressure reduction when used together. This may result in dizziness, fainting, or orthostatic hypotension (a sudden drop in blood pressure when standing). If needed, your doctor may adjust the dosage or recommend spacing the medications.
3.Other antihypertensive drugs (e.g., atenolol, propranolol, enalapril, lisinopril): Cialis can enhance the blood-pressure-lowering effects of these medications. While this interaction is usually less severe than with nitrates or alpha-blockers, it can still cause dizziness or fainting in sensitive individuals. Close monitoring of blood pressure is recommended.
Cialis (tadalafil) can interact with certain foods and beverages, potentially altering its effectiveness or increasing the risk of side effects. Here are the key drug-food interactions to be aware of:
Cialis and alpha-blockers can also cause an increase in blood pressure, which may result in symptoms like dizziness or fainting. If you miss your dose, take the full prescribed dose in the morning. When using Cialis with alpha-blockers for chest pain or pulmonary hypertension, do not take the medication more than once a day. Your doctor will monitor you for side effects through here at TopDrugstore.com.
If you're using Cialis with an alpha-blocker for any condition, discuss potential risks and benefits with your healthcare provider before using it with this drug. It's important to follow the recommendations of your doctor and not to exceed the recommended dosage. If you're using Cialis with an alpha-blocker for pulmonary hypertension, discuss potential risks and benefits with your doctor before using it with this drug. It's important to note that Cialis and other alpha-blockers can interact with other medications such as certain blood pressure lowering drugs, especially when used with other drugs that may cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
In a new survey of men who buy Viagra from an online pharmacy in south africa, a group that includes doctors and nurses, found that almost half of the men say they have bought the drug without prescription and the price of the drug is significantly lower than expected. Men buying Viagra in the South African market are often advised to have sex on the drug, and it is not uncommon to buy drugs from websites that sell Viagra without a prescription. The survey was done among more than 200 men who have purchased the drug online and it was found that the majority of men were not aware of the availability of the drug and that the online pharmacies were not always reliable. This is the first time the use of Viagra has been shown to be safe and effective. However, the survey shows that men who buy the drug from online pharmacies are often not aware of how the drug works and the side effects it can have. The drug can have some side effects that should be reported to a doctor as soon as possible. It is also important to note that while Viagra can be prescribed by a doctor, it is not always the only option available for this purpose. Men who buy Viagra online without a prescription should be aware that they can be treated with nitrates, a form of medication commonly used to treat angina, or a form of erectile dysfunction, and should always be treated with medication. Men who buy the drug should also be aware that Viagra is available in various forms and that they should only be used under the guidance of a doctor and not as a substitute for an over-the-counter medicine. A study conducted by the University of Cape Town found that men who buy Viagra online from online pharmacies are more likely to be diagnosed with erectile dysfunction and to experience more side effects. In addition, men who buy the drug from a pharmacy without prescription are more likely to experience more side effects and may not be able to take the drug as it can be dangerous to take. This is because Viagra is a treatment for men with erectile dysfunction and this can cause side effects such as headache, back pain, muscle aches, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. Another study conducted by the University of Cape Town found that men who buy Viagra online from an online pharmacy are more likely to experience more side effects. It is also important to note that men who buy Viagra online without a prescription should be aware that the use of Viagra is not always the only option available for this purpose. Men who buy the drug online should also be aware that it can cause side effects such as headache, back pain, muscle aches, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. It is also important to note that while Viagra can be used to treat erectile dysfunction, it is not always the only option available for this purpose. Men who buy the drug online should also be aware that it can cause side effects such as headache, back pain, muscle aches, dizziness, and fatigue.
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