metoprolol

Metoprolol is a Beta-blocker. Beta-blockers block the action of the natural flight-or-fight response and are used to treat high blood pressure.

I take 25mg, twice a day.

Taking Metoprolol can be a problem if you have diabets or depression, and I have both. But, my doctor seems to think it's okay. I hope he's right.

Some side effects can be worse than others.

serious side effects:

* slow or uneven heartbeats;
* feeling light-headed, fainting;
* feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;
* swelling of your ankles or feet;
* nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
* depression; or
* cold feeling in your hands and feet.

Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:

* vomiting;
* decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm;
* sleep problems (insomnia);
* tired feeling; or
* anxiety, nervousness.

Metoprolol has a bad reaction with grapefruit. Some drugs it interacts with include

What other drugs will affect metoprolol?

Before taking metoprolol, tell your doctor if you are using:

*

digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin);
*

clonidine (Catapres);
*

ritonavir (Norvir);
*

terbinafine (Lamisil);
*

anti-malaria medications such as chloroquine (Aralen) or hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil, Quineprox);
*

medicine to treat depression or mental illness, such as bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), paroxetine (Paxil), thioridazine (Mellaril), and others;
*

an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam);
*

a diabetes medication such as insulin, glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase, Glynase), glipizide (Glucotrol), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), or metformin (Glucophage);
*

a heart medication such as nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex), propafenone (Rythmol), reserpine (Serpasil), verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Isoptin), diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem);
* medicine for asthma or other breathing disorders, such as albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil), bitolterol (Tornalate), metaproterenol (Alupent), pirbuterol (Maxair), terbutaline (Brethaire, Brethine, Bricanyl), and theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theolair);
* a diuretic (water pill) such as amiloride (Midamor, Moduretic), chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Hyzaar, Lopressor, Vasoretic, Zestoretic), spironolactone (Aldactazide, Aldactone), triamterene (Dyrenium, Maxzide, Dyazide), torsemide (Demadex), and others; or
* cold medicines, stimulant medicines, or diet pills.

Since I take both Zoloft (similar to Prozac and Paxil) and amiloride, I'm not so sure this drug is a good idea for me.

Divalproex

Divalproex is an anticonvulsant and antimanic drug. I take it for its antimanic properties because of a prior reaction I had to an overdose of zoloft.

Divalproex has adverse interaction with

Acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) (with long-term, high-dose use) or
Amiodarone (e.g., Cordarone) or
Amitriptyline and nortriptyline
Anabolic steroids (nandrolone [e.g., Anabolin], oxandrolone [e.g., Anavar], oxymetholone [e.g., Anadrol], stanozolol [e.g., Winstrol]) or
Androgens (male hormones) or
Anticoagulants
Aspirin
Barbiturates or
Carbamazepine (e.g., Tegretol) or
Carmustine (e.g., BiCNU) or
Dantrolene (e.g., Dantrium) or
Daunorubicin (e.g., Cerubidine) or
Disulfiram (e.g., Antabuse) or
Estrogens (female hormones) or
Ethosuximide
Etretinate (e.g., Tegison) or
Gold salts (medicine for arthritis) or
Mercaptopurine (e.g., Purinethol) or
Methotrexate (e.g., Mexate) or
Methyldopa (e.g., Aldomet) or
Naltrexone (e.g., Trexan) (with long-term, high-dose use) or
Phenothiazines (acetophenazine [e.g., Tindal], chlorpromazine [e.g., Thorazine], fluphenazine [e.g., Prolixin], mesoridazine [e.g., Serentil], perphenazine [e.g., Trilafon], prochlorperazine [e.g., Compazine], promazine [e.g., Sparine], promethazine [e.g., Phenergan], thioridazine [e.g., Mellaril], trifluoperazine [e.g., Stelazine], triflupromazine [e.g., Vesprin], trimeprazine [e.g., Temaril]) or
Plicamycin (e.g., Mithracin)—There is an increased risk of serious side effects to the liver
Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicines that cause drowsiness) or
Tricyclic antidepressants (medicine for depression)—There may be an increase in CNS depressant effects
Carbenicillin by injection (e.g., Geopen) or
Dipyridamole (e.g., Persantine) or
Inflammation or pain medicine, except narcotics, or
Pentoxifylline (e.g., Trental) or
Sulfinpyrazone (e.g., Anturane) or
Ticarcillin (e.g., Ticar)—Valproic acid, valproate sodium, or divalproex may increase the chance of bleeding because of decreased blood clotting ability; the potential of aspirin, medicine for inflammation or pain, or sulfinpyrazone to cause stomach ulcer and bleeding may also increase the chance of bleeding in patients taking valproic acid, valproate sodium, or divalproex
Heparin—There is an increased risk of side effects that may cause bleeding
Mefloquine—The amount of valproic acid, valproate sodium, or divalproex that you need to take may change
Other anticonvulsants (medicine for seizures)—There is an increased risk of seizures or other unwanted effects

Side effects include

More common

body aches or pain ; congestion; cough; dryness or soreness of throat; fever ; hoarseness runny nose; tender, swollen glands in neck ; trouble in swallowing; voice changes

Less common

Abdominal or stomach cramps (severe); behavioral, mood, or mental changes; blurred vision;; confusion; ; continuous, uncontrolled back-and-forth and/or rolling eye movements; earache, redness or swelling in ear; dizziness,; double vision; faintness, or light-headedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly; sweating; unusual tiredness or weakness; fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse; heavy, nonmenstrual vaginal bleeding; increase in seizures; loss of appetite; nausea or vomiting (continuing); rapid weight gain; spots before eyes; swelling of face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet; tingling of hands or feet; tiredness and weakness; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual weight gain or loss; vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds; yellow eyes or skin

Sertraline

Sertraline is the generic name for Zoloft, an SSRI anti-depressant.

Side effects include

nausea
diarrhea
constipation
vomiting
dry mouth
gas or bloating
loss of appetite
weight changes
drowsiness
dizziness
excessive tiredness
headache
pain, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet
nervousness
uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
sore throat
changes in sex drive or ability
excessive sweating

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms call your doctor immediately:

blurred vision
seizures
abnormal bleeding or bruising
hallucinating (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)

When I first started taking Zoloft, a few years ago, I was taking too much and did experience blurred vision. However, my doctor was a complete quack and when I described it to him I didn't use the phrase "blurred vision". I just told him that as I drove down the highway the scenery looked like a flat oil painting. So he ignored me.

Pay careful attention to doctors who aren't paying attention to you and if that describes your doctor you need to find another one. Quack doctors do more harm than side effects to medication and psychiatry has more than its share of quacks.

Sertraline has negative interactions with

•astemizole (Hismanal®)
•cisapride (Propulsid®)
•pimozide (Orap®)
•terfenadine (Seldane®)
•thioridazine (Mellaril®)
•medicines called MAO inhibitors-phenelzine (Nardil®), tranylcypromine (Parnate®), isocarboxazid (Marplan®), selegiline (Eldepryl®)

Sertraline may also interact with the following medications:
•amphetamine
•bosentan
•carbamazepine
•certain diet drugs (dexfenfluramine, fenfluramine, phentermine, sibutramine)
•certain migraine headache medicines (almotriptan, eletriptan, frovatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, zolmitriptan)
•cimetidine
•cyclosporine
•dextroamphetamine
•dextromethorphan
•diazepam
•doxercalciferol
•furazolidone
•linezolid
•other medicines for mental depression, mania, anxiety, psychosis or difficulty sleeping
•phenobarbital
•prescription pain medications
•procarbazine
•rifabutin
•rifampin
•rifapentine
•selegiline
•St. John's wort
•tolbutamide
•tramadol
•warfarin

St. Johns Wort is an effective herbal treatment for depression. Do not take both St. Johns Wort and sertraline becuase they have a cumulative effect on brain chemistry.

Erectile dysfunction is one of the most frequent side effects of SSRI medications. An herb that can help counteract that is Ginko Biloba. Ginko Biloba improves blood flow and is helpful in erectile dysfunction, diabetes, high blood pressure, and memory loss.

Glyburide

Glyburide stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin.

side effects.
skin rash
itching or redness
exaggerated sunburn
yellowing of the skin or eyes
light-colored stools
dark urine
unusual bleeding or bruising
fever
sore throat

Bitter Olive Salad

Bitter Melon, an Asian squash with a somewhat bitter taste, seems to have some slight medicinal properties for diabetics, stimulating the processing of sugars. So, I'm trying to come up with different ways to include some Bitter Melon in my diet on a regular basis.


2 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
chop 4-5 slices bitter melon (de-seeded).
1 chopped celery stalk
2-3 onion slices, chopped
1/4 cup chopped green olives
1/3 tbsp horseradish
couple of dashes of red pepper flakes
2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Combine all ingredients. Mix well. Marinate from 2 hours to a couple of days.

Serve as a topping for Italian sandwiches, hamburgers, etc.

Metformin

Metformin is a treatment for Type II diabetes.

It works by decreasing the amount of sugar that the liver produces and the intestines absorb. It also helps to make your body more sensitive to the insulin that you naturally produce.

Be careful what else you take with metformin

Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

Amiloride, cimetidine, digoxin, morphine, procainamide, quinidine, quinine, ranitidine, triamterene, trimethoprim, or vancomycin ... may increase the risk of Metformin 's side effects
Calcium channel blockers (eg, nifedipine), corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), diuretics (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide), estrogen, hormonal contraceptives (eg, birth control pills), insulin, isoniazid, nicotinic acid, phenothiazine (eg, chlorpromazine), phenytoin, sulfonylureas (eg, glipizide), sympathomimetics (eg, albuterol, pseudoephedrine), or thyroid hormones (eg, levothyroxine) because the risk of high or low blood sugar may be increased

Amlodipine besylate is one of the medications I take, and it's a calcium channel blocker.

The other day I went on an overnight trip and packed some pills in old pill boxes to throw in the suitcase. My old metformin script was for 500 mg pills, take 2 twice a day. My new pills are 1000 mg pills, 1 twice a day. I read the bottle, saw the twice a day, and thought I must have been taking the wrong dosage, so I took two pills.

When I got home I kept up the 2 pills twice a day (I just didn't look on the new label) and within a couple of days starting getting throbbing pains in my ankle. That's not listed as one of the side effects of meformin, but when I went back to the correct dosage the throbbing subsided.

So, if you're mixing metformin with other pills pay attention to side effect potentials. Common side effects are

Diarrhea; gas; headache; indigestion; nausea; stomach upset; temporary metallic taste; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain or discomfort; dizziness or lightheadedness; fast or difficult breathing; feeling of being unusually cold; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; general feeling of being unwell; muscle pain or weakness; slow or irregular heartbeat; unusual drowsiness; unusual or persistent stomach pain or discomfort; unusual tiredness or weakness.

Amlodipine besylate

Amlodipine besylate is a medication that's being prescribed for me because of high blood pressure (a complication that developed from the diabetes).

It is a type of medication called a calcium channel blocker. These drugs dilate blood vessels and slow the heart to reduce blood pressure and the pain of angina.

A once-a-day medication, (it) may be used alone or in combination with other drugs for high blood pressure

More common side effects may include:
Dizziness, fatigue, flushing, fluid retention and swelling, headache, palpitations (fluttery or throbbing heartbeat)
There are no known food or drug interactions with Amlodipine besylate

Bitter Cilantro and Coconut Shrimp

Make a gravy with 2 tbsp coconut flour, 3 tbsp butter, 1 cup milk.

Add chopped cilantro (about 1/2 cup) and coconut flakes (about 3 tbsp). Be sure and use unsweetened coconut, a lot of the stuff in the grocery store has added sugar.

Add 1/2 cup chopped bitter melon (without seeds) and 1 chopped celery stalk.

Add black pepper and cook over low heat until it's all blended.

Add small jar of artichoke hearts (6 oz) and 1 lb. cooked, shelled shrimp.

Continue cooking over low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring often.

If you aren't diabetic you could serve it over rice. Otherwise just try a toasted slice of low-carb toast.

Bitter tomato soup

1/2 cup chopped bitter melon (deseeded).
1/2 cup chopped zucchini
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 chopped celery stalk

Saute in pan with light coating of oil.
Add small amount of water and simmer a few minutes.
Add 1 tbsp turmeric.

Add can of tomato soup.
Bring to slight boil.

Diabetic Potato Salad

Turnips make a good low-carb substitute for potatos.

Boil 1 turnip and 1 red potato. Chop them.
Chop 3 green onions.
Chop 2 celery stalks.

Mix together with 3 large spoons of salad dressing, 1 cooked bacon strip (crumbled).

Add black pepper to taste.

Correction: I got a complaint about how I spelled potatoe, so I changed it. Or is it spelt?

Diabetics Banana Split

Banana's are fairly high in carbs -- about 30 grams per banana. But they are really good in vitamins, including potassium which is helpful for leg cramps that diabetics sometimes get from poor leg circulation.

So what do we do?

Well, cinamon and baker's dark chocolate help the body process sugars.

So, slice up a banana, put it in the bottem of a bowl.

Add a couple of scoops of a sugar free vanilla ice cream.

Make a sauce of about an ounce of baker's chololate shavings, about an ounce of cinaomon, a couple of ounces of artificial sweetner and a splash of milk by heating it in a microwave until it's all blended.

Poor over the ice cream.

Top with a spoonful of sugar free cherry preserves (about 2 grams of carbohydrates).

That should work.

Search engine terms

Some search engine terms that have brought people to the blog

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How many carbohydrates in a hamburger steak
is dark sugar good for you?
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That's just a few. A couple of banana searches in that batch, a couple of dark chocolate queries. Maybe I need to do a blog post about chocolate bananas?