THE NIGERIAN PHARMACIST BLOG

You have often heard your doctor or pharmacist advising you not to take certain antimalarials with fruits or Vitamin C tablets and you wonder why. Malaria is a serious and potentially fatal disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite, transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were an estimated 229 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2019, with an estimated 409,000 deaths. Artemether is an antimalarial drug commonly used to treat malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly species of the parasite. However, it is advised that artemether-based antimalarials should not be taken with vitamin C or fruits, such as grapefruit, orange, or pomelo. In this blog post, we will discuss the reasons behind this advice and the potential risks of combining artemether with vitamin C or fruits. Artemether is a member of the artemisinin family of drugs, which are extracted from the sweet wormwood plant (Artemis...

Paracetamol is the most commonly abused over the counter analgesic in Nigeria. Often times people take more than the prescribed dose (overdose) and claim that the normal dose doesn't give the therapeutic effect. Cases have also been reported of people using Paracetamol as meat tenderizer in Nigeria, the long term effect of paracetamol abuse may result in liver problem. In this blog post we will try to show why you shouldn't take paracetamol more than the prescribed dose and the dosage regimen. Acetaminophen (also known as Paracetamol) is a commonly used over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer. It is widely available and considered safe when taken at recommended doses. However, the abuse of this medication can have serious consequences. Pharmacology of Acetaminophen: Acetaminophen is a weak inhibitor of the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, which are responsible for the production of prostaglandins, molecules that play a role in pain and inflammation. Acetaminophen is belie...

Pregnancy is a special time when a woman's body goes through many changes to support the growth and development of a new life. It is essential to take good care of oneself during this time to ensure the health and wellbeing of the growing baby. One of the most important things that a pregnant woman can do for her baby is to avoid alcohol during pregnancy. Here are some of the reasons why avoiding alcohol during pregnancy is so important: Increased Risk of Miscarriage Drinking alcohol during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk of miscarriage. This risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. Women who drink heavily during the first trimester of pregnancy are more likely to miscarry than women who do not drink. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a serious condition that can occur in babies who are exposed to alcohol in the womb. It can cause a range of physical, behavioral, and cognitive problems, including facial abnormalities, growt...

 You have often heard health care givers caution you not to take alcohol while on drugs. Drug interactions occur when two or more drugs are taken together and their effects on the body are altered. Alcohol is a commonly used substance that can interact with a wide range of medications, leading to unpredictable and potentially dangerous effects. Mixing alcohol with certain drugs can increase the risk of side effects, such as dizziness, drowsiness, impaired coordination, respiratory depression, and even death. Here are some examples of drugs that can interact with alcohol: Antidepressants Antidepressants are commonly used to treat depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. Some antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), can interact with alcohol and cause a range of side effects, including drowsiness, dizziness, impaired coordination, and even respiratory depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are a new...

  Nutrients for Body Functions Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients needed by the body to function properly. These nutrients are obtained from the food we eat and are necessary for growth, development, and maintenance of good health. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of each vitamin and mineral, their sources, and deficiency symptoms. Vitamins Vitamins are organic compounds that are needed in small quantities to maintain good health. They are classified into two groups, water-soluble and fat-soluble. Water-Soluble Vitamins Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water and are not stored in the body. They must be replenished regularly through diet or supplements. Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) Importance: Vitamin B1 is essential for the conversion of carbohydrates into energy. It is also necessary for the proper functioning of the nervous system. Sources: Whole grains, beans, nuts, pork, and fortified cereals. Deficiency symptoms: Fatigue, muscle weakness, nerve damage, an...

 METHAMPHETAMINE (Mkpụrụ mmiri), What our youths should know. I believe the name Mkpụrụ mmiri comes from the fact that the drug, crystal methamphetamine looks like pieces of ice or glass fragments. It was discovered in 1893 and initially was meant for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (because it increases alertness) and obesity (because it reduces appetite), it is rarely prescribed for these uses anymore because of its high addiction rate and subsequent toxicity. Some of the ways people take the drug are by smoking, swallowing or injecting the drug that has been dissolved in water or alcohol. Because the initial high experienced when a user takes the drug does not last long, users often take repeated doses to continue experiencing the ‘highness” and this is where the addiction comes in, the user just wants to experience the euphoria again and again. Methamphetamine also known in the street as Meth, ice or Mkpụrụ mmiri is a potent brain stimulant, this means...

  So today in the Pharmacy, a lady came in with a written note to buy the following antibiotics. Perfloxacin 2 "Cipro infusion" 6 "Ciproxin tablets" 2 Rocephin 6. On seeing the note I wasn't comfortable, I asked her who the drugs were meant for, she said it's for herself, I then asked her who prescribed it and she said a nurse, I asked her to call the nurse that I want to speak with her to know why she wants to give all these antibiotics to one person, maybe all the bacteria in the world are having a conference in the lady's body. Not that the the one she wrote "Ciproxin" is ciprofloxacin and Cipro infusion is also ciprofloxacin but meant for intravenous use (these nurses usually call it Ciproxin or Cipro), Ciprofloxacin and Perfloxacin are the same class of drugs with similar mechanism of action, (same Pharmacology) just some differences in their chemical structures, so basically this "nurse" wants to give one drug in two different f...