Monthly Archives: September 2018

Diabetes

Victoza: Patient Assistance Program. Side Effects, Dosage, and Reviews

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Introducing Victoza

If you are suffering from type 2 diabetes, you probably heard of Victoza – a drug that improves insulin control. Victoza is a brand name for liraglutide – or glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist.

The impressive thing about Victoza is that it does not only provide relief for diabetes patients but reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases also. As a result, there are few Victoza comparable drugs that are as universal and effective.

Here’s a list of conditions that Victoza is effective against:

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Blood sugar spikes
  • High blood pressure
  • Stroke and heart attack, especially in patients with a history of stroke and heart attack.

Where’s the catch? Are there any Victoza side effects?

As always, good things come at a cost. Victoza has a set of side effects that need to be taken into consideration while starting Victoza treatment.

Here’s the list of possible side effects of Victoza use:

– Thyroid cancer

Possible symptoms: shortness of breath, swelling in the neck, trouble swallowing. If you experience any of these symptoms after taking Victoza for a while, contact a doctor ASAP.

– Pancreas inflammation

Possible symptoms: severe pain in the abdomen, ranging into your back.

– Kidney failure

Symptoms may include: diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, dehydration.

– Allergic reactions

The symptoms are: Rashes, itchiness, swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing. Normally allergies manifest when you start medicating, so pay attention to these symptoms the first time you take Victoza.

– Gallbladder problems

Symptoms may include jaundice, pain in the upper right corner of the abdomen, nausea, loss of appetite.

If you notice these or any other suspicious symptoms after starting your Victoza treatment, please contact your doctor ASAP. Consider drugs like Victoza as substitutes (continued below).

What drugs is Victoza comparable to?

Drugs comparable to Victoza belong to the group of incretin mimetics or glucagon-like peptide agonists. Here is a list of drugs that have the same effect as Victoza (improve insulin control, promote weight loss and help tame cardiovascular disease):

  • Trulicity
  • Bydureon
  • Ozempic
  • Adlyxin
  • Byetta

Victoza comes in the form of injections, with pills being tested as well, so it’s characterized by powerful and fast action.

Can you combine other drugs with Victoza?

Doctors advise against injecting insulin simultaneously with Victoza, as well as into the same body part as Victoza. Sulfonylurea may also cause a sudden drop in blood sugar when combined with Victoza. In general, if you are taking any medication that lowers blood sugar – talk to your doctor if you want to combine it with Victoza since the effect will be amplified.

Are there any patient assistance programs for Victoza?

If you are willing to try Victoza but paying for it yourself is not an option, consider a patient assistance program. Novo Nordisk, the company manufacturing Victoza, has a program that you may qualify for, so start with them.

If you do a little research, you may also find other diabetes patient assistance programs, like the Victoza savings card program. You might also find an insurance plan that contains coverage for Victoza – and make the switch.

If you are a low-income patient, then there are multiple programs helping uninsured and underinsured patients. Run a quick search online and submit your application to several of such programs – you may qualify and try Victoza for free or with a considerable discount.

esophagitis

Nexium: Dosage for Esophagitis, Costs, and Interactions

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Introducing Nexium

Nexium is a drug that helps treat esophagus problems. The generic name is esomeprazole magnesium, and the drug belongs to the class of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). If you are suffering from heartburn that leads to pains in the lower throat and upper chest a pharmacist will most likely recommend Nexium or a similar over-the-counter product. You could even go for Nexium generic alternative with a lower cost.

What is the correct Nexium dosage?

For most esophagitis patients Nexium is prescribed in capsules and taken once daily, usually one hour before a meal. If you think you should be taking a higher dosage of Nexium consult your doctor.

When you are taking Nexium make sure you swallow the capsules as a whole, do not crush or chew them. Following the capsule with a glass of water will also work. Some sources recommend mixing the contents of each capsule with applesauce in a spoon and swallowing that mixture. Do that only if you have serious problems swallowing the whole capsule.

If you started taking Nexium without a doctor’s prescription, do not extend your course of medication over 14 days. If you see no improvements to your condition, or you feel it has deteriorated – stop taking Nexium and consult a doctor.

Nexium is an effective drug that relieves many esophagitis symptoms like

  • Heartburn
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • A persistent and dry cough

 

As less stomach acid gets into your esophagus, it has time to heal, and after a little time, any possible erosion will be gone.

Long-term effects of Nexium are ulcer prevention and esophagus cancer prevention. These effects are achieved by protecting your esophagus from stomach acid and thus soothing the environment in it.

What are Nexium side effects?

Nexium is a potent medication, so there are side effects you need to take into account. The most frequent side effects of Nexium include, but are not limited to:

  • Headache
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Flatulence
  • Decreased appetite
  • Constipation
  • Dry mouth or an unusual taste in the mouth
  • abdominal pain
  • Kidney problems – pay attention to your urination and if you feel it’s been unusual stop taking Nexium and consult a doctor.

 

As almost any medication, Nexium may cause an allergic reaction. If you experience allergy symptoms such as difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, lightheadedness and rapid heart rate, seek urgent medical attention.

Nexium and other drugs. Nexium interactions

Nexium is normally not prescribed with other proton pump inhibitors, such as Rilpivirine, Atazanavir, Nelfinavir, Acalbrutinib, Velpatasvir, Methotrexate and so on. If you take both, they might interact and cause undesirable effects.

If you are going for the correct Nexium dosage and not taking any other drugs, then Nexium is relatively safe.

Nexium generic – price and where to buy

If you want to save consider getting the generic Nexium equivalent – anything that has esomeprazole magnesium in it. You could buy generic Nexium at online pharmacies, and you will find a multitude of offers.

Depending on the manufacturer and package size esomeprazole magnesium (generic Nexium) will be priced from $0.17 to $2.44 per pill. Naturally, the more you buy the cheaper each individual pill will become.

Blog, cholesterol, LDL, Zetia

Zetia Prescription Assistance

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Zetia Prescription Assistance

Rx Assistance Programs is an organization that specializes in PAPs. Patient Assistance Programs – or Prescription Assistance Programs – (PAPs) are programs that are usually sponsored by the drug manufacturer and provide free or discounted prescriptions to low-to-moderate income, uninsured and under-insured patients who meet certain guidelines. Requirements vary from program to program, which can sometimes make applying for these PAPs difficult and confusing.

We’re here to help you facilitate the completion of Patient Assistance Program forms and applications. Rx Assistance Programs handles all the paper work for you and your doctor’s office. Once you have given us a call, we mail 90-day supplies of your medication straight to your doorstep! If you would like to learn more about our company, take a look at our about page or give us a call a 1-855-201-0232.

What is Zetia

Zetia is not a statin; rather, Zetia (generic name: Ezetimibe) is used alone or with other drugs – such as statins or fibrate – and a low cholesterol/low fat diet to help reduce the amount of cholesterol your body absorbs from your diet. Reducing cholesterol may help prevent stroke and heart attacks and lead to a healthier life. Zetia is in a class of lipid-lowering compounds that selectively inhibits the intestinal absorption of cholesterol and other related phytosterols. Zetia has been shown to reduce cholesterol by 35-60% in most patients and reduce many ailments that come with high cholesterol.

Lowering Bad Cholesterol

Lowering your LDL levels can be a challenge, but many people are able to do so with Zetia and other natural remedies. Some of these natural remedies include going outside and exercising for thirty minutes a day and eating a healthy diet. You should be eating a lot of fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes and lean meats while avoiding high fat foods, processed foods, and foods high in sugar. Try going for a light jog or walk every day and make sure to get enough Vitamin D from the sun!

Zetia Cost

Zetia is a very expensive drug; the average retail price is around $200-$360, depending on which provider you use. This drug is more popular than other comparable drugs and can help save your life. Even with a coupon, this medication can break the bank if you choose not to get the generic version or if it is not available.

Patient Assistance Programs for Zetia

If you have taken all the preventative measures for lowering bad cholesterol and still find that your cholesterol is putting you at risk for heart attacks and stroke, consider taking Zetia. If you cannot afford Zetia, that is where we come in. At Rx Assistance Programs, we help under-insured and uninsured patients pay for their medications for a fraction of the cost. We work directly with doctors and drug manufacturers to help pay for the medications you so desperately need. If you are struggling to pay for your medications – not just Zetia – we can help. Contact us today at 1-855-201-0232 or take a look at our contact page.

Erectile Dysfunction

Do I Need Viagra?

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Having a hard time with your sexual health? Initially, Viagra was designed to treat hypertension and angina pectoris (chest pain or discomfort). Somewhere down the road, it was discovered that Viagra was best suited to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). The blue, diamond shaped pill has been helping men with ED and pulmonary arterial hypertension for years. Originally developed by scientists in the UK and Pfizer Inc. (an American pharmaceutical company), Viagra can help men who cannot achieve or sustain an erection due to erectile dysfunction. It improves the erectile response when a man is already sexually stimulated, but it does not offer sexual stimulation.

Effects of Viagra

When sexual stimulation occurs, nitric oxide is release by the nervous system in the erectile tissue of the penis. Nitric oxide stimulates an enzyme that produces messenger cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). cGMP causes arteries in the penis to dilate, causing the erectile tissue to fill with blood. Viagra prevents

yellow pills spilling out of pill bottle

cGMP from becoming degraded, so the blood flow and the erection can continue. More than 60 million men worldwide have used Viagra since introduction to the market in 1998. Those are official numbers from Pfizer. It is widely speculated that the numbers are much higher than the reported numbers. This may be due to a pride issue among men that are taking the medication. However, taking Viagra is nothing to be ashamed about.

Side Effects of Viagra

Apart from a happier spouse, there are certain side effects that a patient should watch out for. Some side effects, according to clinical trials, can include headaches, impaired vision, indigestion, sensitivity to light and nasal sensitivity. There are less common, serious side effects that should be reported immediately upon onset. Contact a medical professional or ER if you experience any of the following: priapism (a painful, long-lasting erection of more than 4 hours), heart attack, sudden hearing loss, ventricular arrhythmias, and increased intraocular pressure.

Viagra Cost

The cost of Viagra without insurance can get pricey. Brand name Viagra can cost between $50-$70 per pill, and prices for generic versions can run anywhere from $20-$40 per pill. The generic alternative is a new option, with generic manufacturer Teva beginning sale of the generic version (sildenafil) last December (2017).  Many insurance plans will not cover Viagra, as the indication (the reason it is prescribed) is not considered essential by many health companies. However, we believe that a happy wife is a happy life; and to us, a happy life IS essential.

Prescription Assistance for Viagra

At Rx Assistance Programs, we believe that everyone should have the right to affordable Viagra. Our goal is to ease the burden of the uninsured, low-income, or elderly individuals who are in need of medication but struggle with the costs. If you fall under one of these categories, your erectile dysfunction can be a thing of the past. We provide prescription assistance and expedite the approval process and refill process. The lack of discounted medications can discourage some Americans from reaching out for assistance, or even discourage those same Americans from buying the medication! At Rx Assistance Programs, we bring together the country’s doctors, pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers to help patients get the medication they need. Contact us today and see how we can help.