Pricey Dr. Roach: I take Eliquis. I’ve no abdomen; it was completely eliminated as a preventative measure as a result of threat of abdomen most cancers. So, I’ve been looking for out how a lot of this costly drug is definitely being absorbed. To date, my heart specialist, my major care doctor, nor my pharmacist can reply this query. I despatched an e-mail to the producer of Eliquis, however obtained no response.
Am I losing my cash on this costly drug? Would chewable child aspirin work as nicely or higher? Is there a blood take a look at I ought to take? (Once more, I obtained a number of conflicting solutions on this.) I really feel like I will not be reaping the advantages of Eliquis.
— A.S.
Pricey A.S.: Eliquis is an anticoagulant often utilized in folks with a historical past of or at a excessive threat for blood clots. It really works by inhibiting the activated type of clotting issue X, a important protein wanted to make blood clots. Aspirin will not be a protected substitute, as it really works another way.
Additionally: Lesion on lung could possibly be scar tissue, an infection, most cancers, and many others.
Only a few medication are considerably absorbed by the abdomen. Eliquis is generally absorbed within the first a part of the small gut, though a small quantity of it’s absorbed within the abdomen. It is extremely seemingly that the overwhelming majority (if not all) of the Eliquis continues to be being absorbed by the gut after your abdomen surgical procedure, and most of the people get useful results on the standard dose with out the hazard of extra bleeding.
Nevertheless, there’s a commercially obtainable blood take a look at to test whether or not Eliquis (or an identical drug) is on the appropriate dose. The take a look at checks the quantity of activated issue X, and there are printed information in regards to the anticipated degree of this clotting issue whereas on remedy. So, if exact dosing had been actually important, your physician can test your blood degree and modify your dose if wanted.
Pricey Dr. Roach: I’ve been taking metformin for a few years. Just lately, the prescription bottle has been advising that I carry or put on a notification stating I’m taking this medicine. What’s the concern, particularly for metformin?
— D.S.
Pricey D.S.: It’s extra about your having diabetes than a priority about metformin. (Practically everybody on metformin takes it for diabetes or to stop diabetes. Just a few folks use it for weight reduction.) If a primary responder finds that you’re unable to speak and you’ve got a medical ID noting that you’ve got diabetes and are on medicine, they’ll quickly attempt to offer you intravenous sugar.
Metformin itself doesn’t significantly enhance the danger of low blood sugar the best way that insulin and another oral brokers for diabetes do. However dangerously low blood sugar is simple treatable, and the implications of not treating it are so terrible that it’s useful for a primary responder to know when the likelihood is extra seemingly. Metformin can decrease sugar together with different diabetes medication.
A uncommon facet impact of metformin is lactic acidosis. This occurs solely in overdoses or in folks with extreme kidney illness (who shouldn’t be prescribed metformin). Once more, having speedy data of this medicine might assist emergency responders make a analysis.
There are lots of different situations the place a medical alert ID might doubtlessly assist. Though particular jewellery is a conventional approach to offer this info, most smartphones have the flexibility to retailer important medical info in such a approach that it may be accessed in an emergency with out your passcode. I like to recommend that everyone does this. Individuals with important medical situations also needs to put on jewellery.
Readers could e-mail inquiries to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.
