Determining the best antifungal cream involves considering which option is most suitable for treating your specific infection. While there are broad-spectrum antifungals available, they often require medical monitoring and may not be necessary when an over-the-counter cream can provide equally effective results. Antifungal creams are commonly used to treat skin, vaginal, or nail infections, targeting mild fungal infections. Creams are primarily employed for skin and nail infections, while tablets are typically reserved for more widespread and complex skin and internal infections. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the details of different antifungal creams, their varied applications, and associated benefits.
Caffeine is a stimulant drug naturally found in many plants, such as coffee, cocoa, and tea. It reduces tiredness and increases alertness by blocking a chemical produced by the body to signal fatigue.
So, you’re thinking about quitting smoking? Great! You’ve made the first step, but what method of quitting is best for you? How can nicotine products help? The reduce-to-quit method involves gradually reducing the number of cigarettes smoked daily before quitting. This method can be supplemented with nicotine replacement products as an alternative to cigarettes to control cravings without the added tar and harmful chemicals. The other choice is to quit entirely or go ‘cold turkey’ – this method has the added benefit of feeling the effects of quitting on day one, such as feeling more energetic, but it tests your willpower greatly. This is the reason the reduce-to-quit method is recommended first line. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) comes in various forms to suit individual lifestyles and smoking habits. Different long-acting or short-acting nicotine products keep cravings at bay or stop sudden urges.
Mounjaro is the brand name for tirzepatide, a new class of drug called a GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist. It is designed to lower blood sugar levels in the body in adults with type 2 diabetes when combined with regular exercise and dieting. GIP is short for glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, and GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1, both of which belong to a type of body hormone known as incretins which help to regulate blood sugar. Some people who take Mounjaro may also lose weight because of its effect on the body and although it is not approved as a weight loss drug, doctors may prescribe it ‘off label’ (when an approved drug is used for a purpose other than the one it has been approved for). In November 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved tirzepatide under the brand name Zepbound specifically for weight loss. You can read about Zepbound here. How does Mounjaro work? By imitating the effect of the incretin hormones GIP and GLP-1 in the body, Mounjaro activates certain receptors in the body linked to these, and as a result lowers blood sugar levels. It does this in three main ways: Making your body extra sensitive to the sugar-regulating hormone insulin Making your pancreas gland (where insulin is made) release more insulin after a meal Stopping your liver from making additional sugar It also slows down the speed at which food passes through your stomach after a meal, which can make you feel full for longer than normal. If you have type 2 diabetes and take other medication for this condition, Mounjaro is used: By itself if you are unable to take metformin With metformin With metformin and a sulfonylurea With metformin and a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) With basal insulin (with or without metformin) How to use Mounjaro Mounjaro is a drug that you inject subcutaneously (under the skin) once a week. It comes in single-dose prefilled pens, and you will be shown how to use these by a healthcare professional. The drug also comes with step-by-step instructions and there are also instructional videos available online. Mounjaro is injected into the abdomen or thigh (or the upper arm if someone else is giving it to you). A different injection site should be used every week, as using the same place all the time can cause irritation in that area. If you also use insulin, Mounjaro and insulin can both be given at the same time as long as they are not both given in exactly the same spot - give them a few centimeters apart.
Helminths are parasitic worms that can cause gut infection, and mebendazole is an anthelmintic medicine designed to kill them. It’s available by prescription for adults and children to treat threadworm (pinworm), which causes an intense itch around the anus, especially in children under 10 years old. Mebendazole can also be used to treat other parasitic worm infections such as roundworm, hookworm, and whipworm. These infest the gut and are usually picked up from travel to certain countries.
Magnesium sulfate paste is a medication used as a drawing agent. Magnesium sulfate came into medical use as early as 1618 when a cow herder named Henry Wicker discovered magnesium sulfate and its use as a laxative. This was used for 350 years. Nowadays, it is used in Epsom bath salts and as a dehydrated paste used as a drawing agent.
Oral rehydration solutions are a balanced formulation of electrolytes and minerals such as: sodium potassium magnesium phosphorus chloride small proportion of glucose They can be added to water to make a solution that’s readily absorbed by the body. The electrolyte composition of ORS is carefully balanced to mimic the electrolyte concentrations found in the human body, facilitating optimal absorption and retention of fluids.
Dextromethorphan is a cough medication used to relieve dry and tickly coughs. You can buy it from your pharmacy either on its own or in combination with other medications for colds and flu. There are various products available. Examples include Robitussin DM, Nyquil, and many others.
Dioralyte is an oral rehydration therapy and contains a mix of electrolytes and minerals necessary to avoid dehydration. Often patients will take Dioralyte following bouts of exercise, diarrhea, or vomiting. The formulation contains different essential salts such as sodium chloride, potassium chloride, disodium hydrogen citrate, and a small amount of sugar in the form of glucose. The product can be added to water to make a solution that’s readily absorbed by the body.
Lamisil (containing the active ingredient terbinafine is an antifungal medicine used to treat fungal nail infections. Lamisil is available as a cream and a spray over-the-counter for treating athlete's foot, jock itch, and ringworm. The terbinafine tablets for treating deeper fungal nail infections and other conditions are only available on prescription.
Lamisil (containing the active ingredient terbinafine is an oral antifungal medicine used to treat fungal nail infections. Fungal nail infections tend to affect toenails far more than fingernails. This is because the feet are more often exposed to the kind of environments where this type of infection thrives (warm, humid environments). The infection can appear on any part of your nail but usually occurs under the nail plate (the hard part of the nail) on the nail bed. Lamisil is also available as a cream, gel, or spray version over-the-counter for treating other types of fungal infections such as athlete’s foot, jock itch, and ringworm. Terbinafine tablets are used to treat more ingrained fungal infections and are only available on prescription.
Athlete’s foot (also known as tinea pedis) is a fungal skin infection affecting the feet. Symptoms usually include a rash in between the toes that can sometimes spread to the soles of the feet. The rash is typically red, sore, and itchy and has clear edges that can form a ring-like pattern. Athlete’s foot can affect one or both of your feet. Fungi called dermatophytes are responsible for athlete’s foot. They usually live harmlessly on our skin; however, when exposed to a warm, moist environment, they can multiply and invade the skin.