HEALTH
Drug Interactions:
Some Things Don’t Mix
News USA
(NU) - Do you smoke and take
birth control pills? Do you take your
antibiotic pill with a glass of milk or
with an iron pill? Do you use a meat
tenderizer on your food while taking
diuretics?
Prescription medications are safe
and effective by themselves, but they
don’t always mix well with other
products we use every day. The fol
lowing information is typical of the
helpful advice available from your
local independent pharmacist.
Food and Beverages
Pood and beverages can interact
in three ways with prescription drugs.
First, they can stop or diminish the
action of the drug by preventing it
from moving out of die stomach to
wards the bloodstream. People who
swallow an antibiotic pill with milk
may not get enough medicine into
their bloodstream to stop the infec
tion.
If antibiotics are taken with coffee
or fruit juice, the results can be just
as bad. Chemicals in those drinks
might destroy the drug in the stom
ach. In most cases, it's best to take
medicines with plenty of water.
However, there are exceptions, so
be sure to talk to your pharmacist.
Second, some food-drug combi
nations can cause dangerous effects
in the body. One of the most serious
reactions occurs when drugs for de
pression (called monoamine oxidase
inhibitors) are mixed with foods
containing a chemical called tyra
mine. Putting the two together can
cause very high blood pressure,
headaches, vomiting and sometimes
even death. The foods to avoid are
common: some cheeses (such as
'Parmesan), red wine, chocolate, yo
gurt, bananas, yeast and others.
Third, some drugs reduce the
body’s ability to absorb vitamins and
minerals from food. Diuretics, used
to eliminate extra water from the
body, also remove substances the
body needs such as potassium and
magnesium. Laxatives, antibiotics
and other drugs can also stop vita
mins from getting into the body.
Some over-the-counter products
should not be mixed with prescrip
tion medication. Iron pills, for ex
ample, should not be taken at the
same time as antibiotics.
Cigarette smoke contains about
400 different chemicals that don’t
always mix well with prescription
drugs.
Alcohol Reactions
Alcohol, including beer and wine,
can trigger reactions with drugs of
all kindsl When in doubt* don’t drink
alcohol if you are taking prescription
medications without first checking
with your doctor or pharmacist.
According to N ARD, the national
association representing independent
retail pharmacists, your chances of
having a serious drug interaction are
small if you ask your doctor or
pharmacist fdr a list of items to avoid.
Tell them about any ether prescrip
tion and non prescription drugs you
are taking, and read labels carefully.
PHYSICAL THERAPY
‘Referral for Profit’ Opens Doors
To Potential Ethical Problems
Newt USA
(NU) - The stage is set for poten
tial serious ethical problems, not to
mention unneeded expense for pa
tients, when health practitioners reap
financial gain from referrals for
physical therapy, experts warn.
In the nation’s cajpital, U.S. Rep.
Pete Stark has raised several issues
regarding physician-owned physical
therapy services (POPTS), including
the use of unqualified personnel to
provide physical therapy services.
According to a recent statement
by the American Academy of Or
thopedic Surgeons (AAOS), the issue
of physician referrals to physical
therapy services in which a physician
has a financial interest remains an
ethical dilemma in all states.
A physician could own a physical
therapy practice and refer patients
only when treatment is necessary.
But there is potential for abuse.
‘Sick Don’t Doctor-Shop’
Dr. Arnold Reiman, recently re
tired editor of the New England
Journal of Medicine, has been quoted
as saying he believes in the free
maiket system. But, there is no such
system in health care, he said. “When
you are sick, you do not ’shop' for
the best doctor,” Reiman said. “Pa
tients are not customers at
Bloomingdales.” Instead, the pro
vider decides what care is needed
and what fee to charge.
If a physician prescribes physical
therapy for a patient and also directs
that patient where to go to receive
the service, the patient is not likely
to question that referral.
In the case of physician-owned
physical therapy services, this could
lead to problems. The facility to
which the consumer is referred may
not be the most convenient in terms
of location or hours. In some cases,
the patient could be referred for un
necessary treatments, or treatment
could be rendered by non-skilled
personnel.
HAD AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT
mm PEHSONAL INJURY?
Kaw Yo«r Hlffcta-Call A Lawyer!
Nathaniel Currie
ATTORNEY AT LAW
805 New Bern Ave. Phone (919)
Raleifh.N.C. 27501 856-0414
THE PEOPLE FOR TRUTH
National Tax Payees For Justice Support
Yah welts’ Release
Ths Ptopto For Truth (PFT) conducted lh«
LJLiuUflui Inlan ■!»■■■ uUlk tJatirmal Taw Qau
totowmg mtarviaw wnn tnt Niuonw iix ray
srs lor Justus (NTPJ) from Its Ohio headquar
ters:
PFT: Who irs ths National Taxpayers lor
Justus?
NTPJ: Our organization operates lor the
bsnstlt of al tt* plying crtizsns. Ws'rs s watch
dog group,and we support lair treatment feral
ptopls, regardfeas ol tftstr root, craad, oolor,
or rougion. w• mppon ana otiona mt consu
tutlon. espectilfy dvl liberties itfordsd undsr
ths constitution, including frssdom to trorship
is you ehoost. Ws hens members lorn vari
ous rtirgrous faiths. We work lor s Wing snd
we psy our taxes. Ws fight this country's wars
and we obey We country* laws.
PFT! Why is you organization in contact
with ths PFT; that Is, why srs you concsmsd
Stout Yshwsh Bin Yshwsh?
NTPJ . Simpls, to support your shorts to Iras
>s-s is_>1-1-.l, LsILmmm Ilk
xanwtn oan Tinwwn ana ni» taiK/wvrs. vm
•Nina vmm irKnCTmtfuagwaiw wain
lor racketeering'Is an unconstitutional dkt*
sgsinst s religion. Csn you beietre feat thsy
srs holdkig amen lor quoting ths Hbls? I*
lilts si your ids hairs torn stating: H It can
nappan to Yanwan ucn xanwan, it can nappan
to you.’
H Ihsyrs suoosssU with this rsllgion. than
any parson or Organisation thsy togs! sis
potanoai tnraat to tnair ponucai, pnaoaopntcai,
or rsitaious bsIMs is next. Now thaTs frighten
Ingl This ons csss against ths Nation ol
Yshwsh brings loo many is suss so doss to
homo.
PrT: Ybu mentioned the PFT ads. Which
on* or one* moved your group load wSh us
at this point?
NTPJ: Th* 50/50 strategy ad, especially. If
w* can understand that by spatting our vote
among tha partiaa, aa can aiad It tinning
tiefcat regard*** ol tho tint, wa can aiao
coma to undanland that wa at* th* tax baa*
at Ha country - rich ttks don't pay tanas
anyway, and won't it tha Buah administraton
has its wav. Wa naad to coaMion and unit* to
gal the total tax Durdan odour shoulders, and
get tie hehandcorporel* America to share tha
weight Wait ought to b*.
PFT:So,how wdWs understanding help u*
m iptoplt?
NTPJ' By showing ua that as the purse
behind tha government spending, wa no
longer have to sit Uy by while agenda* wa
stgport wbh hard earned tan dotart go aher
any grot* to dafto? it. ft obdoua to uo that
tha oouta and jutteadapamamar* being
uaed to attack tie NMkmolYahwah to daatroy
a whole church beoyaa Way don't Ikath*
economic and pobdoal otrenglh I was gWhar*
ing.
PF^WhsI does We say to (me govern
ment agendas?
NTPJ: Thai we require accountability Irom
Congress and tw Senate, not just on how they
wend our money, but how Hay support laws
tiki on trial da^nrion to dwindi my
■mw |PwwNR IWWwMwl fee WWliwy wseew^ wwwy
our conadtuSonel rights. This Nso says to *»
government M we taryayen , th* majority.
wotNngolaiaol|ti*couAby.aupply(iair*al
ariaa and very jobe Aa tha itDpWtttudureoi
If it can
happen to
YahwehBen
Yahweh, it can
happen to you!
tha oountiy. we no longer have 10 beg; we w*
ml teg our representatives lo do whitis right,
and right is upholding tho constitutional guar
antees to Yahweh Bon Yahweh and his church.
Taxpayers always have tha right to withhold
our money from an unconstitutional govern
ment and to remove unsavory public servants
PR: What would you the to convey to al
US dtUans? '
NTPJ: Simply, don't give up your rights. It is
our sovereign duty to nullity and refuse to
accept bad or misapplied laws as a fundamen
tal right ol citizenship. We must act together.
To begin, get the message to our elected lead
ers that selective persecution of any group win
not be tolerated.
PFt: Thntks lor sharing with us.
NTPJ: No problem. Glad we can help get
the wont out.
Why k Ihe U.S. Government attacking
Wtmdh Bon Yohwoh? Why does the govam
mont wont to put on ond to his good works?
mot 8 Yohwoh Bon Yolmoh is tho Christ
promaed to return’Totted the anewera to
Mate questions, welch “Ptwn Poverty Tb
MolMr Muring ilw Hononbii YUNrii
hen Yahweh every Thursday at 7 JO pm on •
dtannal 4 (Carolina Cable). Aloootdoryour
copyoirrowrvvony lontcnes— weyfom
ot Yohwoh Bon Ykhwoh" by oonding o $50
coshior's chock or monoy ordor ordy por book
to: PEESS Production*. P.O. Box 1788. So
quin. TX 78155. * .
Stow yaw support lor toniw and oonsttutora! rights by signing tto plllty bHw mi *»nd^illo»»r«umtddrM».lnvil»yourhniy,
Mwtdi, and oo^ioitiM to iign at wri.
• (Mitlon v
We, tto people. demind ttoVnmedtai totoHi tod oontoUHtoly l(ir »*(toi«irt ot Yahwih Bui Yihweh and the ottwr incircer aid mwntara
oftM Niton dYlhwih,.’ .«
name , JffiSffi. _EUSUL
IMptotonto:
The People For Truth • P.O. Box 1632 • Durham, NC 27705
Combination Aids Theory, Answer?
Ten years ago, AIDS was a
mysterious, untrea table disease that
resulted in death for most patients
within a year after diagnosis. But
medical science has made significant
progress in the battle against AIDS
since the human immunodeficiency
virus was identified as its cause in
19M.
Today, HIV infection, although still
serious, is viewed by many as a
chronic condition that can be
managed at its various stages.
Retrovir® brand zidovudine (AZT),
the first and only antiretroviral drug
indicated as a treatment for adults
and children with HIV infection, has
been commercially available in the
United States since 1967.
Retrovir slows the progression of
HIV infection, allowing
asymptomatic infected individuals to
stay free of symptoms longer and
(Maying progression to advanced
disease for those with early
symptoms. The drug’s ultimate
impact on survival, when therapy is
begun early during infection, is still
unknown but is being evaluated
through long-term follow-up of
individuals enrolled in the original
studies, as well as in other ongoing
clinical trials. In more severely ill
patients, including people with AIDS,
Retrovir prolongs life and reduces
the risk and severity of the
opportunistic diseases associated
with advanced HIV infection.
Retrovir, however, is not a cure for
HIV infection, and patients continue
to progress in their disease. Retrovir
already is used simultaneously with
other treatments for opportunistic
infections. Researchers hope to
improve therapy further by adding
other drugs active against HIV to
treatment with Retrovir. Clinical
trials are underway to study
combinations of Retrovir with
antiviral agents such as DDC, being
developed by the pharmaceutical
company Hoffmann-LaKoche, and
DDL, being developed by the Bristol
Myers Squibb pharmaceutical
company, as well as with other
therapies, such as
immunomodulating agents.
It is still too leary to know which
drugs in combination may Improve
outcome for HIV-infected
individuals. However, the search for
safer, more effective anti-AIDS drug
therapy will continue. Better drug
regimens will emerge in time. In the
meantime, however, most experts
agree that successful management of
HIV infection will be best achieved
through some form of therapy.
Hiring Practices Are In Question In Hollywood
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (AP)-In a
scathing indictment, the NAACP
accused Hollywood of nepotism,
cronyism and other discriminatory
hiring practices in the television and
movie industry.
Blacks are “underrepresented in
every aspect” of the entertainment
industry and top positions in'
Hollywood are "totally dominated by
white males,” the NAACP said in a
report released last Monday.
“African-Americans have
traditionally been shut out, and our
report shows they still are—in the
main—shut out," said William
Gibson, chairman of the National
Association for the Advancement of
Colored People.
“We found that several factors
have combined to produce this
result—nepotism, cronyism and
racial discrimiantion,” he told a news
conference.
Titled “Out of Focus—Out of
Sync,” the report said black
actresses ha ve a difficult time finding
employment and many black
performers are relegated to
supporting roles.
Although blacks purchase 2S
percent of domestic movie tickets,
black-owned businesses frequently
are not awarded contracts by the
entertainment industry, the report
said.
Benjamin Hooks, the NAACP’s
executive director, told reporters it is
inconceivable to suggest there isn’t a
pattern of racial discrimination in
Hollywood.
“Most blacks in the industry are
frustrated by the lack of opportunity
and participation afforded them, and
point to the fact that Hollywood is a
‘dosed shop’ with positions of the
decision-making and power totally
dominated by white males,” the
report said.
Hooks said much progress has been
ma_d_e. especially in the depiction of
blacks, which he said was once
limited to “clowns, buffoons or eye
rolling servants.” Nevertheless, he
said, “much remains to be done.”
Although 19 films from black
directors will be released this year,
■
“Many blacks in Hollywood feel this
amounts to little more than a passing
trend,” the 30-page report said.
The report recommended the
industry make commitments to
employ and promote blacks and said
the NAACP should open a new Loa
Angeles office to work specifically
with Hollywood.
Hooks said the NAACP will use its
economic clout to ensure its
recommendations are implemented.
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