Health trends

Antibacterial affects psychiatric patients

The United States Food and Drug Administration received reports of serious central-nervous system (CNS) reactions when the antibacterial drug linezolid (Zyvox) is given to patients taking psychiatric medications that work through the serotonin system of the brain (serotonergic psychiatric medications). Safety information about this potential drug interaction and important drug-usage recommendations for emergency and non-emergency situations are being added to the drug labels for serotonergic-psychiatric medications and linezolid.

Linezolid is used to treat infections, including pneumonia, infections of the skin and infections caused by a resistant bacterium (enterococcus faecium).

It is a reversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor. Although the exact mechanism of this drug interaction is unknown, linezolid inhibits the action of monoamine oxidase A - an enzyme responsible for breaking down serotonin in the brain. It is believed that when linezolid is given to patients taking serotonergic-psychiatric medications, high levels of serotonin can build up in the brain, causing toxicity. This is referred to as serotonin syndrome - signs and symptoms include mental changes (confusion, hyperactivity, memory problems), muscle twitching, excessive sweating, shivering or shaking, diarrhoea, trouble with coordination and/or fever.

Source: The US Food and Drug Administration

Zinc cures common cold

New findings indicate taking high doses of zinc can cut the length of colds by almost half. The evidence emerged from the combined results of 13 trials published in the Open Respiratory Medicine Journal, which tested the ability of zinc lozenges. Three of the studies showed taking high daily doses of zinc, as soon as symptoms begin, shortened colds by an average of 42 per cent.

Zinc is important for the immune system and eating too little in the diet is known to increase the risk of infection. The latest findings confirm research at Cardiff University's Common Cold Centre into whether non-medical remedies are effective. More than 200 viruses are capable of causing the common cold, which is why it is almost impossible to gain complete immunity. Haliborange Immune PLUS is a convenient, high-potency vitamin C effervescent from Seven Seas which also contains 15mg of zinc to help provide extra support and protection to your immune system.

Source: Seven Seas