Greetings, Dr. Roach In the morning, I often take two Tylenol Arthritis extended-release pills. I took two more by accident, about an hour after the first two. Should I be concerned? — A.F.
ANSWER: You took 2.6 grams of Tylenol Arthritis in a short amount of time because each pill has 650 mg of acetaminophen. I dialed 1-800-222-1222 to reach Poison Control because I am not an expert in toxicology. Anyone with concerns about a potential overdose can contact this number.
Although you might experience stomach distress, you are not at risk for liver damage because you took less acetaminophen (4 grams) than is typical for a day. Blood levels must be checked at the emergency hospital for extremely high doses of acetaminophen, whether taken intentionally or accidentally.
Any dose that exceeds 7.5 grams or more in a healthy adult (less in a person who already has liver disease) is possibly hazardous and has to be checked right once.
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Greetings, Dr. Roach For a variety of medical reasons, my spouse and I have begun using Zepbound. Though we are curious about alternative outcomes, the medicine has had a large and favorable influence on the conditions we hoped it would.
First, my spouse stopped snoring entirely after a month, and he continues to breathe during the night. Second, my two knees, which were damaged and had some rips and arthritis, are now completely healed and feel fantastic. At last, we both feel more hopeful about nearly everything, for whatever reason.
Please share your thoughts regarding our experience and the potential for long-term use. Is Zepbound a medicine that works like magic? — S.R.
ANSWER: Like semaglutide, tirzepatide (Zepbound) is a prescription drug that was first used to treat diabetes but is now authorized for weight loss. These medications should, in my opinion, only be administered to patients who have metabolic diseases linked to obesity.
Obstructive sleep apnea and arthritis are two disorders linked to obesity. These problems can exist while maintaining a normal weight. However, obesity is a risk factor for both, and reducing body weight can help with the illnesses’ symptoms.
A person with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has trouble breathing while they are asleep, and snoring is frequently a sign of OSA. Sometimes OSA can be totally stopped by losing weight. During the first month of treatment, your spouse was probably at the stage where the weight loss was effectively treating what sounded like OSA.
Losing weight helps lessen the symptoms of osteoarthritis, the primary kind of arthritis, which does not go away overnight. Additionally, you may have become more active, which is perhaps the most crucial treatment for osteoarthritis, as you have begun to feel better and lose weight. You seem to be in a positive feedback loop whereby one positive event leads to an increasing number of positive outcomes. When you feel better physically, you feel better mentally.
Regarding long-term use, these medications must be taken consistently in order to produce long-term benefits. As soon as the medication was withdrawn, the majority of persons began to gain weight again. As with the management of high blood pressure, I advise my patients to anticipate being on the drug for an extended period of time.
These medications aren’t miracles. There might be a new negative effect found by the time this is published, though the likelihood of this occurring is decreasing as more individuals continue to use them. Although they are still quite useful, it is important to be aware of their limitations.
Although he regrets not being able to respond to each letter individually, Dr. Roach will try to include them in the column. Questions can be sent by mail to 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 or by email to [email protected].
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