Dizzy Dean, the great baseball pitcher of the 1930s-1940s, once quipped, “The doctors x-rayed my head and found nothing.”

That is as good an analogy as any in describing what often happens to patients with the symptom of dizziness. They see a doctor, get an MRI scan (the x-ray of the 21st century) and nothing is found.

To extend the baseball theme, patients sometimes complete a triple-play-going from family doctor to ear specialist to neurologist. And when all is said and done, none of the doctors is willing to own the symptom. Each says it’s the other doctors’ problem!

So where does that leave the patient? Probably out of a lot of bucks and getting more frustrated by the minute!

But, upon close analysis of the symptom, a case of dizziness can give up its secrets. It turns out that the word “dizziness” gets used to describe a variety of experiences, and those different experiences can themselves result from a number of underlying causes.

So the way one gets to first base is to sort through the patterns and narrow down the list of possibilities. In analyzing the symptom of dizziness, sometimes a multiple-choice approach works best. Most people can select one of the following three descriptions as most resembling their symptom:

#1. A sense of motion, perhaps spinning, rotating or even just drifting in space. It doesn’t matter if the person feels they are spinning or that the room around them is spinning: both mis-perceptions have the same significance. These perceptions are known as “vertigo.”

#2. A feeling of unsteadiness or imbalance in the body more than in the head.

#3. A feeling of light-headedness, wooziness, giddiness, or even verging on losing consciousness.

That the term “dizzy” can sometimes have still other connotations is illustrated by Mr. Dean’s own nickname. He probably didn’t get it because of attacks of imbalance. In fact, the pitcher supplied his own explanation with another of his famous quips: “The good Lord was good to me. He gave me a strong body, a good right arm, and a weak mind.”

Let’s focus on the more usual three patterns.

Distinguishing among these patterns helps separate the cases involving the head’s balance (vestibular) system from those that don’t. In short, pattern #1 (vertigo) is most likely to involve a disturbance in the balance system, while pattern #3 (light-headedness) is least likely. Instead, light-headedness or wooziness can be due to a momentary drop in blood pressure (for example, when standing up too quickly) or due to the same factors that produce outright fainting. Pattern #2 (bodily imbalance) is somewhere in-between-sometimes caused by a disturbed balance system and sometimes due to something else.

The vestibular system consists of the left and right inner ears, certain pathways within the brainstem (junction between the upper brain and the spinal cord) and the nerves that connect the inner ears to the brainstem. A problem in any of these components can lead to the symptom of vertigo. But the kinds of problems that can disturb the brainstem-like stroke, tumor or multiple sclerosis-are quite different and usually more serious than most the conditions that disturb the inner ears or their associated nerves.

So once the pattern of vertigo (mis-perception of movement) has been distinguished from the other kinds of dizziness, there is still more figuring to do-is the problem in the brain (central pattern) or in the inner ears and their connecting nerves (peripheral pattern)?

Luckily, central and peripheral vertigos can usually be distinguished from each other based on the clinical history and physical exam. The key is in looking for any symptom or physical abnormality that can’t be blamed on the vestibular system.

How about nausea, vomiting, unsteadiness, walking into walls, blurred vision or even jumping vision? A malfunctioning vestibular system could easily account for them all. But double vision, slurred speech, weakness or numbness on one side of the body? No way. These symptoms would have to be generated outside of the balance system, and imply that other pathways in the brainstem are damaged.

Where does the MRI scan fit in? The MRI is good at seeing areas of abnormal growth or damage within the brainstem, as from tumors, strokes or multiple sclerosis. It can also see tumors that arise from the nerves connecting the brainstem to the inner ears. But that’s about all it can see that is at all related to the symptom of vertigo.

However, there are far more cases of peripheral vestibular disease than of central (brain-based) disease causing vertigo, so that’s why most MRI scans turn out negative. In short, the MRI is normal, but the patient isn’t.

So what can cause peripheral vestibular disease? The causes are varied, but are more usually annoying than life-threatening. The most explosive form of peripheral vestibular disease is vestibular neuronitis or “inner ear attack.” The typical story for this condition is that the person awakes with violent spinning, nausea and inability to walk a straight line. This condition is at its worst on the first day, gradually improving over subsequent days and weeks.

Another peripheral vestibular condition is Meniere’s disease in which recurrent bouts of vertigo occur in conjunction with deafness and “roaring” tinnitus, or ringing in the ear. This is due to high fluid pressure within the inner ear which is also wired for hearing.

Yet another peripheral vestibular disease involves a stone (otolith) rattling around within the canals of an inner ear. This variety can sometimes be fixed by “vestibular repositioning” in which the patient’s head is put through a series of abrupt position-changes designed to make the otolith stick in one place.

Medications can also be useful in diminishing the symptom of vertigo. The most widely used drug is meclizine (brand name Antivert) which is related to the antihistamines and helps simmer down an overactive inner ear. A second drug used in the same way is scopolamine, usually delivered via a patch on the skin (Transderm Scop). Finally, diazepam (Valium) can also be used a “vestibular suppressant” though is usually the last choice owing to its possibility of becoming habit-forming.

And how about those other forms of dizziness that involve lightheadedness, wooziness or giddiness? As a baseball player might say, “That’s a whole other ball game.”

Since the beginning of mankind, mental illness has played a role in our society. Victims of such illnesses have been outcast, stereotyped and often ridiculed. However, over time, medical and psychiatric science advanced and the medical community became more knowledgeable of these conditions.

It wasn’t until the 20th century when scientists began to experiment with certain chemicals that would alleviate symptoms caused by neurological disorders such as schizophrenia. These drugs are called antipsychotics and they block certain chemical receptors in the brain. At first these drugs were praised in the medical community, however case studies began to show that long term effects of these drugs caused patients to develop serious coordination problems. Since the benefits often times outweighed the risks, doctors continued to prescribe these drugs to their patients.

A creation of a new drug with reduced side effects was created in 1989. This drug was called Cloarzil a so called ‘atypical’ antipsychotic. Unlike previous drugs, Cloarzil was designed to block certain chemicals, while leaving others alone. While it was a breakthrough in the medical community, the drug caused an elevated white blood cell count which interferes with proper immunological functions.

It wasn’t until the mid 90’s that a new drug was introduced. This drug was proven in clinical studies to have the same number of reduced side effects without increasing the patient’s white blood cell count.

Are you currently on one or more pharmaceutical drugs? Perhaps you are not aware, but every pharmaceutical drug depletes the body of various nutrients, depriving your cells of the essential raw materials which drive normal, natural cell function. The data on our industrialized food supply already suggestes that each of us is not getting enough nutrition from diet alone. If you’re taking one or more pharmaceutical drugs, your situtation is likely to be even worse.

In the Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook the following information is listed.

“HMG CoA Reductase Inhibitors delete the body of Coenzyme Q10, an important nutrient, and that result of this depletion could lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, decreased body function, and decreased cardiac output.”

How could that be affecting your life if you are currently on one of those drugs? Perhaps you should consider a high-quality supplement that contains Qoenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) so make up for your depletion.

If you found our your were iron deficient (anemic), you’d probably take an iron supplement, right?

Other items listed in the Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook.

“Many anticonvulsants cause a depletion of Vitamin D, folic acid, and calcium. Depleting these nutrients has the potential to cause problems such as osteoporosis, muscle weakness, blood pressure irregularities, and heart disease.”

In this case, perhaps you should consider a high-quality multivitamin supplement to simply replace the nutrients your body needs.

“Almost every antibiotic causes a disruption of normal bowel flora and a reduction in the production of important vitamins, leading to diarrhea and other gastrointestinal side effects.”

I have a personal experience where my life was saved through antibiotics, but I certainly experienced these side effects. Fortunately there are quality bowel flora supplements which help provide the body with normal levels of intestinal bacteria. This is critical in the metabolization of many vitamins, such as the Vitamin B family.

Here’s what the Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook has to say about Estrogen Replacement Therapy.

“Taking Estrogen Replacement Therapy can cause a depletion of important B vitamins, leadingto anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, and depression.”

Again perhaps you should choose a high-quality multivitamin supplement and also provide the nutrients that support normal endocrine function.

The Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook provides a drug index, which alphabetically lists drugs by both brand and generic name, with cross-references and the scientific basis, studies and abstracts for the research which determined which nutrients are depleted by the particular drug. It also lists nutrient information with concise descriptions of the effects of depletion. What medications are you taking that are depriving your body of essential nutrients?

Throughout time there have always been two opposing points of view as to how to maintain good health, or how to regain it after having lost it. This conflict has continued since ancient times …. and no doubt will continue well into the future.

One ’side’ believes good health is as a result of outside intervention… drugs, surgery etc. The other ’side’ believes that good health results from living in harmony with natural law… correct nutrition… cleanliness etc.

Both sides tended to be critical of the other… nothing much has changed over the ages.

Modern mainstream western medicine takes the ‘outside’ approach. However, in recent years the “inside” approach which has always been the underlying principle behind Chinese traditional medicine has gained much ground. The increase in the popularity of the ‘Inside’ approach is no doubt due to a combination of several factors:

• Known Prescription drug side effects
• Dissatisfaction of traditional mainstream medicine
• Increasing cases of medical ‘misadventure’. (Hospitals are places to stay away from.)
• Awareness that good health is primarily a personal responsibility… not of overworked physicians.
• An increasing awareness that the medical industry is highly influenced by drug companies and that there are often better, safer and more economic natural alternatives to drugs.
• Major Drug recalls have evidenced that many potential prescription drug side effects are not known …. and may never be

In spite of this justified ’swing’ away from mainstream medicine and the growing importance of prescription drug side effects, mainstream medicine does have a place in everyone’s health program … part from the obvious ones in treating accident cases or chronic urgent illness. So, if you are already a proponent of the “inside” approach don’t overlook the benefits that mainstream medicine can offer to you in your overall quest for good health and longevity. These benefits are primarily in the early detection of a pending disease that you may not as yet be aware of!

Prescription drug side effects: A potential conflict

Let’s say your tests show that your cholesterol is ‘out of whack’, your ‘mainstream’ physician may first propose lowering your intake of diet cholesterol. That’s unlikely to be successful as ingested cholesterol only makes up a relatively small percentage of blood cholesterol.

They will next likely propose one of the cholesterol lowering drugs commonly known as “statins”. These are drugs that work by blocking an enzyme that your liver needs to manufacture cholesterol. (Up to 80% of your blood cholesterol is manufactured by your liver, NOT from the ingestion of cholesterol within your diet).

These drugs are very powerful and statin drug side effects are serious, including death. In fact Bayers were recently forced to withdraw their statin drug from the market place because of “unacceptable” levels of fatalities. In spite of such prescription drug side effects, sales of statin drugs amount to billions of dollars per year and are commonly prescribed.

It’s ironic that there are natural alternatives to these statin drugs which can assist in lowering cholesterol, and do it safely, and without side effects. But the general public hears very little about them as they are not patentable and there is not the financial incentive for the big corporate’s to promote them.

The same principle applies for many different ailments. There can be many legitimate methods of treatments. What is important is that you seek out the natural alternatives and apply them before agreeing to subject yourself to negative Prescription drug side effects.

Pharmaceutical drugs are “blockers” and do not normally heal the underlying ailment. They generally work by suppressing natural functions such as certain enzymes mentioned earlier when giving the “statin” example. Because of this process, results are often “instant” and as such there is sometimes a place for these powerful prescription drugs in the case of life threatening emergencies.

In contrast, natural products such as herbs, vitamins, etc. are “enablers”. They work at correcting the cause of the ailment which is often a nutrient deficiency of some sort. The results are not immediate and have to be measured in weeks, or even months.

If you have a serious ailment, work with your physician to try and correct it… by first using natural remedies. If she or he is not familiar with the treatment you would like to try, do some further research and get hold of supporting information so you are in a better position to discuss the options intelligently. If your physician has a closed mind to natural remedies it may be wise to ask around and find another qualified physician with an open mind. The consequences of prescription drug side effects are too serious.

Marc Deschamps is the editor of Health Longevity Magazine, a free online publication, featuring articles full of information on various health topics such as common diseases, immune support, cardiac, mental & sexual health plus appropriate solutions to help you find the road to health longevity.

We’ve all had garden variety headaches from time to time. Getting sleep, drinking water, or taking aspirin or Tylenol lets you squash these “tension headaches” (as doctors call them) quickly and easily.

But if you suffer from severe or chronic tension headaches, you know that headaches can take over your work and family life. A study by the American Headache Society shows that 70% of chronic headache sufferers have significant problems with daily functioning because of the headaches.

Migraine sufferers have symptoms in addition to headache; they may spend days each month in a darkened room because the pain and light-sensitivity are unbearable otherwise.

Fioricet: A New Option

Fioricet is one of the drugs that researchers have developed to manage headaches. It has been found to be effective for tension headaches. While studies haven’t shown it to be effective for migraine sufferers overall, some people with migraines seem to find it helpful as well.

Fioricet gets its effect from three different ingredients that attack different “parts” of your headache, just like a good laundry detergent has different ingredients to tackle grease, odors, and dirt.

So how does the dynamic trio work?

Fioricet has three parts, two of which may be old friends:

Butalbital
Acetominophen
Caffeine

Butalbital is a barbiturate; like other barbiturates, it has a relaxing effect. Butalbital will help you relax and make you feel a bit drowsy, which seems to help with tension headaches.

Acetominophen is a drug that you may recognize as the active ingredient in Tylenol. It can help with pain relief especially when combined with a relaxant.

Caffeine gives you the “buzz” that you may feel after drinking tea, coffee, or colas, or eating chocolate. Caffeine helps to reduce blood flow to the brain. Many scientists believe that “too much” blood flowing to the brain is part of what causes chronic tension headaches, so caffeine can reduce that effect.

Fioricet as part of your pain-management system

As headache sufferers, anything that might help get our lives back to normal sounds like a God-send. But there a couple of questions you should ask yourself before talking with your doctor about a prescription

? Do I have migraines? If you don’t know, talk about your symptoms with your doctor before deciding that Fioricet is a good fit for you.

? Is operating heavy machinery or doing a lot of driving part of my daily life? If you take a little too much Fioricet of if you’re very sensitive to barbiturates, it can create the feelings and behaviors of someone who has had too much alcohol. Being “drunk” is not a good mix with operating a crane or driving carloads of kids to school, soccer practice, and the library!

? Do I need a pain-killer at least once a day? Fioricet can make you dependent on it. Dependence can lead to “rebound headaches” (headaches as the drug leaves your system) and even more serious health consequences. Your doctor might suggest using Fioricet as a “back-up” medication - to use it for the days where your regular medication doesn’t work. And if you’ve previous experienced dependence on another drug (including alcohol), this medication is not for you.

I’ve Thought It Over, So What’s My Next Step?

Take the prescription to your local pharmacy or on-line drug store so it’s ready for your use at the sign of the first stubborn headache. Discussing any problems or side effects like dizziness or drowsiness with your doctor will help you manage this drug and can make it part of your plan for a pain-free life!

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When Aspirin Isn’t Enough

It’s surprising how clearly we can recall getting hurt. Years later, we can recount our first fall from a too-tempting tree, a bee-sting, the birth of a child. We can even tell humorous stories about those events because the pain was transient ? it passed.

But many illnesses and conditions can make pain a daily visitor, interfering with our jobs, family lives, even sleep. Even ancient people tried to relieve the devastation of chronic pain using surgeries and medicinal herbs. By the 1800s, people started using narcotics (drugs like opium) to reduce pain. Even the narcotic heroin was originally developed as a pain medication! But many narcotics were found to be addictive, to interfere with digestion and mood, and even to slow or stop breathing!

Fortunately for us, modern research has uncovered safer pain-relief drugs for chronic conditions. One of these drugs is Ultram (the generic drug Ultram contains is called tramadol). Ultram’s effect on your body is similar to the effect of narcotics and is as effective in relieving pain. But since it isn’t a narcotic, it doesn’t have as many of the side-effects which have made medical narcotic use so dangerous.

The Wonder Woman of Pain Control?

Ultram can help manage pain from many sources, just like comic-book superheroes can foil thieves, kidnappers, and polluters! Ultram can reduce pain from cancer, spinal problems (kyphosis, scoliosis), arthritis ?even surgery !. Some physicians report using it to help people with severe, chronic headaches and endometriosis.

The Dark Side of Ultram

While Ultram is not a narcotic, both physicians and patients have reported cases of dependence on it. Signs of dependence (addiction) include getting tolerant to the dose (not getting the effect you used to from one pill), a continuing feeling that the dose needs to be increased, and withdrawal symptoms (sleeplessness, jitteriness, mood disorders) if you stop taking the drug. Checking in with your physician regularly while on this medication helps both of you notice any symptoms of addiction so you can stop any problems before they start!

The other effects of Ultram tend to be mild and transient. You might notice dizziness, drowsiness, stomach or intestinal distress (usually constipation). People taking Ultram are discouraged from driving ? driving under it’s influence is a bit like driving after having a few drinks. Ultram requires a prescription, so while you’re talking with your doctor about using it, schedule a regular time to discuss any side-effects or difficulties you experience while on this medication.

Control the Medication - Don’t Let It Control You

How can you benefit from this drug while minimizing its risks? First, when deciding whether to start on Ultram, be candid with your physician about any dependence issues with alcohol or other drugs you’ve had. People who have struggled with other addictions may be more susceptible to Ultram dependence. Remember - your physician is on your side and telling her about your history will help her tailor pain medications to your needs!

Second, be aware that Ultram is pretty powerful stuff and treat it with respect! Any change in dose should be discussed with your doctor; mild drowsiness at one dose can become a deadly blackout in another. Never “lend” this drug to a friend, even if he’s in great pain ? what works for you could be fatal for him.

Thirdly, make sure that you tell your physician about other drugs you’re taking: many drugs (including alcohol and over-the-counter medications) can enhance the effect of Ultram, making it act like you’re taking a much bigger dose.

These sound like dire warnings, but remember: by working with your physician, this drug can be a powerful tool to help you reach the active, pain-free life you were meant to have.

Have you been struggling to lose weight, but diet and exercise aren’t giving you the results you need to be healthy? Are you sick of people telling you that you could lose weight if only you had the will-power? It may be time to ask a physician about a phentermine prescription.

What is Phentermine?

Remember those 50s movies in which women lost weight by taking amphetamines? We know now that amphetamines can be very dangerous, so they don’t make safe weight-loss drugs. Chemically, phentermine is a little like amphetamines, but isn’t one. So it has the weight-loss effect but fewer “Valley of the Dolls” worries for you.

Phentermine is an appetite suppressant - it changes the chemicals made by your brain to make you feel less hungry. Some researchers think that it might also speed up your metabolism. Short-term use of phentermine has been shown to help people who are already on diet and exercise programs lose weight.

It sounds perfect! How do I get started?

Although phentermene isn’t an amphetamine, it can have serious side-effects, so before you can buy phentermene, you need a prescription. If your body-mass index (calculated from your height and weight) is high (over 30) your doctor may agree that a drug should be added to your diet and exercise program. You’ll stay on the drug for a few weeks or months, after which you’ll be ready to continue your weight-loss program on your own steam!

If you have atherosclerosis, a history of drug or alcohol addiction, allergies to certain medications, high-blood pressure, diabetes, or are on certain anti-depressants (especially MAO inhibitors), your doctor may suggest a different drug for you.

All these names! Which phentermine is which?

If you can read your doctor’s handwriting, you might notice she has prescribed a drug with a different name than “phentermine.” Phentermine is just the name of the chemical found in a number of different products. Adipex, Phentercot, Teramine, Fastin and Pro-fast are all brand names for drugs that have the same active ingredient, phentermine.

Ionamin has phentermine in a special “resin” formula that helps it last longer. Phentermine 37.5 is just a generic version of phentermine that comes in a large dose. Phentermine 37.5 is great if you need a larger dose of the drug.

Where do I go from here?

To make sure you get the most out of your phentermine prescription, make sure to keep this to-do list handy:

? Get your prescription refilled before you run out of pills; online pharmacies can set up a regular refill for you, as prescribed by your doctor.

? Check in with your doctor if you start having side-effects like sleeplessness, nightmares, difficulty breathing, or chest pain.

? If you feel the appetite-suppression is wearing off, it’s time to talk to your doctor about going off the medication.

? Don’t forget - this drug works its magic with exercise and diet - so keep up your own good work for best results!

Xanax is a Prescription Drug which is habit forming. You can become physically and psychologically dependent on the Xanax medication. Nevert take more than the prescribed amount of xanax or take it longer than is directed by your doctor. Withdrawal effects may occur if Xanax is stopped suddenly after several weeks of continuous use. As per xanax prescription, sudden discontinuation of the medication may result in seizures as its side effect that is why a doctor always recommends a gradual reduction in dose. Xanax prescription is provided for the relief of anxiety disorders and depression, and is usually is taken three times a day. The instructions on the prescription label must be followed exactly. Do not take xanax for more than four months without consulting a doctor. Alprazolam/Xanax should not be stopped without consulting your doctor, because stopping xanax drug abruptly can cause seizures, delirium, and withdrawal symptoms. A doctor only can guide you on how to decrease your dose slowly.

Alprazolam/ comes in tablet form, and the xanax prescription label will tell you the correct dose. Online pharmacist can answer any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Take alprazolam exactly as directed by your doctor. Take each dose with a full glass of water. Do not take more than what is prescribed for you. Alprazolam is habit forming. You can become physically and psychologically dependent on the medication. Withdrawal effects which follow when alprazolam is stopped suddenly after several weeks of continuous use can sometimes be overwhelming. Always consult a doctor on how to gradually reduce the dose.

Xanax / Alprazolam should be avoided in the following conditions: Activities requiring mental alertness As with other CNS depressant drugs, patients are cautioned against the use of these drugs during activities requiring mental alertness, judgment and physical coordination as well as activities like driving or operating machinery.

Anxiety/Xanax medication should be taken strictly according to xanax prescription with care particularly in the early phases of treatment of anxiety attacks, until proper adjustment to side effects has been established.

Alcohol and Xanax should never be mixed in when driving because of this combination may have unpredictable CNS depressant effects on your brain. During pregnancies and nursing Xanax is not recommended during pregnancies as per xanax prescription of experts. Anxiety medication studies have suggested an increased risk of congenital malformations associated with the use of the Benzodiazepine during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Studies have indicated that Xanax / Alprazolam and its metabolites are secreted into the milk. Therefore, nursing should not be undertaken while the mother is taking the drug.

To children Till now, no proper safety and efficacy of Alprazolam in patients under the age of 18 years has been established. Elderly patients Elderly and debilitated patients, or those with organic brain syndrome, have been found to be prone to the CNS depressant activity of Benzodiazepine even after low doses. Manifestations include ataxia, over sedation and hypotension. Therefore, Xanax / Alprazolam medication to these patients should be administered with caution and strictly according to xanax prescription of expert doctors. Cardiac complications may occur due to a drop in blood pressure. Initial Xanax doses should be low and increments should be made gradually, depending on the response of the patient, so as to avoid over sedation, neurological impairment and other possible adverse reactions.

Anxiety Disorders

Xanax should not be used by individuals with physiological anxiety or in the presence of disabling manifestations of an appropriate pathological anxiety disorder. Xanax prescription also says that xanax medication is not recommended for the treatment of patients with depressive or psychotic disorders.

Alprazolam should not be administered to individuals prone to drug abuse. Caution should be observed in all patients who are considered to have potential for psychological dependence.

Interactions with other drugs

Benzodiazepine may interact with effects of other CNS acting drugs such as alcohol, narcotics, barbiturates, non barbiturate hypnotics, antihistamines, phenothiazines, butyrophenones, MAO inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsants. It should never be taken with alcohol. Not only does alcohol in low doses spoil the positive effects of the drug Alprazolam, but practically all benzodiazepines.

A xanax prescription warns against the simultaneous use of other CNS depressant drugs like Benzodiazepine of any other type, such as valium, tobacco, marijuana, grapefruit juice, antihistamines such as benadryl, oral contraceptives, sleeping pills etc. These drugs strongly interact with Xanax and can create serious side effects.

Cybill Shepherd has revealed that she suffers from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The star of Moonlighting and Taxi Driver says that she has struggled with her symptoms for many years, and is now hoping to raise awareness of IBS and encourage sufferers to talk more openly with their doctors.

She says: “For years I have been battling recurring constipation, abdominal pain and bloating. Go ahead and laugh. We laugh because we’re embarrassed. In order for us to get relief, we have to talk about our symptoms and stop suffering in silence.

“I have tried nearly everything: changing my diet and watching what I ate. I exercised regularly. I even tried taking fiber supplements and over-the-counter laxatives, but nothing helped with all of my symptoms.

“My doctor used to tell me it was all emotional and psychological. So I got a new doctor. And a year and a half ago, I was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. It was a huge relief to find out that my IBS with constipation was not all in my head and that it was a treatable medical condition. My doctor prescribed Zelnorm and it has provided me with relief for all my symptoms. In a lot of ways, I feel like my old self again.”

And good for her! I think that many IBS sufferers will identify with what she says: from embarrassing, unmentionable symptoms to doctors who insist that our bowel problems are really in our heads.

We may identify less with her relief from one drug alone (although the new drugs Zelnorm and Lotronex have had a good success rate in America), but we could all benefit from talking more openly with our doctors and looking for more solutions rather than accepting that IBS will rule our lives.

What Cybill Shepherd has done, though, is more than just draw attention to the fact that IBS sufferers need more help. Just by revealing that she is an IBS sufferer she has shown that IBS can affect anyone. Here is a glamorous, successful actress, someone who has kissed Bruce Willis and won three Golden Globes, saying that she has trouble with her bowels.

The power of celebrity

In these celebrity-soaked times it can be easy to forget that famous people sometimes achieve genuinely selfless and compassionate things just by using their fame. The greatest power that they have is the ability to shine the light of their stardom on an issue which would otherwise have been ignored.

And yes, the issue may sometimes be whatever cause is most fashionable at the time - “Gay whales against racism” as one satirist put it ? or the one which helps the star more than the people (or whales) who are suffering. But sometimes there is no doubt that the celeb has really stuck their neck out to help others who are dealing with an issue that is considered untouchable.

And I can’t thing of a more untouchable issue than IBS, something that no-one in the public eye would readily admit to. Can you imagine Julia Roberts standing up and saying “Diarrhea is the blight of my life and hemorrhoids have driven me to drink”? No, of course not, because anything remotely digestive is considered highly embarrassing and distinctly unglamorous. Cybill Shepherd’s admission, therefore, is to be applauded.

Dare not speak its name

Before Cybill Shepherd ‘came out’, the only famous person I knew of who had IBS was Kelsey Grammar’s wife (Kelsey Grammar used to play Frasier in the eponymous sitcom and Cheers). Whoever you are, whatever your gender or problems or pain, it is vital that you find someone with whom you can identify. If you watch TV and never see a reflection of yourself, if you are a black man and only ever see white faces on screen, then you will start to feel alienated ? and the same goes for people who are ill.

If you constantly hear about diabetes sufferers and asthma sufferers but never hear a word about bowels then you begin to learn that your illness is far less important than these other worthy causes.

We need more people in the public eye standing up and saying “Me too”, so that everyone can start to realise just how widespread a problem this is.

Don’t suffer in silence

But it’s not just about how other people perceive us, and how we perceive ourselves. It’s also about making sure that anyone who has bowel symptoms seeks help, and at the moment that just doesn’t happen.

There are still many people with bowel problems who are too ashamed or embarrassed to go to the doctor, and just soldier on through their lives when they could be receiving treatment. And there’s always the risk, of course, that their symptoms could actually be the result of something other than IBS that may get progressively worse if it is left alone.

IBS often goes undiagnosed for years, and even when we pluck up the courage to visit the doctor we can be so tongue-tied that we don’t properly describe our symptoms. If we could leave our embarrassment in the waiting room it would be so much better for our health.

Cybill Shepherd says: “My goal is to urge all women to get over their embarrassment, to stop suffering in silence the way I did, and to talk to their doctors. Although it may be uncomfortable, it is very important for you to be open and honest with your doctor about all your symptoms”.

And things can change. Just think about breast cancer, which is now regularly discussed on TV and radio, but 20 years ago was stuck behind a wall of silence where breasts were not to be mentioned, cancerous or not.

NIH Official Altered Drug Study

Dr. Edmund Tramont, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Division of AIDS, altered the conclusions from a safety report on pregnant women taking the drug nevirapine in order to cover up its negative side effects.

Since the mid-1990s, nevirapine, an antiretroviral drug, has been used despite government warnings that it could cause deadly liver problems or rashes when multiple doses were administered over time.

A study in 2002 was conducted to evaluate whether or not nevirapine could possibly decrease the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission.

Multiple Problems With Drug Research

Medical safety experts, an NIH auditor and the manufacturer of the drug agreed that there were various faults discovered within the study. Some of these faults included giving improper doses to study participants and neglecting to report specific fatal and detrimental reactions to the drug.

A report compiled by a medical officer under Tramont, Dr. Betsy Smith, revealed that the research lacked in safety reporting. Smith also reported that the records kept of the patients failed to meet the standard level of clinical research.

Tramont Puts Positive Spin on Drug Reports

Tramont requested to review the report before it was passed on to the FDA. Interestingly enough, after his review the report showed very different recommendations, none of which included any of Smith’s prior recommendations. Tramont’s revised recommendations reported that any negative reactions regarding the drug use were not of importance in assessing the safety of the drug.

Tramont also claimed he wrote the report after the inquiry into the changes in Smith’s report.

The family of Joyce Ann Hafford paid the ultimate price for the negligence of the drug nevaprine — her life. Despite the signs of liver failure, Hafford’s doctors continued to give her the experimental drug nevaprine throughout her pregnancy as an attempt to save her unborn son from contracting AIDS.

It was only after the family received copies of NIH’s internal case documents from the Associated Press that they realized the experimental drug regimen was the likely cause of Hafford’s death.

Medical News Today December 16, 2004

Houston Chronicle December 15, 2004

Dr. Mercola’s Comment:

Here is an example of another blatant and desperate act of trying to cover up the negative reactions of a drug as a way for the drug industry and manufacturers to “save face.” What’s most unfortunate and damaging is that acts such as these are done without any regard for the safety or welfare of the public.

The good news is that cover-ups such as these are eventually outing themselves. A prime example of this is the recent Vioxx recall I wrote about in October.

Folks, that is what you get when you subscribe to the “eHealthy News You Can Use” newsletter — and that is what your family and friends will get if you e-mail this story to them using the link in the upper right corner of this page and recommend that they subscribe to this free e-newsletter: Information that is YEARS ahead of its time that can literally save your life.

As long-time readers know, this is just one of many quite valid warnings that I have issued to alert you to the dangers that the drug model has for your health. So if you have friends and relatives that you value please forward this article to them so they don’t have to wait till drug companies decide to be responsible and take their drugs off the market before more people are seriously injured or killed.

Blind greed, gross misconduct or a skewed view of the world — any way you look at it, the bottom line is the world of conventional medicine isn’t a very safe place.

In time, however, the truth will naturally come out, but it is my vision and passion to facilitate the spread of truth now. You can take control of your health and your life and free yourself from needless drugs. There is no secret potion needed, only basic health principles that you’ll read on this site.