Medication: Effects, Interactions, and Safety Concerns - Pharmacology

Dr. Liu Huiya reply Pharmacology

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1.
What are the effects of these two medications? What are their side effects? Answer: Eszo 2mg is a sedative-hypnotic medication primarily used to improve sleep disorders.
Common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, headache, ataxia, and nausea.
Mesyrel 50mg is an antidepressant that primarily works to improve low mood, suitable for individuals with depressive symptoms or anxiety symptoms caused by depression.
Common side effects include sedation, somnolence, and orthostatic hypotension.
Since side effects can vary from person to person, the likelihood or severity may differ for each individual.
Generally, it is rare for side effects to necessitate discontinuation of the medication.
2.
Why should grapefruit and grapefruit juice not be taken concurrently with these medications? What are the side effects? Answer: It is generally not recommended to take medications with beverages (such as grapefruit juice, cola, tea, milk, etc.); it is safer to use plain water.
This is to avoid adverse drug interactions.
Research has shown that components in grapefruit juice can affect the activity of Cytochrome P450 3A4 in the liver (an enzyme system related to metabolism), leading to known interactions with several medications when taken with grapefruit juice.
If you have a habit of consuming grapefruit juice with your medications, do not abruptly stop; it is best to consult a physician or pharmacist to avoid a sudden drop in drug concentration in the bloodstream.
If you are unsure whether your current medications interact with grapefruit, you can ask your physician or pharmacist to ensure your medication safety.
3.
If you have taken medication with plain water, can you immediately drink juice? If not, which juices should be avoided, and which are acceptable? Answer: It is not recommended to consume grapefruit juice or similar juices within two hours before or three hours after taking medication, and within five hours for extended-release formulations.
You may switch to orange juice, but the best recommendation is still to take medications with plain water.
4.
If a teenager accidentally overdoses, what amount poses a life-threatening risk? What emergency measures can be taken? Answer: Taking just one cup (8 ounces or 250 milliliters) of grapefruit juice while on medication can lead to the aforementioned effects.
If an accidental overdose occurs, seek medical assistance immediately.
5.
Are the dosages (Eszo 2mg once a day, Mesyrel 50mg once a day) too light or too heavy? Are these medications classified as low or high dosage? Answer: If a physician prescribes the aforementioned dosages, they fall within a safe therapeutic range.
The effects of medications can vary for each individual and may differ based on personal health conditions.
Therefore, it is not possible to categorize them as light or heavy; it should be determined based on individual circumstances.
6.
If long-term use of these medications is necessary due to illness, but water intake is very low, could this affect organ function and cause disease? Answer: No, but when taking medications, it is recommended to drink at least one large glass of plain water.
Additionally, it is advised that daily fluid intake should reach 2000cc for optimal health.
7.
If these medications are used long-term for sleep, will stopping them suddenly lead to insomnia due to dependency? Answer: If you have been using Eszo 2mg long-term and suddenly stop, withdrawal symptoms may occur, including restlessness, anxiety, and insomnia; in severe cases, symptoms may include seizures, tremors, abdominal cramps, convulsions, vomiting, and drooling.
Therefore, you should discuss with your physician whether to discontinue the medication.
Generally, physicians will implement a gradual tapering plan rather than abrupt cessation, especially for patients who have been using the medication for more than four months, typically over a period of 6-9 months, with some patients requiring up to 12 months.
Mesyrel is less likely to present these issues.

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Reply Date: 2003/07/23