LGBTQ TEENS ARE STRESSED
Here is a paste of a Medscape article:
In a national survey of about 12,000 LGBTQ teens, 77% reported feeling depressed, and 70% reported having feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness in the previous week.
In addition, 85% of the teen participants rated their average stress level as 5 or higher on a 10-point scale, and 95% reported having trouble sleeping at night. Only 26% said they always feel safe in their schools, and just 5% said all of their teachers and school staff were supportive of LGBTQ people. Half of trans and gender-expansive youth said they never use school bathrooms because they are unable to access those that align with their gender identity. Roughly three quarters of LBGTQ youth reported receiving unwanted sexual comments, jokes, and gestures in the past year. More than two thirds said they had heard their families make negative comments about LGBTQ people; 48% of LGBTQ youth who were “out” to their parents said their families make them feel bad for being LGBTQ. More than three quarters of the youth rated coming out as LGBTQ to their parents as extremely stressful.
OPIOID DEATHS
As you know, many are seeking to get high or get pain relief with heroin or opioid pills available on the street. These are being mixed with fentanyl or another stronger opioid to give a greater effect. Many are surprised that they don’t wake up and die from stopping breathing due to the unexpected strength.
A new medication has been approved for withdrawal from opioids, Lofexidine. It blocks the adrenaline effects somewhat, like a blood pressure drug does (clonidine). This will be strong enough to work for some people.
I just got my Suboxone® license which allows me to prescribe this medication which does relieve pain and provide mild euphoria (high) but has a lower high than heroin, methadone, oxy, Norcos®… It also binds tightly to the receptor more tightly than the others so if you take the others on top of Suboxone®, you will not have pain relief or get high. This helps patients stop opioids and live a life without the withdrawals and hustling to get money for drugs. It is better than methadone for many patients.
SHOULD YOU BE PACKING NARCAN?
Narcan® (Naloxone) is an agent that reverses an overdose of an opioid. If you are with someone who is addicted to opioids, then your having a syringe and a narcan vial can save their life if you discover they are not breathing fast enough. You might be a lifesaver to someone in your house!
XANAX®, ATIVAN®, AMBIEN® ARE ADDICTIVE
There is a major push to get people off these medications since they cause falls, mental dullness, car crashes. Their effectiveness for sleep is lost after about 4 weeks but the side effect risks persist till the drug is stopped. This is so important that there is a new guideline on how to wean patients off of these drugs.
REFUGEE CENTERS CLOSING
Our president is closing refugee centers with less than 100 cases. This will leave many in the US without the help to become productive citizens. One solution is to have refugees move to larger cities with larger refugee centers.
RIGHT TO TRY BILL PASSES
A bill about to be placed for the president’s signature has passed which makes it easier for those very ill and out of options to access experimental therapies without enrolling in a trial. This sounds wonderful at first glance, but many cancer groups of physicians and patients are against it since it may hurt those who are very ill with chemicals that haven’t passed basic tests.
WHY ARE BLACKS AT HIGHER RISK FOR PREMATURE BIRTH, ASTHMA, PREMATURE PUBERTY, UTERINE FIBROIDS, INFERTILITY, AGRESSIVE BREAST AND UTERINE CANCER?
This may be due to hair care products that women and children use more than men contain chemicals that alter the hormones. Some of these chemicals are banned in Europe.
LINK BETWEEN WORSENING OBESITY AND SMOKING MORE
Two studies show that as the weight increased, the number of cigarettes per day also increased. There may be a common mechanism in the brains that processes both habits. Be alert if you gain weight or smoke more.
27 EBOLA DEATHS FROM APRIL TO MAY
The first case was 1 ½ weeks before the rest and in a major transportation hub city (air, land, river). The people were warned not to eat monkey meat, but they are ignoring it and more have become infected. The Red Cross and Red Crescent are cooperating and sending in the experts and workers to prevent a massive outbreak.
NEW POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF HIV MEDS
In 2 database studies the researchers noticed increased heart attack and stroke risk with darunavir when combined with ritonavir (Prezista® and Norvir®). Most of the patients have been moved off these to Prezcobix® which uses a different booster than Norvir®. These is not high quality studies and the risk to the individual is very small. Better studies should be done.
Dolutegravir (in Tivicay®, Triumeq®) has had reports of birth defects if used during the first 3 months of pregnancy so it may be best to avoid this in those who are not using a good method of birth control.
On the other hand, Abacavir/lamivudine (Epzicom®) Tenofovir/emtricitibine (Truvada®, Descovy®) have been shown to be safe for pregnant mothers.
Daniel Pearce, D.O., FACOI, AAHIVMS
Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Adjunct Professor of Internal Medicine and HIV, Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine and Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
HIV Specialist, Borrego Health (Riverside, San Bernardino, San Jacinto)
Member, Coachella Valley Clinical Research Initiative
REFERENCES: Medscape®