Taos Pharmacy Offers Cold Sore Relief. Taos Pharmacy is participating in a new clinical drug trial to investigate the over-the-counter use of a new cold sore remedy. Cold sores or fever blisters are the result of viral infection. Cold sores have been described as a medical condition since the time of the Egyptians. Despite being around for thousands of years, the virus that causes cold sores has not become any more dangerous. The virus is a herpes virus known as Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1). The virus will remain dormant in nerve cells until reactivated. Reactivation can be triggered by minor infection, trauma, stress, or excessive sun exposure. Upon reactivation, the virus will cause the eruption of a lesion on the face usually near the mouth or the lips, lip border, chin or nasal passages. The lesion will fill with fluid and look much like a small blister. The lesion will then crust and dry up. Eventually the lesion will erode and heal. It is during the viral shedding period when the lesion is filled with fluid and crusting that the virus is most contagious. It is usually during this period that it is passed on.

Exposure to the virus usually occurs in infancy before our immune systems are at full strength. Estimates are that up to 90% of us have antibodies to HSV-1. Not everyone that has been exposed develops cold sores. Taking steps to protect your lips from the sun, eating a healthy diet, and limiting stress can help prevent recurrence. Oral zinc and vitamin C supplementation can help reduce the frequency, severity, and duration of an outbreak.

However many steps are taken to prevent an outbreak, some people will suffer outbreaks regularly. The medications available over the counter to date have not been very effective in treating the condition. Taos Pharmacy will be able to make available to interested patients a new treatment which has been available in other countries for a number of years. Patients who enroll in the study will be compensated for their time. For more information call Jake at 758-3342.

Natural Weight Loss Patch Available. Natural TrimPatch was formulated as a healthy, simple, and natural way to help you lose and control your weight. It was created to help suppress appetite without the side effects or the potential for abuse normally associated with many diet medications. Natural TrimPatch is a homeopathic weight-loss product that uses highly diluted amounts of natural formulations as an appetite suppressant, reducing the body's craving for food. When used in conjunction with a sensible diet and mild exercise, it has proven to be very successful.

Natural TrimPatch is absorbed through a transdermal patch. The patch is a highly effective means of administering the product into the body. This administration system allows the product to by-pass the digestive system's acids and enzymes. The patch frees a person from the concern of overdosing or having to remember specific daily regimens normally associated with pill and prescription diet programs.

Natural TrimPatch has been test marketed on 2,000 patients who were monitored by a medical advisory board of over 60 medical doctors. Successful weight loss was experienced by 84% of the patients. Natural TrimPatch is only available through Natural Bodylines Distributors. Products to be introduced in the near future include Natural StressPatch, a homeopathic transdermal patch to relieve stress-related anxiety, Natural SleepPatch to promote sound and restful sleep, and Natural TrimUrgent, a gum that contains many of the same natural ingredients as Natural TrimPatch but in concentrated form. It is designed to relieve hunger and cravings between meals. Taos Pharmacy strives to bring you the latest in natural, safe alternative answers to your health care problems.

Compounding Answers With Pluronic Lecithin Organogel (PLO). Pluronic lecithin organogel (PLO) is a topical vehicle that can carry medication through the skin. This property can be used to provide relief from a number of conditions when the patient cannot or will not take oral medications. It is also useful when trying to deliver medication right to a desired site such as a joint or muscle. Topical application of medications can often reduce the side effects associated with those medications. Medications used to treat nausea, motion sickness, arthritis, and pain can be very effective when administered in PLO. PLO is also useful for hormone replacement therapy. Following are some examples of the versatility of this medication delivery vehicle:

A 58-year-old woman complaining of severe dizziness and imbalance was diagnosed with inner ear disease. She began taking scopolamine, diazepam, cyclizine, and phenobarbital orally to control the dizziness but was so sedated she couldn't work. She was started on scopolamine in PLO delivering 1 mg every 3 days. She was able to discontinue the oral medications and return to work. She now only uses it once or twice weekly when needed.

A 63-year-old man with Type II diabetes complained of painful, burning feet so severe that he was unable to sleep. He was prescribed 2% amitriptyline and 2% baclofen in PLO applied three times a day. Within 24 hours the patient was able to sleep through the night.

A 69-year-old man was admitted to hospice with colon cancer. He was unable to use suppositories because of colon cancer, colostomy, and loose stools. He was so nauseated he was unable to take oral medication. A topical preparation of lorazepam, diphenhydramine, haloperidol, and metoclopramide in PLO was prescribed. The patient's nausea was under control within several hours and he was able to return home on oral medication.

A 59-year-old woman was diagnosed with an inflamed nerve in her foot. The patient was instructed to apply 0.75 ml of a 10% ketoprofen in PLO preparation three times daily. After two weeks the patient was able to reduce application to twice daily and was controlled with once daily applications.

As you can see, PLO offers the answer to many difficult medication problems. Call Bill or Jake if you have a medical problem that might need a creative solution. We are experienced compounders and are motivated to help you solve your problems.

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