Comments for Nasal Spray Recall Information http://www.nasal-spray-recall-blog.com Nasal gel and spray recall information Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:23:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 Comment on Loss of the sense of smell often precedes the major symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.? by Mags http://www.nasal-spray-recall-blog.com/loss-of-smell/loss-of-the-sense-of-smell-often-precedes-the-major-symptoms-of-alzheimer%e2%80%99s-disease-and-parkinson%e2%80%99s-disease/comment-page-1#comment-950 Mags Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:09:59 +0000 http://www.nasal-spray-recall-blog.com/loss-of-smell/loss-of-the-sense-of-smell-often-precedes-the-major-symptoms-of-alzheimer%e2%80%99s-disease-and-parkinson%e2%80%99s-disease#comment-950 This is an excellent question because it is opens the door to a serious medical issue which is the ignoring of seemingly simple symptoms which could be the door to life changing medical conditions. The first thing that is needed is a good differential diagnosis so that treatment for the correct condition can be initiated. Although there are similarities between Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, the primary treatments are not the same because many of the symptoms are not the same. Supplemental treatments can be quite similar depending upon the medications used in the primary treatment. Although both conditions have both motor and non-motor symptoms, PD has more initial motor symptoms while AD manifests more cognitive symptoms. It is also important to distinguish between both conditions and normal aging and even more important not to rationalize the symptoms as aging when there are other markers of disease. Anosmia also presents in Lewy Body Dementia, PDD, and Alzheimer's with Leewy Body Dementia as well as several other conditions such as: diabetes, Huntington's disease, malnutrition, brain tumor, MS, medications, certain chemical exposures, Schizophrenia, traumatic brain injury, zinc deficiency. If anosmia presents as a solitary symptom, it would also be helpful to treat it as such and take a look at zinc levels for example. However, if anosmia presents as being 10% less than normal aging (a 10% increase actually) then it is time to look at AD as a possible cause of the condition. It is also important to note the progression of the anosmia. The benefit of early treatment in both AD and PD has the goal of slowing the progression of the diseases although that is not always possible. In PD it would be a combination therapy involving a medication such as Azilect, with nutritional supplements such as CoQ10 and other antioxidants to relieve oxidative stress, vitamin B complex, vitamin D3 (higher dosages are now suggested to maintain the immune system) and several others. In AD therapies are being developed to clear the plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Currently doctors use chlorinesterase inhibitors such as Aricept (donezepil hcl) and Excelon (rivastigimine - available as a patch for continuous delivery). Nutritional supplements can be added such as medium chain triglycerides (MCT) combined with coconut oil and Omega 3 oils. Although smoking appears to defer PD, it is said to increase your chances of developing AD by 79%. And obesity can increase the chances by 3.5X. Chronic stress is an early indicator in both PD and AD. Essentially, there are other conditions which should be controlled well if they are present: diabetes, hypertension, higcholesterolol, heart disease, obesity, sleep disorders (which are actually symptomatic) inactive lifestyle. A change of diet is felt to be in order. The Mediterranean diet is now recommended. Several small meals throughout the day, green and black teas have been found to be beneficial in PD and would apply to AD as well. Exercise should be both physical and mental for both AD and PD. Forced Exercise for PD has been shown to help restore some brain homeostasis, reduce reliance on meds and to relieve symptoms in Parkinson's disease. Yoga helps relaxation and breathing. I don't want to get into the NSAID debate here because of the risk of kidney and liver damage without regular testing but there is evidence that ibuprofen can delay onset of AD. I am adding 2 links below for AD and one for PD. There is no question that reducing the risk levels are highly significant. But the most important thing is education of the medical staff through continuing education of the early warning signs and the importance of being aware of, open to, to follow-up on these early warning symptoms. The next most important thing is for patients and their families (especially the caregivers) to be proactive. Do not accept, "well, it isn't this, so go home." Always ask, "What's the next step?" If that isn't forthcoming, ask until there is an affirmative action. Just because a suggested treatment is not a prescription, it does not mean that there should not be a follow-up appointment ina few months with re-determinationon made at that time. One last note: if a diagnosis is made of PD or AD, it is a good time to get your house in order. Better not to need the financial, medical and legal plans than to need them and not be capable of making them. additional reading: http://zebra.sc.edu/smell/james/james_doc.html http://theamazingworldofpsychiatry.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/anosmia-in-lewy-body-dementia/ http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/node/3627 http://alzheimers.about.com/od/treatmentofalzheimers/a/treatments.htm http://www.helpguide.org/elder/alzheimers_prevention_slowing_down_treatment.htm http://parkinsonsfocustoday.blogspot.com/2009/05/forced-exercise-to-relieve-parkinsons.html http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20080505/ibuprofen-may-cut-alzheimers-risk http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/031097/ibuprofe.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/04/050414202516.htm<br><b>References : </b><br>Co-administrator http://parkinsonsfocustoday.blogspot.com/ This is an excellent question because it is opens the door to a serious medical issue which is the ignoring of seemingly simple symptoms which could be the door to life changing medical conditions.

The first thing that is needed is a good differential diagnosis so that treatment for the correct condition can be initiated.

Although there are similarities between Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, the primary treatments are not the same because many of the symptoms are not the same. Supplemental treatments can be quite similar depending upon the medications used in the primary treatment.

Although both conditions have both motor and non-motor symptoms, PD has more initial motor symptoms while AD manifests more cognitive symptoms.

It is also important to distinguish between both conditions and normal aging and even more important not to rationalize the symptoms as aging when there are other markers of disease. Anosmia also presents in Lewy Body Dementia, PDD, and Alzheimer’s with Leewy Body Dementia as well as several other conditions such as: diabetes, Huntington’s disease, malnutrition, brain tumor, MS, medications, certain chemical exposures, Schizophrenia, traumatic brain injury, zinc deficiency.

If anosmia presents as a solitary symptom, it would also be helpful to treat it as such and take a look at zinc levels for example. However, if anosmia presents as being 10% less than normal aging (a 10% increase actually) then it is time to look at AD as a possible cause of the condition. It is also important to note the progression of the anosmia.

The benefit of early treatment in both AD and PD has the goal of slowing the progression of the diseases although that is not always possible.

In PD it would be a combination therapy involving a medication such as Azilect, with nutritional supplements such as CoQ10 and other antioxidants to relieve oxidative stress, vitamin B complex, vitamin D3 (higher dosages are now suggested to maintain the immune system) and several others.

In AD therapies are being developed to clear the plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Currently doctors use chlorinesterase inhibitors such as Aricept (donezepil hcl) and Excelon (rivastigimine - available as a patch for continuous delivery). Nutritional supplements can be added such as medium chain triglycerides (MCT) combined with coconut oil and Omega 3 oils.

Although smoking appears to defer PD, it is said to increase your chances of developing AD by 79%. And obesity can increase the chances by 3.5X. Chronic stress is an early indicator in both PD and AD. Essentially, there are other conditions which should be controlled well if they are present: diabetes, hypertension, higcholesterolol, heart disease, obesity, sleep disorders (which are actually symptomatic) inactive lifestyle.

A change of diet is felt to be in order. The Mediterranean diet is now recommended. Several small meals throughout the day, green and black teas have been found to be beneficial in PD and would apply to AD as well.

Exercise should be both physical and mental for both AD and PD. Forced Exercise for PD has been shown to help restore some brain homeostasis, reduce reliance on meds and to relieve symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. Yoga helps relaxation and breathing.

I don’t want to get into the NSAID debate here because of the risk of kidney and liver damage without regular testing but there is evidence that ibuprofen can delay onset of AD. I am adding 2 links below for AD and one for PD. There is no question that reducing the risk levels are highly significant.

But the most important thing is education of the medical staff through continuing education of the early warning signs and the importance of being aware of, open to, to follow-up on these early warning symptoms. The next most important thing is for patients and their families (especially the caregivers) to be proactive. Do not accept, "well, it isn’t this, so go home." Always ask, "What’s the next step?" If that isn’t forthcoming, ask until there is an affirmative action. Just because a suggested treatment is not a prescription, it does not mean that there should not be a follow-up appointment ina few months with re-determinationon made at that time.

One last note: if a diagnosis is made of PD or AD, it is a good time to get your house in order. Better not to need the financial, medical and legal plans than to need them and not be capable of making them.

additional reading:
http://zebra.sc.edu/smell/james/james_doc.html
http://theamazingworldofpsychiatry.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/anosmia-in-lewy-body-dementia/
http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/node/3627
http://alzheimers.about.com/od/treatmentofalzheimers/a/treatments.htm
http://www.helpguide.org/elder/alzheimers_prevention_slowing_down_treatment.htm
http://parkinsonsfocustoday.blogspot.com/2009/05/forced-exercise-to-relieve-parkinsons.html
http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20080505/ibuprofen-may-cut-alzheimers-risk
http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/031097/ibuprofe.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/04/050414202516.htm
References :
Co-administrator
http://parkinsonsfocustoday.blogspot.com/

]]> Comment on Loss of the sense of smell often precedes the major symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.? by udaya k http://www.nasal-spray-recall-blog.com/loss-of-smell/loss-of-the-sense-of-smell-often-precedes-the-major-symptoms-of-alzheimer%e2%80%99s-disease-and-parkinson%e2%80%99s-disease/comment-page-1#comment-949 udaya k Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:49:59 +0000 http://www.nasal-spray-recall-blog.com/loss-of-smell/loss-of-the-sense-of-smell-often-precedes-the-major-symptoms-of-alzheimer%e2%80%99s-disease-and-parkinson%e2%80%99s-disease#comment-949 Sense of smell is a quality of gross element Earth and therefore loss of smell only indicates that an ailment is at the bodily level and have not reached the mind level. It can happen in any number of ailments and in particular where constipation is prominent as both the rectum and nose have similar gross element in their constitution.<br><b>References : </b><br> Sense of smell is a quality of gross element Earth and therefore loss of smell only indicates that an ailment is at the bodily level and have not reached the mind level. It can happen in any number of ailments and in particular where constipation is prominent as both the rectum and nose have similar gross element in their constitution.
References :

]]> Comment on Loss of the sense of the smell often precedes the major symptoms of Alezheimer disease and…? by Mags http://www.nasal-spray-recall-blog.com/loss-of-smell/loss-of-the-sense-of-the-smell-often-precedes-the-major-symptoms-of-alezheimer-disease-and/comment-page-1#comment-948 Mags Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:35:59 +0000 http://www.nasal-spray-recall-blog.com/loss-of-smell/loss-of-the-sense-of-the-smell-often-precedes-the-major-symptoms-of-alezheimer-disease-and#comment-948 First of all, the loss of the sense of smell, ansomia, occurs during Alzheimer's, it is usually not a precursor symptom as it can be in Parkinson's disease. There might be some instances where it precedes AD, but the medical inclination would be to look at other conditions, especially PD. When it is found, it is important that the patient list every symptom they have noticed no matter how unrelated they may seem. Since the blood test for PD has not reached the market yet and there are no other tests to quantify the disease, it would be important to refer the patient to a neurologist who specializes in motion disorders despite the fact that ansomia is a non-motor symptom of PD. Anosmia itself can have several causes and related conditions. That symptom alone is not enough to direct attention to PD but with what is known now, it should be AFTER ruling out other conditions: http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/symptoms/anosmia/book-causes-8a.htm From the site above: "Begin the patient history by asking about the onset and duration of anosmia and related signs and symptoms—stuffy nose, nasal discharge or bleeding, postnasal drip, sneezing, dry or sore mouth and throat, loss of sense of taste or appetite, excessive tearing, and facial or eye pain. Pinpoint any history of nasal disease, allergies, or head trauma. Ask about heavy smoking and the use of prescribed or over-the-counter nose drops or nasal sprays. Be sure to rule out cocaine use. Inspect and palpate nasal structures for obvious injury, inflammation, deformities, and septal deviation or perforation. Observe the contour and color of the nasal mucosa and the size and color of the turbinates. Check for polyps, which appear as translucent white masses around the middle meatus. Note the source and character of any nasal discharge. Palpate the sinus areas for tenderness and contour. Assess the patient for nasal obstruction by occluding one nostril at a time with your thumb as the patient breathes quietly; listen for breath sounds and for sounds of moisture or mucus. Test olfactory nerve (cranial nerve I) function by having the patient identify common odors." As the medical profession as a whole begins to think outside the box until it becomes inside the box and has specific testing procedures for PD, it is partly up to the patient not to accept "well it isn't this" without finding out what "it" is. From Wrong Diagnosis.com are questions which the medical team should be asking: ANOSMIA OR UNUSUAL ODORS: Ask the following questions: (Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs) 1.Is it acute or chronic? Acute loss of smell would certainly suggest an acute upper respiratory infection (URI). It would also suggest recent exposure to toxic fumes or recent head injury. If the anosmia or unusual odor is intermittent, then one should consider psychomotor epilepsy. 2.Is there a history of trauma? A skull fracture, particularly if it involves the cribriform plate, may interrupt the olfactory nerves and cause anosmia. 3.Is there a history of drug use or overuse of nasal sprays? Captopril and penicillamine may cause anosmia. Overuse of alcohol or tobacco may also be the problem. Anti-rheumatic and antiproliferative drugs are also known to cause anosmia. 4.Is the anosmia unilateral or bilateral? If there is unilateral anosmia, one should consider an olfactory groove meningioma. 5.Are there other neurologic signs? Multifocal neurologic signs should suggest multiple sclerosis, and additional neurologic signs such as memory loss should suggest an olfactory groove meningioma or parietal lobe tumor. 6.Are there signs of a systemic disease? Many systemic diseases may cause anosmia, including hypothyroidism, diabetes, renal failure, hepatic failure, and pernicious anemia http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/a/anosmia/diagnosis.htm<br><b>References : </b><br> First of all, the loss of the sense of smell, ansomia, occurs during Alzheimer’s, it is usually not a precursor symptom as it can be in Parkinson’s disease. There might be some instances where it precedes AD, but the medical inclination would be to look at other conditions, especially PD.

When it is found, it is important that the patient list every symptom they have noticed no matter how unrelated they may seem. Since the blood test for PD has not reached the market yet and there are no other tests to quantify the disease, it would be important to refer the patient to a neurologist who specializes in motion disorders despite the fact that ansomia is a non-motor symptom of PD.

Anosmia itself can have several causes and related conditions. That symptom alone is not enough to direct attention to PD but with what is known now, it should be AFTER ruling out other conditions:
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/symptoms/anosmia/book-causes-8a.htm
From the site above:
"Begin the patient history by asking about the onset and duration of anosmia and related signs and symptoms—stuffy nose, nasal discharge or bleeding, postnasal drip, sneezing, dry or sore mouth and throat, loss of sense of taste or appetite, excessive tearing, and facial or eye pain. Pinpoint any history of nasal disease, allergies, or head trauma. Ask about heavy smoking and the use of prescribed or over-the-counter nose drops or nasal sprays. Be sure to rule out cocaine use.

Inspect and palpate nasal structures for obvious injury, inflammation, deformities, and septal deviation or perforation. Observe the contour and color of the nasal mucosa and the size and color of the turbinates. Check for polyps, which appear as translucent white masses around the middle meatus. Note the source and character of any nasal discharge. Palpate the sinus areas for tenderness and contour.
Assess the patient for nasal obstruction by occluding one nostril at a time with your thumb as the patient breathes quietly; listen for breath sounds and for sounds of moisture or mucus. Test olfactory nerve (cranial nerve I) function by having the patient identify common odors."

As the medical profession as a whole begins to think outside the box until it becomes inside the box and has specific testing procedures for PD, it is partly up to the patient not to accept "well it isn’t this" without finding out what "it" is.

From Wrong Diagnosis.com are questions which the medical team should be asking:
ANOSMIA OR UNUSUAL ODORS: Ask the following questions:
(Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)

1.Is it acute or chronic? Acute loss of smell would certainly suggest an acute upper respiratory infection (URI). It would also suggest recent exposure to toxic fumes or recent head injury. If the anosmia or unusual odor is intermittent, then one should consider psychomotor epilepsy.
2.Is there a history of trauma? A skull fracture, particularly if it involves the cribriform plate, may interrupt the olfactory nerves and cause anosmia.
3.Is there a history of drug use or overuse of nasal sprays? Captopril and penicillamine may cause anosmia. Overuse of alcohol or tobacco may also be the problem. Anti-rheumatic and antiproliferative drugs are also known to cause anosmia.
4.Is the anosmia unilateral or bilateral? If there is unilateral anosmia, one should consider an olfactory groove meningioma.
5.Are there other neurologic signs? Multifocal neurologic signs should suggest multiple sclerosis, and additional neurologic signs such as memory loss should suggest an olfactory groove meningioma or parietal lobe tumor.
6.Are there signs of a systemic disease? Many systemic diseases may cause anosmia, including hypothyroidism, diabetes, renal failure, hepatic failure, and pernicious anemia
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/a/anosmia/diagnosis.htm
References :

]]> Comment on Loss of the sense of the smell often precedes the major symptoms of Alezheimer disease and…? by Kelle http://www.nasal-spray-recall-blog.com/loss-of-smell/loss-of-the-sense-of-the-smell-often-precedes-the-major-symptoms-of-alezheimer-disease-and/comment-page-1#comment-947 Kelle Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:21:59 +0000 http://www.nasal-spray-recall-blog.com/loss-of-smell/loss-of-the-sense-of-the-smell-often-precedes-the-major-symptoms-of-alezheimer-disease-and#comment-947 Sorry I don't do homework. I did it for 21 years. Google the diseases.<br><b>References : </b><br> Sorry I don’t do homework. I did it for 21 years.

Google the diseases.
References :

]]> Comment on please read this asap..? by russbillen http://www.nasal-spray-recall-blog.com/nasal-gel-recall/please-read-this-asap/comment-page-1#comment-946 russbillen Mon, 15 Feb 2010 02:57:59 +0000 http://www.nasal-spray-recall-blog.com/nasal-gel-recall/please-read-this-asap#comment-946 TYVM I'll pass it on to all i know<br><b>References : </b><br> TYVM I’ll pass it on to all i know
References :

]]> Comment on please read this asap..? by sOuL dOcToR http://www.nasal-spray-recall-blog.com/nasal-gel-recall/please-read-this-asap/comment-page-1#comment-945 sOuL dOcToR Mon, 15 Feb 2010 02:50:59 +0000 http://www.nasal-spray-recall-blog.com/nasal-gel-recall/please-read-this-asap#comment-945 Hey Thanks a Bunch Buddy ! God Bless your Soul for being a Good Person ! Take Care and God Bless you.<br><b>References : </b><br>HOMŒOPATHIC PRACTITIONER Hey Thanks a Bunch Buddy !
God Bless your Soul for being a Good Person !
Take Care and God Bless you.
References :
HOMŒOPATHIC PRACTITIONER

]]> Comment on please read this asap..? by Allergic To Eggs http://www.nasal-spray-recall-blog.com/nasal-gel-recall/please-read-this-asap/comment-page-1#comment-944 Allergic To Eggs Mon, 15 Feb 2010 02:29:59 +0000 http://www.nasal-spray-recall-blog.com/nasal-gel-recall/please-read-this-asap#comment-944 thanks<br><b>References : </b><br> thanks
References :

]]> Comment on please read this asap..? by Ruth http://www.nasal-spray-recall-blog.com/nasal-gel-recall/please-read-this-asap/comment-page-1#comment-943 Ruth Mon, 15 Feb 2010 02:13:59 +0000 http://www.nasal-spray-recall-blog.com/nasal-gel-recall/please-read-this-asap#comment-943 Thanks for the info !! That is quite the list !!<br><b>References : </b><br> Thanks for the info !! That is quite the list !!
References :

]]> Comment on please read this asap..? by ohiocountrygirl_06 http://www.nasal-spray-recall-blog.com/nasal-gel-recall/please-read-this-asap/comment-page-1#comment-942 ohiocountrygirl_06 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 02:02:59 +0000 http://www.nasal-spray-recall-blog.com/nasal-gel-recall/please-read-this-asap#comment-942 Thanks. I'll keep this in mind and let everyone I know about it. :)<br><b>References : </b><br> Thanks. I’ll keep this in mind and let everyone I know about it. :)
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]]> Comment on please read this asap..? by Peanut Butter http://www.nasal-spray-recall-blog.com/nasal-gel-recall/please-read-this-asap/comment-page-1#comment-941 Peanut Butter Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:15:59 +0000 http://www.nasal-spray-recall-blog.com/nasal-gel-recall/please-read-this-asap#comment-941 Thanks<br><b>References : </b><br> Thanks
References :

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