It comes in a variety of shapes and colors and is imprinted with the manufacturer's name and strength including:. People often think prescription drugs like Xanax are safer than illicit street drugs, but these medications can be very dangerous—especially when mixed with painkillers or alcohol. These white, oblong pills imprinted with the manufacturer name on one side and strength on the other side are one of the most commonly misused prescription painkillers.
Vicodin can suppress a person's breathing, which can be life-threatening. Like Vicodin, OxyContin is another opioid that can produce similar effects as heroin. They can come in round tablets and a few different colors, depending on the strength: white 10 milligrams , gray 15 milligrams , pink 20 milligrams , brown 30 milligrams , yellow 40 milligrams , red 60 milligrams , and green 80 milligrams.
In addition to finding unknown pills, there are also some signs to watch out for that may indicate someone you know may be abusing prescription or illegal drugs. To help prevent prescription drug abuse , there are some things you should and shouldn't do according to NIDA:. Also, remember to discuss any past substance misuse with your doctor before taking a new medication. If you're concerned a friend or loved one might be misusing pills, sharing what you found and conveying your concerns in a non-judgmental way could be a good place to start.
You can also offer to help them schedule an appointment with a mental health professional. If the loved one in question is your teenager and you're worried approaching them won't go well, you can always ask someone else they trust and respect to step in.
You could also raise your concerns with your pediatrician or a child psychologist , and they can bring up the subject during the appointment.
For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. While there are pill identification resources online, remember to never take a pill without knowing what it is.
While the list here might help you get started, there are many more pills out there that you may need help identifying. In the case that you are still stuck, your local pharmacist might be able to help you. If you're concerned about a friend or loved one's possible prescription or illicit drug use, go ahead and talk to them, but be prepared for resistance. Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. December 17, National Institute on Drug Abuse.
What is the scope of prescription drug misuse? Updated June Misuse of prescription drugs research report: Overview. Published June Food and Drug Administration. Updated November 10, Drug Enforcement Administration. You may want to take it to your pharmacist to ask for help. If you don't want to do that, then throw it away. However, it's important that you properly dispose of drugs. Do not just toss it in the trash because another person or an animal may find it and ingest it, causing potentially serious problems.
As tempting as it may be, do not flush pills down the toilet, either. Flushing medications can pollute nearby waterways, which you use every day for drinking and bathing. It also has a significant impact on the environment, including fish and wildlife. A better option is to take the pill and any unused medications you no longer need to an authorized U.
It's never a good idea to take any pill that you're not prescribed or that you don't buy directly over-the-counter OTC. It is even less advisable to take a drug when you don't know what it is.
It's always best to talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist before taking any medication. Various medications, dietary supplements, and alternative remedies can cause serious health problems, even if they're approved for use or OTC. By taking an unknown pill, you are running the risk of drug interactions, complications of medical conditions you have, and counterfeit drugs that are not regulated. The FDA is a great resource for advice about safely taking medications.
Just remember: if you don't know it, don't swallow it. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Updated April 1, Geological Survey. Pharmaceuticals in water. Mirtazapine can be taken by adults for depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety disorders. Mirtazapine isn't suitable for some people.
Check with your doctor before starting to take mirtazapine if you:. If you have diabetes , mirtazapine can make it more difficult to keep your blood sugar stable. Monitor your blood sugar more often for the first few weeks of taking mirtazapine and change your diabetes treatment if necessary. You'll usually take mirtazapine once a day.
It's best to take mirtazapine before you go to bed as it can make you sleepy. Your doctor may recommend dividing your daily dose into 2 doses of different sizes. In this case take the smaller dose in the morning and the higher dose before you go to bed. The usual starting dose for mirtazapine is 15 to 30mg a day. This can be increased up to 45mg a day. If you have problems with your liver or kidneys your doctor might prescribe a lower dose.
If you take mirtazapine once a day and miss a dose, skip it and take the next dose at the normal time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Instead skip the missed dose, and then continue the next day with your normal morning and evening doses. Continue the next day with your normal morning and evening doses. Do not take an extra dose to make up for a missed dose. If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you.
You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine. The amount of mirtazapine that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person. If you've taken too much mirtazapine you may experience symptoms such as:. Take the mirtazapine packet, or the leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine with you. Like all medicines, mirtazapine can cause side effects in some people, but many people have no side effects or only minor ones.
Some of the common side effects of mirtazapine will gradually improve as your body gets used to it. Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 10, people when taking mirtazapine. In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic anaphylaxis reaction to mirtazapine. You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital. These are not all the side effects of mirtazapine. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.
You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme. It's important for you and your baby that you stay well during your pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking mirtazapine speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to. Mirtazapine has been linked to a very small increased risk of problems for your unborn baby.
But if your depression is not treated during pregnancy this can also increase the chance of problems. You may take mirtazapine during pregnancy if you need it to remain well. Your doctor can explain the risks and the benefits, and will help you decide which treatment is best for you and your baby. For more information about how mirtazapine can affect you and your baby during pregnancy, read the leaflet about the best use of medicines in pregnancy BUMPS.
If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, mirtazapine can be used during breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor if your chest pain does not get any better after a couple of weeks.
If it gets worse, tell your doctor straight away. If you're using diltiazem cream or ointment, it should start to work on the day you apply it to the tear. If you're taking diltiazem for high blood pressure or angina, treatment is usually long term, even for the rest of your life. If you're taking it to treat an anal fissure, you will use the cream or ointment to heal the tear on your anus until it is no longer painful to poo.
This will mean the tear has healed. This usually takes around 6 weeks. Stopping diltiazem may cause your blood pressure to rise and this may increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke. If you stop using the cream before a fissure has fully healed, it may tear again. If you're bothered by side effects, your doctor may be able to prescribe you a different medicine.
Diltiazem is a calcium channel blocker that works in the same way as other calcium channel blockers to treat high blood pressure and angina. There are other medicines as well as diltiazem that are used to treat these conditions. Your doctor will be able to tell you if you should take different or more medicines to treat your condition. Yes, you can drink alcohol with diltiazem. However, it's best to not drink alcohol for a few days after starting diltiazem or if your doctor increases your dose.
Wait until you know how the medicine affects you. Drinking alcohol can increase the blood pressure-lowering effect of diltiazem, which can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded.
However, some hormonal methods of contraception, such as the combined pill and contraceptive patch , are not usually recommended for women with high blood pressure. Talk to your doctor if you're taking combined hormonal contraceptives. There's no firm evidence to suggest that taking diltiazem will reduce fertility in either men or women. If you're trying for a baby, or having problems getting pregnant while taking diltiazem, then speak to your doctor.
Diltiazem can make some people feel dizzy. If this happens to you, do not drive a car, ride a bike, or use tools or machinery until you feel better. You can boost the health of your heart by making some key lifestyle changes. These will also help if you have high blood pressure or angina. Cut down on salt — eating too much salt is the biggest cause of high blood pressure. The more salt you eat, the higher your blood pressure will be. Aim for no more than 6g of salt a day.
Quit smoking — smoking increases your heart rate and blood pressure. Quitting smoking brings down your blood pressure and relieves heart failure symptoms. Try to avoid second-hand smoke. Cut down on alcohol — drinking too much alcohol raises blood pressure over time. It makes heart failure worse too. Try to keep to the recommended guidelines of not drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week on a regular basis. A standard glass of wine ml is 2 units. A pint of lager or beer is usually 2 to 3 units of alcohol.
Exercise regularly — doing regular exercise lowers blood pressure by keeping your heart and blood vessels in good condition. It does not need to be intense; walking every day will help.
Eat well — aim to include plenty of fruit and veg, wholegrains, fat-free or low-fat dairy products and lean proteins in your diet. Deal with stress — when you're anxious or upset, your heart beats faster, you breathe heavily and your blood pressure often goes up. This can make heart failure worse too. Find ways to reduce stress in your life. To give your heart a rest, try napping or putting your feet up when possible.
Spend time with friends and family to be sociable and help avoid stress. Vaccinations — if you have heart failure , it's recommended that you have the flu jab every year and the pneumococcal vaccine every 5 years.
Ask your doctor about these vaccines. You can have them free on the NHS. An anal fissure is another name for a tear that happens in your anus. There are many reasons why the skin can tear in your anus. It's usually caused by constipation or persistent diarrhoea. You can make some changes to your lifestyle to help make going to the toilet easier.
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