I. Introduction Hydralazine, a medication belonging to the vasodilator family, possesses a rich and multifaceted history within the realm of cardiovascular therapeutics. Primarily recognized for its efficacy in treating hypertension and heart failure, its journey from an experimental compound to a clinically established drug is […]

Baclofen, a medication recognized for its efficacy as a skeletal muscle relaxant, operates as an agonist of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitter system within the central nervous system.1 Its primary mechanism involves the activation of GABA-B receptors, a subclass of GABA receptors that play a […]

Medication reconciliation is a term used in healthcare that describes the process of comparing a patient’s medication orders in a healthcare institution (hospital or nursing home) to what the patient has been prescribed and taking at home. The purpose of this short column is to […]

One of the most useful classes of medications to relieve pain and suffering are the oral skeletal muscle relaxants (SMR). This column will discuss the different oral muscle relaxants, and precautions when taking these medications. It will focus on the SMRs that are typically used […]

In Shakespeare’s Hamlet there is a famous quote, “To Be or Not to Be, that is the Question?”. In healthcare there is a similar idea, “To Take , or Not to Take, that is the Question?”. In addition, in healthcare, as in all science, ideas […]

The concept of a glycemic index (GI) was introduced by Dr. David J. Jenkins and colleagues in 1981 at the University of Toronto. It is defined according to the University of Sydney (Australia) as “a ranking of carbohydrates on a scale from 1 to 100 […]

Some of the most important questions one can ask in life are Who?, What? When? Where? How? and Why? In the field of healthcare these questions are equally important. Let us ask these questions in regard to diabetes mellitus (the complications of elevated blood glucose). […]

The description of a professional in Wikipedia states “A professional is a member of a profession or any person who works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepares members of a profession with the particular […]

The repurposing of drugs has been going on for a long time. Repurposing is the term used for using a drug for a different condition than what it was originally intended. Drug companies are pleased when they can find another use for an approved medication, […]