Yes, Colchicine Does Prevent Allopurinol Flare-ups in 1st 6 Months Gout RX

Standard practice is to add colchicine to allopurinol in first 6 months of gout treatment.  Allopurinol treatment dissolves crystals of uric acid which can irritate tissues in that process. ” Subjects treated with colchicine experienced fewer total flares (0.52 vs 2.91, p = 0.008), fewer flares from 0 to 3 months (0.57 vs 1.91, p = 0.022), fewer flares 3–6 months (0 vs 1.05, p = 0.033), less severe flares as reported on VAS (3.64 vs 5.08, p =0.018), and fewer recurrent gout flares (p = 0.001). Colchicine was well tolerated.”

Continue reading “Yes, Colchicine Does Prevent Allopurinol Flare-ups in 1st 6 Months Gout RX”

Antidepressants do not Help Neck or Back Pain

Re older antidepressants  – A metanalysis of studies concluded the benefits were “small”Salerno, Stephen M., Robert Browning, and Jeffrey L. Jackson. “The effect of antidepressant treatment on chronic back pain: a meta-analysis.” Archives of Internal Medicine 162.1 (2002): 19-24.“In conclusion, adjunct antidepressant therapy at doses therapeutic for depression is associated with a small but significant […]

Pancreatic Cancer – fungal and Mast Cell connection

Malassezia is well known for its association with facial skin rash Seborrheic Dermatitis. It has been found teaming around pancreatic cancer tissue in mice and humans and there is even the suggestion it might be oncogenic. Mast cell are found around  pancreatic cancer cells as well, and a ketotifen, a drug to control mast cell degranuation, might help in pain control.  Pancreatic cancer tends to occur in cases who had previous pancreatic issues and diabetes, smokers and ppi users; prophylactic metformin could reduce those chances by over 50%

Continue reading “Pancreatic Cancer – fungal and Mast Cell connection”