Pilocarpine is an effective drug for treating xerostomia (dry mouth) from various causes. It is commercially available in a tablet form for oral use but is not available in the form of a lozenge. The only way to obtain the lozenges is by having them custom made by a compounding pharmacy. Xerostomia Xerostomia refers to a sensation of dryness in the mouth that is difficult to alleviate. In most cases…

Fillers are one of the most popular minimally-invasive cosmetic treatments requested today, with many patients using them to enhance or augment their lips. While they are generally well tolerated, most people require a numbing cream or other type of pain control to make the injections more comfortable. Types of Lip Fillers Most fillers that are given now use hyaluronic acid as their main ingredient. The concentration being higher or lower…

Progesterone supplementation is often given to assist women attempting to become pregnant, especially as a part of IVF and IUI regimens. Progesterone and Pregnancy Progesterone is essential to a healthy pregnancy. It is necessary to both conceive and maintain a pregnancy. One of its roles is in thickening the lining of the uterus so that a fertilized egg can implant. The thickened lining allows blood vessels to grow that will…

Testosterone is commonly referred to as a male hormone. However testosterone is also an essential hormone for women. While circulating levels of testosterone are higher in men, the hormone is also prevalent in women throughout their life. It is an important hormone for health and well-being for both men and women although it is not always recognized as such. Testosterone Misconceptions One misconception about testosterone in women is that it…

Hyperpigmentation is characterized by areas of skin that become darker than the surrounding area. The term can broadly be used to define a variety of skin conditions that result in pigmentation changes. This includes melasma, sun spots/age spots, acne, injuries to the skin, and more. Hyperpigmentation is a common skin condition and can vary from minor cases with only a few spots to more widespread and difficult to treat cases.…

A recent review of all available treatments for melasma concluded that topical hydroquinone alone or combined with a retinoid and a corticosteroid has the greatest evidence of efficacy in the treatment of melasma. It also concluded that oral tranexamic acid offers a promising systemic option for recalcitrant melasma. The chemical peels and laser/light devices that were reviewed did not show consistent results, with the exception of PDL (Pulsed-Dye Laser). This…

There are few effective treatments for migraines that are manufactured today. Low dose naltrexone is currently being studied as a possible treatment for prevention of episodic migraines. A large number of people suffer from migraines which can be severely debilitating. It has been estimated that as many as 18% of women and 6% of men suffer from migraines in the U.S.  In most cases the migraine is severe enough that…

The pain and discomfort associated with dentistry is a primary reason many patients delay or avoid going to the dentist. This can lead to severe consequences for oral health. Providing a comfortable experience that is as pain-free as possible ultimately ensures patients continue to seek the oral care they need. One common complaint about visiting the dentist is the pain of the needle stick used to inject local anesthetic. Topical…

Cysteine is an amino acid naturally found in the body. When used as a supplement or medication it is usually given in the form N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). When the body is given NAC it converts it into cysteine and then glutathione which is a powerful antioxidant. While it has a variety of uses, it is not commercially available in the form of a nasal spray. NAC has been shown to effectively…

Cromolyn sodium is an FDA approved mast cell stabilizer that is prescribed to treat mastocytosis, allergic rhinitis, and mild to moderate bronchial asthma. It is sometimes prescribed off-label to manage food allergies. The only oral manufactured form available is a solution. For mastocytosis, cromolyn has been shown to improve diarrhea, flushing, headaches, vomiting, itching, abdominal pain, and nausea. History of Cromolyn Cromolyn was discovered by Roger Altounyan, a medical researcher…