Administration of Eye drops
Do not rinse the dropper or touch the nozzle or opening of a tube or bottle as it may contaminate the medicine. Let the patient lie down or lift his head upwards. Pull the lower eye lid down*ward and holding the dropper put in the liquid medicine in the lower portion of the affected eye. Never let the dropper touch the eye or touch with your own hand/fingers. Now release the lower lid and tell the patient not to open the eye for 1/2 minutes to pre*vent drainage of the solution from the eye, gyrate pressure should be applied to the inside corner of the eye (i.e. bridge of the nose). Eyes shouldn’t be closed immediately after insertion of drops nor should there be unusual blinking.
Eye drops are generally meant to be used within 6 weeks of the opening of the bottle, (though there may be some glaring ex*ception to this rule/practice) Stop using the eye-drops if there is change in colour, appearance of suspected particles/crystals.
If more than one eye drop is to be used, wait for five minutes before dropping another eye-drop in the affected eye.
Eye ointments
The patient/attendant should wash his hands before applica*tion. To warm the tube, hold the tube for 5-10 minutes so as to induce flow of ointment. Tilt the head or lie down and pull down the lower lid gently. Now squeeze about 5mm-lem Content of oitment inside the lowerlid but never touch the opening of tube. Use a tissue paper/cotton swab to wipe out excess quantity of oint*ment in / around the eye. In case two ointments are to be used provide a gap of 10 minutes before using another eye ointment
In some cases eye-drops and ointment are to be used concurrently. Instill eye drops first and instill ointment after 2-3 minutes.
Warning:- There could be hazy look or blurred vision after using some eye drops/ointments, hence use them only at bed-time but never drive any vehicle, view any movie/T.V, nor operate any machinery. Normally, ointment is used at bid-time and eye-drops during any time. If there is itching, redness or discomfort of any sort, Consult your doctor and stop using the medicines. After use do not keep the bottle or tube open nor refrigerate or store at any other place unless clearly indicated. Do not use any medicine whose date of use has expired.
How to use Ear Drops
Never prick and/or poke your ear nor insert any object into the same. It is better if ear drops are inserted by someone else, as self application / insertion is not safe, never insert dropper into the ear nor touch the same against the affected surface in the ear. There is no need to boil, but it is insperative that the container is held in the hand so that the same assumes temperature almost takin to the almost body temperature. The affected ear should remain up. For adults hold the ear-lobe up and back and, in case of children, hold the lobe down and brace, and then instill prescribed number of drops, but keep the ear titled for 2 minutes or so, Insert an ear-plug or soft-cotton plug, or as recommended.
If there is itching, pain, redness, throbbing sensation, burning after insertion of the ear drops, Consult the doctor. Make sure that water doesn’t let in the ear nor any other foreign object should gain entry. Medicine should be refrigerated if clearly indicated. There is no need to wash the dropper but hands must be washed after the dropping of medicine.
Nasal Drops Nasal sprays and oral inhalers
Sit in a chair or in a bed or even edge of the bed, tilt the head back and by placing a pillow under the shoulders, squeeze rubber to fill the dropper with medicine and insert the dropper into the nostril. Squeeze 2-3 drops into each nostril and remain in the same position for 2-3 minutes. Do not touch the dropper or insert it direct into the nostrils it will contaminate the dropper. Do not use the same dropper for another person. If there are any suspended particles or if the colour of solution has changed do not use the medicine. As for Nasal sprayers, do not shake the plastic squeeze bottle. First of all, remove the cap and hold the head upright to spray, insert the nozzle peace into the nostril snuffing, now squeeze the bottle firmly & sharply.
Oral Inhalers
The Cannister must be properly inserted into the inhaler unit. Remove the dust cap and shake the connister well before use. Keeping the cannister upwards, hold the inhater unit. Fully breathe out and place the flaouth peace into the mouth around at the back (portion) of the throat. Now top of the cannester should be firmly pressed into the moulth piece while, at the same time, deeply breath*ing in – it will release one dose. Release pressure on the cannister and remove unit from the mouth, whearafter slowly breathe out.
In some cases desired relief may be delayed but it is better to wait for the prescribed time before prematurely hastening to in*hale the next dose. If there is no relief or shortness of breath after the dose, consult your doctor. If dryness occurs in the mouth, it can be dispelled by use of some mouth wash or rinse the mouth. Mouth*piece should be kept clean. When not in use, it should be stored with the dust cap on its mouth piece.
Local applications (like ointments, creams, lotious sprays, Aerosols
These products should be kept away from contact with eyes, nose and mouth. The affected area should be fully cleaned and pat dried with a clean towel before applying anything. Unless directed by a doctor, do not mix up two products. As a rule, only one prod*uct should be applied locally, Apply the directed quantity and wash your hands with soap after use. If situation worsens or persists, radness and or irritation develop consult your doctor and stop us*ing the medicine any more.
Ointments & Creams :- Spread only a small and thin amount of medicine. It is a myth that their layer yields better and quicker results. Do not rub or bandage unless clearly directed. If burning it ching has developed Consequent upon use of any local applica*tion, consult your doctor. Further, Do not apply any cream/lotion/ ointment after using a Cosmetic.
Lotions:- Liquid preparations should be shaken well before us*ing. Apply only a little quantity but do not bandage the affected part wipe out extra quantity
Sprays/Aerosols :- Shake the Container each time before use. Holding the container 6-8″ away from the affected skin (area), spray the skin for 2-3 seconds, protect your eyes Nose, ears and hypersensitive areas of skin from spray. Also keep away sprays from fire, alcohol, smoke, heater, burner, gas, open flames etc. Store the aresol in a cool place but never break, burn or puncture the container. Do not spray over open, bleeding wounds.
Note:- There are also creams, ointments, suppositories which are to be applied either inside/outside the rectal area or both. Simi*larly, there are also used Vaginal creams and Pessaries. Please be guided by the advise of your doctor in respect of precautions, ap*plication and hygiene or else read carefully the directions for use mentioned in the literature which usually accompanies such products. If self-help is not possible, help from someone else may be sought but the patient / the helper must insure proper hygiene and total compliance with the instructions. In case of any compli*cation, do not delay/hesitate in consulting the doctor.
To begin with, first general description, prominent symptoms and then probable treatment will be mentioned As for medicinal treatment, there area number of commercial brands available in the market, but their general name is the same. The patient is not concerned with the general names but he should acquaint himself with commercial brands which are popular and easily available also. A brand which is quite popular but is not readily available is a useless drug. In such a situation, the patient should have sufficient knowledge of the equivalent/substitute drug.
The sale outlets and the men manning such counters are not concerned with the quality and brand of a drug, their eye is mainly on a drug which yields them optimum profit. When such is the aim of a chemist, then quality is relegated to the bind seat. There are certain, but not so popular, companies which process far better dugs than their established rivals and their selling cost is also much lower but any drug which fails to win favour of doctors and chemists disappears quite soon from the markets.
Hence, while purchasing any drug, make sure you purchase only a genuine, reliable and cost effective drug only and not any cheap or spurious drug, simply to save a few coins. Moreover substandard drugs may harm the patient or endanger his life even. Neither the brand nor the price factor can prove effectivity of any drug. In fact bioavalability factor will reveal genuineness and effectivity of any drugs.
Caution : Treatment, suggestedfor various disorders, is intended to give basic informatory guidelines only but, in more complicated cases and, also when malfunctioning of other organs is also involved, the suggested medicines are likely to prove unfructuous and ineffective. Further, any drug may cause reactions in certain individuals, due to variable immunity and lack of phagocytes. The readers are advised to seek professional guid-ance before using any of the medicines and auxiliary measures.
Constipation
Impaction of bowels, weak peristaltic action of intestines, rectum and anus, dry and falless foods, absence/lack of green and leafy vegetable, fruits, milk, absence, of bulk forming agents may lead to constipation which is only a symptom and not a disease. Constipation is the biggest monster that triggers most of alimentary disorders. If you have constipation, you may suffer from :
1. Flatulence and wind accumulation
2. Pain in abdomen (Colic)
3. Diarrhoea Dysentery
4. Blind or bleeding piles
5. Hernia, strangulation
6. Fistula, Fissures, (lancer of rectum/Anus etc.
7. Acidity and heart-burn
8. Sour and/or acidic eructations
9. Pain in precordial region
10. Nausea, vomiting
11. Headache
12. General malaise and feeling of’Not being well’ or ‘some thing is wrong with digestive organs and digestion.’
Causes of Constipation
– Habitual Use of purgatives,
– Absence of stool for many days, resulting in hard, knotty and dry stools which are difficult to expel.
– Lack/absence of bran, leafy and green vegetables, milk, fruits.
– Ingestion of junk food, fast food, highly spicy, fried and condimented foods.
– Lack of physical activity. Too much rest or activity.
– Habitual and excessive use of alcohol, tobacco, narcotics etc. Prevention
Avoid the factors, listed above, and also change life-style, way of thinking, working and approach.
Treatment
Take Isapgol, Agar-Agar or Methyl cellulose. These drugs take 12-24 hours to act, help to absorption of water so as to increase bulk of all the three devices mentioned above. Isapgol husk (one TSP dissolved in lukewarm/hot milk) is, by far, the best and most effective medicine which can remove both (recent, acute and chronic) varieties of constipation. If Agar-Agar is preferred, its dose is 4-16 gm, and for methyl cellulose 1-6 gms, spread over a period of 24 hours.
Consume plenty of fruit and vegetable juices or in raw form, plenty of water and other liquids, moderate milk, ghee/butter, whey, curd, papaya, coconut (green) water.